I started this restoration of our 77 Chevy pickup in May of 06. My wife, Judy, and I bought this truck in 1991 from a guy who had just restored it. We drove it mainly on weekends to our cabin in Lincoln, Montana. Over time the fenders and cab rusted out. It was pretty ugly by May of 06. I tore the truck down to the frame except for the cab and engine and then it sat in our garage for more than 2 years.

 

We decided it was time to finish the restoration so the "truck" was taken to R&R Body Shop in Lincoln last summer to have the cab corners, rockers and floor pans replaced. That work is done and now the cab needs to be taken down to the metal and painted. I bought all new metal except for the doors and the hood and those pieces are ready for paint. The cab and doors will be stripped and primed. The truck was painted Corvette yellow and I am staying with that color. The interior is now buckskin and it will be changed to black. I am either going to have the seat reupholstered or try to find a later model Chevy seat to install. 

 

I spent the month of April 09 working on the small engine compartment pieces. I have cleaned, sanded, wire brushed, primed and painted almost everything needed. The bed was pine and painted and I am replacing it with oak and stainless steel strips.  

 

The engine was tired so I had that rebuilt. I told the rebuilder to just build me an engine that would rumble a bit but be street friendly. I will put up details of the rebuild later. 

 

With a little bit of luck the truck should be on the road by mid June of this year (2009). These pictures are of the truck in 1991 and early 09.

 

Follow this link to a Picasa Photo Album that contains pictures of it after it was restored in 91 and how it looks today. http://picasaweb.google.com/mtnriderlinc/77ChevyStepsideRestoration#

 

I also have a Photobucket page that contains many of the same picures if Photobucket is easier for you. http://s651.photobucket.com/albums/uu237/Chevystepsidepu/?firstLogin=true

I am also a volunteer with the annual Lincoln/Seeley Lake Dog Race that takes place January. The 2010 race will travel from Lincoln to Seeley Lake and back.