Great Grandads '53 3100
 

About 20 years ago my grandfather and started working on my great grandfathers 3100. Unfortunately the project stalled as my grandfather fell I'll and passed shortly thereafter.

This weekend my Dad and I finally dug the truck out from underneath 20 years of stuff and got it loaded up and moved over to my place.

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/r...s/IMG_0467.jpg

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/r...s/IMG_0469.jpg

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/r...s/IMG_0471.jpg

All Loaded Up and ready to go!
http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/r...s/IMG_0474.jpg

This is the worst of the rust. All the other repairs were completed by my grandfather and I when we originally started the project.
http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/r...s/IMG_0494.jpg

Plans are to build a nice reliable driver.
MII Frontend
Rear 4 Link
5.3 or 6.0 Ls and 4L80E

This is my first significant build project. I've done some water cooled VW stuff in the past however nothing of this magnitude so all the guidance and info you have to share will be appreciated.

Re: Great Grandads '53 3100
 

Nice history with the truck, good luck with the build, I'll hang around to watch. Anything I can help answer, I'll give it a try...Jim Oh and welcome to the group.

Re: Great Grandads '53 3100
 

Following along.

Re: Great Grandads '53 3100
 

looks to be a good start man ill follow good luck on the build

Re: Great Grandads '53 3100
 

Thanks for the follow guys.

I scored a super clean motor today. Hadn't planned on doing that for a while but i just couldn't pass it up. Its a low mile 04/05 5.3 with the harness, ecm, drive by wire pedal and 4L60E 2WD. Best of all it came in under budget.

As part of my plans I'd like to put an MII under the front of this truck. However given the history of it part of me wants to hold onto the the original parts and not weld a bunch of stuff onto the frame just in case I feel compelled to take it back to original someday.

Who has experience/info on bolt in cross-members? I know both Scotts and Speedway sells them however there's definitely a big price difference between the two.

Anyone know of others or have input?

--Tesone

Re: Great Grandads '53 3100
 

More Progress. Got my garage heater wired up and hung, the dash torn apart and the cab off the frame.

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/r...s/image_2.jpeg

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/r...s/image_1.jpeg

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/r...521F0537B0.jpg

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/r...A11DB700C2.jpg

Tomorrow i should have it stripped down to the frame.

While I'm on that subject what do you guys think of the condition of the frame? I'm hoping to be able to clean it up with a wire cup and some sand paper on the angle grinder. From there I'm not sure if i should paint it or hit it with POR15/something similar. I've heard varying opinions on those types of products. Any input there?

Re: Great Grandads '53 3100
 

Very Cool! Love projects with family history. I'll be following along as well.

Re: Great Grandads '53 3100
 

Thanks BowTie! Just checked out your C10 Swap. Looks great! My dad had a truck just like that when i was a kid. Same color and all.

Re: Great Grandads '53 3100
 

nice history! I wish I had something of my grandfathers, we were born on the same day of the same month, different years of course.

Re: Great Grandads '53 3100
 

That's a very solid looking cab! Are the rest of the parts that nice?

You might look for a local company to media blast the frame, then you could paint it with Rustoleum or similar product. The results will be much nicer and easier on your back and arms!!

Re: Great Grandads '53 3100
 

Welcome! Great history on the truck. The cab looks really solid. There are a number of bolt on MII style units though I don't know anyone that has used one.

I have always wire wheeled off a frame and it is messy, time consuming, hazardous because of the dust plus wires flying off and it never really gets the frame completly clean. Next one I am doing under the burb will be media blasted. Doesn't cost that much, better end result and way faster.

Re: Great Grandads '53 3100
 

Thanks ChuckDriver. Yessir the rest of the parts are in pretty good shape as well. The truck has been garaged since 78 and considering the low humidity out here is CO its in pretty good shape. We did have to do a cab corner, both Cowl panels and a few other parts but for the most part its in good shape. What do you think of the floors? Thanks for the advice on the Frame. I'll see if i can find someone local to blast it.

