Project "FatBoy"

[HumbleChevyBuddy]

I've finally decided to post up my build. For those of you who haven't seen it, here it is. I've got a 1980 C10 Stepper which I purchased from a nephew in Ft. Worth, TX. It's got a 250 L6 automatic and is 2WD. I didn't get off to a good start with it. As I was towing it home, I tore up transmission on my 2003 Yukon (doh!). I actually purchased it for $1,500, but my wife says it cost me $2,900 because of the $1,400 for the transmission rebuild (note to self, adjust selective hearing module). It had just recently had a "paint job" done on it....which I'm not too fond of but atleast they got rid of most of the rust. The only rust I've really seen on the whole body is on some parts of the floorpan and front fender wells. Anyhow, on to the pics:

[HumbleChevyBuddy]

The first thing I did was tore out all the suspension up front, installed new urethane bushings up front, DJM 3" drop spindles, 2" drop coils, and a flip kit out back.

[HumbleChevyBuddy]

I also adjusted the backside of the truck by removing the chains and replacing them with Mar K hidden tailgate arms and some of their hidden latches. I also removed the stock taillights and the rear bumper and replaced it with a smooth roll-pan and some custom taillights and reverse lights. Then, I added a third brake light license frame. I also added some 1 1/2" spacers in the rear, since I didn't like how far in the wheels were (that's what I get for getting 8.5X20" wheels).

[HumbleChevyBuddy]

I had noticed the body leaning to the passenger side in the front, so I realized I needed to change out the body mounts. I get a set of urethane mounts and get them all put in place.

[HumbleChevyBuddy]

Now I'm on to the front end. I'm going to be replacing my 80 (rectangular light) front end with a 73-79 round eye front end. I ordered everything I needed for that project and should be getting it all in early next week. In the meantime, I started removing all the parts which will be replaced and hit it all up with some fresh paint. I also cleaned up the bumper quite a bit, leveled it out, and buffed it. Here are some pics of the before and after....now only if the parts would hurry up and get here!!!

[MotorHead Lon]

Good looking truck. Have you had any problems running the wheel spacers?

[bharrison1]

Looks great!!

[HumbleChevyBuddy]

Originally Posted by bharrison1

Looks great!!

Thanks! I still have a ways to go, but I'm starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel.

[mooseknuckles]

Man I like those early style front ends.....think I might do a swap someday!

[GMC Guy]

wow that looks awesome
where did you order the grille from?

[HumbleChevyBuddy]

Originally Posted by mooseknuckles

Man I like those early style front ends.....think I might do a swap someday!

I highly recommend it...makes the truck look sick...I love it!

Originally Posted by GMC Guy

wow that looks awesome
where did you order the grille from?

Thanks, bro. I ordered it off of eBay ($72 with free shipping). I want to say the company is Grill World or something like that. I comes with all the necessary mounting brackets, too.

Here is what the bracket looks like:


Here is where it bolts to on the core support:


I thought I was going to have an issue with the hood release, but your fingers fit right through the grill without any problems and just pops right back into shape when you pull them out.

[silvereagle07]

It's looking really good. The older front end looks awesome.

[STOCKISH]

Thats SICK! I love it!!!

[HumbleChevyBuddy]

Thanks, guys! It's coming along! I'm still trying to save up a bit for the frame re-alignment, since that will set be back a few bills. I'm hoping to get the frame re-aligned, suspension aligned, and finally inspection in the next month or so so I can finally drive this baby.

I've got a weird thing going on with my emergency brake, though. It seems to be stuck. Do you all know if maybe there is a spring or something in the rear drums that may be weak? I've been thinking about just doing a spring replacement kit on both drums. When I push down on the pedal for the e-brake, it doesn't pop back up once I release it. I've read some posts and the issue is definitely not inside the cab, like others note. It's almost like it's not releasing the cable from the drum brake assembly itself or something.

