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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Members Rides => Topic started by: Scaryfastatx on October 10, 2021, 01:38:37 PM

Title: 81 Scottsdale build thread
Post by: Scaryfastatx on October 10, 2021, 01:38:37 PM
I picked up my pretty solid survivor C10 yesterday

Pretty happy with it, relatively rust free, worst spots are where the floor meets the rocker on one side and on the rocker door edge seam

Plan for now is to fix the oil leaks, tune it up, then move on to the interior

I snagged a 2015 Tahoe 2nd row bench for next to nothing that I'm gonna use
Title: Re: 81 Scottsdale build thread
Post by: Shifty on October 11, 2021, 09:32:47 AM
PICS! PICS! PICS! We like pics!  ;D
Title: Re: 81 Scottsdale build thread
Post by: Scaryfastatx on October 11, 2021, 04:33:06 PM
Here goes nothing
Title: Re: 81 Scottsdale build thread
Post by: Scaryfastatx on October 11, 2021, 04:34:07 PM
heres some of the inside and under the hood
Title: Re: 81 Scottsdale build thread
Post by: Shifty on October 12, 2021, 09:27:58 AM
Great starting point!  8)
Title: Re: 81 Scottsdale build thread
Post by: Scaryfastatx on October 12, 2021, 10:41:06 AM
Great starting point!  8)

thanks!
Title: Re: 81 Scottsdale build thread
Post by: JohnnyPopper on October 12, 2021, 04:20:38 PM
Nice score! Just needs some TLC  8)
Title: Re: 81 Scottsdale build thread
Post by: 1980K20 on October 16, 2021, 11:47:25 AM
Nice find.  Zooming in on the pics, looks like it's pretty good shape.
Title: Re: 81 Scottsdale build thread
Post by: Scaryfastatx on October 18, 2021, 12:03:56 PM
Nice score! Just needs some TLC  8)

TLC = Total   Catalog haha


Nice find.  Zooming in on the pics, looks like it's pretty good shape.

thanks, yeah its a rough survivor, and mostly rust free which is the main thing I was worried about
Title: Re: 81 Scottsdale build thread
Post by: Scaryfastatx on October 18, 2021, 12:11:53 PM
so this weekend, I pulled out the seat and started taking measurements and mocked up my new seats

the seat is a 2nd row bench out of a 2015 Tahoe, but you can use one from a 2007 to 2019 short full size GM SUV, from Yukon, Escalade etc

Im going to start working on the design of the adapter brackets, I pulled off all the old flip hardware and latches, was easier than I expected

Dont know if I will adapt to the original adjustable brackets, cannibalize the original seat frame, or build something new, we will see

I put the seat in with some 2x4s to get an idea of how it would sit, its about 1" shorter than the OE seat, which is great for me, and great since I dont have a tilt wheel
Title: Re: 81 Scottsdale build thread
Post by: Shifty on October 18, 2021, 01:03:56 PM
I like it!  I'll be watching your progress on those seats.... ;)
Title: Re: 81 Scottsdale build thread
Post by: JohnnyPopper on October 18, 2021, 03:03:27 PM
Great find, look forward to seeing how it work out. May do the same to my '80.

Kind of torn between staying 'period correct' or going custom... I will have a correct motor / trans.
Title: Re: 81 Scottsdale build thread
Post by: Scaryfastatx on October 19, 2021, 07:37:10 AM
thanks guys, it all started with my trying to see how I could mount some head rests in the cab lol

you would think that the after market would make more than just low backs or buckets for these trucks

anyways, these seats are everywhere, since the cops are switching to Tahoes, they dump the 2nd row bench and switch to a different LEO specific bench, so you can even get them from the companies doing the conversions or even DPS (which is where this one came from)
Title: Re: 81 Scottsdale build thread
Post by: Mike81K10 on November 04, 2021, 11:44:03 PM
Fairly solid truck, not bad condition to restore. The color reminds me of my truck when I bought it. My trucks OEM paint was the light blue, got it when it was 5 years old. Wonder if that was a popular color in 1981?
Title: Re: 81 Scottsdale build thread
Post by: mrghostwalker on November 08, 2021, 03:33:44 PM
Looks good! It should turn out looking very sharp!
Title: Re: 81 Scottsdale build thread
Post by: frotosride on November 13, 2021, 03:06:32 PM
Definitely a great start. I do like the build and dream of the days I can add a SB to my collection, along with a crew cab.
Title: Re: 81 Scottsdale build thread
Post by: Scaryfastatx on December 24, 2021, 09:01:24 AM
I've been on vacation since the 17th, but the kiddos went with my parents on Monday so finally had some real chances to work on the truck

I was gonna start replacing the leaking power steering hoses and valve cover gaskets

But i found a giant rats nest under the battery and behind the distributor, so i ended up cleaning out rat crap for like 6hrs, finally got the engine bay cleaned up and power washed, it's looking pretty great.

I found why the valve covers were leaking so bad, previous owner cranked the living daylights out of the bolts and completely squished the gaskets out  >:(

I started scrubbing and power washing the lower front end and sprayed it with undercoating
Title: Re: 81 Scottsdale build thread
Post by: Scaryfastatx on December 11, 2023, 02:17:17 PM
long overdue update

the truck had a rat infestation previously, as such there were a lot of eaten wires, plus the previous owner fixed a lot of the wiring with Home Depot stuff

I ended up completely redoing the wiring with an AAW classic update kit, and it was pretty great to install, there are a few places I wished they hadnt preterminated stuff, like on the headlights, but overall, the experience was more than Painless... (sorry couldnt help myself)

I had finally thought it was ready to go, but then got gut punched by some white smoke (http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=39463)

With that done and out of the way, I replaced the leaky steering gear, got the brakes, suspension sorted and it finally passed inspection!

Past few days, I went ahead and did some patina restoration, I got some Penetrol and scrapped off the remaining peeled of clear coat and its looking pretty great, really happy with the resulting look

(https://i.imgur.com/lQ2ANZZ.png)

(https://i.imgur.com/A0pChet.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/AWP6FL6.jpg)


Title: Re: 81 Scottsdale build thread
Post by: JohnnyPopper on December 11, 2023, 05:06:58 PM
She Lives!

Funny how fast two years go by!
Title: Re: 81 Scottsdale build thread
Post by: Scaryfastatx on December 11, 2023, 07:46:10 PM
She Lives!

Funny how fast two years go by!

Yes it does!

Especially when the wife is starting to get annoyed by the monthly Rock Auto bill haha
Title: Re: 81 Scottsdale build thread
Post by: Shifty on December 12, 2023, 12:07:11 AM
Looks outstanding brother!  8)
Title: Re: 81 Scottsdale build thread
Post by: Mike81K10 on December 12, 2023, 10:54:28 PM
Your truck was an awesome find.
Title: Re: 81 Scottsdale build thread
Post by: Scaryfastatx on December 19, 2023, 06:53:26 PM
Your truck was an awesome find.
Thanks! Didn't seem like an awesome find when I was knee deep in the problems haha

But yeah turned out to be a good truck

Looks outstanding brother!  8)

Thanks! I'm really happy with how it turned out