1970 One Owner Short Step
 

Ok so I have been looking for a new project lately and I was lucky enough to stumble across this one owner 1970 short step-side in original paint. I bought this truck from Sandra Appelt who was married to the original owner, Howard Appelt. Sandra was awesome and explained the story of the truck to me.

Sandra told me Howard purchased the truck from the dealership (McRobert Chev Inc. out of Houston, TX) that he worked at. Sandra had the original title (which I had to sign and give to DPS unfortunately) that shows the dealership as the original owner and the proctecto plate showing Howard as the original owner!!!! This was very helpful because the title shows being signed in 1973, so i assume that it is a truck that sat on the lot for a while before being sold. Sandra was sure the truck was new when Howard purchased it. I have not done more research, but I assume since the protecto plate shows Howard Appelt, then he is the original owner (maybe someone who knows more about this can chime in).

Sandra was even nice enough to throw in the original service books with the truck, unfortunately the original plates are long gone. This truck was originally a 350/3 speed with a tach cluster all of which are still in the truck. The motor is now scrap iron due to it sitting with the heads off for the last 10-20 years (completely rusted in the cylinder walls).

Howard really enjoyed his accessories, so the truck is equipped with spot lights, fog lights, cb equipment (actual cb radio is missing), auxiliary gauges/tach, bed cover, air shocks and more. The original color is light yellow according to the glove-box. The truck also has the original glass (soft-ray) and the glove box advised it is tinted (I can't really see the tint but does have a light green tint on the glass which I believe is correct). The original full foam bench seat is present and still in decent shape.

Unfortunately the cab is completely rusted out. The rockers are completely gone as well as the top of the cab around the windshield, cab corners and very light rust beginning on the firewall. :lol:

This is very unfortunate because even the doors are original with the vin still attached to the driver's door and striker plate on the cab.

Since the motor, transmission, cab, and doors are gone I am going to do a fuel injected 2009 LY6/6L90 build. :metal:

And here is what everyone is waiting for....pictures!

Re: 1970 One Owner Short Step
 

more

Re: 1970 One Owner Short Step
 

more first week

Re: 1970 One Owner Short Step
 

more exterior/interior

Re: 1970 One Owner Short Step
 

rusty motor

Re: 1970 One Owner Short Step
 

Front look

Re: 1970 One Owner Short Step
 

the bed and extra parts

Re: 1970 One Owner Short Step
 

more extra parts...SOME ARE NEW OLD STOCK!!!!!!! :metal:

Re: 1970 One Owner Short Step
 

Tear down begins! My lovely supporting wife :)

Re: 1970 One Owner Short Step
 

Awesome, I love step-sides. Looks like a good project. Congrats.

Re: 1970 One Owner Short Step
 

Nice find the title is probably the date when the loan was paid off. You've done a good job with the other trucks so subscribed and watching

Re: 1970 One Owner Short Step
 

Thanks it should be!

I appreciate it. This is my first ls swap, hopefully I can keep it on budget! Either way it is going to be sweet. Ordered the fuel cell and trans/motor mounts this week. Next week will be tear down!

Re: 1970 One Owner Short Step
 

with the help of my dad I was able to get the truck torn down and sorted into piles (powder coat vs paint). Here area the results.

the po decided to add bumper gaurds and cut the frame for the head of the bolt to clear...

Re: 1970 One Owner Short Step
 

couple of shots of the cab and interior

Re: 1970 One Owner Short Step
 

The GM installed under-the-dash A/C unit and the lunch break shot.

Re: 1970 One Owner Short Step
 

A couple more at lunch and then some at 3:30 when I took a Dr. Pepper break. I don't have any end of the day shots where everything is piled up waiting for the powder coater. The front clip is completely broken down now and the frame is completely stripped. The header panel (last picture) is going to need a little work. It has a little cancer on the driver's side as well as the left bed side, but it shouldn't be too bad. :lol: famous last word I know!

Re: 1970 One Owner Short Step
 

last couple of pictures for the day. The left bed side has a little rot on the front edge but again this is some very nice stuff to work with. I will be tracking down some used cross sills and rear cross sill tomorrow along with some new cab mount bushings, trailing arm bushings, front sway bar and rear track bar bushings. bring on the wallet pain. :waah:

Re: 1970 One Owner Short Step
 

Subscribed. Looking good.

Re: 1970 One Owner Short Step
 

Subscribed. Going back with the yellow? Whose shop is that? Must be nice to have an open spot to tear down.

Re: 1970 One Owner Short Step
 

Looks like a killer project. Love the history and story. That cab is going to need some major love. You may be better off looking for a donor with less repair. Good luck with that. :)
Oh yeah, I love how fast these old trucks come apart.....it's the putting them back together that takes the time.
Subscribed.

Re: 1970 One Owner Short Step
 

Thank you I am very fortunate to have this one!

I decided to go with the dark green metallic bottom and light green/yellow metallic for the top and most likely saddle interior. And yes the big open gravel parking lot was very nice to strip it and my cordless imact helped a lot!



Thanks! It is a great story and I am glad to have all of it. I am in the market for a good used cab...this one is too far gone which is a shame because it is all original sheet metal. I also found a used right door because the right door has rust/cracks around the hinges as well as the bottom.

Update:

today I picked up a 5-lug rear end today to swap axels with. Also ordered my fuel cell from John at DBRods in Taylor. I had him build a 27gal so I can get better weight distribution and so I dont have to fill up as often:lol:

Ordered some parts from Mar-K for the bed, all new hardware for the bed as well as hidden bolt strips and new angle strips.

Just recieved the trans cross member from early classics as well as the new motor mounts/stands.

Sorry no new pictures yet. Maybe monday!

Still searching for a 5 lug cross front cross member with disc brakes.

Re: 1970 One Owner Short Step
 

Looks like a fun project and should be a great driver with the plans you have for it. I'll be following along. You guys didn't waste any time on the teardown! Maybe I'll get my 1st truck done before you finish this 3rd one... NAH!

Re: 1970 One Owner Short Step
 

Haha well this one is going together quickly, so you better hustle. I am sure you will have plenty of time to get to it next weekend :lol:

Update. So a lot has happened since I last posted. The sheet metal has been blasted and primed so body work can begin. The bedsides are good, but I had to replace all of the cross sills and the angle brackets (the brackets that attach to the bedsides for the wood bed). I found a donor cab, but unfortunately I will have to replace the floor, cab corners and rockers. Big money here we come (unfortunately). I have my LY6 and 6L90 in the shop and will be test fitting everything next week. I should have the harness back in two weeks and hopefully by then I will have a rolling chassis to drop everything into. I have a powder-coated frame and front cross member. I converted everything to 5 lug and disc brakes. The spindles are Early Classic 2" drop spindles. I bought a set of abandoned (new) rear disc brakes that I am working out placement on the rear-end. I ordered a set of hidden bolt strips from Mar-K and received them yesterday as well as a radiator and trans cooler from Speedway.

I am still deciding what wood I will be using for the bed...synthetic that I don't have to worry about tearing up vs. oak. I want to be able to use the bed when I need to, but I really like the look of hardwood. Fortunately I will have time to make this decision.

I will be using Jeremy from LSX Unlimited in DFW for my harness and initial tune VAT/Emission delete.

Re: 1970 One Owner Short Step
 

here are a couple of pictures of the motor/trans

Re: 1970 One Owner Short Step
 

That is an awesome power plant! very nice score. Sounds like you have a plan to get this truck on the road soon.