My 81 Step Side

[zackary027]

Hey guys been keeping up with this forum for a while finally got busy and made an account. I recently acquired a 81 step side $500. future upgrades include v8 change 350 chevy just built 2 days ago, lower it, not enough for bags but to give an aggressive stance, new interior, and most definitely new wheels.. Tell me what you guys think.

[zackary027]

and some more including my beautiful new engine. I also would like to find a stepside bed from a 90ish model.

[zackary027]

a few parts cleaned and painted today

[zackary027]

how hard is it and what do i need to do a rear flip with c notch or will i even need to notch for a 3 - 5 drop

[Doug_J]

Just my .02 but id leave the bed you have on it now or just put a wide bed on it.

[zackary027]

the only problem i have with the bed is that it is rusted out pretty bad where it attaches to the frame

[Doug_J]

well Ive seen some later model beds on them I just dont care to much for it but hey to each their own never know may come out looken really good. Just keep the pics coming.

[zackary027]

i may hang with this bed if i can find something to do with the tail lights

[Doug_J]

Ive seen a few people that have put them in the fenders kinda gives it a smooth look not with the original ones. I think theirs a guy on here that put Cadillac tail lights in the fenders I liked that. Looks like you have a clean truck.

[zackary027]

i was thinking of a roll pan and putting a light bar in it, but i also want to hide a tow hitch in the pan because i will be using this as a truck pulling my dads boat and what ever else i need to haul. this brings another question with a rear flip will it still be strong enough to pull a trailer, if i add air shocks not bags?

[Doug_J]

well im sure theirs others on here that could give you a better answer then me on that but I would think it depends how much of a drop and if you take any leafs out. I think if you just do the flip you would be ok towing a boat.

[zackary027]

Look what my truck got for Christmas

[zackary027]

got the old 6 out today decided to go ahead and pull the cab off to clean the frame and under body then paint it all nice wasn't going to go this far but both my mother in law and my wife told me to do it right the first time will get pics up tom

[oldblue1968chevy]

Nooo Why're you swapping the 6 for a sbc? lol Im beginning to like the square steppers

[zackary027]

im swapping the 6 for this simple reason. would you rather have a 6 pack or the whole dang keg???

[oldblue1968chevy]

Well lol

[zackary027]

ok question for anyone, my cab has no rust under it but is caked with grease and dirt, should i pull the cab or just pressure wash what i can and rattle can it. i live in alabama so no salt??????? i plan on keeping the truck dont want a show truck but a nice one.

[Doug_J]

If your pullin the cab off to paint the frame clean the bottom of the cab and coat it specially if you wanna keep it for a long time. I live in oklahoma and hopefully pretty soon Im gonna start pullin the body off of my 82 swb and painting the frame an coatting the under side of the bed and cab, probably with 3m's rubber under coatting you can get it an the autoparts store.

[zackary027]

im trying to decide if i want to pull the cab off though

[zackary027]

started deconstruction today got all but one cab bolt out it seems to be stripped, any suggestions as to how to get it out???

[zackary027]

[zackary027]

i found her cancer today not as bad as i expected. can anyone tell me what the panel right above the rocker arm is called i looked at classicindustries for new panels but i cant figure out which one to get.

[knightowl73]

thats the floor pan itself right above your rocker panel

[zackary027]

well dont i look stupid....what im trying to figure out is if i can use a partial panel or do i need to buy the whole left side floor pan

[chopped81step]

zackary027
Nice ride! I know it's a long shot, but would you happen to know what gear you have in the rearend? Thats the same drive train that was in my stepside. My motor & trans have been changed but the rearend is stock. Trying to figure out what I have.