Project 69 Stepside

[69_C10]

Finally scored a 69 Stepside. I've always wanted one and found one in VA. I drove up from Asheville, NC and drove her back home from Richmond VA to begin the transformation. I'll be buying a welder, plasma cutter to get started, placing an order to christiansclassics.com for some sheet metal panels for replacement; her rockers and cab corners are gone for the most part. I'll be starting from the ground up and looking to leverage the knowledge of the best truck site on the Net (this one of course.) I'll post some pics and look for your feedback as I progress. Thanks in advance for your answers and suggestions!!

First questions for you guys are:
1. What type of welder should I buy?
2. What speed for the wire and heat setting for the welder should I use when welding the panels in place?

[67_C-30]

Great project! I use a little 110v Campbell-Hausfield wire welder for body work, and it does great on sheet metal. I would recommend get a MIG set-up instead of going with flux core. The flux-core will do it, but it welds so much better with the shielding gas.

[69_C10]

Thanks 67_C30
I'll price a MIG setup. Thanks for your reply. Great build and I love your collection!! I'm green with envy.

[72BlckButy]

Looks like a great project truck, keep us posted and good luck!

[toomanytoyz]

!at of All, Welcome from Indiana................

Congrats on your Purchase, Look's like you got Pwr Steering & Brakes with it. Those are a Definate + to your Project, I will be keeping a eye on your Build as I'm Partial to the Stepper's...........

Rick

[ERIK D]

great find.do your best.
welcome aboard

[basketcase]

Making any progress on your truck?

Tom

[StormRider]

Great find! How much did you pay for it if you don't mind me asking? I have a 68 Longstep that I've been trying to finish restoring for 2 years now. I was going to sell it unfinished but I've decided to go ahead and finish it and keep it now. I just bought a 67 shortstep yesterday for parts and I am planning to make my 68 a shortbed stepside. I will look to you for inspiration 69 C 10.

[69_C10]

Hi Stormrider...Don't mind you asking at all. I paid $1100 bucks for her and drove from Asheville, NC to Virginia Beach to get it and drove it home!! I got her home and the trans was shot. She died just in time. I have her in a zillion pieces and tear down is in progress.

[69_C10]

I have performed some work on my project. I have the bed removed and the interior completely stripped down to metal. All was going well UNTIL...June 6, 2008. My Son and I restored a 1969 Olds Cutlass for his first car and he had been driving it for about a year when, on the last day of schoool, a guy backed into the left rear quarter panel..OUCH right?? Wait, I'm not done yet. Get this...2 days later!!! A hit and run victim on his way to work and gues where he got hit?? The RIGHT rear quarter panel. About now you're thinking wow! rotten luck right?? Wait my friends, I'm still not done with this unbelievable story. 4 freakin days later!!!!!!!!!!!! my Son turns a hairpin to find a crotch rocket barrelling toward him in his lane, swirved to avoid the blazing idiot and ran the Olds up an embankment trying not to kill the crazed biker. So, for the past 2 months I've been working a full time job, where I travel the US, be a father of three and try to be a good husband. I only get to tinker in the shop for a limited amount of time. I purchased my two new best friends....(1) Hobart 250ci Plasma Cutter and, (2) Hobart 140 MIG welder. Dude!!!! You gotta have these tools!!!!! I made a trip down to Yearone in Georgia to pick up (2) quarter skins. That set me back $500. I had to rebuild the front end as the "Dukes of Hazzard" stunt to avoid Evil Kenevil (forgive the spelling) which broke the upper ball joints and completely flattened the control arm bushings. Those parts cost another $300 ball joints, inner and outer tie rods, adjusting sleeves, and pitman arm. I installed all of these parts on the Olds now, even the rear quarters. I'm now grinding and prepping for the primer, filler, primer, and paint respectively. This will be my first total paint job on a vehicle. I've painted parts, panels, quarters, etc, but; this will be the entire car. I plan for this car to roll out of my shop by 18-August so I can, Once again! roll my 69 back into the surgical room. Sorry for the rambling but, it's been an entresting chronicle\sidebar in my project truck. All of that time and money could have been invested on my truck but, it's my Son, what would you guys have done.Thank God he wasn't injured in any of this and none of the incidents was his fault. Mom on the other hand, wants to put him in an Abrams Tank. I told her cool, let's do it!!! That would definitely require a much larger garage for Dear Ol' Dad!!!

Keep me in your prayers and I SWEAR!! my truck will roll one day. pics are soon to follow.

[69_C10]

Originally Posted by StormRider

Great find! How much did you pay for it if you don't mind me asking? I have a 68 Longstep that I've been trying to finish restoring for 2 years now. I was going to sell it unfinished but I've decided to go ahead and finish it and keep it now. I just bought a 67 shortstep yesterday for parts and I am planning to make my 68 a shortbed stepside. I will look to you for inspiration 69 C 10.

I Love your build thread....The welder, cart, and helmet is the exact setup that I have in my shop!! I welded and additional shelf on top of my cart for my Hobart 250ci Plasma Cutter. I'll keep an eyeball on your thread.

[thirdstreettito]

Looking good so far! (The truck) Get those pics posted up!

Sorry to hear about the old cutty.

