My 73 Step side Build

[3rtr]

Well Ive been working pretty steadily on the 73 I inherited in the last month or so and I thought I would make a thread showing the work I'm doing as I do it ... I don't have a lot of pictures as of yet but Ill get a few up today if I can figure out how...

Its a 73 Chevy 4x4 Stepside shortbed that I'm doing a frame off resto on ... truck was in kinda rough shape when I got it so I had to go down to the frame to make it look good when I'm done

So far Ive got the frame sandblasted and painted with Dupont Colar 2.1 ST Satin High solids Epoxy Mastic (LF-64025P Black)
I also painted all the crossmembers the sway bar motor mounts PS box and some other odds and ends with the same paint ... its a VERY durable paint thats made to withstand rough conditions and prevent Rust (I also used a Rust converter primer before I painted to make sure rust mover comes through) I HOPE

The truck had a 4" suspension lift so I got all new Rancho RS5000 shocks and a the Ranch Dual steering stabilizer kit (To replace the ones that were already on it) I have not installed any of this stuff because the paint I used takes a week to fully cure and I'm also waiting on some more parts from   that should be here today .. New tie rods wheel bearings upper and lower BJ's drag links etc etc

Ive got the front end completely out from under the truck as of right now and once the parts are here I will completely disassemble the unit and clean sand and paint it the correct Matte black along with the springs, perches and U bolts then Ill reinstall it ...

Once that is done Ill remove the rear end and do the same to it .... I'm not using the frame paint since its hard to make it look smooth and correct with such a thick Mastic and its not the correct coating for the front and rear ends and springs etc

I do think that I'm going to use it on the under neath of the new cab I got though since its getting hard to find rust free floors and supports on these old cabs and mine pretty much is so I want it to last ... the only rust on the new cab is the cab corners and Ive got new ones here ready to go on as soon as I get the cab back on the truck

Heres a list of the new parts Ive gotten so far:


4 Rancho RS5000 shocks
Dual Steering stabilizer kit w hardware

battery tray hanger
rear motor mounts (poly)
L&R runningboard supports for stepside
battery tray bottom
SS battery hold down clamp & bolt
gas tank strap kit
L&R ext cab corners
SS Tail lamp wire conduit
SS L&R tail lamp bracket
L&R backup lamp bracket
2 front brake hoses
Sway bar bushing set (poly)
Drag link short end
Drag link long end
Drag link adj sleeve
2 front spring shackle kits
2 front springeye bolts and bushings
4 rear spring eye bushings and bolts
2 rear spring shackle Assemblies


2 pkg of chrome diff bolts
front and rear chrome diff covers
front and rear diff cover gaskets
2 inner wheel bearing seals
2 front inner wheel bearings
2 outer front W/B's
2 rear W/B seals
2 rear w/b
2 lower Ball joints
2 upper bj's
4 brake cable retainers
1 brake cable equalizer
2 brake cable connectors
1 brake cable seal set
2 rear brake cables
1 inter. brake cable
1 front brake cable
1 rear brake hose
1 tie rod adj sleeve
L&R tie rods
all new leaf spring bumpers and hardware front and rear
1 new front leaf spring bumper bracket
1 new rear leaf spring hanger and support
frame hardware kit
Transfer case grommets (Polly)
gas tank anti squeak kit
complete mounting kit (Core support cab and bed
I master bed hardware kit (near 500 PC's)
SS brake line kit complete 8 PCs and a brake line clip set
new pre bent fuel lines from tank to pump


Now for the best thing Ive found out about this truck

The motor is a 1st Gen 350 from a 68 F/X body SS  (Camaro or firebird) w double hump heads and eldebrock intake and carb and lots of chromes goodies
I couldn't believe it when I checked the casting numbers but ya ..... I'm torn between selling the motor to someone restoring an old camaro and using the money to buy a nice crate 350 and just going though it and freshening the rods and mains and new gaskets and such and doing a little work to it and having a really cool powerfull motor in the ole step side but Ill probably keep it since the only way Id ever get what the motors worth is to part it out on ebay  then Id have to go through shipping all the stuff and I really don't wanna have to deal with that

did I mention the truck was free ?

