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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Members Rides => Topic started by: 406 Q-ship on February 13, 2009, 06:51:20 pm

Title: 1974 C10 Stepside
Post by: 406 Q-ship on February 13, 2009, 06:51:20 pm
My truck is a 1974 C10 Stepside SWB "Heavy Half"

350 GM Goodwrench engine
700r4 out of a 91 G10 van (original TH350)
3.42 12 bolt eaton posi (just rebuilt from 3.73 open)
3/4 drop done from my combination of parts
Converted A/C to R134A

Soon to be added:
Doors from a 85 Suburban with power windows and locks
Front Fenders

(http://i664.photobucket.com/albums/vv2/Q-ship/74Chevytruckfront.jpg)

(http://i664.photobucket.com/albums/vv2/Q-ship/74Chevytruckrear.jpg)

(http://i664.photobucket.com/albums/vv2/Q-ship/74Chevyoptioncodeb.jpg)
Title: Re: 1974 C10 Stepside
Post by: VileZambonie on February 13, 2009, 06:52:52 pm
Why did you go from the 3.73 to 3.42? You will have to do something about the suburban door panel or you will have 2 extra sets of window switches.
Title: Re: 1974 C10 Stepside
Post by: 406 Q-ship on February 13, 2009, 07:03:41 pm
I went away from the 3.73 to get the RPM down on the highway, with the short tires and the 3.73 the 700r4 couldn't break the engine speed enough.  I also like the drive a bit in the fast side.......hee hee hee.

I have addressed the door panel issue with changing the door panels out along with rewiring the harness to remove the extra wiring for the rear doors.  I am going with the poverty door panels and made my own switch panel with switches from Del City.
Title: Re: 1974 C10 Stepside
Post by: oldwhity on February 13, 2009, 07:14:21 pm
Welcome to the site. Got any pics? :)
Title: Re: 1974 C10 Stepside
Post by: 406 Q-ship on February 13, 2009, 08:19:11 pm
Added pics

Yeap it was raining today when I took the pictures
Title: Re: 1974 C10 Stepside
Post by: kfoz on February 13, 2009, 09:10:05 pm
How do you convert to 134A? What are the EXACT steps?
Title: Re: 1974 C10 Stepside
Post by: 406 Q-ship on February 14, 2009, 12:04:10 am
How do you convert to 134A? What are the EXACT steps?


You will needed to replace the reciever/dryer, all new ones will work with R134A or R12, you just can't switch once the system has been filled.  The reciever/dryer should be replaced anytime the A/C gets cracked open.  The compressor can be used but the oil in it needs to be drained and replaced with PAG oil (there is another that works I can't remeber the name), I replaced my defective compressor which came filled with a compatable oil.  Change out the oriface/filter, this is another piece that can be used with R12 or 134A.  To improve the performance of the system using 134A, I used a oriface/filter from a 1978+ Ford truck, it has a smaller hole in it to get the system to blow as cold as the original R12 would have.  To be honest my evaporator died shortly after putting the system back together which had nothing to do with R134A conversion but my A/C is down right now will get fixed this spring.
Title: Re: 1974 C10 Stepside
Post by: 69byrd on February 14, 2009, 06:43:28 am
Sweet looking truck  8) Welcome aboard.
Title: Re: 1974 C10 Stepside
Post by: ssblu502 on February 18, 2009, 09:18:44 pm
Awesome stepside. Keep us updated.
Title: Re: 1974 C10 Stepside
Post by: got2haul on February 20, 2009, 09:28:37 pm
I really like the blacked-out 1974 grille and matching (trim-painted) headlamp bezels.  I may do that with my '80 fleetside.  I think this looks best with a dark-colored truck, and it really works with yours.
Title: Re: 1974 C10 Stepside
Post by: 406 Q-ship on February 24, 2009, 01:41:02 am
I really like the blacked-out 1974 grille and matching (trim-painted) headlamp bezels.  I may do that with my '80 fleetside.  I think this looks best with a dark-colored truck, and it really works with yours.

Being a SS Chevelle guy just about all my rides get blacked out grills.  I want to do something with the bowtie but just can't make up my mind which way to go with it.  I can do a billet insert or paint it a contrasting color.
Title: Re: 1974 C10 Stepside
Post by: jwag30 on February 24, 2009, 09:00:26 am
nice truck always liked the look of the stepsides. do u have any interior pics?
Title: Re: 1974 C10 Stepside
Post by: 69byrd on February 24, 2009, 10:39:15 am
Being a SS Chevelle guy just about all my rides get blacked out grills.  I want to do something with the bowtie but just can't make up my mind which way to go with it.  I can do a billet insert or paint it a contrasting color.
[/quote]


I personaly would go with a billet bowtie or mabye one of those black and red SS bowties if it would fit.  BTW the blacked out grille looks great 8)
Title: Re: 1974 C10 Stepside
Post by: hotrod24 on February 24, 2009, 01:49:18 pm
nice stepside
Title: Re: 1974 C10 Stepside
Post by: lowbucktruck on February 24, 2009, 06:08:35 pm
Yeah, the blacked-out grille looks sweet.  ;D
Title: Re: 1974 C10 Stepside
Post by: ratdawger on February 24, 2009, 09:07:10 pm
Sweet truck, grill looks good blacked-out, and I also like the taillights.
Title: Re: 1974 C10 Stepside
Post by: crazyfrazee on February 24, 2009, 11:54:20 pm
nice truck dude......is that ur chevelle in the background
Title: Re: 1974 C10 Stepside
Post by: 406 Q-ship on February 27, 2009, 12:46:53 am
nice truck dude......is that ur chevelle in the background

