1980 Stepside gmc

[bagged01extcab]

I thought I’d do a build thread on my current project. I bought what I thought was a rust free 1980 stepside truck that was once a city of Palestine Tx city truck. The transmission was shot but it cranked and ran. It was supposed to be my “shop” truck but has turned into a full build. I’ll try to catch up to where I’m currently at in the build and keep it updated.

Pic from when I first got it and was carrying it to the trans shop


Pic after it was running and driving


Pic with porterbuilt arms and bags in front with 6” drop in rear

[bagged01extcab]

then came the billets! Along with a narrowed 12 bolt Posi with 3:73 gears


And bagged the rear with just a c notch


This is where it turned full build! The truck was originally school bus yellow and had a cheap, low quality, old paint job on it. I couldn’t stand looking at the yellow, especially the inside. So I started blowing it apart

[bagged01extcab]

So much for rust free. I climbed all over the truck when I purchased it but there was some hiding in both wiring channels and after blasting the passenger side body support had rust




Cab removed


I had painted the rear and front of the frame and with the cab off, I cleaned and painted the rest


Body mount rust after blasting

[bagged01extcab]

Cab blasted


Rust repaired




Etching primer


Raptor liner sprayed

[bagged01extcab]

First time I have ever sprayed raptor liner. I was very impressed with it!


Cab back up right and stripping all of the factory black gunk off firewall. I also welded up the blower motor hole. I will be using a vintage air ac and the block off plate is ugly


Finished prepping the interior and primed




And I found another spot of rust in the passenger side cab corner. I cut out that section and repaired it but forgot to get a pic

[bagged01extcab]

Body work done on cab and ready for primer


Outside primed with ever coat super build 4:1. It was the first time I’ve used it and I love it!

I sprayed all of the inside with white raptor liner except for the dash

[Palf70Step]

Love the truck. Can't be a square stepside!

[PunishedC10]

Looking good! I thought it looked good bagged with the rallies hahaha
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[NJRC10]

Cannot wait to see it finished. Very nice build

[82Diesel]

Wow really nice job!

[lolife99]

Subscribing to this one.
Cool truck!

[Rich84]

Wow..This is going to be another beautiful Stepside..

[rip2174]

How much did you have to narrow the rear end?

[bagged01extcab]

Thanks for all of the compliments! I have been working on the truck pretty regular. I’ve been cleaning, blasting and painting a lot of parts, bolts, nuts, brackets and etc. it’s time consuming and doesn’t make for any cool pics.

Originally Posted by rip2174

How much did you have to narrow the rear end?

I’ll try to remember to pull a measurement tomorrow. I don’t remember exact numbers but it was as much as possible without moving leaf springs and still have room for the disk brake brackets. When I cut the rear ended, I used the large bearing ford outer to delete the c clips.

[bagged01extcab]

Originally Posted by rip2174

How much did you have to narrow the rear end?

I toke out 3.75” per side

[Dads79GMC]

I love watching these builds progress. Awesome work!! Mike

[Low Elco]

work looks great!

[808_67C10]

Looking sick... if you have time and the bed is still off, can you snap some more pics of how you did the rear suspension?

[bagged01extcab]

Originally Posted by 808_67C10

Looking sick... if you have time and the bed is still off, can you snap some more pics of how you did the rear suspension?

Texas two link with trac bar. Behind the axle brackets installed in front of the axle. That’s all of the pics I have. Let me know if want a pic something particular

[808_67C10]

Originally Posted by bagged01extcab

Texas two link with trac bar. Behind the axle brackets installed in front of the axle. That’s all of the pics I have. Let me know if want a pic something particular

Attachment 1878041

Attachment 1878042

Attachment 1878043

Attachment 1878044

Right on, thank you. I have the same Texas Metal 2 link... I was curious about how you ran the trac bar... never seen it on the link like that or with that much angle. How much power are you going to be running from that SBC? How much side to side do you get when you cycle the truck up and down?

[Dads79GMC]

Originally Posted by 808_67C10

Right on, thank you. I have the same Texas Metal 2 link... I was curious about how you ran the trac bar... never seen it on the link like that or with that much angle. How much power are you going to be running from that SBC? How much side to side do you get when you cycle the truck up and down?

Frank, I figured you'd be watching this build. It's a great example of a two link system without a big c-notch.

I'd like to see the actual links on both ends of the trac bar.

Well done!!!

Thanks Mike

[bagged01extcab]

Originally Posted by dads79gmc

frank, i figured you'd be watching this build. It's a great example of a two link system without a big c-notch.

I'd like to see the actual links on both ends of the trac bar.

Well done!!!

Thanks mike

[bagged01extcab]

Originally Posted by 808_67C10

Right on, thank you. I have the same Texas Metal 2 link... I was curious about how you ran the trac bar... never seen it on the link like that or with that much angle. How much power are you going to be running from that SBC? How much side to side do you get when you cycle the truck up and down?

It’s not a “Texas Metal” (Ekstensive Metalworks) built two link. I built it myself. Texas two link, is just what I called it due to it seems more common in Texas. Ekstensive rear kit uses a pan hard bar. Mine is a trac bar. I’ll try to get some pics of trac bar mounts today

[808_67C10]

Originally Posted by bagged01extcab

It’s not a “Texas Metal” (Ekstensive Metalworks) built two link. I built it myself. Texas two link, is just what I called it due to it seems more common in Texas. Ekstensive rear kit uses a pan hard bar. Mine is a trac bar. I’ll try to get some pics of trac bar mounts today

Ah, I get it. I am no expert but, how does the trac bar keep the axle square under the frame and keep it from shifting when it is mounted to both the links? Those spring pockets don't have a lot of strength much less the strength of the single bolt holding the link. Shouldn't one end be mounted to the frame to keep shifting to a minimum? By the look of the wheels you are running, you don't have a lot of side to side room to play with. Not to mention the need for strength of keeping the axle in place under load.

Not dogging your engineering, just trying to understand it as I am about to do mine soon. I really like how you mounted the bags with the cross bar. I was thinking of doing a wishbone to keep the axle square under the truck and give it another point of strength with the two link - and it won't allow the axle to go from side to side like a pahhard bar does. I had that problem with my 67 c10.

[bagged01extcab]

I installed noico 80 mill butyl sound deadener inside the cab and started putting some things back in/on the cab. I cleaned up the inside wiring harness and rewrapped it also.







Cab ready to go back on frame


Cab on frame and bolted down. I also installed driveshaft, valve covers, intake manifold and water neck


Today I also painted the drivers door hinges, some bolts, and the vintage air block off plate base/clear white. I had planned to paint the passenger side to but it needs bushings. I’ll paint it with the next batch.

I have also started body work on the passenger door and have been looking for a clean drivers door but have not been able to locate a decent one. The original driver door was straight and rust free but was cracked around the upper hinge bolts. I have a parts truck out back that has the large tow mirrors that otherwise has decent door on it. It’s looking like I’ll be welding the holes up on it, unless I just get lucky and find a door