[69_C10]

Well, I'm down to removing the cab. I built a dolly, (thanks to member mjensen) I "borrowed" his idea on the bed dolly. I cleaned the frame with oven cleaner and a pressure wash. The oven cleaner in the picture is from the Dollar Store and is nothing short of amazing. I removed 40 years of "funk" in one application; (about 3 cans for the entire chassis) I'm going to remove the cab and roll the frame in the garage while I remove the rest of the beat down components. This is the slowest build known to man. I have three kids, full time TRAVELING career,had to restore my son's 69 Cutlass during my truck project. Funny how Dad's project gets put on the back burner when everyone else needs something. I'm determined to bring my baby back to life. I'm posting some pictures of the tear down in progress. Thanks to all my forum buddies for keeping me inspired. You guys are true craftsmen. Enjoy the rust filled pics. LOL.

BY THE WAY - I need your expertise please. In the pictures, my rear springs just don't look right. The left in particular looks like it's about to "pop" out. Is there new spring supports that I can weld in or, newer technologies I could replace the springs (NOT AIRBAGS) with? What are you guys opinions? Thanks in advance for your valuable advice.

Mark Ingle
Asheville, NC

[500caddy]

i have the same truck. with the same issues. i use a 175 hd lincoln mig welder. works perfect. i replaced the cab corners and was very nervous about it. they look great now. i had to learn the hard way. glad i did though. good luck.

[69_C10]

I need your expertise please. In the pictures, my rear springs just don't look right. The left in particular looks like it's about to "pop" out. Is there new spring supports that I can weld in or, newer technologies I could replace the springs (NOT AIRBAGS) with? What are you guys opinions? Thanks in advance for your valuable advice.

Mark Ingle
Asheville, NC

[chevy_mike]

Does the spring have the upper retainer holding it to the frame? If not, you are missing parts. Like the lower part of the spring, there is a retainer that bolts the spring to the control arm. You should have one for the top that bolts it to the frame.

BTW, NEVER weld a spring. The heat will cause the spring tempering to be lost and cause the spring to fail (sag, possible break, etc.).

Your only two options from stock would be doing a coilover setup or airbags.

If your frame in the area of the upper spring mount is rusted out, cut out, fix and reattach the spring like stock and you'll be fine.

Good luck.

[500caddy]

i agree. your missing parts. the long bolt and the half round shaped retaining bracket with the nut welded to it.,try going on line to lmc.com,,yearone.com,,classicindustries.com..one of those sites will have them.

[500caddy]

how do i upload the pics of my truck. it shows that i uploaded one to my profile but iut doesnt show up..

[69_C10]

Originally Posted by chevy_mike

Does the spring have the upper retainer holding it to the frame? If not, you are missing parts. Like the lower part of the spring, there is a retainer that bolts the spring to the control arm. You should have one for the top that bolts it to the frame.

BTW, NEVER weld a spring. The heat will cause the spring tempering to be lost and cause the spring to fail (sag, possible break, etc.).

Your only two options from stock would be doing a coilover setup or airbags.

If your frame in the area of the upper spring mount is rusted out, cut out, fix and reattach the spring like stock and you'll be fine.

Good luck.

Originally Posted by 500caddy

i agree. your missing parts. the long bolt and the half round shaped retaining bracket with the nut welded to it.,try going on line to lmc.com,,yearone.com,,classicindustries.com..one of those sites will have them.

THanks Chevy_Mike. Very good advice. I'm looking to lower the truck as much as possible without the C'Notch option in the rear. I'm guessing the shorter spring will be my cenario in the back.

[69_C10]

Originally Posted by 500caddy

how do i upload the pics of my truck. it shows that i uploaded one to my profile but iut doesnt show up..

When I uploaded mine, I just selected the browse, and navigated to my pictures, selected one, and hit upload, and submit at the bottom of the page and presto; it was done. Did you hit the submit at the last step?

[69_C10]

Originally Posted by 500caddy

i agree. your missing parts. the long bolt and the half round shaped retaining bracket with the nut welded to it.,try going on line to lmc.com,,yearone.com,,classicindustries.com..one of those sites will have them.

I will check those sites. I'm very familiar with those guys, as we all are right?? I have "wish books" from those and others. Thanks 500caddy!!

[500caddy]

yea..i see that i have one pic in my profile but some of you experts have sevral. maybe it takes a little time to approve. thanks man. ill keep trying to load more.

[500caddy]

(to all) some of you guys may not have a myspace but all my pics are on there. my profile here shows one pic of my project. havent fiqured out how to load them all like some ive seen. the pic that is shown on my profile is when i decided to start over. (long story). untill i can fiqure out how to load them all on this site you can veiw them at myspace.com. search mikewardchevy@gmail.com and ill add you. thx. its nice to find a site like this where there are people like me with the same intrest. CHEVY TRUCKS!!!!!

[500caddy]

I posted them in the gallery. Hey 69 c10...im only a few steps ahead of you on my truck. If you ever need advise hit me up. Im trying to install a 79 -500 c.i. Cadillac engine in mine. Im not going to bag it but its got a 2.1/2 - 4 drop . I have a different set of 22,s than are pictured. I hope i never have to do one from ground up again.

[500caddy]

(finally)..look in the 67-72 gallery..THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HELP GUYS...