1941 project fenix
 

yes I know how to spell Phoenix.


the 49 is done, well, done-ish. :lol: projects keep my hands busy and my liver clean. This is my 1941 1/2 ton short bed build.

I decided to start a new project thread in a new section of the forum, my old project threads got pretty cluttered as a kind of constant stream of consciousness, detailing not only the project in the thread but also everything else I happened to work on around that time.

for those that dont know me, my name is Russ not joe. I am a contract engineer, more engineer than contract lately but thats ok, I quit my demanding directors job to spend more time with my kids, especially my 3 year old "beeps" (short for beeperfish, its a made up story I tell my kids). in the time when she is napping (not much) or when mom is home to entertain, I bang around on old metal. Being an engineer I love making things work and am always more excited about making dissimilar things function together than I ever am about "having" them.

here is my 65, used to be a 62. powered by a 2.2l EFI 4 cylinder. kept up with traffic and was just heaven to cruise around all day, no vapor lock, no wasted MPG. sold it to another enginerd
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...IMG_9095_2.jpg

here is the 47 GMC from last year, 4.3 auto S10 donor. learned lots. a great guy in MO bought it
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...2/IMG_0877.jpg

here is the 49. lots of improvements over the 47, very nice and quiet truck. currently for sale.
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...psrm8qp5mr.jpg

enough! lets get to work.

I took apart the 41 I bought last super bowl weekend. I rolled it in the garage on my 8k lb capacity body cart because sometimes overkill is just right. my intention was to build this one for myself but we will see. I hope to have it running before New Years. 5AL, 41 3/4 ton.
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...psyrgrvadc.jpg

here is the donor, 91 4.3 auto S10. I used the bed floor on the 49.
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...psxgr8s67v.jpg

I had it stored in the back yard till now, last time I moved it I accidentally ran it out of gas which plugged up the sock or the filter or both. when I pulled it out with a chain to change the flat it developed, I left the key on. so dead battery/weak fuel flow, I decided to jump it and pour a little gas in the TBI to prime it. of course it backfired, and it may be easier to list the things that werent on fire after that. my sweater smothered the engine, then the ground, then the engine again. the only loss was the air fllter. my hubris always has a method of humbling me.

the truck came with the wrong bed, it had a 53 long bed. In may I found a stash of 41-46 trucks and bought everything, 4 cabs, two front ends, 4 beds.
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/i...pskyrpborn.jpg

only one set of rear fenders though, and they are 37-38 fenders. my brother was browsing cl in pa and found a set for me though
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/i...psru9cgry4.jpg

and I found a spare pass rear at a guys horde
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/i...psk5kwpr7v.jpg

so thats today, 11-18. this will be simpler than my other builds, and should be faster because its a running driving donor and the simple electronics compared to the last three trucks which all had complicated bussed electrical. wish me luck!

Re: 1941 project fenix
 

I had an hour or so after dinner so I stripped the firewall and cursed at the bumper. thankfully my battery sawzall was handy. never understood these bumper mounts, and they have to be cut off anyway, so choppy choppy
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...psohxpea3v.jpg

clip off
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps4za6a5ti.jpg

anyone need a clip? cheap to get rid of it
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...psrisrngel.jpg

more tomorrow, the cab is loose just have to take out the steering column and strip the harness and computer. the shifter was connected with a wire tie, like a bread bag tie. I think the drivers lower arm needs replaced too.

Re: 1941 project fenix
 

I was wondering when you were going to start the 41. That didn't take long. You are going to have a truck from every body style before long. Beautiful trucks all of them!

Re: 1941 project fenix
 

Love your builds and resourcefulness (parts smarts) so I am tagging along. Oh, those fires are scary...can escalate quick. Glad you weren't hurt.

Just curious, what is the price on the 49?

Re: 1941 project fenix
 

Glad to see you have this build going. I will be along for the ride.
And I assume you are talking about having it running this coming new year's. Wow. I wish I could pull that off.