Yeap that is my 68 Malibu.......which strangely has not had it's grill blacked out yet......hmmmmmm a weekend project.  There is a 71 Monte Carlo (yes the grill is blacked out) in the garage in front of the Chevelle.
Title: Re: 1974 C10 Stepside
Post by: 406 Q-ship on February 27, 2009, 12:49:32 am
nice truck always liked the look of the stepsides. do u have any interior pics?

If I did take interior pics it would require me cleaning out the truck........and even I have limits to what I will subject people to seeing.  I will get some pics when the doors are hung and the new door panels are in place.  I hear that the body shop painted the doors.....woo hoo.

Sweet truck, grill looks good blacked-out, and I also like the taillights.

Those are the reproduction of the 1955 - 1959 stepside taillights, I hated the huge ones it had when I bought the truck.  The only thing I had to do was paint the inside of the taillight housing white to get them bright enough.
Title: Re: 1974 C10 Stepside
Post by: Flamingbig10 on February 28, 2009, 12:23:07 am
nice step
Title: Re: 1974 C10 Stepside
Post by: 78 Chevyrado on February 28, 2009, 02:35:18 am
Nice!  I really like the blacked out grille with the silver surround.
Title: Re: 1974 C10 Stepside
Post by: 406 Q-ship on March 22, 2009, 02:02:17 am
Here is the fenders and the doors going together to be installed........the saga continues.

(http://i664.photobucket.com/albums/vv2/Q-ship/DSC_0007.jpg)

(http://i664.photobucket.com/albums/vv2/Q-ship/DSC_0009.jpg)

(http://i664.photobucket.com/albums/vv2/Q-ship/DSC_0008.jpg)

Here I am wiring up the power windows and door locks, it quite a project on the earlier truck where the option wasn't available.
Title: Re: 1974 C10 Stepside
Post by: eventhorizon66 on March 22, 2009, 07:48:53 pm
What size wheels/tires are you running?  255/50-17 on 17x8 maybe?  I'm not usually a fan of anything smaller than 28" or 29" on these trucks, but your step is kinda changing my mind.
Title: Re: 1974 C10 Stepside
Post by: 406 Q-ship on March 25, 2009, 01:11:56 am
What size wheels/tires are you running?  255/50-17 on 17x8 maybe?  I'm not usually a fan of anything smaller than 28" or 29" on these trucks, but it your step is kinda changing my mind.

Thats what I'm running, I would love to find something just a taste taller but the next jump in 17" is to 275/60-17 and at 31" they rub just a bit.  I would like some tires that are like a 265 or 275/ 45 or 50 to get a 27" to 28" tall.
Title: Re: 1974 C10 Stepside
Post by: eventhorizon66 on March 25, 2009, 11:58:30 am
There are 275/55-17's which are 29".  These are fairly common sport truck tires, since they became OEM on the Mercedes M-Class AMG.  If those rub in the front, you could run a raked and staggered setup with 235/55-17 or your current 255/50-17 (both 27").  Or, if you want the same diameter F/R, you could run 235/65-17 or 255/60-17 (both 29").

The good thing about the tire you have now is the weight.  Go larger and the weight will go up noticeably, and the lower the unsprung weight the better, for both ride quality and handling.  I'd say if you like the way it looks and you don't need more load capacity, keep them.  The only problem is that size is very slowly phasing out as the '94-'96 Impala SS becomes less relevant to tire manufacturers.
Title: Re: 1974 C10 Stepside
Post by: 406 Q-ship on March 25, 2009, 03:22:50 pm
Wouldn't you know it I picked every series of 275 and 17" rim EXCEPT 55............ ::)

I like the idea of have the same sized tires in all 4 corners for the posi in the even of a flat I can put a front in the back if need be. 

Thanks for the unspung weight info, I work as a suspension engineer and already know it but there maybe someone who will read that and learn an important lesson.  I had 275/60-17 on the truck with those rims for a few years (man on dip in the street those 31" monsters RUBBED!) I just wish there was a 275 or 285/50 that would put me in that sweet 27.5 to 28" range.
Title: Re: 1974 C10 Stepside
Post by: eventhorizon66 on March 25, 2009, 03:41:06 pm
I work as a suspension engineer.

LOL.  So I guess I really took you to school.

Here's another size I found 255/55-17 (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Compare1.jsp?width=255%2F&ratio=55&diameter=17&startIndex=0&search=true&pagelen=20&pagenum=1&pagemark=1&RunFlat=All&x=87&y=9).
Title: Re: 1974 C10 Stepside
Post by: 406 Q-ship on April 05, 2009, 12:02:36 am
I just drove this thing about 200 miles to Del Mar today and it got 16 MPG with speeds mostly at 75 but down to as slow as 25.  This thing is carburated not fuel injected, I love that 700.  ;D