As soon as I get a rolling chassis then the cab is going on and I'm gonna get all the work done to that that I need and get the guts installed in the cab ... the old cab had A/c tilt cruise 100 MPH speedo and a really sweet custom seat so its all going in the new cab I found a set of doors locally that appear to be GM and are near perfect with PW windows and locks so I'm going to buy them for $150 and go with that ... I wanted to keep the interior orig but the A/c isn't orig so screw it lets be comfy ha ha ... I am going to use the rounded dash pad though from the old cab since its in good shape but it matches the color of the crushed velour in the doors I'm buying and the seat as well so the only things Ill need are a new carpet and kick panel carpets a new headliner and some pillar covers to finish the interior .... once thats done Ill get to work on the bed which just needs a little love and some new Wood (kinda like my GF ha ha) .... when I order the wood for the bed I'm going to get new front fenders inner and outer and a Cowl hood ... I didn't wanna order that stuff now and have it in my way or take a chance of it getting roughed up so Ill wait till I'm ready for the bed wood and get it all at once so I can be over $1,000.00 and get free shipping again from BLANK BLANK BLANK ...... plus I'm sure there will be other things Ill come across that Ill be needing ...

But I'm doing all the work myself and I think Ill be pretty happy with it when I'm done and I'm sure Ill be proud ... I restored an 89 Suzuki Quadracer last winter and its pretty sick looking so I do pretty good work for a dumb ole trucker ha ha the 4 wheeler is a basement queen and never gets ridden and the truck wont get driven much either when I'm done I just like having cool old stuff and showing it off ...ha ha

I'm also thinking of once this one is done finding an 88 step side and restoring that too ... I know where there is one right now that would be perfect its even the same color combo as I m thinking about doing with this truck Blue /white ... but I kinda also want to find an 89 Quadracer 500 to have the matching set of them too so IDK ... I know I cant afford both and I'm going to be tired of restoring stuff by the time I'm done so who knows LOL

Anyway I just wanted to show everyone my truck and start a thread so I can update it as progress comes ... Ill get some pics up in a few mins so u all can see what I'm doing and if anyone has any ideas or tips Id be glad to hear them ... thanks for taking the time to read my long winded post ha ha ha ha  

Oh and one thing I'm gonna be needing is a transmission hump ... the one in the new cab I got was for a standard trans 2 wd and the one from the old cab is a lot  shorter so if anyone has a hump for an 82 cab that will work with my 4wd auto and it wont cost too much to ship it Id be interested in buying it ... so LMK ... IM sure I can find one around here but we get a lot  of snow in the winter and most of the junk yards are hard to get stuff from in the winter ... thanks

[beastie_3]

Sounds good.


FYI, your not allowed to name other distributors here especially that last one, so edit your post.

[3rtr]

[3rtr]

Sounds good.


FYI, your not allowed to name other distributors here especially that last one, so edit your post.

OK I didnt know that .... Ill fix it

[3rtr]

I sandblasted some common trouble spots on this cab that I bought for 200 bucks and its really pretty solid Like I said earlier about the cab corners ... but the door seal groove where the rocker panel is pinch welded on usually gets soft and this one is tough as nails ... Im really happy with it ... just some dents to straighten and a couple cab corners and Ill be in business

[3rtr]

And the parts Ive gotten in this week

[1980c10]

Looks like you have come a long way, looks great so far.
btw lots of good parts are available here too, just click on the banner at the top of the page.

[bake74]

     I will soon know what you feel like, starting next week I am planning on doing the same to my 74 k10 step side.  I got a 77 cab to use on mine, my 74 cab is too far gone. Keep us posted on your progress.

[3rtr]

Well Ive gotten a long way since my last post , Im just about at the rolling chassis ... God it feels like its taken forever to get here tho ... just gotta tidey up the brake system and ball joints and Im ready to start dropping the drive train in ... going to order all the rest of the body panels next week ... cowl hood , innner and outer fenders ... bed wood ect ect ect ...I dont have any new pics since i lost my phone last week and I had all kinds of pics on there but I dug my camera out this week and Ill snap some pics of it this weekend maybe once I have her back on 4 wheels ... cant wait for it to start looking like a truck again ...

PS I sent the site owner a PM with the parts list for next weeks order ... lets home he can get close to the price of competitor a and competitor b ... Id rather spend my coin with the small guy myself ... but I also have to keep food on my familys table too so we'll see ...

PSS ... Pics to follow soon ...

[bake74]

     Sounds like you made real progress, my truck is in pieces, next week finishing the axles and ordering some por 15 and then back together.  Keep up the good work.