Re: 51 Chevy 1/2 ton, My S10 swap
 

99,
I always keep an eye on your build and saw your posts about the dead bolt. Great idea!! I'm planning on a cab corner install also,and an emergency release in case of battery failure!

Now that I think about it some more, I did buy a jcwhitney, keyless entry system with remote start for our old dodge caravan (in about 1999). The van already had power locks, but the remote start and entry was easy to install and lasted longer than the van!!

The customer comments on the whitney web page were mostly very positive. I think I just sold myself on the idea!! Just $79.00 for 2 actuators, control module, wiring kit and 2 remotes. Seems like a good deal!

I'm going in to work in the morning to do some sandblasting on the running boards and a few other misc parts. Almost done with sandblasting. I finished repairing the grill today and have it in primer. Pics tomorrow.

Re: 51 Chevy 1/2 ton, My S10 swap
 

Here's a few pics of the latest progress...

Re: 51 Chevy 1/2 ton, My S10 swap
 

Atommik, love the orange and the white paint. They will look great together. I like the headlights and would love to see them lit up. Keep up the great work.

Shannon

Re: 51 Chevy 1/2 ton, My S10 swap
 

Shannon, actually the running boards are just epoxy primed, but I am planning on doing the two tone grille bars, orange and white, and a white pin stripe around the cab like the factory stripe.

Re: 51 Chevy 1/2 ton, My S10 swap
 

I got a call from "my guy" at the scrap yard. They just got in a 1990 GMC s15, reg cab, 2wd, long box!! Just what I've been waiting for!! He's going to check it over tomorrow on their hoist and make sure the frame is good. Hopefully, I'll get it early next week!! I've been trying to do a little busy work on the 51, but haven't really done anything productive lately. That should change next week!!

Re: 51 Chevy 1/2 ton, My S10 swap
 

hope it works out for you man, congrats. The frame will keep you busy for a while for sure. I wouldn't be tooo picky on the frame,
If there are some holes or rot, just replace them areas. If its taken this long to find a frame, you just might have to put more time into it.

Re: 51 Chevy 1/2 ton, My S10 swap
 

Yeah, I'm pretty sure it will work out. Even it would have a little bend in it or some other damage, we've got a frame rack at work.

And as my dad said to me, and I tell my daughters..."I can fix anything except a broken heart and the crack of dawn!!"

Re: 51 Chevy 1/2 ton, My S10 swap
 

yeah great saying. it will all come together for you. You'll figure it out, you'll end up cutting some off the rear of the frame and the front. Other than that just get the cab on, set your height, put the front fenders on put the bed on and get the wheels lined up, then fab your cab mounts and mount the cab, then get the engine and trans in there and you'll have to relocate engine location and probably have to make or modify a new trans xmeber. all in all s10 swap is not hard and I have two other frames lined up (not to rub it in) but it is just very logical to go that route, just like a sbc, just simple and effective.

Re: 51 Chevy 1/2 ton, My S10 swap
 

In my head, I've mounted the cab and fenders about a thousand times!! My cab mounts are ready and I've been looking at many threads on here about sbc/s10 motor mounts. I'm as prepared as I can be...I know some unexpected things will come up, but that's the way it goes. I'll just step back, figure it out and make it work!!

Re: 51 Chevy 1/2 ton, My S10 swap
 

With that in mine, you should have no problems, go get it....Jim

Re: 51 Chevy 1/2 ton, My S10 swap
 

As you can probably tell, I'm a little excited to move on to the next phase of my build!!

Re: 51 Chevy 1/2 ton, My S10 swap
 

that's a good feeling.:metal:

Re: 51 Chevy 1/2 ton, My S10 swap
 

I did a little clean up and rearranging in my garage today. Built a large two level shelf (8' X 7') to store the currently unused truck parts. Once the cab and motor are mounted, (not the box), I will be able to back in the garage with the shelves over the top of the rear half of the truck. Once the bed is done, I will have cleared enough off the shelves to remove the bottom shelf. Then, I can back in under the shelf with box mounted. By the time the truck is complete, I will no longer need the shelf at all!!

