1973 - 1987 Step Side fender splash aprons

[Jason S]

Hello all. I converted my 1987 fleetside to a stepside, long story short I had to/wanted to use 1973 fenders since they have a side marker light and there were some filler door issues i had to contend with due to dual tanks. This is my first squarebody build, I am much more experienced in GM muscle cars. My question is, was there ever rear fender inner splash shield on stepsides? It seems odd that there is nothing protecting the fuel tank, filler hose and vent line from kicked up road debris. I am not opposed to fitting my own custom made, but if there is something already available I prefer to just buy them instead of fabricating. Thanks.

 

[ali_c20]

Not that I know. The gas tanks sit in front of the rear tires and most of the dirt goes out to the back when driving. The front tires spray the whole bottom of the truck anyway, so protection on the rear doesn't make much sense.

 

[Jason S]

Not that I know. The gas tanks sit in front of the rear tires and most of the dirt goes out to the back when driving. The front tires spray the whole bottom of the truck anyway, so protection on the rear doesn't make much sense.

I suppose, but as soneone who enalyzes risk for a living, I do not approve. I know there were plastic shrouds around the bottom of the tanks, so it seemed odd that something so important, and flammable, was that vulnerable.

 

[bucket]

I suppose, but as soneone who enalyzes risk for a living, I do not approve. I know there were plastic shrouds around the bottom of the tanks, so it seemed odd that something so important, and flammable, was that vulnerable.

It's funny you mention those plastic stone shields on the fuel tanks. The earlier models did not have those. It turns out, all those stone guards do is trap debris and moisture, which rots out the tanks and the straps.

Some things are just better if left alone

 

[Grit dog]

^Hahaha yet i put them back on after replacing a rotted tank! Lol
It was packed with mud and may have been for 30 years. Other tank was pristine.

 

[ali_c20]

It's funny you mention those plastic stone shields on the fuel tanks. The earlier models did not have those. It turns out, all those stone guards do is trap debris and moisture, which rots out the tanks and the straps.

Some things are just better if left alone

I reinstalled the plastic shield but drilled drain holes. If I find to much dirt and moisture trapped behind it I will remove them.

I suppose, but as soneone who enalyzes risk for a living, I do not approve. I know there were plastic shrouds around the bottom of the tanks, so it seemed odd that something so important, and flammable, was that vulnerable.

The plastic shields are on the front bottom side of the tank. The gas tanks are pretty sturdy. If it would rupture because of a stone hurled to it they must be paper thin rusted out.
You could coat them with bedliner.

 

[Keith Seymore]

I suppose, but as soneone who enalyzes risk for a living, I do not approve.

I am sorry to hear that.

Keep in mind we built 15 million squarebodies. If 10% were stepside beds then that's still 1.5 million trucks.

If those trucks went 100,000 miles then that would be 150,000,000,000 miles without a fuel tank related incident, that I am aware of.

You might consider getting your risk-o-meter recalibrated.

The bigger concern would be (and was) visible out dings in the show surface of the fender and bed side. That's why they made such a big deal of the fleetside bed being "dual walled".

K

 

[Jason S]

I am sorry to hear that.

Keep in mind we built 15 million squarebodies. If 10% were stepside beds then that's still 1.5 million trucks.

If those trucks went 100,000 miles then that would be 150,000,000,000 miles without a fuel tank related incident, that I am aware of.

You might consider getting your risk-o-meter recalibrated.

The bigger concern would be (and was) visible out dings in the show surface of the fender and bed side. That's why they made such a big deal of the fleetside bed being "dual walled".

K

My risk-o-meter is perfectly fine thanks. It has provided me a very good living. I provide insurance for a lot of trucking and sanitation companies. I have seen more than a fair share of road debris related claims as well as road debris related catastrophies and fires. It happens a lot, and can be much more severe than you think. Run over a tire cap at cruising speed on the highway that just flew off a tractor trailer, very common in the summer by the way, and I guratantee it can tear off the fender of a step side. Of course that's on the more severe end of the spectrum, but road debris damages are incredibly common and are more likely to be reported to an insurance company, not GM.

As a former auto body shop owner, repairing dings or dents in a fender that are a breeze to remove is much less of a concern to me than a shreddded fuel tank and filler neck.

In any event, thanks for your input, if the mood strikes me and I have time to kill, I can put my creativity to work and just fabricate an aluminum diamondplate splash shield, that will not only look cool but provide at least a little protection that will soothe my ever analyzing brain.

 

[Grit dog]

My risk-o-meter is perfectly fine thanks. It has provided me a very good living. I provide insurance for a lot of trucking and sanitation companies. I have seen more than a fair share of road debris related claims as well as road debris related catastrophies and fires. It happens a lot, and can be much more severe than you think. Run over a tire cap at cruising speed on the highway that just flew off a tractor trailer, very common in the summer by the way, and I guratantee it can tear off the fender of a step side. Of course that's on the more severe end of the spectrum, but road debris damages are incredibly common and are more likely to be reported to an insurance company, not GM.

As a former auto body shop owner, repairing dings or dents in a fender that are a breeze to remove is much less of a concern to me than a shreddded fuel tank and filler neck.

In any event, thanks for your input, if the mood strikes me and I have time to kill, I can put my creativity to work and just fabricate an aluminum diamondplate splash shield, that will not only look cool but provide at least a little protection that will soothe my ever analyzing brain.

