Hey all, my name is Ryan (Ry) and I've been buidling a 1985 C10 stepside for two years. I built a mild 383 stroker backed by a built TH400 sending power to a custom aluminum driveshaft to a later 9.5" semi-floating 14-bolt with the factory 3.73s and limited slip. After relocating the transmission cross-member, I yanked everything and completely stripped the solid frame, sandblasted it, and coated it with POR-15. I put it back together rebuilding the front suspension knocking it down 2" from stock. In the rear, the 14-bolt was mounted above the new springs with blocks I machined to level out the ride height and bring in the driveline geometry. The 14-bolt, springs, and shackles also received POR-15 and I fitted up a Mag-Hytec cover on it. I had a buddy custom make a fuel tank to sit between the rails in the rear that will be filled through a bed floor flip up, and I redid all the hardlines in stainless for fuel and brakes. The chassis and drivetrain is finally DONE!
I recently decided on how I want to finish the truck, and I want it to be "retro rod." I'm shaving the drips, "ear" mirrors, door locks, moldings and emblems. I just want the bowtie on the grill and the "C H E V R O L E T" on the tailgate! I want satin black paint, and I'm going to shoe it using Torq Thrusts with matching centers and polished rim. Now here is where I need help...
The stepside bed is IMMACULATE except the wood is gone. There's no metal rot, only surface rust. I would like to have this stripped by dipping and then E-coated. Can anyone lead me to a place anywhere in the northeast that can do this? This bed is 100% factory and perfect = RARE, and I want it to live forever! I'm not going wood bed on this either. My plan is to floor the bed with steel sheet and RHINO line the bed and put a stainless steel flip up fill for the fuel cell. I will also undercoat the bed with RHINO (I’m an industrial applicator for it). I need the bed dipped first before I can floor it and then fit it to the frame.
Now the cab required corners and one rocker because of beginnings of rot. These repairs are done, and were just shot with rattle can primer, as were all holes that were welded up on the back from molding removal and the shaved drips. I don’t consider this paint prep, just corrosion protection. The cab has been stripped out 100%, should this go for dipping as well and e-coat too? Or, is this making a headache to reseal the factory “soft seam?” Would media blasting be better? I’d like to RHINO the underside too.
Because both doors are repros from , as are both front fenders (inner and outer), and I am using an original hood from another truck that I also took the radiator support from, I think I need to assemble the truck onto the frame and work out fitments before I send the cab, hood, and radiator support for stripping in case metal work is needed. Here’s where I then wonder what’s best. When the pieces are back from stripping and e-coating, should the truck be fully assembled and all the steel smoothed to perfection and then disassembled for painting off the chassis? Or should the edges and other non-accessible area be painted, the body assembled, smoothed to perfection, and painted on the chassis? I can shape and fit steel, but I’m not the one to smooth and lay down paint on a body, chassis sure, but not the body - this needs to be a skilled pro and I don’t know what one needs. Probably because I don’t know any painters! Any recommendation for a painter in Jersey, Pennsylvania, or Delaware painters??? This is going to be the most expensive part of the project!
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