Re: 52 Project
 

Thanks for the help. I plan on using a 350 chevy engine and 700R4 transmission. I am not sure what kind of horsepower to expect the engine was bored .030 and overhauled before I got it out of a junk yard so I'm not sure whats in it. I would like to you a Ford 9 inch for the rear but not a clue less on what gear ratio to use. The rear wheels are 17 X 8, 255 50 R17. I let you know if I have any other questions. Thanks again

Re: 52 Project
 

I don't know about the 4ord 9", but with those wheels a 3.27 or 3.73 gear ratio would work good with the 700R4. I'm using the same combo (350/700R4)with the 10 bolt out of my '84 Z/28. A 12 bolt if you wanna run lots of RWHP!

Re: 52 Project
 

Do you happen to have any pictures of the fuel tank installation? I want to put a tank under the bed and plan on using a roll pan with no rear bumper and hopefully can find one that will tuck up underneath that you won't be able to see from the rear. What are the dimensions of your tank?

Re: 52 Project
 

My 59 has a 350 with the 700r and 3.08 in a 12 bolt.
I have 235-70r-15. Hwy cruise rpm is nice and stop light action is very good:rolleyes:

S10 rears are 2wd 58" and 4wd 60".

Brian...:cool:

Re: 52 Project
 

I used a tank out of a 97 Firebird/Camaro:

Re: 52 Project
 

I measured the rear end today the best I could and it is 62 inches. We jumped the gun a little and got the housing before deciding on the wheel/tire combo. I think he wants to cut the housing a little, but I told him to settle on the wheel and tires before going to crazy. I got the firewall cleaned up on Friday and it looks great. Now on to the floors and getting the cab mounted so that we can get the motor back in it. Things are progressing slowly but I only have one day a week that I can get down there and mess with it.

Bernie

Re: 52 Project
 

If you do cut the housing go over to pyle brothers. they did a nice job on mine. They put ford large housing ends on so I could use the bolt on Explorer disc kit. It was about 400 for the complete disc kit.

Re: 52 Project
 

We already have the brake set up from Wilwood. I forgot about Pyle Brothers...we got it from Moser and I am guessing that is where he wants to send it back to, but I will suggest them. It is going t obe a while before we get to that again.

Bernie

Re: 52 Project
 

I got a little done on the truck today. I installed the fuel tank that we got from CPP. Although it was supposed to be a bolt in, it was only close and will require some rework to get it completely finished. Here is a couple shots.

Bernie

Re: 52 Project
 

Looking good pgf!

Re: 52 Project
 

who is cpp is the from the former solviet union??? or is that ccp?

Re: 52 Project
 

Looking really good!

Re: 52 Project
 

CPP= Classic Performance Products

We have gotten several things from them and most everything worked great, but this tank is having issues.:crazy:

Bernie

Re: 52 Project
 

Looks like you decided to run a filler neck tube through your fender the way the tank sets.

Re: 52 Project
 

Daniel, yeah that is the way he wanted to do it. I kinda perfer through the bed, but it is not my truck;) .

Bernie

Re: 52 Project
 

Your daughter does great work. Wish I could get my kids to build my truck.

Re: 52 Project
 

Bishop, That is not my daughter, it is my brothers girlfriends little girl, but she really got into it. I have 3 boys they like to help when they are around. The oldest one used to help alot but he joined the NAVY and is not around. The other 2 always seem to have something else going on. But the cool thing is they are into cars and the middle one is working on a Toyota Supra trying to get it going and I think he is going to be putting turbos on it pretty soon. Even though it is not what I would build I think the car hobby is in good hands with the kids these days. He wanted a muscle car but they are to expensive for him right now. There hasn't been too much work on the 52, I did cut the tank and it is at the weld shop now. We ordered some parts that should be in this week so hopefully there will be some progress coming in the next few weeks.

