78 gmc heavy half stepside project

[INSIDIOUS '86]

Thanks sharkbait! Haha.

So far this week I've got quite a bit done. Man where to start...

Basically this week was electrical week. Started off with no working gauges and a bunch of mystery wires found out two blue ones in the engine compartment were for oil press and water temp. I ground them out and found them to be in perfect order. The volt gauge was working...kinda it was flickering at 8 volts. A quick look at the back revealed the clips that clamp to the gauge pins were rusty and corroded. So I took the whole cluster out and sanded every contact in the printed circuit. Threw it back in the dash and bam triple gauges work. But fuel gauge was still at 3:00 position. I changed to other fuel gauges and traced all the wording and still nothing. After the 499th time pulling the cluster I saw the pin 19 slot had some wear and traced the board to..the fuel gauge. Turns out prev owner had pin 18 and 19 switched. Once done bam went to e. so now the whole cluster was fixed

The next thing was the blower motor had no power. None of my fuzes were blown so I traced the wiring. Everything was dead past the junction box... Used a multi meter and found that the fuse was indeed bad. Pulled that and saw the soldering inside the caps melted and lost contact. Once replaced that got her blowing hard haha. Based on past experiences I made sure to keep my head out of the cab and let all the pine needles blow out in the floor and not stab my eyes.

So I got tired of wiring and looking at my horrendous dash so I got the ashtray and glove box door and found the screws for them. Everything looked dingy so I got some of my 3m perfect it III dark and a foam pad and variable speed buffer and the dash underneath and bolted all together. Took another suspicious wire and plugged it in to the cigarette lighter and hey that works now to. And the inside is starting to come together now to.


Next I decided to try the dreaded wipers...well they kinda clicked. Figured the ground strap being MIA was a culprit. So got my handy alligator clips and grounded it. Tried again and still nothing even after cleaning the contacts on everything....NOPE. Figured that was broke and moved on to the tail lights. For some reason the detachable harnes was cut out by a block of cheese or teething toddler. So an hour of soldering and some burnt fingers later the tombstones on back worked. Stilled ticked off about my scalding hot wiper motor I decided to take it apart and see what was going on. Glad I did. Sand paper and oil and she was back on track and turning like an old locomotive

At this point I was tired of the dash looking all cracked and making the inside of the truck look beat. Grabbed my $10 can of bed liner again( have a case of this now) and some spot putty and gave it an attitude change.


Not bad for 30 min of time on the dash. Decided that since I'm poor again till payday that I go ahead and get some seat belts in...some 69 superbee seat belts and 69 Camaro belts haha. Threw the seat and dash in and that's we're I'm at now. Plus the done light still works great when actually plugged in

Got a package in the mail from eBay too, the best timing light made in the world


Tomorrow I'm looking at another 12 bolt axle to throw in and get her moving!
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[Jabes1]

Looks good man... keep plugging away!

[Tx Firefighter]

Originally Posted by INSIDIOUS '86

........Decided that since I'm poor again till payday.....

That's funny you said that. I've got a similar truck of my own. It's a 78 longbed that I shortened to stepside and have been doing everything as cheaply as humanly possible. My wife made a decal for my tailgate.



That's been my motto when building trucks the last few years.
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[INSIDIOUS '86]

Haha yah. I think this bed liner spray is shortening my wallets life span haha I got so much of that stuff! I may just actually use it to paint the bed yet haha.
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[INSIDIOUS '86]

Well looked at that rear axle today. It was good but it had a real small pinion yoke. I may still get it but its still $100.

Not sure if I'm going to change the u joint to the smaall guy that's on there or repair throne I got and run 1350s on both ends. Wouldn't be bad considering I'm going to try a one piece in the future if the truck sticks around that long.
I'm leaning towards going the 1350 series cause I want to beat the crap out of it and the tires haha.
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[Jabes1]

You should get the axle for $100, that's a good deal. The pinion yoke can be swapped. I know its highly debatable, but buy a new seal, the 1350 yoke, remove the 1310, remove old seal, lube new seal, install seal, lube the 1350 yoke and torque it to 150ft-lbs. Ive swapped two this way in the past and they held up fine. Most people will say to reset your pinion, which is the correct way to do it, however I've done this twice, its worked for me... but ultimately its your truck and your money if for some reason it goes bad....

[INSIDIOUS '86]

Originally Posted by Jabes1

You should get the axle for $100, that's a good deal. The pinion yoke can be swapped. I know its highly debatable, but buy a new seal, the 1350 yoke, remove the 1310, remove old seal, lube new seal, install seal, lube the 1350 yoke and torque it to 150ft-lbs. Ive swapped two this way in the past and they held up fine. Most people will say to reset your pinion, which is the correct way to do it, however I've done this twice, its worked for me... but ultimately its your truck and your money if for some reason it goes bad....

That's what I was thinking but if I was to do that I would rather do it to the diff that's in the truck already.
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[Jabes1]

Whats wrong with the diff in the truck right now, just the pinion is small?

[INSIDIOUS '86]

Originally Posted by Jabes1

Whats wrong with the diff in the truck right now, just the pinion is small?

It's missing haha. The u joint on the driveshaft was newer and is pretty damn big and I have a pretty good feeling this was a drag truck before I got it considering its big block pedigree and why else would the u joint get changed.