You must be fun at parties, lol.
You’ll have to fabricate anything that would protect the back of the gas tanks on these trucks. It never existed in OE or aftermarket form.
However, given your extreme aversion to a VERY low probability risk, with a low magnitude of damage and severity, I’m quite surprised you’re even considering driving a vehicle with the gas tank outside the frame rails.
For you to sleep better at night, it would make the most sense to install a suv tank between the frame rails at the rear of the vehicle. And of course armor it with a stout trailer hitch so you don’t need to take melatonin to keep you from counting alot of sheep while worrying about a tank rupture in a rear end collision!

Or more simply put, don’t worry about it, imo.

 

[Grit dog]

You must be fun at parties, lol.
You’ll have to fabricate anything that would protect the back of the gas tanks on these trucks. It never existed in OE or aftermarket form.
However, given your extreme aversion to a VERY low probability risk, with a low magnitude of damage and severity, I’m quite surprised you’re even considering driving a vehicle with the gas tank outside the frame rails.
For you to sleep better at night, it would make the most sense to install a suv tank between the frame rails at the rear of the vehicle. And of course armor it with a stout trailer hitch so you don’t need to take melatonin to keep you from counting alot of sheep while worrying about a tank rupture in a rear end collision!

Or more simply put, don’t worry about it, imo.

That said, how could you even consider putting yourself or your family at “risk” of being exposed to a traffic collision in such an antiquated vehicle with such rudimentary or even non existent safety features that are present and mandated in new or newer vehicles?
By that logic you’d be trailering this thing anywhere it goes, so you should be able to save the grief of your self induced fuel tank rupture worries….

 

[Jason S]

That said, how could you even consider putting yourself or your family at “risk” of being exposed to a traffic collision in such an antiquated vehicle with such rudimentary or even non existent safety features that are present and mandated in new or newer vehicles?
By that logic you’d be trailering this thing anywhere it goes, so you should be able to save the grief of your self induced fuel tank rupture worries….

All I did was ask a question, if you have nothing of relevance to offer you can scroll on. As far as parties are concerned, I'm clearly a far betterr choice that you since I am not the guy with nothing but nonsense to offer. If you dont like the topic, thread, or my outlook on how things work you are free to scroll on. Its not complicated, even for someone like you. Okay Todd?

 

[WebMonkey]

'monkey is sad now
AGAIN

at least here, i'm not the person who built/designed/tested the subject matter for decades.

when i try to help people on an amateur radio forum, i feel like this thread.
over 30 years in the biddnezz doesn't count for nuffin'

OP
some of the most informed people jumped in and answered your question.



'monkey

 

[TotalyHucked]

I get what you're saying but it's a non-issue unless you're in a 4wd that'll be offroad all the time. I've got close to 60k on my truck since I bought it (it had 104k on it at that point), 50k since the LS swap. Been cross country twice, 120mph a few times, ran over plenty of things (including tire gators) and never had issue one. It's an extremely slim chance you'd have anything happen.

FYI, Keith's an ex-GM engineer. If it'd been a problem, he'd know about it and a change woulda been made before the end of production of these trucks. The tank was unshielded all the way to the end in '91 so it clearly wasn't a problem.

You must be registered for see images attach

That said, I do plan to pick up the LS Fab panels just for esthetic reasons at some point. They're for the rear but I'm sure they could be modified for up front:

Stone Guards - 73-87 GMC Chevy Squarebody C10 Truck - LS Fabrication

The best custom Stone Guards - 73-87 GMC Chevy Squarebody C10 Truck on the aftermarket. Order now from the best catalog for classic truck parts.

lsfab.com

 

[Doppleganger]

There's alot of love in the air......

My truck was a central OR truck - zero rust anywhere except the tanks where those plastic canoes held and stored every micron of dirt the truck ever drove over and left mud, pine needles and heavy scaled rust. I ditched them (as GM didnt even use them for years anyways) and Rino-linered the bottom halves of the new tanks.

I suppose I would consider something more midevil in structure if I was off-roading or rock climbing, but for general use.....not worried about it.

 

[Jason S]

I get what you're saying but it's a non-issue unless you're in a 4wd that'll be offroad all the time. I've got close to 60k on my truck since I bought it (it had 104k on it at that point), 50k since the LS swap. Been cross country twice, 120mph a few times, ran over plenty of things (including tire gators) and never had issue one. It's an extremely slim chance you'd have anything happen.

FYI, Keith's an ex-GM engineer. If it'd been a problem, he'd know about it and a change woulda been made before the end of production of these trucks. The tank was unshielded all the way to the end in '91 so it clearly wasn't a problem.

You must be registered for see images attach

That said, I do plan to pick up the LS Fab panels just for esthetic reasons at some point. They're for the rear but I'm sure they could be modified for up front:

Stone Guards - 73-87 GMC Chevy Squarebody C10 Truck - LS Fabrication

The best custom Stone Guards - 73-87 GMC Chevy Squarebody C10 Truck on the aftermarket. Order now from the best catalog for classic truck parts.

lsfab.com

Thats what I thinking about, shields like that. Getting back to my origianl question, what I was trying to get at was if I was missing some parts. I bought the truck as an abandoned project with a bed full of miscelaneous parts. Since this is my frst attempt at a truck and I swapped the fleet side for a step side, it just seemed to me that something was missing. Thanks for your input. Jason