First pic...new shelf
Second pic...
shelf with my stuff on it
Third pic...cab and motor tucked out of the way.

Re: 51 Chevy 1/2 ton, My S10 swap
 

Sounds like a plan....Jim

Re: 51 Chevy 1/2 ton, My S10 swap
 

looks great man, gotta love the organization. Love the pic with the cab and engine and parts in the BG.

Re: 51 Chevy 1/2 ton, My S10 swap
 

Always amazes me when I dedicate a few hours to cleaning and re-organizing the garage. At the time, I am thinking it is a waste of time and I could be working on the truck. Then when I finish I always think "Damn this was a good idea". Nice setup.

Re: 51 Chevy 1/2 ton, My S10 swap
 

I got my s10 frame today!! Included in the deal: Rolling chassis with 4 tires that actually hold air, Gas tank (20 gal), brake booster and master cylinder, steering gear and ps pump, 2 piece drive shaft. It definately needs a major clean up and paint. I think I got a good deal at $200, and a pair of 2008 Jeep Liberty headlights! Pics tomorrow.

Re: 51 Chevy 1/2 ton, My S10 swap
 

Atommik, great score on the frame and extras.

Shannon

Re: 51 Chevy 1/2 ton, My S10 swap
 

Here's a couple of pics of the frame and I also got the cab mounts painted.

Re: 51 Chevy 1/2 ton, My S10 swap
 

I started the prep work on the s15 frame today...Removed all of the box and cab mounts, degreased and pressure washed. Then I cut off the front of the frame rails and capped them. It's starting to look like something!

Re: 51 Chevy 1/2 ton, My S10 swap
 

Lookin good... Were all the parts you needed in that door I gave you?

Re: 51 Chevy 1/2 ton, My S10 swap
 

Hey Greg, yes and thanks again. I think I may use the whole regulator instaed of trying to swap the spring!

Re: 51 Chevy 1/2 ton, My S10 swap
 

Looking good! You should try to get the pedals out of that s10 too, see my build thread for how well they work.

Re: 51 Chevy 1/2 ton, My S10 swap
 

I spent a few hours Saturday putting POR 15 on the frame. I would have liked to disassempble everything, then have it blasted and then repaint it and reassemble it, but time and money are in very short supply. The frame is at my work and there is no way I could leave it there for as long as it would take to do it like I'd really like. Also, this will be my daily driver for 6 months of the year, so having the frame repainted and beautiful is not high on my priorities for my build. The frame is solid, and the suspension components look to be in very good shape. The front brake parts look like new and all the grease fittings were, well, very greasy when I cleaned it all up. So it looks to me the original GMC s15 appears to have been maintained fairly well.

I'm hoping to mount the cab this coming Saturday!

Re: 51 Chevy 1/2 ton, My S10 swap
 

congrats on the frame. Looks good man. Now the fun really begins. Can't wait to see some progress.

Re: 51 Chevy 1/2 ton, My S10 swap
 

I've got the cab loaded up and ready to bring to work for my Saturday work session, mounting the cab!!

Re: 51 Chevy 1/2 ton, My S10 swap
 

Git Summmmmm!!! That's right, baby!.... git it git it git it!


(hope everything goes AWESOME, and I can't wait to see pics!)

Re: 51 Chevy 1/2 ton, My S10 swap
 

Will be waiting for an update....Jim

Re: 51 Chevy 1/2 ton, My S10 swap
 

Will be waiting for an update....Jim

Re: 51 Chevy 1/2 ton, My S10 swap
 

I have a newbe question for you. I am far from the paint stage, but I was thinking about painting just the firewall so that I can put the cab back on and not have to removed it again. I see that you did a real nice job masking off the places where you did not want to paint yet. I was wondering why? If I paint the firewall and get overspray on the cowl area, what does that hurt? what am I missing? thanks

