1986 Chevy C10 SWB Step Side

[aotte1]

Dave,

Hope these help you see what you needed, let me know if not.
Les

[jpnh]

Wow,getting soo close now gonna be awesome-jeff

[aotte1]

Jeff,

Thanks, you are right, having to put the brakes on myself a little too not rush things.
Next, will review your notes on how you finished your bed, thanks again for sharing your process. Plan is to take it off this afternoon with some help from friends, just have four bolts holding it on from transport home. Then tomorrow start cleaning the rear frame section.

Still need to decide how to lower rear of truck about 2 to 3 inches to make level with front, maybe should wait till truck is all done to see how it sits. Then make rear adjustment. Thinking maybe install new springs now that lower some? Local spring company would make them for me. Keith S. showed me pictures of how he lower the rear of his truck, thinking of young that process. Key themes will be ride quality and traction/safety going down the drag strip a little.

Les

[BamaDave]

Thanks man, mine looks to be identical. Was curious about how far that eld spot protruded.

[aotte1]

Dave,
Great, glad I could help.

Les

[JohnKimble]

Truck looks great. Did you paint it yourself?

[aotte1]

John,
Thanks for the compliment, truck was painted by a local shop.

Les

[aotte1]

Working on cleaning the frame before putting the bed back on. Removing undercoating and a little rust. The undercoating was heavy in some areas. Most of the undercoating is now removed, just a little left to remove. The rust was mainly where the bed supports contact the frame. Not doing springs and shocks now, plan to replace them later, as part of a small drop. Pictures before I started, and where I am in process now. Still have some more cleaning to do in a few spots. This is a driver level clean-up.

[aotte1]

Used mineral spirits to remove the undercoating. Selected mineral spirits because it works a little faster then other similar solvents, it is refined more. It also costs more. I used about 1 1/2 gallons to do the short bed frame area. A wire brush helped soften undercoat in heavy areas, then power washed it after letting mineral spirits soak for an hour. Repeating this three times, removed all the undercoating.

[aotte1]

The rear frame is cleaned and ready to be painted. Their is quite a bite of original paint which I am happy about. Once cleaned I am leaving the original painted, just scuffing before painting. Have a few more things to remove before painting. Plan to replace the brake lines after painting, since the truck was stored for long and brake fluid looked bad. Below are a few photos.

[Low Elco]

Coming along nicely!

[aotte1]

Thanks for the encouragement, I am at Fall Carlisle this week. Had a good day today, found a couple of nice things. Best was a left NOS stepper fender with the spare tire built in. Can not say what I payed for it, because I will get no sympathy here for a long time!! Will just say it was a lot less then the cost of a reproduction fender.

Will post photo when I get home.

Les

[rip2174]

Got's to say. after seeing multi-posts of your frame painting, I much like what pint you are using than I. Pics seem to do your frame painting really nice work.

[aotte1]

Rip,
Thanks for the complements on the frame. I like to use Rust-oleum paint, this truck is getting " black satin 7777502". This is what I like for a vehicle that sees a mild corrosive environment. For me I like the process how Rust-oleum paint addresses corrosion. Getting material to be painted really clean is super important. I spray immediately after final cleaning, have paint ready, to minimize moisture adhering to material.
Most of the frame has been spray painted, with thin coats and a wet final coat. It flows and blends really nice. Spray with a low air pressure, because it really easy to apply.

Les

[aotte1]

A few parts from Fall Carlisle,
1). found a NOS left fender that carries the spare tire. Not sure which years this fender fits, maybe, 1976 to 1980.

[Low Elco]

Coming along nicely-bed looks great!

[aotte1]

Started replacing the rebuilt front cross member/ suspension. The old one came out easy, removed the bolts and it dropped out. Then slide the rebuilt one under and lifted it into place. Also, replaced all the brake lines with stainless steel ones. A few photos of replaced front cross member/ suspension.
Les

[Jake Wade]

I just read through every page of your build thread. I appreciate you taking the time to snap photos and provide detailed information.

NICE BUILD, NICE TRUCK

[aotte1]

Jake,
Thanks for the complement, glade my build may help you. Many other builds have helped me, also think it is good to document originality where you find it.

Plan to complete the brake work soon, when I find time. Doing a lot of renovation work on our home this fall.

[RED1985]

Very nice work.

[jpnh]

I don't even have to ask how the truck is coming out I know it's gonna be awesome when your done - Jeff

[aotte1]

Jeff,

Thanks for the complement. Worked on it some today:
1). Changed out the cab mounts, the original ones were weathered. GM still has the cushions. The bolts came out easy. Pretty easy to change out with truck partially apart.
2). Finished R/R of the brake system, pretty much everything except the master cylinder. Used SS lines from Inline Tube. Had to modify them a little but not much.
3). Also got the engine out and started installing all the clutch and related parts. It is ready for install next weekend.

Les

[aotte1]

Front end coming together with new brake stuff.
Les

[aotte1]

A good day today, looks more like a truck tonight. Finished putting most of the bed together today, a little more to go to finish up mounting it to truck completely. Did put it on the truck. It went back on very easy. Before doing that put the fuel tank back on, with a few changes. only using the supply line for now. Closed off the other two lines at the tank, by putting them in a loop to each other. Using the existing steel line from tank to right frame rail at back of cab. From their running new fuel line, more on that later.
Les

[aotte1]

Also, installed the engine today along with the headers. Need to try and adjust the engine/trans next time I work on the truck. Number 5 tube is up against the frame and the right side headers have more clearance. So will see if I can even it out so all tubes have clearance.

Installed the engine with the trans in the truck. It took some time to get it all lined up, so that it would go back together. Still need to fix my speedometer cable leakage at the trans. Have my parts guy looking for the O ring and lip seals needed for replacement. A couple photos of the headers installed. They went in easy, had the engine lifted off the frame mounts, so that the bottom of the clam shells were just at the top of the frame mount. However, a few of the bolts took some time to install. Used a 7/16 shorty wrench on the tight ones. Kind of wish I had put some bungs for O2 sensors in them. Can do next time I have them out for any reason.

Next plan to look at layout for exhaust system, may replace the trans cross member with a custom one to allow better exhaust pipe routing.

Les