Re: 1941 project fenix
 

I hope I can, I think the running driving and simple electronics are on my side. on the 49 I had to adapt every part of the complicated truck, swap lieterally every fitting line and bolt between frames, shorten exhaust, bleed and burp and buy new all the brake and fuel lines, replace broken bits, and take a truck I had never heard run and fix everything that was broken like the column. this one, I am not going to crack any of the lines and there is no complicated interfaces like a BCM or a special bracket to mount the pedals.

did some work to the 49 today, have a couple interested parties. I hope they see it the way I see it. but I did finish stripping the donor. got all the parts I need and only one more harness to pull through the firewall. the cab mounts are loose, just need the cherry picker. dont think the neighbors appreciated the 10:30 work so I called it a night.
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...psz24w6zhd.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...psoa2vxmqv.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...pst0s1be6y.jpg

not bad for a total of 3 hours work.


OH I remembered, I listed the front clip on cl, the title said "1991 S10 front clip and tailgate only no other parts" and the first sentence of the ad says "I dont have anything else from this truck, no other parts. no wiring, no engine, no trans." I got three calls on it today. one for a trans. one for the engine harness. one for the glovebox. I am not kidding. CRAIGSLIST man, endlessly entertaining.

Re: 1941 project fenix
 

People don't stop to read or think. It is easier to call. Good progress! Working until 10:30 made that a 14 hour day?

Re: 1941 project fenix
 

hardly, I was up at 6 with the 3 year old, I worked on the 49 during her nap, I didnt start working on the 41 till 8:30!

Re: 1941 project fenix
 

beep nap time, she was tired today, tuesday is her "school", a 2 hr gym session. I needed to return the title for my car trailer so he could work it out at the tag office, long story, anyway I used the 2 hr gym time to drive an hour south to drop off the title in person so it wouldnt get last, combating murphys law as it was. well, murphy got me anyway, he wasnt home, so I left it in his door and high tailed it back to get the girl just in time. pulling in the driveway, he finally called back. he was at hobby lobby. in wichita. about 3 miles from my house.

she laid down and I popped the cab off
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps1igqr5bs.jpg

this was a nice surprise
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...pswimvytga.jpg

and on
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...pszbnwarui.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...psq0diqhky.jpg

and in for thanksgiving
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...psts8kv2sp.jpg

needed some room to walk around so choppy choppy
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...psng4jwlry.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...psuhbs5vpk.jpg

the rear mounts were holding it crooked, now its crooked the other direction because I havent trimmed the outsides of the frame for the cowl.
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...psyvhddi5q.jpg


needs to come back about 6 inches, motor needs to come back about 9. this will likely be the last work till after thanksgiving

Re: 1941 project fenix
 

Sweet Russ I'm in!! You got lots done in a short time, when I read you wanted it driving by the new year I was like whatever. But I think you can do it. I hear you about Craigslist, up here we have Kijiji same type of thing I just don't get some people.

Re: 1941 project fenix
 

in on this one. only thing that seems to go faster than a kids nap is them growing up!

Re: 1941 project fenix
 

man you know it! I always say kids are great because YOU grow up right before THEIR eyes, I got to spend 6 years of college with my older girls so I know how important that "home" imprint is.

Not a lot of progress, spent a week (weak?) doing some 49 stuff for a guy who didnt end up buying. I did get the garage cleaned and started plasma-ing some mounts.

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...psmnpcyynu.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...psjd6vbodd.jpg

Re: 1941 project fenix
 

man I can't wait for the day I don't have to leave home for work like I do. My almost 4yr old will always ask me "are you going anywhere" its blatantly obvious it effects her. anyway those templates are on my loooong list of things to get. keep at it and heck doesn't hurt to have a shop truck to lure in more biz. If it doesn't work out, sell the 41' and keep your AD.

Re: 1941 project fenix
 

I've learned so much from your builds and I am already using the knowledge. I can't thank you enough for sharing!!!

Re: 1941 project fenix
 

I am in for this one too. Looking good so far. As mentioned above, I am learning a whole bunch from your builds.

Re: 1941 project fenix
 

Im in on this one too. I've followed the last two and gained a ton of new ideas from them. Thanks for sharing with us.

Re: 1941 project fenix
 

I'm ready for a new truck.

