1981 Stepside 5.3 swap
 

I joined this site two and half years ago when I bought my stepside and have done a lot since then. It has been through three motors including the original and lowered twice. The amount of information on this site is overwhelming at some times but becuase of all the information here I have been able to do the things I wanted to do to my truck.

I never started a build thread because I knew it would take me a long time to get it to this stage, but here is an over view of what all I have done in the past two years.

I don't have a whole lot of pictures when I first bought the truck, but here it is with 2.5/4 drop and a 383 sbc after I had the original 350 rebuilt.

Re: 1981 Stepside 5.3 swap
 

I loved the power the 383 had, but didn't like the driveability so I started researching a 5.3L swap. While looking and buying parts for that I also redid the entire interior. I had been through 2 dashes because of cracks and bought one of those urethane aftermarket dashes and didn't like the fit, so I found and swapped a 64-66 c10 dash into it last year. No more worries about cracked dash pads and it looks like it was made for the truck. I also installed the Dakota Digital VHX gauges after the 5.3L swap and wished I had done those sooner. I also found a set of lowback buckets on craigslist for dirt cheap to swap for the bench seat.

Re: 1981 Stepside 5.3 swap
 

Last but not least is the 5.3/4l60e swap. This took me about 3 months working a few hours each weekend and the occasional day off of work. It is a 5.3 out of a 2000 silverado with a little over 126k miles. I used the GMPP pan and the Dirty Dingo mounts. The pan is right at the bottom, maybe just below the crossmember. I was able to center the fan in the factory fan shroud with the adjustable motor mounts, but had to redrill holes for the transmission crossmember. The swap was very easy, I guess because I did my homework and had everything in front of me when I started. I have just over 200 miles on it now and it is a blast to drive.

Re: 1981 Stepside 5.3 swap
 

This is how she sits today. While I was doing the motor swap, I installed a rear flip kit and cut one coil off the front springs to give me about a 4.5/6 drop.

Re: 1981 Stepside 5.3 swap
 

Nice truck! I wasn't sure about the dash...then I scrolled down to the finished pics, looks great. What brackets did you use to relocate the a/c compressor? Looks like kwikperformance?

Re: 1981 Stepside 5.3 swap
 

very nice....love the dash!

Re: 1981 Stepside 5.3 swap
 

Diggin' it !!

Re: 1981 Stepside 5.3 swap
 

Nice work! Dash looks great. :metal:
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Re: 1981 Stepside 5.3 swap
 

Wow, love the dash! Truck looks cool!

Re: 1981 Stepside 5.3 swap
 

Thanks. The a/c brackets are Kwikperformance. They fit great and I didn't have any problems with them.

Re: 1981 Stepside 5.3 swap
 

I wish you'd have done a tech article on the dash install. I'm curious about how you fit and welded it all in. That's a great swap.
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Re: 1981 Stepside 5.3 swap
 

I wish I would have taken more pictures of the install also. It really wasn't that difficult at all. Once I removed the factory metal dash structure there was no turning back. I centered the column opening on the 64-66 dash on my column and made two brackets on each side that mounted where the 81 dash bolted to the cab. After that it just adding metal to each side to match the windshield curve, etc. I didn't pull the windshield, but mine is not welded to the windshield frame either.

If any one wants some pictures of how I mounted it I can take some, or anything else that may be of help.

Re: 1981 Stepside 5.3 swap
 

Picked this up off of ebay last week. It's from a nova, but is identical to the 66 c10 deluxe steering wheel. I wanted a steering wheel that fit the era the dash came from and this will fit the bill perfectly. I filled all the cracks with pc-7 epoxy this weekend and will start sanding next weekend.

Re: 1981 Stepside 5.3 swap
 

Dash turned out great, Steering wheel will look awesome when your finished with it .. Great build,I'm doing a 82 stepside now.

Re: 1981 Stepside 5.3 swap
 

Yeah thats perfect!

Re: 1981 Stepside 5.3 swap
 

Very nice work!

Re: 1981 Stepside 5.3 swap
 

Finished restoring my steering wheel last weekend and hope to get a chance to install it this weekend. I ground out all the cracks and filled them with pc-7.

Re: 1981 Stepside 5.3 swap
 

cool build, love the dash....lol.

Re: 1981 Stepside 5.3 swap
 

That makes 3 of us!

Honestly, as far as the exterior goes i would find a nice set of 20s, and just drive the hell out of it! super cool truck! any idea on how much the truck weighs, or any 1/4 times? really curious.

EDIT: This is Can't kech me, i didn't notcie i was logged in on my fathers profile.

Re: 1981 Stepside 5.3 swap
 

Thanks, I love the red on yours. Did you every get your speedo figured out?

Re: 1981 Stepside 5.3 swap
 

I looked for a used set of 20's all last year, but never found anything close to home that I liked. I just had a new set of BFG TA's put on last month so no 20's for a while unless I find a good deal. I don't know what it actually weighs now and don't know the 1/4 mile time, but I can get the 1/4 mile speed and time with the Dakota Digital gauges.

Re: 1981 Stepside 5.3 swap
 

I installed the steering wheel this weekend. I couldn't get the horn to work because the contacts are different.

Re: 1981 Stepside 5.3 swap
 

that wheel looks much better!

Re: 1981 Stepside 5.3 swap
 

Thanks, It feels a lot better width wise than that 14" billet steering wheel that was in it. I love your truck you and your dad are building; it's going to look awesome when you get it finished. You won't be disappointed with the 5.3 either. You are only about two hours away, maybe I can make it to Turkey drag this year and check it out.

Re: 1981 Stepside 5.3 swap
 

That dash looks great, how much did you use from the donor truck?
What size tires are you running?

Sorry for the questions but I hate to spend money on a n after market dash when I could have the look you achieved, awesome idea!