New Guy and an 86 Stepside

[Big Katz]

Hello all,
I'm new to the forum. My name is Joe and I'm a Chevy addict. I’m a mechanic and live in Alaska and have growing collection of 73-87 Chevy and GMC rigs (4 trucks, 2 Suburbans, 1 Blazer). Here are a couple of pics of my current project, an 86 K-10 silverado swb stepside. It has a 305 and a manual O/D tranny with a NP 208. It kills me to do it, but I’m going to leave this one bone stock. This truck had been parked for 12 years under a tree next to the ocean rusting away when it was given to me for free. My wife liked the idea of a “free” parts truck until she looked at the checking account and found out I was restoring yet another truck! I ruined my camera and lost all of the before pics of this project, but here are some of the current progress.

[KY..Rob]

Welcome aboard, "Big Katz", Looks like a nice start. I'm restoring an 85 stepside, So I'm in the same Boat.

[Big Katz]

Thanks KY Rob. Are you painting your truck yourself? If so how do you plan on painting the bed? Assembled or dis-assembled and then put it togther after paint? If painted dis assembled how do you paint the seam sealer on the step and rear fender after you put it back together? This will be the first time I have painted solo. So I have alot of questions.

[bake74]

     Welcome big katz from California, nice job so far, keep us posted on your  progress.

[KY..Rob]

I will be painting it myself, I had planned on Disassembled. I was going to give the steps a light coat, bolt it together and then final painting after the seam sealer. I'm planning on a Base Coat/Clear Coat. I think the hardest part will be the top of the Fenders where the Bed rails overlap. This is definitely a scenario I have played out in my head a bunch..LOL

Maybe "Ace Fox" Will chime in, He painted his stepside himself. But thats the good thing about this board, there is plenty of great info available, and lots of knowlagable folks.

[1982 Daily Driver]

Welcome from South Carolina.

[jackjeckel757]

Welcome form VA!

[thirsty]

Welcome from NH.

[fitz]

Welcome aboard Big Katz.
As far as painting the stepside, heres how mine was done.
Everything was disassembled (most of mine was new sheetmetal). While it was apart everything was primmed and all of the edges were jammed (including the tops of the fenders as KY..Rob noted). The bed was then bolted back together and then the seam sealer was applied. The bed was then painted in base coat/Clear coat paint and bolted back onto the truck.
Anyone remember how they came from the factory?

[Big Katz]

Thanks for the warm welcome everybody. I find myself on here reading until my eyes are burning. Lots of good info.
Fitz I was thinking the same thing. Paint and clear the fenders then assemble. My old fenders were original and appeared to be painted before assembly but not clear coated. The paint under the rails look deteriorated and would turn to powder like it was never cc and the sun broke it down. I figure if I screw it up I will just redo the bed again. I enjoy doing body work. It is a craft all its own, and a nice change of pace for me. My wife has yoga to relax her and I have General Motors!

[Cody1018]

Welcome from Ohio. Have any pics of your collection?

[Big Katz]

I'm at work right now. I work at a remote site two weeks on two weeks off. The only other pic I have with me is my blazer I bought a couple of weeks ago. It has a GM reman 350 TBI with 5000 miles on it. A 700R4 , rebuilt fronted, and tires all with only 1000 miles on it. Some light body rust and a descent interior and a 4" lift. The guy thought he broke the crank and that the engine was shot. Out of disgust he sold it to me for $700. He also threw in a new starter in the box. When I got home I found that the starter bendix had broke. I put in the new starter and drove it off the trailer. It runs pretty good. It is seldom that I run into a good deal like that.

[Tazman]

Welcome from Az.

[ehjorten]

Welcome Big Katz!  Looks like you might be from Alaska...is that correct?  Working the slope?  If so, stay warm up there!  Man it has been cold in Anchorage!

[Big Katz]

Yep, I'm a sloper. It is -20F and 33 mph winds today. Something like -55 wind chill. Glad today is a paper work day for me.