Re: Great Grandads '53 3100
 

Thanks AD. I decided to go with the Speedway Motors bolt in cross member. I'll be sure to post up pics as i get it mocked up. Appreciate the input on the frame as well.

I spent a better part of the day yesterday pounding out rivets to get rid of unused brackets. Well at least until I confused my thumb with a rivet. :waah: That'll slow me down for a few days.

Re: Great Grandads '53 3100
 

Finally enough to post an update on.

Got the motor, trans, ecu and pedal in a couple weeks ago. Looks like its in nice shape.

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/r...71B9539A75.jpg

Turns out the place I bought it from forgot to send out the wiring harness, however after a quick email the harness was sent right out.

Also received a huge delivery from Speedway.

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/r...D4E5C5EC95.jpg

Got all the rivets ground down and pounded out so it was time to move onto mocking up the new crossmember.

Radiator Support all trimmed up.

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/r...3C708CE6_1.jpg

Frame flares all trimmed up and the radiator support reinstalled.

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/r...0A3FE79E47.jpg

And finally the cross member in place for the first time. (Holy grinder dust . . .)

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/r...EAE8F3CDB1.jpg

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/r...9397CA32FA.jpg

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/r...26DFEC038E.jpg

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/r...3F88036200.jpg

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/r...B9A9E702B7.jpg


Hoping to have both the front end and rear 4 link squared away this week.

Re: Great Grandads '53 3100
 

Taking shape...Jim

Re: Great Grandads '53 3100
 

Holy grinder dust is right! Nice progress. The crossmember looks like is has a saddle fitting over the edge of the frame side at the bottom that is bolted on. Who manufactured it? I haven't noticed that style before.

Re: Great Grandads '53 3100
 

Nice work. Awesome that you get to continue on with this project. I'll be following.

Re: Great Grandads '53 3100
 

right on man Christmas came early I see lol

Re: Great Grandads '53 3100
 

AD,

This is the Speedway Motors Bolt in Kit.

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Bolt-I...ber,50961.html

Re: Great Grandads '53 3100
 

Thanks. My apologies, I scrolled up and noticed you were planning to use the bolt in from Speedway.

It looks like the one from Chassis Engineering. http://www.chassisengineeringinc.com...-ton-pick-ups/

Re: Great Grandads '53 3100
 

[QUOTE=Tesone;7393345]Finally enough to post an update on.

Got the motor, trans, ecu and pedal in a couple weeks ago. Looks like its in nice shape.

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/r...71B9539A75.jpg



Motor looks good, care to share the name/address where you purchased??

Randell

Re: Great Grandads '53 3100
 

Looks great......subscribed!!

Re: Great Grandads '53 3100
 

This ones moving right along!!! looking good!

Re: Great Grandads '53 3100
 

[quote=Elder Rogue;7394561]I actually got it off of ebay. The seller was Stricker_Auto out of Ohio.

Re: Great Grandads '53 3100
 

Well tonight was a nice productive night. We saw 50 degrees today so the garage was nice and warm tonight. I managed to get the cross member and spring towers all setup.

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/r...4D4B0ABED2.jpg

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/r...1C5E5E1E62.jpg

http://http://i469.photobucket.com/a...A61135E71C.jpg

It went together pretty easily. I only had to massage a couple parts with the grinder and drill to get things to go together.

Pretty happy with the progress. I've just been putting in a couple hours after work each day and really only started working on the cross member install this past Sunday afternoon. I'd say it took me about 12 hours to get to this point including cutting down the frame flares and making the C-Notches.

I guess tomorrow I'll get busy assembling the front suspension. Still feel confident I can make my target of having all the suspension mocked up by the end of this weekend and still hopeful to have a roller by mid January.

PS. Don't make fun of me, I know my work space is a mess. Planing to deal with that this weekend. ;)

--Scott

Re: Great Grandads '53 3100
 

Why did you trim the radiator support crossmember?

