83/84 swb stepside long time build
 

Well I've been a member of this site for about a year. Very good info on here. Here is my sorry story. Bought my 1st C-10 in my early twenties. 1983 Chevy SWB step side. Started to work on it and found out the frame was twisted. So I found another 83 SWB fleetside. Attachment 1236789 not my dog.

Re: 83/84 swb stepside long time build
 

Married the new frame and cab with the step side box. Then sold old twisted frame to someone. I did tell them about the frame. Worked on the truck over a couple of years. It was my daily driver so everything I did was done on weekends. At the time there wasn't very many people in S. Florida working on these trucks. So all info I had was from mini truck people. Lowered the first time with coil springs and flip kit. Then went to drop spindles, bags and a triangulated rear with bags. Painted frame and the cab. Redone the interior. Had another vehicle at this time. This was around 2000.

Re: 83/84 swb stepside long time build
 

Re: 83/84 swb stepside long time build
 

Re: 83/84 swb stepside long time build
 

Re: 83/84 swb stepside long time build
 

Well found a friend of a friend that had a 96 LT1 and 700R that would install, wire and program for me for pretty good price. Took it to him and left it with him. Then life happened over the next 12 years. Meet my wife, got married, had kids , lost my job, and now life is getting a little easier again. Stayed in contact with the guy with my truck and he was cool. Was storing it till I was able to get started back up. Got back up with him early last year. He said he still had truck and would love to finish it for me. Said he had two other vehicles he had to finish before he could get back to mine. Said about a month. well that was over a year ago. Through many texts and phone calls and nothing but delays. He now don't even answer texts and phone calls. So i've decided to buy another truck. Because over the last year I've purchased full Porterbuilt suspension and Accuair e level with plans to install on my truck. I'm hoping the new truck I bought is just a frame donor for my other truck.

Re: 83/84 swb stepside long time build
 

Picked this 84 up the other day. Hoping it's just a donor frame I can redo the suspension and paint the frame for my other truck that has a new intrior.Attachment 1236807

Re: 83/84 swb stepside long time build
 

Re: 83/84 swb stepside long time build
 

Re: 83/84 swb stepside long time build
 

Re: 83/84 swb stepside long time build
 

Got this truck pretty cheap and it is in pretty decent shape. Not much rust at all. Got started pulling it aprt. Need to hurry up and get it the garage before the HOA jumps all over me.Attachment 1236814

Re: 83/84 swb stepside long time build
 

Well the HOA sent me a warning. Had to clean up the garage a little and make room for the truck. Attachment 1241098

Re: 83/84 swb stepside long time build
 

All good. Going to start work on the rear suspension tomorrow.

Re: 83/84 swb stepside long time build
 

Re: 83/84 swb stepside long time build
 

well I got started on the rear suspension. Stupid little Harbor Freight air compressor wont run my impacts. Had to turn wrenches. Took me awhile to get everything off. Rivets are a pain when you have to grind the heads off.Attachment 1241517

Re: 83/84 swb stepside long time build
 

Do any of these side holes line up with any holes in the frame?Attachment 1241521

Re: 83/84 swb stepside long time build
 

Never mind. I found the instructions in my office filing cabinet. The instructions clearly say no factory holes line up on this piece. Also gives a measurement for the center of the bridge.

Re: 83/84 swb stepside long time build
 

Made a little progress today. My air compressor decided it wanted to help out today. Lot easier with air tools.Got both notches and the bridge in. Started to put the bottom caps on and ran into a little alignment issue.Attachment 1242375

Re: 83/84 swb stepside long time build
 

I pried the bridge all the way up and got nothing. Thinking that I will have to grind the tops og the caps to allow the holes to align. Wanted to make I didn't screw anything up, so I called Porterbuilt to make sure I was making the right call. That's what was recommended.

Re: 83/84 swb stepside long time build
 

Attachment 1242376Here's a picture the bridge and notches.

Re: 83/84 swb stepside long time build
 

Still have to grind a little more off the front cap.Attachment 1242378

Re: 83/84 swb stepside long time build
 

I'm really impressed with the quality of Porterbuilt's work.

