1974 Chevy Stepside Build

[CornDwg01]

650 bucks later...and so it begins...





Plans include a complete frame-off restoration.  The 350 motor and tranny are supposedly good.  The truck won't fire right now due to sitting for 4 years and having no coil in it right now.  First, I plan to get the motor running, before pulling it and selling it.  Then the body comes off, and it's time to work on restoring the frame and suspension.

[1983stepside]

wow thats a nice find for 650, what are you gonna use for a motor and trans if your planning on selling whats in the truck, deff keep us posted on the build man

[jwag30]

i have seen stepside beds by themselves sell for about that and u got whole truck hats off. what combo will u go with for motor@tranny?

[CornDwg01]

I want to do a late model 5.7 or 6.0L swap eventually.  This is my first true build project so I'm sure it will be slow going, but I will definitely post lots of pics along the way.

[69byrd]

Great find I gave 400 for mine so there are some deals out there.  That bed looks alittle rough, is that rust or brown paint?

[CornDwg01]

No, the bed is good to go.  It's probably the best and most sound part of the truck.  Obviously, it will need new wood, but everything else is in good shape.  It's a rust color, but not rusty.  That gray you see on the right rear fender is just primer...no bondo there.  The lady I bought it from said her late husband put that different bed on it when it was his project truck.  (Doesn't look like he got very far with the project.)   

[69byrd]

I am glad to hear its paint and not rust. Just be sure and check where the fenders bolt to the bed, thats where my fenders where rusted and I thought my bed was solid also. I would love to have another one with the older front clip on it.

[oldwhity]

Hey Corn, great find. There's a 2wd lwb stepper about 5miles up the road from me. I might have to go talk to him. Keep us posted.

[FresnoK5er]

I love a good build up. Plenty of pictures along the way of the tear down and build up.

[CornDwg01]

I have been making some progress on the teardown and on gathering some parts.  Here's a few pics...

Got the bed and front clip off and moved into my ONE car garage.


I found this under the bed.  I can't figure out how this would happen.  It looks like someone ran over (not backed over) something big.  I'll  fix these pieces with new ones from a junkyard when I do my Blazer tank swap.


Once inside the garage I stripped the cab




Today, a guy I work with came over and bought the motor and tranny from me.  BTW, I never did that old motor to crank.  I put a new coil on it and some new plugs and didn't have any spark.  I knew I wasn't gonna use this motor and tranny, so I stopped fooling with it.

[CornDwg01]

I also picked up these FULL POWER 91 Suburban doors!  Not bad for 100 bucks.




And I got this dash pad that's in excellent shape for $50.




I bought a hood too, just don't have a pic of it. 

[exilous]

nice find. Good luck with the project, cant wait to follow another project.

[80stepsideguy]

Need a fender???
I got 1 pass side fender i bought with 2 doors.. I junked the doors as they were for 73-76 and i needed 77-91 doors.. Plus there were speaker holes cut out so i checked them and kept the clean fender.. If your interested to PM me and we can see bout some pics and shipping..

thanks
pat

[CornDwg01]

I do need a couple of fenders, but I think I can find some locally. I picked up one with the hood I got, but it was no good.

[oldwhity]

Great progress!