Re: 1981_c10 Step-Side
 

After reading some posts on best ways to strip paint down to metal, I picked up some gater paint and rust wheels for the drill. Gave them a small try last night and think they are going to work well for me.

I know a lot of guys like using paint stripper but i live in an apartment and dont have a great place to do that.

Will post photos soon.

Re: 1981_c10 Step-Side
 

Wanted to show y'all my progress. This is all the hail dents i found on the roof....so far....

Re: 1981_c10 Step-Side
 

Here is my progress on the doors. After reading a lot of posts the rubber paint and rust removal tool seemed to be a fan favorite. I love it! The one door didnt even use the barely any of the disc and did the whole door in about an hour and half. Not bad i would say. I will finish the rest of the passenger door one night this week.

I plan to finish the roof after that. Then work my way through the front clip then the rear. I also need to order new seals for the windows. I will post photos of my vent windows i rebuilt.

Re: 1981_c10 Step-Side
 

Pics of after i took out the vent window. Also, pics of be starting the rebuild process. I will have to take pics of the finished ones later.

Note - this was my first time rebuilding these. I found youtube very helpful haha

Re: 1981_c10 Step-Side
 

Well, from the little bit that was left on the passenger door i found two more dents full of bondo. The PO must not have liked the passenger door very much... ha I will try to post some photos soon. I think i can work the dents out though.

Re: 1981_c10 Step-Side
 

Update, spent last night getting my vent windows and window channels put in both doors. Not too bad of a project. I will post some pics once i get some better photos!

Next is more paint removal. haha

Re: 1981_c10 Step-Side
 

Looking good so far! Its funny what you can uncover when you start stripping back the layers......

Re: 1981_c10 Step-Side
 

here are some pics of the doors and all the dent repair from on the passenger door that the P.O. had completed.

Any suggestions on polishing the metal? I want to run bare metal for a while.

Thanks!

Re: 1981_c10 Step-Side
 

I would just go over the bare metal with a DA to even it out. Up here in the rust belt you can watch bare metal turn to rust while you finish a beer. :)

Re: 1981_c10 Step-Side
 

What grid sandpaper for the DA sander? I plan on clear coating it panel by panel. Luckily in texas (and keeping the truck in the garage) i dont have too much flash rust.

Re: 1981_c10 Step-Side
 

Update: The 81 doors have been body worked and in black primer again. Will tackle the roof next. I ordered the rest of my 2.5/4 inch drop kit and hoping to get it on at the end of this summer. I will have to change out the wheels and tires i think. I am currently running 10 inch wide rims....we will see though. Also, dad and I will be taking our trucks to C10 national next week! Who else is going???

Look for the flat black 81 stepside and flat red 62 stepside!

Re: 1981_c10 Step-Side
 

We'll be watching for sure!

Re: 1981_c10 Step-Side
 

Nice looking 81'! not many of those around anymore.

Re: 1981_c10 Step-Side
 

Small update, got a new battery for the 81 yesterday (still under warranty so no cost to me), took her for a spin after filling her up with some ATF.....it all leaked out in about 2 hours. Found a leak on my kickdown cable. leaking pretty good I would say. Going to run tot he part store tonight and see if I can get if fixed before C10 nationals tomorrow.

Also, I got some of my lowering kit in...I was dumb and accidently ordered only 1 shock, 1 upper ball joint, and 1 lower ball joint.....so I made a second order today. an only blame myself.

Pics to come of the weekend. Pray the rain holds out.

Re: 1981_c10 Step-Side
 

Little update, I got the remaining lowering kit parts in and I dropped the 82 off at a local shop to get the kickdown cable replaced, emissions removed, AC re-charged, e-brake reconnected, and overall check to make sure the truck is reliable to drive.

Been about 9 years since I have driven the truck reliably. So excited to have it back.

Also, still working out a deal to have the truck painted!

Re: 1981_c10 Step-Side
 

Got the 81 back from the shop yesterday. They replaced the kickdown cable, dipstick tube, serviced the tranny, charged the AC, and and hooked up the ebrake.

The mechanic there was having knee surgery and i didnt get the tune up i was hoping or de-smog. But he told me he thinks the timing may be off on the truck. Still runs fine, just want her to run better. I am also almost done brokering my deal to trade my 59 swb apache for paint work.

Also, dad and i are picking up a mid 80s 3/4 ton crew cab. Pretty straight truck. Has rust in one rocker, needs a front passenger fender but pretty straight. Not sure our plans yet. Will be for sale soon though. Check out the pics. I wish i had the time a funds to build it...but i dont right now.

Re: 1981_c10 Step-Side
 

Got the truck cleaned up this weekend. Here it is back in black primer. I need to fix the windshield wiper since i broke a spring off while i was cleaning it. Still chatting with the guy about the paint work. Hopefully he can look at it soon. I will wait to install the lowering kit till after paint.

My wife's bmw took a crap on us and now she is driving my daily, so i get to drive the 81 daily now. I am not too mad about it.

Let me know what y'all think of the truck.

Re: 1981_c10 Step-Side
 

looking nice!

Re: 1981_c10 Step-Side
 

Nice job on the doors... I am right behind ya... gotta tear my girl down and do some needed body work and paint myself. I love the red interior!

Re: 1981_c10 Step-Side
 

Mine has been in the body work stage since i was 14 hahaha Hopefully will be painted this winter. Throwing around color ideas now.

My interior was originally maroon, but i like it it looks now. I need a new dash pad...probably look to getting one for when it comes back from paint.

Re: 1981_c10 Step-Side
 

Small update, drove the 81 to my parents this weekend so we could snap these photos. Truck ran really well at 70-75 mph the whole way with no issues. About 50 miles round trip. Also broke 120,000 miles with the trip too.

Re: 1981_c10 Step-Side
 

Also went through some pictures and found this one of a truck my dad had when i was growing up.

Re: 1981_c10 Step-Side
 

Well, I finally have a good update. My buddy came in to town for new years and we started (almost finished) the front lowering kit. Did 2.5 inch spindle drop, stock springs, stock shocks, new ball joints. Need to finish pressing old bearing races out of the rotors, install the new bearings and put the brakes back on.

Front should be done this weekend and will work on the rear drop.

Re: 1981_c10 Step-Side
 

Here is where i stopped, and my worn out shocks. Driver side wouldn't even let out haha

I also have a sway bar i will be installing. This truck didnt originally have one so any tips are welcome!

Re: 1981_c10 Step-Side
 

Plan is to put the sway bar and rear part of the kit on in the next weekend or so. Will, be posting lots of pics.

Also, got the green light from the banker to start looking for 5.3 ls engines! Whoop!