Re: 83/84 swb stepside long time build
 

Had to get a little creative today. The back support bar didn't want to go in.Attachment 1242834

Re: 83/84 swb stepside long time build
 

Got all the notch and bridge work done. Hopefully going to get the 4 link installed. Have a few questions. How do I set the pinion to zero? And not really sure all the different size bolts go?

Re: 83/84 swb stepside long time build
 

Re: 83/84 swb stepside long time build
 

Here's the 3 different size bolts I have.Attachment 1242836

Re: 83/84 swb stepside long time build
 

I would Love to help with the bolt thing... but I have no idea. But I'm sorry about the other truck. Maybe that situation will work out for you!

Re: 83/84 swb stepside long time build
 

Well i think i figured out the bolt thing. And also think I'm just going to align the pinion with the current drive train and tack in place for now. Later when I decide on new drive train I'll weld in place then.

Re: 83/84 swb stepside long time build
 

Got the rear links bolted in place and the brackets ground off the axle. Tomorrow should be able to get brackets tacked in and bags in place and temporarily plumbed.

Re: 83/84 swb stepside long time build
 

Re: 83/84 swb stepside long time build
 

had to see what it was going to look like in placeAttachment 1243254

Re: 83/84 swb stepside long time build
 

here'sAttachment 1243255 another

Re: 83/84 swb stepside long time build
 

Well today was EPIC FAIL!!!! Got the 4 link hooked up and got the brackets and axle all lined up. Triple check all my measurements before tacking. Checked my little Hobart 125 mig welder settings. I know it wont work for welding the 4 link brackets to the axle tubes. But, really thought it had enough to get the tacks down to hold everything in place. Then I went to do my first tack and it wouldn't even burn into the tube at all. Checked all my settings again and tried again. Still the same. Well I went around doing some small tacks hoping it would hold, knowing it would probably not. Got done and went to pump the jack raising the rear end and heard a couple little pings and then everything let loose and rear end fell off the jack and the 4 link hit the floor. Was so pissed. Bad thing is the only 220 I have is upstairs in my laundry room. So thinking about renting a Arc welder that runs on gas tomorrow.I knew there was a reason I wanted a bolt in kit.

Re: 83/84 swb stepside long time build
 

Well I checked on renting a welder. Never used the one the rental shops had. So I've decided to try and tack the front brackets in and unbolt everything and take the rear end to a shop to get welded. Set everything back up and tacked front 4 link mounts in. Then as I was removing the rear end, Noticed that the top of the brackets were angled slightly to the outside at the top. Was wondering if this is normal? Attachment 1244397Attachment 1244398

Re: 83/84 swb stepside long time build
 

Took rear end to a local shop and got them to tack all the 4 link brackets in place So the rear suspension is all in and bolted. Just have small tweaking to do when I get final drive train in.I was going to hook up air to it, but the fittings that come with the Accuair kit don't fit the air sleeves. LOL nor do they fit the front bags.

Re: 83/84 swb stepside long time build
 

Attachment 1244833

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Re: 83/84 swb stepside long time build
 

next weekend hope to get to the front. Attachment 1244836 Bye Bye New PB stuff coming

Re: 83/84 swb stepside long time build
 

Got the front clip off today.Attachment 1246786

Re: 83/84 swb stepside long time build
 

Had a couple final exams this week. So just had a few hours today to do a little work.Attachment 1249286 Hopefully tomorrow I can get the new cross member in.

Re: 83/84 swb stepside long time build
 

All I have to say is this Porterbuilt stuff is awesome! With now shims the camber on the wheels aired out is very little. I'm unsure of which brakes I want, so I haven't gotten drop spindles yet. Since it seems all kits that fit these trucks seem to be sold with CPP spindles. After talking to to Travis from Azproperformance and CPP about their brake kits. Both said if I got a set of CPP spindles now, they would take it off the brake kit later. VERY COOL! I really like the customer service from Azproperformance. So I have some CPP spindles coming next weekend. Got all the Porterbuilt front and rear installed. Still need to remove some cable brackets and the transmission bracket and should go down a little more. My welder isn't strong enough to weld the frame so I didn't install rack and pinion and notches yet. Attaching some pictures.