Re: 51 Chevy 1/2 ton, My S10 swap
 

msaintg, Thats the same reason I painted my fire wall first. I want to mount the cab ONCE. After I get all the front sheet metal fit up, I will install the motor and trans then paint the rest of the cab, doors fenders etc. I still need to build the box. As far as why I masked off the cab like I did, I did all the body work and primed and blocked the entire cab at once. I didn't want to sand off paint overspray on the other areas that I had already primed and sanded. So now when I paint the rest, I will mask off the areas that I've already painted. After I painted the firewall, I brought the cab back to my garage to store until I got the frame, and got it ready. I was afraid if the cab was completely painted while it was sitting in my garage, it would get scratched up. And when I loaded it up to take back to work last night, I did see a couple of areas I will have to re-prime because of some small gouges...I hope this long winded answer, answers your questions!!

Re: 51 Chevy 1/2 ton, My S10 swap
 

nice fab work on the brackets for the cab. your build is awesome.dig the orange.what size square tubing did you use for the cab mounts and what do they measure.

Re: 51 Chevy 1/2 ton, My S10 swap
 

fredscarryall,
Thanks for the kind comments!! On the cab mounts I used 4" X 4" X 3/16" tubing. It worked well in the rear but in the front I needed to trim off about 1/2 inch in width from each bracket to clear the rockers while mounting. So, over all it worked out well. I used the basic design of "jeffs 51 chevy" whose post had dimensions for making the mounts. My mounts ended up holding the mounting point about 4 1/4 inches off the frame in the rear (including about a 1/2 inch rubber spacer) and about 4 1/2 inches in the front. The back of the cab clears the s10 gas tank by about 3/8 inch.

Re: 51 Chevy 1/2 ton, My S10 swap
 

I went in to the shop at 6am today and got busy!! Worked till about noon. Then back home for some family time! Hoping to go in again Sunday and Monday mornings!! I got the cab mounted, (haven't welded anything yet, got to fit everything up first!) Bolted on the fenders, trimmed the inner fenders to fit. Overall, a very productive morning!!

Re: 51 Chevy 1/2 ton, My S10 swap
 

A few more...

Re: 51 Chevy 1/2 ton, My S10 swap
 

Do you feel even a little bit guilty about using a lift? NOT FAIR!!!! hehe.

Looking good!!

Re: 51 Chevy 1/2 ton, My S10 swap
 

One thing that had me wondering for a while this morning, while lining up the left inner fender, I couldn't figure out why it didn't line up to the floor "toe panel" like on the right. There was a large gap 2-3". Luckily we have a computer in the shop and I was able to look at a few builds on this site and figure out that It is supposed to bolt to a bracket on the left side that must have been part of the clutch/ brake/ e-brake assembly. Since I no longer have that bracket, I guess I'll need to make something for the inner fender to bolt to!! Live and learn!!

I'm planning on getting the radiator support figured out tomorrow!

Re: 51 Chevy 1/2 ton, My S10 swap
 

if you don't want to make one you can get them repop! Or if you want I can post som pics as mine is off now.

Re: 51 Chevy 1/2 ton, My S10 swap
 

atommik,

set up there looks awesome. Anyway, just my opinion, It looks a tad shifted to the rear, like it could come forward a few inches. My cab mounts in the front were right by the bend in the frame, just enough to be annoying. It would also help if you had your bed and rear fenders to help moch up the wheel wells in the back with the front at the same time. If you are a little off in the front, your back will suffer. Mine is lowered so I get a different perspective. Looks good though, you'll be on the road in noooo time.

Re: 51 Chevy 1/2 ton, My S10 swap
 

Went in and worked on the truck Sun and Mon mornings for a few hours each day. I did move the cab ahead. I thought it looked right before, but after shifting it forward it does look much better, Thanks 99 to life, it's always nice to get another opinion!

I modified the radiator support and just had to fit the grill and get a pic. Unfortunately, no one was around so I couldn't fit the hood. I still need to do a little more trimming on the inner fenders and a few other areas. I definately will need to get some front wheel spacers!