Any thoughts? I'd like to get this fixed this weekend.

[BBC Chevy Man]

Looking good. Were did you buy the hidden tailgate hinge kit? That is something I definitely want to do to my stepside.

[HumbleChevyBuddy]

Originally Posted by BBC Chevy Man

Looking good. Were did you buy the hidden tailgate hinge kit? That is something I definitely want to do to my stepside.

Thanks! I got the kit from Mar K. I purchased the hidden latches (part # 100265) and the tailgate link assembly (part # 102834). It was a bit tricky putting them on, but they work great! Now I just gotta figure out how to remove all the extra metal in the back where the chains connected to. I hope that helps!

[bark]

sweet ride, I read the rims are 8.5x20, but what make of rim, and size tire are you running? they look great with the drop,

[Devillusion]

Looks great!

[76stepsidechevy]

That thing is looking sweet man. I want a set of those hiden tailgate latches for mine now. Good move going with the older front end too.

[HumbleChevyBuddy]

Well, it's been a while since I've been on here, due to work related issues. I've got some updates and will post up some more pics later tonight (I've added some below). Since my last update, I've gotten my welding machine working and started doing some shaving on it (started with the stake pockets and starting to move my way forward). I've also finally fixed my e-brake issue (it was that cable afterall). I've replaced my shocks with some from Summit Racing, I tried making my headlights brighter but still having issues with that (might be the relays), and I finally added the new fuel cell and removed the side saddle tanks. Now I've got another issue, now that I've added the new fuel cell in the rear, it doesn't seem to be pushing fuel to the front. So, I've got my fuel cell in the rear, then as the fuel hose gets to the rear passenger frame rail, I've got a fuel filter after about 1 ft of line, then about 2 to 2 1/2 ft from there is the fuel pump. I've got one of those glass fuel filters, so I can tell that fuel is not even getting to that spot.

Does anyone know if there's something I'm doing wrong? Is anyone here running a rear cell with an electric fuel pump? If so, how do you all have it set up?

Now, on to answer some of the previous posts:

Originally Posted by bark

sweet ride, I read the rims are 8.5x20, but what make of rim, and size tire are you running? they look great with the drop,

They are MB Old School's from Discount tire. I'm running them with 245/40's.

Originally Posted by Devillusion

Looks great!

Thanks, I can't wait until I'm closer to driving it.

Originally Posted by 76stepsidechevy

That thing is looking sweet man. I want a set of those hiden tailgate latches for mine now. Good move going with the older front end too.

Thanks, now on to filling in all the extra holes I drilled in while installing them!

[Pop's C-10]

Looks killer

[HumbleChevyBuddy]

Here are some more pics. Keep in mind, the wiring and plumbing still has to be done right. I'm just trying to get it to work. Can someone please tell me what I'm doing wrong?

[HumbleChevyBuddy]

I forgot to post up my update from this past weekend. I re-ran the plumbing from the front with hard fuel lines. I also, installed a mechanical fuel pump. After a few key turns, she started right up! This weekend I will install the new front shocks I got, but I'm hearing different people saying that the 7727's are too short and will cause it to bottom out. I've got 3" spindles and 2" coils.

Has anyone encountered this issue with this type of a setup?

Sorry, I forgot to mention they were purchased from Summit.

[SCOTI]

Electric fuel pumps should be within a foot of the tank (as close as possible). They push fuel better than they can pull it. If you had a couple of feet of rubber line, it's also possible the pump was causing the line to partially collapse making it even more difficult on the e-pump.

[HumbleChevyBuddy]

Yeah, I figured the pump may have been causing the issue. That's the main reason I switched to the mechanical one. The mechanical one is a puller where the electric one is a pusher. I didn't have anywhere I could really install it for my setup, so I wasn't left with any other choice.

Oh well, it works now and I can drive her again, so I'll deal with the extra cranks in the morning time. I wish I didn't have to, but oh well.

Thanks!