1987

[Palf70Step]

The bench was kool. Also is good to get some cash back into the project from leftover parts.

[lownuff]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

The bench was kool. Also is good to get some cash back into the project from leftover parts.

First time doing that. Next time I'll be changing it up a little just to make it better lookin.

Definitely! Going to pay for my paint stuff now.

[lownuff]

Well the more I looked at the Mexican bed, the less I liked it.

So I picked up this stepside, it's a little beat but the price was right.

Had to rent a U-haul, sketchy transport service by me, would not recommend.




Then I pulled the Mexican bed off and put the stepside, loving it more already. One of the crossmembers on the bed is hitting the homemade drop shackles so the beds a couple inches back. I'll be getting some stock shackles and doing a flip kit soon.

[Palf70Step]

Can't beat a square Stepside!

I am biased.

[Rich84]

Me too..

[LT7A]

Looks good with the new step-side bed. The south-of-border one looked ford-ish to me, with the taillights so different. I like how somebody "ballooned" the letters with paint on the tailgate. Totally era-correct.

[lownuff]

Originally Posted by LT7A

Looks good with the new step-side bed. The south-of-border one looked ford-ish to me, with the taillights so different. I like how somebody "ballooned" the letters with paint on the tailgate. Totally era-correct.

I agree, pretty ford-ish.

I'm debating on getting the truck straight, but I don't really want to be sanding for days. I want to start using the truck, so I'm at a crossroads.

Do I throw some paint on it, so its all one color? Or do I fix all the dents and start bodyworking and then paint?

[lownuff]

Well it's about to get real ****ty before it gets pretty.

Pulled the front clip off last night.

[1967KaiserM715]

Originally Posted by lownuff

Threw a diamond in there. I read that this helps with strength so whatever, I made one.

While there are many terms, I've always heard it referred to as "Fish Plating"; please check with your local laws, sometimes they require both sides welded, and both sides plated. A local frame shop may know the requirements as well.

Awesome truck by the way, short step sides look so much better, although the Mexican bed is pretty clean looking, but you may have run into an issue with the year and the side-marker lights-again local laws may vary.

[lownuff]

Originally Posted by 1967KaiserM715

While there are many terms, I've always heard it referred to as "Fish Plating"; please check with your local laws, sometimes they require both sides welded, and both sides plated. A local frame shop may know the requirements as well.

Awesome truck by the way, short step sides look so much better, although the Mexican bed is pretty clean looking, but you may have run into an issue with the year and the side-marker lights-again local laws may vary.

You’re right, fish plating. I welded both sides just in case.

Thanks, it’s rough right now but half the fun is on polishing the turds.

[lownuff]

Front clip is off and sold.



Time for some deep cleaning this weekend.

[lownuff]

I pressure washed some of the dirt off




I found a front clip off an old service truck so I snagged that up and painted the insides.

Barely fit into the commuter.


On my "painting bench"

[lownuff]

Well guys, this thread is about to take a pretty radical turn. What started as just a simple cleaning up and lowering has snowballed.

I was looking for a hood for my front clip swap and I ended up with a whole truck. Frame has been notched and is set up for a stock floor body drop...so I guess I'm putting together a bagged truck. Tune in for updates.



Now my backyard is a mess.




Tomorrow, I'm going to pick up the rest of the truck tomorrow. (Bed, bumpers etc)

[Dads79GMC]

How are the kids gonna play hoops now??? Lol!

[lownuff]

Originally Posted by Dads79GMC

How are the kids gonna play hoops now??? Lol!

Only got one old enough to play on that hoop and she was over it 2 months after it went up. and that was 2 years ago.

[lownuff]

Well picked up the extra bed, its not in good of shape as I hoped. I'll put it up for sale or maybe turn it into a bench.

Here's the frame I'm swapping everything to. Pancaked front crossmember, z'd and a big notch out back. Last bodydropped truck I had was a '97 Tacoma and it was traditional which meant zero room. This will be fun.



Cleaned up the backyard and moved the truck around, figured I'd stage it a little so I can start doing the swap.




Then I pulled the engine/trans out.






Next I want to pre-run all the brake lines and fuel lines in the frame before I set the engine in there.

[lownuff]

Didn't get much done this weekend.

Got the cab off and the frame painted, also snaked in the rear brake line. Also mocked up the rear axle, going to have to build the wishbone part of the 3 link.

[1967KaiserM715]

Looking good.

[lownuff]

Originally Posted by 1967KaiserM715

Looking good.

Thanks, starting to warm up quick here, so I need to start boogieing on it.

[lownuff]

Got hit with a nasty cold so I've been down for a couple days. Ruined my weekend, but did manage to knock out another bench.

[LT7A]

Dude, you flew off the handle! I was about to comment that I thought your truck looked cool, as-is, with the stepside bed and that I would be tempted to spray it with a sealer and run it like that for awhile. Adjust the altitude to taste and true-up all the mechanicals. And then I scroll down, and you've got another front clip, and then you got another truck. And then you got another bench -- I can't keep up, ha.

[lownuff]

Originally Posted by LT7A

Dude, you flew off the handle! I was about to comment that I thought your truck looked cool, as-is, with the stepside bed and that I would be tempted to spray it with a sealer and run it like that for awhile. Adjust the altitude to taste and true-up all the mechanicals. And then I scroll down, and you've got another front clip, and then you got another truck. And then you got another bench -- I can't keep up, ha.

Funny part is, when I first started, all I wanted to do was exactly what you said. Lower it, all one color and roll it.

Now here I am doing all this crazy stuff. I'm hoping to make some huge leaps this weekend. At least get it to start looking like a truck again.

[lownuff]

Well no updates, I'm trying to keep myself from getting burnt out and have reached a point where I'm trying to nut/bolt resto this and I can't do that to this truck. Did that on my last project and it took 3 years!

Did manage to take a couple hours on the bench though.

[Palf70Step]

The paint on my real truck is not that nice. You did a good job with that bench!

[lownuff]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

The paint on my real truck is not that nice. You did a good job with that bench!

Thanks!