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- - 1974 Stepside Project (https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=639462)

1974 Stepside Project

I'm fairly new to this site but just recently started a new project. It's a 1974 Chevy stepside that I pretty much picked up as someone else's basket-case. It appeared to me that someone started the project many years ago then put it in storage. I guess they bailed on the storage bill and that's where I came in to possession.

My plan is to bring it back to it's glory with some more modern upgrades. I have a 1997 Vortec 5.7 that I'm building to put in it for now. I'll probably go with a carb'd version of the vortec but eventually plan to put a LM7 5.3 in it.

Pics coming soon!

Re: 1974 Stepside Project

Im in for some pics .

Re: 1974 Stepside Project

These are pics of me tearing it down and getting parts put away. That's my other project in the background, 1970 Camaro. I'm crazy to have two going at the same time but the truck was too good a deal to pass up.

http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5d21a29d.jpg
http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/...ps9f786cdb.jpg
http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/...ps605e1351.jpg
http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/...ps8dce900d.jpg
http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/...ps18890b18.jpg
http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5146f089.jpg
http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4e499818.jpg
http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/...ps24574ee6.jpg

This is the body cart I made for the cab to sit on. I'm not sure why I didn't take any pics once it was mounted.

http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0163e1da.jpg

Additionally, I took the bed apart and everything is put away. Next step is starting the rust repair. Looks like I've got both rockers to do and part of one floor pan.

Re: 1974 Stepside Project

I like both of your projects and look forward to more updates .I have a 74 stepper too that I rescued from sitting in a barn for over 20 years ,its now my daily driver and a good old truck .Its not very much to look at but I have no plans to restore it as it only has 60,000 miles on it and I need one to use for a truck. Good luck with your builds and please start a build thread on your 70 Camaro in the alternate tinkering section as I would like to follow along with it too.

Re: 1974 Stepside Project

Quote:

Originally Posted by midnight rambler (Post 6800634)

im in

Thanks MR!

Quote:

Originally Posted by flashed (Post 6800682)

Thanks Flashed! Sounds like an awesome find you have there.

Re: 1974 Stepside Project

Quote:

Originally Posted by rip2174 (Post 6800801)

nice start

Thanks RIP!

Re: 1974 Stepside Project

Finally got to get back at my project. At least I got some parts ordered and Santa (FEDEX guy) showed up with some stocking stuffers. :)

http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/...pscxrhwzch.jpg

Re: 1974 Stepside Project

Sweet love my steppers as well.

Re: 1974 Stepside Project

Looks like you are off to a good start

Re: 1974 Stepside Project

Them's gonna be some mighty big stockings .

Re: 1974 Stepside Project

man you gotta have some great neighbors. neighborhoods around here would be calling the cops on somebody having a stripped truck and mustang in their driveway

Re: 1974 Stepside Project

I'm in for the ride.

Re: 1974 Stepside Project

looks like a good project im in

Re: 1974 Stepside Project

Hi All,

Well been away for a while. Back in December I injured my back and was out of commission for several months while trying to get healed up. Been doing a little work on the truck even though it's not going as fast as I want.

The original cab ended up having a ton of rot around where the heater core had been leaking for a long time. I decided to pick up another cab that was in better shape on the firewall. It had more rust in the floor and rockers than my original cab but I had planned to replace those anyway. The original cab also had the roof cut for a sunroof so I'm happy to have a cab without the hole.

I'm nearly done with replacing the right side floor pan, inner rocker and outer rocker but I took the holiday weekend to get the frame back in the garage to start wire-wheeling and painting.

Re: 1974 Stepside Project

A couple pics of the new cab as I was tearing it apart. I did cut the dash off so that I have more room to work while doing the sheet metal repairs.

http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/...pshcufniix.jpg

http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/...psaistv0mf.jpg

http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/...pstjji0lkt.jpg

Re: 1974 Stepside Project

This was what I started with on the right side.

http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/...psjanfngxs.jpg

http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/...psnoe9zamr.jpg

You can see here that I cut away the outer cowl to make it easier to replace the floor and kick panel. Also have a brace welded across the door opening to help keep things straight.

http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/...psysidwpl6.jpg

http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/...pslgge7heu.jpg

Re: 1974 Stepside Project

More cutting away the bad.

http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3bfnd47x.jpg

http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/...pswejwtmjn.jpg

You can see here the upright brace I put in place between the body cart and the other door brace. This will keep the A pillar from dropping hopefully while I replace the cab support.

http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/...pslzelx3ne.jpg

http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/...psouodj02x.jpg

Re: 1974 Stepside Project

Starting to get some good metal in place. This is after installing the cab support and inner rocker. Test fitting the floor pan.

http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7bkb4dvp.jpg

I cut this piece out of the original cab and tacked in the new cab rather than trying to build something new.

http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/...psypfsnqrt.jpg

Re: 1974 Stepside Project

Damn that's a lot of work. Are rust free cabs that hard to find over there?