Bernie

Re: 52 Project
 

Hey Bernie,
You are doing a great job on that truck. I had a '50 and a '53. I love that body style and kick myself in the ace everytime I see one. I agree with you on the next generation of car guy's. This hobby will not die, and tell your son thanks for his service and keeping our country free.

Re: 52 Project
 

[QUOTE=tell your son thanks for his service and keeping our country free.[/QUOTE]Tell him from me too! They (the Armed Forces) are not appreaciated enough! American's (in general) are taking their liberties and freedom for granted. Just my .02

Re: 52 Project
 

Thanks, I will let him know that you guys want to thank him. The funny thing is he is only a couple of hours away from you Daniel and his name is Daniel. Kinda ironic.

Bernie

Re: 52 Project
 

Do you ever have one of those days when thing go right and you think something is wrong? LOL I went down and messed with the truck on Sunday and knocked out a dent that has been there forever...since we bought the truck actually. Well I thought it was going to be hopeless and I would do the best I could but the damn thing poped out and I am thinking with a little more messaging I might be able to used it, instead of replacing. Well here is a couple of pictures. I am hoping to get the floor replaced this week while I am off and maybe we can start on the body work...starting to get exciting around here finally!!!!!!

Bernie

Re: 52 Project
 

Good deal!! Keeping my fingers crossed for you on that panel coming out for you!!

Re: 52 Project
 

Thanks Bret, My intention all along was to replace the panel, but now I think I might be able to save it. I am by no means a body guy but I even suprised myself with this one...lol. I am heading off to play a little more today and will keep you posted.

Bernie

Re: 52 Project
 

I had the same panel replaced on my '54. The PO told me that the truck was popped out of gear on a slight hill and the door was bent into the cowl. It actually broke the hinges. Good Luck!

Re: 52 Project
 

Ok I got a little ahead of myself...lol. I went down today and played a little more with the door, trying to get it shut and get the gaps correct. After some measurements I figured out the I was still about a 1/4 inch off on the opening. Well I tried to pull it around and finally had to cut the outer cowl panel to provide enough relief to pull the jamb around. After all that work I am still having issues with the gaps.....like the damn door still won't close...gggrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. I decide to call it a day and hit it again tomorrow. I was by myself so trying to hang the door and make the adjustments was really hard. I think I am going to have some help in the morning so maybe I can get it...if not I am going to take the hinges off and mill the slots a little longer and I think that will take care of it. I took careful measurements from the pass side and got the drivers side with an 1/8 at the worst spot and several places were dead on so I am hopeing that it is only an adjustment issue. Here are a couple of pictures of what I did today.

Bernie

Re: 52 Project
 

I finally got the doors to fit to my satisfication. I started replacing the floor today...getting the majority of the old floor out was the easy part the tough part is drilling out the spot welds and getting the area ready for the new floor. Here is a couple pictures...I am only about half way done with the spot weld drilling and will work on the rest tomorrow.

Bernie

Re: 52 Project
 

Looking good Bernie! That looks like a lot of work, good job!

Re: 52 Project
 

looking good ...please post lots of info/details on that floor resto, we are following close and a not too far from starting on our floor. thanks in advance.

kyle & ryan

Re: 52 Project
 

So far I have had every cutting device know to man working on the stupid floor. Actually the best thing I have found so far is good cutoff wheels and a die grinder with a carbide burr for grinding the welds loose. I also used a drill with about a 5/16 bit to drill out the spot welds on the inner cowel and the floor section that connected to the rocker panel. I am also replacing the inner cowl panel which is the panel that goes from the floor to the dash on both sides of the cab. Let me know if you need any additional information and I will be happy to post something. I am real bad about taking pictures during the progress and tend to only get the after shots, but I will try and get some step by step pictures for you and your son.