Re: Great Grandads '53 3100
 

Well, its the first step in the instructions for installing the cross member. I believe it made mention it was needed for clearance of the rack and pinion. It doesn't seem like it would get in the way given the amount of space however I didn't really need all that extra metal hanging out up there either.

Re: Great Grandads '53 3100
 

Well, two things,
1. put another nail in that heater support on each end! LOL you never know, it might fall on YOUR grandson hahaha
2. Good job, looks great.

Re: Great Grandads '53 3100
 

Made some solid progress this weekend. :metal:

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/r...3E3E2407F7.jpg

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/r...6FE5158EBE.jpg

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/r...FB38F276EA.jpg


Also got the 4 link mocked up as well.

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/r...5D815CABB7.jpg

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/r...5DAD907E4D.jpg

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/r...D7C32B93DF.jpg

Re: Great Grandads '53 3100
 

Wow, that looks really nice!

Re: Great Grandads '53 3100
 

4 link looks good. Where did you get it from and price ?

Re: Great Grandads '53 3100
 

Its the Speedway kit.

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Bolt-I...Kit,63703.html

Re: Great Grandads '53 3100
 

Frame is really looking good, nice job...Jim

Re: Great Grandads '53 3100
 

Nice work!
Those Speedway kits are looking really nice!

Re: Great Grandads '53 3100
 

Finished mocking up the rear end and dropped in the motor. Gulp. Its forward. Way forward. Trying not to lose my cool but I'm not sure how I'm going to get it moved back. Let me know if you guys have any ideas. I will definitely be placing a call to Speedway in the morning.

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/r...A06CE73428.jpg

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/r...696D053FF6.jpg

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/r...228D8D79A7.jpg

Re: Great Grandads '53 3100
 

Well I spoke with speedway but they weren't much help. I ended up cobbling a couple different kits together to come up with this.

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/r...C80C8AF669.jpg

This setup bought me nearly another 2" of clearance between the radiator and the water pump pulley.

Here they are installed.
http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/r...7220C229DA.jpg

And here's the extra space.
http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/r...BD6A203323.jpg

Also threw the cab back on and realized I only need a very small mod to the firewall to make space for the transmission.
http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/r...4B9E028FA5.jpg

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/r...0466A88AFC.jpg

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/r...6D97CE1C29.jpg

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/r...8C9EF26AA6.jpg


Pretty excited with the progress so far. Just 3 weeks ago today I had a bare frame. The new radiator, hoses, shroud and fans should arrive this week as should the fuel tank, pump and lines. Hoping to have her up and running by the first of the year.

Anyone have suggestions on some block hugger headers?

Re: Great Grandads '53 3100
 

Looks good and more roomy with the engine moved back. Farmer Sid just went through getting headers and he used Hooker headers. See post 416....http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...632938&page=17

Iceburgh used Sanderson and had to trim just a bit of the right frame rail.

C6 exhaust manifolds don't work. I just tried them as I am researching that question too.

Re: Great Grandads '53 3100
 

Thanks AD!

I'll give those a look.

Re: Great Grandads '53 3100
 

Great progress Tesone! Hooker cast manifolds work for me. What rad, fan and shroud did you order? My water pump snout is 3" from the rad core. The snout is up 8" from the bottom of the rad core. What are your measurements? It would be nice to know so I could compare to what I have. Cheers!

Re: Great Grandads '53 3100
 

Thanks FarmerSid!

My measurements are 7.5" from the bottom of the rad core. Keep in mind that's from the top of the curve that's in the bottom of the core. The snout is 3.75" from the core.

I ordered the 3 row from champion with the aluminum shroud and 16" fan combo. I should be here in the next couple days so I'll be sure to post up some pics once i have it installed.

I went a head and ordered the Hooker cast iron manifolds as well. Hopefully the fit.

Santa arrived early today. Got my Tank, pump, sender, lines and fittings from Tanks Inc. My wife is just tickled to have parts strung all over the house . . .

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/r...8188755CAC.jpg

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/r...4AEDF00B67.jpg