Re: 1974 Stepside Project

Quote:

Originally Posted by tinydb84 (Post 7232543)

Damn that's a lot of work. Are rust free cabs that hard to find over there?

Hey David, they're not too hard to find. This one cost me almost nothing and I already had most of the replacement pieces. Not to mention, I really need the practice! :lol:

Re: 1974 Stepside Project

Nice Work! Keep the pics coming, I will be doing the same thing shortly, just picked up my donor cab this past weekend!

Re: 1974 Stepside Project

Quote:

Originally Posted by stampy (Post 7233274)

Nice Work! Keep the pics coming, I will be doing the same thing shortly, just picked up my donor cab this past weekend!

Thanks stampy!! Good luck with your build!!

Rick

Re: 1974 Stepside Project

Yes!! Nice big pics and hard work. Subscribed!!!

Re: 1974 Stepside Project

Quote:

Originally Posted by 77K10Silverado (Post 7233931)

Yes!! Nice big pics and hard work. Subscribed!!!

Thanks Mike! I'm really liking your build as well. Truck looks good.

Rick

Re: 1974 Stepside Project

Quote:

Originally Posted by rusty76 (Post 7236140)

Man your on a ball.

Thanks! Really like reading the story behind your build.

Re: 1974 Stepside Project

Been busy working on getting the right side metal work done. I was able to get the outer rocker mounted as well as the cab corner. I've definitely learned that doing butt welds is a real pain! It takes a lot of patience.

This is some finish welding of the floor pan and under seat patch.

http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/...psxm9ajxuf.jpg
http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/...pshmbeibtm.jpg
http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/...psprnfwwvv.jpg

Outer rocker and cab corner going on.

http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/...psupgmr0wk.jpg
http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/...ps8xbatlpc.jpg
http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/...psygirbitb.jpg
http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/...psukbexzly.jpg
http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/...psw1hpq7uy.jpg
http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/...psovwuiavq.jpg

I definitely had the gaps too wide for the butt welds and caused tons of blow through. Had to really work at getting my welder set up right and got a little better as I progressed. I'll have some updated pics later.

Re: 1974 Stepside Project

Love the detailed pics of rust repair. I need to do it myself one of these days.

Re: 1974 Stepside Project

Quote:

Originally Posted by chevytrucksforme (Post 7236954)

Thanks! Really like reading the story behind your build.

Boy I wish I could say I've gotten stuff done. But honestly life has been in the way here lately. Great work on the patching. It looks great.

Re: 1974 Stepside Project

Quote:

Originally Posted by chevytrucksforme (Post 7266446)

Not sure why the new pan had this kick-up on the corner but I'll need to relief cut it to fit properly.

Yeah, I was wondering the same thing myself. Seems odd to come that way...

Re: 1974 Stepside Project

I'm in the middle of all this myself, have any update's? It's nice to find someone who didn't just drop it off at a shop, AND who took pics lol.

Re: 1974 Stepside Project

Hey guys, it has been a little while since I've posted any updates. Just like a lot of you, other things get in the way of working on the project so it's been slow recently.

I did get the frame all stripped down, rust proofed and painted. Not sure why I didn't take pictures of the finished product but I'll get some when I get the garage organized better.

Currently working on the driver's side rust repair. Just like the other side I'm replacing floor, inner rocker, outer rocker, cab support and kick panel. This side isn't as bad but I decided to go ahead and replace everything since I already had the replacement panels.

I turned the cab over with the floor up for starters just to have easier access to the cab support. Added some casters to a pallet and laid the cab on it so I can still move it around.

http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/...pseqwey3pq.jpg[/URL]

A look at the bottom of the passenger side repairs. Not finished yet. I still have some welding and clean up to do.
http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/...pshogt8and.jpg[/URL]

Driver's side before cutting things out.

http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/...pshkkfamzn.jpg[/URL]
http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/...pshq8zanuf.jpg[/URL]

New support welded in.
http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/...psjmdzukhe.jpg[/URL]

Re: 1974 Stepside Project

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jrgunn5150 (Post 7566898)

I'm in the middle of all this myself, have any update's? It's nice to find someone who didn't just drop it off at a shop, AND who took pics lol.

Thanks Jr! You motivated me to post an update!!

Re: 1974 Stepside Project

I am in the middle of the same rust repair myself. A couple things I have learned about but welds....I find it works best to cut through the new steel and through the old steel at the same time with a .040" cut off wheel. This gives you a perfect and consistent gap. I also bought some but weld clamps from Harbor Freight. This made my work much cleaner.

Re: 1974 Stepside Project

Quote:

Originally Posted by daddyjeep (Post 7568462)

Thanks, I believe I saw that idea on one of Kevin Tetz's videos as well. I definitely need to try it cause my cuts aren't matching up well at all right now.

I like your truck build. Looking to get a crew cab myself after I get a little further on this one.

Re: 1974 Stepside Project

Quote:

Originally Posted by chevytrucksforme (Post 7568229)

Thanks Jr! You motivated me to post an update!!

And I appreciate it! The pics are really helpful, I'm going to be working on mine this weekend.