1980 Short Stepper Budget Build

[Jaysonb]

I got some paint on the cab today. In spite of a few bugs, it turned out pretty good. Nothing a cut and buff won't take care of.

[Jaysonb]

Time to start working on the box. It's pretty straight, has some small screw holes to weld up, no major body work though. There is some old undercoating on the box sides that might sucks to get off. Unmasked the truck and pulled it out side, it looks pretty sweet. I'm getting excited to get it done.

[Jrgunn5150]

Were your bedsides held on with the Torx screws also? How did you get them off?

[Jaysonb]

Originally Posted by Jrgunn5150

Were your bedsides held on with the Torx screws also? How did you get them off?

The fenders were not original to the box, they were just bolted on with regular bolts.

[Jrgunn5150]

Originally Posted by Jaysonb

The fenders were not original to the box, they were just bolted on with regular bolts.

Lucky you , thanks for the info.

[Jaysonb]

I got the inner fenders painted, I painted them the body color, I got the door weatherstripping installed, got the rear glass installed, and broke the windshield trying to get it in. It had a chip on the edge, and that's where it cracked. It didn't have the antenna in it anyway, so not a real big deal.

[Jaysonb]

Here's a few pics.

[Jaysonb]

Picked up my seat today. Just about have the carpet in. I also got the door glass and vent windows installed. I still need to finish the box, I just need a little break from sanding.

[Jaysonb]

I put some lowering shackles in today, and dropped the rear 2 more inches. I put the box, and fenders on to check everything for clearance. I'm going to have to tweak the exhaust a little, but everything else looks good. Saturday I'm going to put the rear bumper, and tail lights on, and go for a drive to see how the new motor runs down the road.

[rip2174]

nice looking truck

[Jaysonb]

I got the inner fenders installed, put a little of the front end back together, and put the wheels on. I took the bow tie out of the grill, I'm having a guy cut a few out of stainless for me. I went to town this morning and got a new windshield, and I ended up with about a 2" crack in that too. That lmc weatherstripping is some pretty stiff crap.

[tinydb84]

Looks great

[Jaysonb]

Well, I put about 200 miles on it! Pretty fun to drive. My transmission pan started leaking a little, so I tightened up the bolts just a little. Then it really leaked, so I put a new pan, with a drain plug, and a nice moroso gasket, and the power steering pump leaks a little, so I'm going to swap that out this weekend. The motor seems to have alot of torque. I have a 600 edelbrock on there now, I'm going to try a 750 this weekend also.

[Jrgunn5150]

Originally Posted by Jaysonb

Well, I put about 200 miles on it! Pretty fun to drive. My transmission pan started leaking a little, so I tightened up the bolts just a little. Then it really leaked, so I put a new pan, with a drain plug, and a nice moroso gasket, and the power steering pump leaks a little, so I'm going to swap that out this weekend. The motor seems to have alot of torque. I have a 600 edelbrock on there now, I'm going to try a 750 this weekend also.

Interesting, i went from a 750 Edelbrock to a 600 Quickfuel lol.

Did you use SS paint? Or is that their BC/CC?

[Jaysonb]

I'm going to try the 750 because it's just sitting on the shelf. I'm not sure if a 750 is to much carb for a mild 400, I wanted to try a holley type carb, but there is so many, and being on a tight budget, I figured I better just stick to what I know. I used the single stage, then the high solids clear. I've used it on a bunch of projects, and really like it.

[Jrgunn5150]

Originally Posted by Jaysonb

I'm going to try the 750 because it's just sitting on the shelf. I'm not sure if a 750 is to much carb for a mild 400, I wanted to try a holley type carb, but there is so many, and being on a tight budget, I figured I better just stick to what I know. I used the single stage, then the high solids clear. I've used it on a bunch of projects, and really like it.

Well, I drove my mild 400 back to Michigan from Little Rock with the Edelbrock. It ran well, other than in Little Rock, they don't need chokes, so the guy I bought it from had thrown the entire thing away lol. So for the same reason as you, I went to what I know lol.

I have the exact paint combo in my cart on Summit now, thanks for the feedback, I wasn't sure. SOmetimes you can read too much on the internet lol.

[Jaysonb]

My wife wanted to ride her bike this summer, so I finally pulled them out of storage. It's warm, and sunny, all of the sudden I can't find my working on the truck motivation.

[Jaysonb]

I made a nice little bracket to mount the fuel pressure regulator on one of the front carb studs, and mounted a guage where I had the filter. Then I put the filter right before the pump. I got my door mirrors mounted also. The transmission still leaks after the new pan install, it looks like the front pump bolts might be leaking, not what I wanted to see....

[DBLSPRT68]

This is a sweet truck! I'm now following because of how impressed I am with your work.

[UKNOWME]

Great work and progress!

[Jaysonb]

Thanks guys. Well, I got the transmission pulled, and cleaned up, again. This will be the 3rd time, I pulled it when I bought the truck, and had it rebuilt, I pulled it to clean and paint the frame, and this time. It looks like the o-ring around the pump is leaking. It's all scrubbed down, should I spray a shot of aluminum paint on it, or just leave it bare?

[Jrgunn5150]

Originally Posted by Jaysonb

Thanks guys. Well, I got the transmission pulled, and cleaned up, again. This will be the 3rd time, I pulled it when I bought the truck, and had it rebuilt, I pulled it to clean and paint the frame, and this time. It looks like the o-ring around the pump is leaking. It's all scrubbed down, should I spray a shot of aluminum paint on it, or just leave it bare?

When I used to sell transmissions, I would hit them with adhesion promoter, then paint. Some say it traps heat, some say it doesn't matter. I don't think anyone out there is saying, "If only I hadn't painted it" lol.

[Jaysonb]

I think I'll shoot a little paint on it, that way when I have to pull it out in another few months for some reason, it will clean up easier. There is nothing I hate worse than a leaking truck.

[Jaysonb]

Well, my transmission seals came in the mail today, it's all sealed up, and back in. I hope it's all sealed up!

[UKNOWME]

I fought with my 700r4 and never could get it to quit.