I'm going to pull the diff cover and see what I got in there. If it has 2:73s I'm going to just recycle the diff and get some 3:08 or better gears.
Don't want to but it's better in the end.
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[INSIDIOUS '86]

Well just a little done today just before it really let loos with this rain stuff. Got the bumper in and took out a five gallons bucket worth of fir needles. Deer god that stuff gets everywhere. Played around with the tailgate some. Figured out the tailgate chains hold it up. Never knew that till today haha. My red truck is such a different animal than this. Two trucks about the same but totally different. Can't say that about corvettes and camaros now can you?


I just spoil you guys with pictures don't I?
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[77ChevySharkBite]

I think you do! So let me ask you something is that an 80's sport bumper?

[68Timber]

Are you putting the SM465 in this truck?

[INSIDIOUS '86]

Originally Posted by 77ChevySharkBite

I think you do! So let me ask you something is that an 80's sport bumper?

No that's actually a factory stepside "sport" bumper. There was a long and short version. I like the fact that it was kept with the truck. You don't see them often really. The short version is a little harder to get.
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[INSIDIOUS '86]

Originally Posted by BRUISER

Are you putting the SM465 in this truck?

Yah it's got the sm. the only transmission you can get for $50 and Never worry if it works or not haha. Wouldn't mind a Saginaw 4sp for just a nicer shifting and driving truck.
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[Low Elco]

As much as you yard, you ought look for one of the a-833 3spd w/od transes from the early 80's GM trucks. Cool deal if you can find one.

[68Timber]

That engine sounds pretty healthy. I'm curious if it can be fun to drive with the 465. I know they don't shift quick but still.

[cory d]

Originally Posted by BRUISER

That engine sounds pretty healthy. I'm curious if it can be fun to drive with the 465. I know they don't shift quick but still.

i drive the crap out of my sm465. i personally enjoy this transmission. i would put one in my next truck

[INSIDIOUS '86]

Originally Posted by BRUISER

That engine sounds pretty healthy. I'm curious if it can be fun to drive with the 465. I know they don't shift quick but still.

All depends on how you have fun. Personally I think it will be fun to dump the clutch at any speed and rpm and this thing will take it. Drag racing it may not be to good but gear jammin it will be still be fun. My other truck will be the fast one. This one will just do what my red one can't. Like go over speed bumps and drive nice in traffic and be able to drive out of town to do things with friends instead of getting a loan for gas or finance a road trip for gas haha. So in short I think it will be very fun, just of different kinds
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[INSIDIOUS '86]

Originally Posted by Low Elco

As much as you yard, you ought look for one of the a-833 3spd w/od transes from the early 80's GM trucks. Cool deal if you can find one.

I wouldn't mind. These transmissions held up to the hemi cars back in the day the non overdrive versions at least. My old man has a 496(440 stroker) with a hemi a833 behind it. Them are probably the beefiest 4spds ever made. 550 hp and 600ftlbs of torque in that sucker ain't breaking it yet haha. We broke a shift fork power shifting that sucker with thy big ole hurst pistol grip. Now that's what I would love in my red truck. A dodge trans with no overdrive
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[68Timber]

Thanks guys, that's what I wanted to hear. I have an extra 465, a 2wd version that came with some parts, so I guess I was looking for a reason to hang on to it. Insidious, love the 'junk yard dog' build. I'm probably not the only guy subbed to this build itching to rescue one on the cheap now.

[INSIDIOUS '86]

Originally Posted by BRUISER

Thanks guys, that's what I wanted to hear. I have an extra 465, a 2wd version that came with some parts, so I guess I was looking for a reason to hang on to it. Insidious, love the 'junk yard dog' build. I'm probably not the only guy subbed to this build itching to rescue one on the cheap now.

You will love my next project the haha

This weeks updates are: I got that axle that wouldn't work anyway...but for free. How? I traded of coarse with an engine I got for free! Lol traded a 87 350 engine carb to pan for a front suspension that was rebuilt for my blazer and that rear axle for the stepside.

I then went down to my friends house and grabbed my free ( you guys getting the theme here? ) k5 blazer that is currently 4wd to be converted later back to my place...had a few issues on the way there. Coming home a light changed rather quick and it slid off the dolly luckily the chains caught it before it ran us and tow pig over '92 1500 stepside.. Lifted it up and set it on a toolbox with the jack in the truck and then set the e brake on the k5 and put tow pig in 4 low...yanked the dolly underneath and set her back. After we wrapped the axles not the tires with the wheel straps and chained it good and set off again. The gas in tow pig and the $50 for the tow dolly was all I had this week so getting her home was the only choice no matter the cost. So today...was exhausting and fun.



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[Jabes1]

Those Blazers are nice... I would like to get one as well. A single cab C10 with a child's seat gets cramped fast! FYI... I've done 4wd to 2wd conversions. Non fun. The hangers and leafs are different. Rear cab mounts are different. Also even though you can make the front crossmember bolt in.... its not really bolt in. You'll see what I mean when you get to that portion of the K5 build. Ill def be watching your K5 build, so let me know please!

[INSIDIOUS '86]

Well the k5 will get a flip in the back. Although the frame may have the holes for the 2wd I'm sure "lining up" will be done with big hammers jacks and ratchet straps. Cab mounts I think are the same on 2wd and 4wd k5s. Hangers I don't know but the flip should be good enough and some 5 lug ten bolt axles should swap in...all when I get to it in due time on my build thread
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[Jabes1]

LOL... You're right about the K5 rear cab frame mounts, I was thinking C10.

[INSIDIOUS '86]

So I had a major setback today. Major in a good way. How?

This is why. Lol red truck needed some love. My pro comp distributor would only get 34* total timing with a 14* initial. Which is great...if I had vortec heads and not 70 Lt1 heads

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