1971 Stepside LS Build

[1971Stepside]

ou've got to be getting very close to "drive" time on this build???

Good observation fine sir. I have to finish the following:

1. Complete brake line bending and install
2. Bleed brakes
3. Brake pedal install and modification for booster attachment
4. Gear oil put in rear end
5. Drive shaft painted and secured
6. Complete steering wheel install
7. Check all steering torque settings (really everything under the truck)
8. Hope it all works

I made this list since you got me thinking about it. Wonder what I am missing. Oh, I need good weather for sure. Probably be April before I actually get to do the maiden voyage at the pace I'm going.

[1971Stepside]

Shifted gears to work on the bed wood. The shop I bought the wood from is going to CNC the bed strip grooves in it this week.

[MDPotter]

What kind of wood and finish are you going with?

[1971Stepside]

What kind of wood and finish are you going with?

It is hard maple. I will do a poly finish on it to keep it light in color.

[1971Stepside]

A few more items to keep me busy this weekend.

[MDPotter]

Here we go with the Vintage Air install!

What compressor bracket and belt did you end up buying?

Let us know how it goes!

[1971Stepside]

Here we go with the Vintage Air install!

What compressor bracket and belt did you end up buying?

I used Dirty Dingo Sanden 508 bracket kit for the compressor. If you are using the larger alternator it takes the Gates K061120 belt. If you are using a stock small alternator or other configuration look on the Dingo website for this kit and look at the installation instructions. It list all the part numbers for the belts.

[1971Stepside]

Had a full weekend to work on the truck. Spent Saturday at the wood shop cutting the boards for the bed floor. Real happy with the way they turned out. Used hard maple that I will simply put poly on after it is all sanded. On Sunday, we worked on brake lines. Feels like I'm getting closer.

[1971Stepside]

more pics

[MDPotter]

You'll enjoy looking at your bed knowing that you did the woodwork yourself.

Are those the nicop lines? They look nice! What did you use to make the flares?

[mcm1209]

Awesome build. I'm about to start on my dream truck my-self. But starting with a frame and go from there. Keep up the good work!!

[1971Stepside]

You'll enjoy looking at your bed knowing that you did the woodwork yourself.

Are those the nicop lines? They look nice! What did you use to make the flares?

Yes, Nicopp lines. Real easy to work with and flare.

Awesome build. I'm about to start on my dream truck my-self. But starting with a frame and go from there. Keep up the good work!!

Thank you. My advice for you is to have a good plan and lots of money

[TA_C10]

Looking great man. The vintage air kit really is easy to install. My only advice(if someone asked) is to read all the instructions before you begin. Then put out on paper (especially the wiring) because there are some things you may want to customize/integrate instead of going VA route. I wish I would have known about the piping going through firewall. I would have rather gone with the bulkhead unit instead of VA stock using grommets.

Wood looks awesome. Ready to see the finished product!

.

[sprint_9]

Great looking work.

Judging by some of your garage decor you probably wont get much done on the truck this Sunday.

[1971Stepside]

Judging by some of your garage decor you probably wont get much done on the truck this Sunday.

It's Tuesday and I am already nervous for the game! It's crazy to finally have the Chiefs in a Super Bowl. Hope they can bring home a win. No work will be done on the truck all weekend and especially Monday after...

[TA_C10]

[1971Stepside]

This AC puzzle is going to be fun (insert sarcasm). I bought the unit for the interior in 2005. It is the cable version VA offered and uses my stock AC controls. The downside is making connections from the evaporator to the firewall is going to be a challenge for room. I bought the VA hose kit, but I am finding that very few of the fittings will work for what I need to do. I'm not sure I like the compressor fittings and the service ports. Going to be a lot of trial and error.

[TA_C10]

Originally Posted by 1971Stepside

This AC puzzle is going to be fun (insert sarcasm). I bought the unit for the interior in 2005. It is the cable version VA offered and uses my stock AC controls. The downside is making connections from the evaporator to the firewall is going to be a challenge for room. I bought the VA hose kit, but I am finding that very few of the fittings will work for what I need to do. I'm not sure I like the compressor fittings and the service ports. Going to be a lot of trial and error.

Yeah I feel your pain on this. I ended up heading down to the hose supply and rummaging through their parts bins to finally find the angles and fittings I needed to make it all work. Still wasn't how I would have done it if I went full custom but it's gonna be just fine for a daily. But as nice as your doing your truck, if I may, I would go buy my own hard lines and bend them just the way I wanted them. Then do the fittings just how I wanted too.

I've seen some pretty nice setups on here, hidden and not hidden. Good luck sir.

[1971Stepside]

First off....GO CHIEFS!!! Amazing experience to have your team finally make it and then win.

I said I wasn't going to work on the truck, but as I paced the garage waiting for the game to start I decided WTH, let's drill holes in the firewall. I have been holding out on this because I was a little nervous about getting the location right and trying to make all the interior hoses fit. I have a brand new Vintage Air evaporator...but it is from 2005!! So, it isn't like the new ones. So, with a good stout in one hand and a drill in the other I went for it. Got lucky! It all fits.

[1971Stepside]

I took the day off yesterday to recover from my Super Bowl experience. I ended up working on the front brake lines. Have some more tweaking to do, but will do that once the body comes off for paint.

[mcm1209]

Is that a bolt and nut holding the clamp for the brake line? Or a nut rivet?

[1971Stepside]

Is that a bolt and nut holding the clamp for the brake line? Or a nut rivet?

A nut and bolt

[KMC3420]

I assume you are going to just run one brake line down from the Wilwood prop valve to a T, then to both front calipers. The prop valve has provisions for running individual lines to both front wheels, but I'm unsure why it would be better than running a single line?

[1971Stepside]

I assume you are going to just run one brake line down from the Wilwood prop valve to a T, then to both front calipers. The prop valve has provisions for running individual lines to both front wheels, but I'm unsure why it would be better than running a single line?

I ran two lines. One for the rear and one for the front. The front line hits that t-block you see in the above picture. It then runs to both front lines from there. That first pic is a little tricky in that the line to the passenger front brake is not installed yet.

[MDPotter]

Originally Posted by 1971Stepside

I took the day off yesterday to recover from my Super Bowl experience. I ended up working on the front brake lines. Have some more tweaking to do, but will do that once the body comes off for paint.

Those brake lines look great. You must have had a pretty good day Sunday!