Bernie

Re: 52 Project
 

Kyle, It was late last night when I was posting this stuff and forgot to mention these articles that have helped me alot. The first two are on the floor and the last one is on the firewall.

http://www.webrodder.com/article.php...9&SID=60&CID=7
http://www.webrodder.com/article.php...0&SID=60&CID=7
http://www.webrodder.com/article.php...6&SID=60&CID=7

Re: 52 Project
 

pretty much the route we are going.... for my CJ we've used sawzall, grinder w/cutting discs and at times a jig saw w/metal blades. so far working good on the '52.

hey, thanks for those links, great info :c2:

*we should buy stock in *****'n products before the build gets going

Re: 52 Project
 

Bernie, Tell me about the transmission cross member, did you fab it?
What are you going to use for the brake pedle and master cylinder.
Has anyone used the ECI kit?

Re: 52 Project
 

All I can say is, good looking stuff you are doing. I just love seeing an old truck get back on the road.

Brian

Re: 52 Project
 

Solid, I am not sure which crossmember you are looking at, but we are on our third on now...lol. Actually the original plan was to use a tubular mount that I think from CPP. The one in the last picture is the original one that was modified by someone else but I was using it to brace the frame during the floor replacement. Now dad got one of those fancy ones from Progressive Automotive. We also got the boxing plates from those guys. I will post pictures when I get to that stage. If this link works check it out.

http://www.progressiveautomotive.com/xmember1.jpg

We are still undecided about the brake booster but it looks like we are going to go with the underdash unit that mounts sideways. I don't have a link here at the house but have one at work and can post it in a couple of days. I will probably go with a Master Power Brakes setup.

Martin, Thanks for the kind words. I have been hoping you would post something cause I am probably going to need your help soon when I get to the body work. I am by no means a body guy and have learned lots from your posts. I am really good at the mechanical stuff but am still learning about body work. Thanks in advance:)

Bernie

Re: 52 Project
 

Ask away.

Brian

Re: 52 Project
 

I am looking at your front crossmember too. I have a Camaro front clip no my truck right now (junk). I have another frame that I going to buy to replace it. I plan on running a Mustang II set up. It looks so much cleaner!

Brian

Re: 52 Project
 

Thanks Brian,
Is Progressive the guys that do the Corvette suspension?
That crossmember looks like it will really make a strong frame for these old AD's. I am looking at one from Industrial Chassie he said he wold have one by the end of the month, I will let you know what i think when I see it and the price !!

Re: 52 Project
 

I did a little work yesterday...mostly cleaning up some areas that needed some work. I did remove the old cab mount and took a few shots. Kinda boring but I will post them anyway. This was the worst part of the floor replacement so far but the pass side was much easier than the drivers side...probably because I knew what I was looking for after doing the drivers side.;) The silver paint on there is the POR15 that we coated the heck out of because after we install the cowl panel you can't get to it. I am hoping to get on the floor in the next week or so but I am still waiting on some parts before I can start.

Bernie

Re: 52 Project
 

I went down to dad's today for a couple hours and got the cab mount in on the pass side. Here is some pictures in a step by step form...might be boring but I wanted to show the steps that I did so if someone else is going to do this then it might make sense.

The first thing I did was to grind the mating surface to make sure that is was flat. Then I used weld through primer on that surface of the cab mount.

I then went to the cab and ground the area where the mount was going and prime that area also.

The third picture shows the spacer washers that I used to space the mount up off the frame.

Picture 4 and 5 shows the mount clamped to the frame and the rocker panel.

Re: 52 Project
 

Here are some more pictures.

Picture 1 shows the cab mount tacked to the upper part of the of the rocker. There is a small gap at the bottom because of the way the original rocker is made.

Picture 2 shows the gap closed up by the hammer method...lol. That is what the guy at *****in told me to do and it worked great. Sorry about the blurry picture but you get the idea.

Picture 3, 4 and 5 show the finished cab mount in different views. I still have to weld the bottom but I can do that when I get the cab off the frame. I left the spacer washers in there to help support the mount while I get the floor sections welded in.

I am going to do the drivers side next weekend the same way and hopefully the inner cowl panels will come in this week so I can finish the floor. I have to weld them in first before I can lay the floor.

Bernie