1980 shortbed frame off restoration. started in highschool.

[akc226]

hey, this is my first thread so sorry if something isnt right. on that note i started this truck my senior year thinking i could get it done in a couple months... year and a half later and way more money than i thought this is where its at...
1980 single cab short bed.
crate 350 produced in 2001 with around 10xxx miles on it
turo 400
208
stock half ton axles with 4 inch skyjacker lift and schachle flip in the rear
the color is mitsubishi evo grey

this is the truck i started with.

[akc226]

after i got it down to the frame i wire wheeled the whole thing and used rustoleum rust prevention and then undercoated it.

[akc226]

one of my buddys did the painting and helped me with the patch work(not the best but it will do, and turned out not half bad)

[akc226]

more patchwork

[akc226]

i tore the motor down and re-sealed it and painted it. i also wire wheeled the tranny and t case.

[akc226]

a few random photos from the build

[72longhornTX]

Looks great. I like the color choice. I know what you mean with the time frame. I started my first project my junior year in high school with a 72 c-20. I told myself I would have it driving and painted in a few months. About a year later it was driving. Never finished it though.
For learning how to weld on this truck I must say you are doing well. It takes time to become great at it. Welder settings help a lot. Keep up the good work.
Keep doing what your doing. It is your project and I'm not going to tell you what I think you should do. I think your doing well on it. Doesn't look like you are going the cheap route at all. That Haynes service manual saves your life. haha

[akc226]

Thanks! Ya I've been doin myu best to buy every part I can new. I've paid for 90 percent of it from buying and fixing cars on craigslist and then selling them. So its been slow.
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[stepside83]

deff a cool truck, thos wheels are sweet looking, i took my truck apart in 2008, and its still no where ready to drive yet, so im with you when the the time just slips away, awesome build keep up the good work and the pics coming

[GuZ]

looks great bud!

keep up the good work, and like many others have said in the past.....pictures pictures pictures!

Can't wait to see it in the sunlight.

[akc226]

thanks again. Tonight I'mgetting the windows in then its just a few things. I need all the interior pieces so when I get time I have to go strip them off a couple parts trucks I have around my house. But that's a chore when there 4 feet of snow and still coming down solid.
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[rocking chevy]

looks good

[ringger14]

I dig the color! I took mine apart expecting a few months to build and ended up doing the exact same thing. Frame came out, body worrk. A year later and most of the stuff is around it in boxes just waiting for finishing touches. What headers did you go with?

[akc226]

I got a set of brand new headman headers that where scratched for 30 bucks. So that's what's on it now. I'm no sure what mufflers I want to run yet though I'm thinking flowmaster shorty race series. I want it to be quiet at cruising speeds but loud when I get after it.
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[Gordonr1973]

Looks good!!!

[akc226]

update: today i had blue braded steel brake lines built and new hardlines on he axle. they turned out great, pics coming soon.

has anyone ever used one of the lmc plasticdash covers? i got one for realy cheap and i havent decided how i am going to hold it on. i was thinking spay adhesive?

[joe231]

Hey KC!!
Truck is looking good!
Those seats look sweet in there, got pics of what you did to make them fit?
Did you cut the floor?
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[akc226]

Ill post some picks tonight. I cut pretty much everything off the the seats. So they don't move back and forth now. But they sit pretty comfy.
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[twisted gear tim]

the build looks great!!! wish i had been able to do that to my old .... shhh.... ford... when i was your age! looking forward to seeing it done.

[akc226]

Ya I had a few vehicles before this one I thought of building. Started with a mx6 I planned on turboeing and all the goodies but I lost my license 10 months after I got it because of that car so I figured I should prolly sell it and get something a little slower so I got a 98 jeep xj with half ton axles lockers and a lot more but when I started breaking stuff and went to replace them it was hell getting the right parts someone else had fabbed in there. So I sold that to start my 80 build. I chose that truck because my dad always talked about the 80 he bought brand new and built up to be a mean truck back in the day. Well we happened to get that truck back from the person he sold it to(didn't take such great care of it) when I was 13 and it became the mudding truck. He made the mistake of letting me take it out down the trails one night with him and I ended up tearing the frame and ripping the front axle off on a stump so it still sits in the back yard and that's where I got the idea of building a 80. After this is done I'm building a toilet buggy. Toyota with a 350 and a 4 speed.
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[akc226]

i had some complications with the shop i was using so i had to bring it home where i dont have a shop or garage so its sitting outside right now. i put it on the back burner for the moment to get my yota ready for buggy season. then ill be right back on the shortbed.

[MTCK]

Cool build! What a freaking winter... I'll be curious to see how you finish it out. The truck looks awesome - especially like the color. I wouldn't mind seeing some seat pictures either. I'd like to swap a seat of that vintage into my 1977, but need to do the blazer tank install first so I can drop the floor a bit. Keep up the good work.

[akc226]

Ya this winter has been wild! And ill have to take some tomaro. Those seats are out of a 2007. And I didn't have to cut the floor at all. They don't slide back and forth but the tilt still works great. There tight though. Not meant for a tall driver at all.
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[1984chevypickup]

Nice truck I am also doing something pretty close to what you got going on with my 84 currently all in pieces in my garage I can't wait to get it up and running I rebuilt the trams and motor and am going to require it but I am not exactly sure what all goes where as I bought the truck all disassembled but it's a clean Cali truck silver like your thanks for inspiration to keep me going bad ass truck by the way and I am going to make a build thread this weekend hopefully
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[mineralgrey01gt]

I have a question for you about those seats. If you take the headrest off how much of the seat is above the window? I wouldnt mind doing a set in mine