My 1980 Stepside

[Fordeatinz71]

beautiful truck!  even with the rake it looks stock...and gorgeous!

[autorepr]

SHARP  SHARP   SHARP   SHARP Truck!!!!!
Is the step side bed the original 80 bed?  What about the tailgate? My 78 shorty has
a wooden flat bed but I wanna go with a step side and like the way yours looks.

[got2haul]

The stepside bed and the tailgate are original, as far as I can tell.  It even has what appears to be the original painted wooden floor -- it's in remarkable shape for its age.  When I bought the truck, it had one small dent in the passenger side rear fender.  I had a local guy who's what I consider to be an expert in paintless dent repair take care of it.  You can't even see where it was.  Even though the paint in the pictures looks great, its not without issues.  There are quite a few small chips in the paint low and behind the front tires and on the leading edge of the hood.  I can tell that the truck has been repainted at least once in it's life.  I had the rooftop painted white just recently, after I installed the wheels and tires.

I spent quite a bit of time measuring for the correct backspacing and tire width/height to achieve the look I was after.  I wanted a slight rake for the hot rod look, but also wanted the gap above the tires to match front and rear or at least be very close, so tire size had to figure into that.  I made a pair of 9/16" lift blocks and installed them in the rear to bring it up slightly, but I may remove those now.

[dumbucket1]

that is one nice truck, looks like a magazine cover truck!

[got2haul]

Very Cool Truck.  If it had sidepipes and a big block it would be the same truck as from the 1978 movie "The Driver" with Ryan O'Neal and Bruce Dern.  You should check that movie out.

I finally got a copy of the movie The Driver and watched it yesterday.  You're right -- my truck looks a lot like the truck in the movie.  I enjoyed watching it, but hated seeing that great looking truck beat up like that!

[eventhorizon66]

I'm glad you liked it.  I think that movie is essential to any 73-87 fan because of that awesome truck, but for you, with the way your truck is nearly identical in terms of color, body style, and stance, I thought it would be extra-special.  I'd take "The Driver" over "Gone in 60 Seconds" any day.

[78 BIG TEN]

Very great looking truck. How about some engine and interior shots?

[Captkaos]

Here is a capture from the movie on Internet Movie Car Database:

[got2haul]

Hey, Captkoas, great shot of the truck in the movie!  As I was watching the scenes that featured the truck, I couldn't help but think that they had lowered the front but not the rear.  Maybe they simply cut the coils?  I loved the shot of the truck blocking the entrance/exit to the warehouse just as they turn the headlights on.  Looks mean.

[eventhorizon66]

It was probably a big block on small block springs, LOL.  Also, for those that don't know, in that shot, he's slamming on the brakes after playing chicken with a Trans Am, so the rake isn't that pronounced. But it does have a good rake to it.

[got2haul]

Very great looking truck. How about some engine and interior shots?

The interior is in progress.  I recently recovered the seat, patched the floor and installed new carpet and replaced the seat belts, but the door panels aren't in that great of shape.  They are out of the truck right now and I plan to replace them this weekend.  Except for a carb rebuild and a quick (and definitely not thorough) cleaning, the motor hasn't been touched since I got it.  It's still a bit of a mess, and I'd be embarrassed to show you pictures.  ... One day.

Here's what it looked like when I bought it:

[the_legend_1981]

Did you notice in the Driver sometimes the truck is standard on the floor and sometimes it has a column shift...watch it and pay attention, it's pretty funny.

[eventhorizon66]

Yes, check out this topic I started a while back.

[Fordeatinz71]

man that truck keeps me drooling...

[Thowell]

that looks awesome! man i love the wheels. but where did you find the stock rear wheel that wide. anyway they look sweet. lets see the interior.