Re: 1941 project fenix
 

well its christmas and the truck looks the same. I had a bunch of little stuff to do for the 49, and we had two funerals in two weeks, one was the matriarch of my wifes family, and 4 family parties. I think we are done for a bit though, so I will be working on the truck starting Saturday.

Re: 1941 project fenix
 

Sorry for the loss. Ready to see some magic.

Re: 1941 project fenix
 

:agree: Sorry to hear about the losses. It's always bad, but especially this time of year.

Re: 1941 project fenix
 

in

Re: 1941 project fenix
 

picked up a few goodies today at bowtie bits. It was an easy decision, I was updating the books on bought/sold and there are two 41 donors and the s10 donor for this project. I used the cab and front of one 41 truck, a bought shortbed, and the doors and rear fenders of the second 41 truck, the drivetrain and frame and harnesses of the S10, and have sold almost everything else, still have some stragglers. I still have a complete third 41 in the back yard, and another cab down south to pick up once I have a minute.
So spending a little bit on the fine details that I love doing is okay by me and the budget.

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...psbtqbwjar.jpg

I had spotted the lower grille at bowtie bits a couple weeks ago and vowed to go get it. I had all that turmoil around christmas and so today was the first chance I had. luckily I went today because he was listing it on ebay, but was happy to sell it in town. I asked if he had an upper, he sure did, couple dings but nicer than the one on my truck, so I bought that too. Best of all was the brand new windshield frame/glass/rubber. Its pricey at first glance but they are always rusted and the screws break off, and assembling them with glass is a &^*(&. I figured I would only save about $200 refurbing mine, and only $100 buying a new bare steel frame. and this comes with a new center bar too, mine are dinged up.

look at the fineness of the backside of this brand new windshield. If you have ever messed with a 39-46 windshield you can relate.

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...psswttwz5l.jpg

so now I have the old windshield to sell, and the grilles with the ratty chrome to sell too.

More coming! I may work a bit while the baby is napping.

Re: 1941 project fenix
 

Those are some nice finds for the truck...really nice windshield frame and glass too. Money well spent.

Re: 1941 project fenix
 

Very nice finds. Must be nice to be in a dry client. Down here they sure wouldn't look that way.

Re: 1941 project fenix
 

I'm in. Flipped thru your other builds and dam, they are some nice rides.

Re: 1941 project fenix
 

Nice project! In for updates. I have those plasma circle stencils on my wish list, sooner or later I will buy them.

Re: 1941 project fenix
 

nice parts. I luuuv getting parts, never gets old.

Re: 1941 project fenix
 

while it was warm I decided to bring the trailer with my parts 41 around to the front yard. My plan is to take the parts off I need, pass the rest on, and pull the cab off that gmc while its up front too. then sell the trailer haha. constant flux around here.
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...psrzhfs3ov.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...psqg1dguxk.jpg

ugh. so many rusty screws. I decided since I had a new windshield frame I wouldnt worry so much about using penetrating oil and heat to extract aby of the screws. I used the spinny wheel to take the windshield regulator loose, then a jack to hold it up while I spinny wheeled the screws up there.
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...pskqcrnevw.jpg

ready for someone else to restore.
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...psvxlstwi7.jpg

this is where they always rust through, the bottom center. the parts truck has rust there too.
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps15m9ytxn.jpg

blessed be the designer who made the dash removable. I had to remove it anyway because the windshield regulator wasnt regulating
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...psjyamco5u.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...pscjs9hupx.jpg


yep have another one like this. the pot metal wears and the gears dont mesh. I hoped this one was ok, but since its not I will do a rebuild in this thread.
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...pshoo000oa.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...psstyhmuix.jpg

this part is $18. so I need one of those too haha.
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...psf2w7fzbo.jpg

last thing tonight was to get the front part of the floor pan loose. little heat and some penetrating oil here, got all but the two right screws.

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...psjef8rjjy.jpg

I need it out so I can set the mounts up. I ordered all the front end components control arms steering etc, mevotech has a kit that is only $300. Debating on drop spindles for this one too, I will decide between blazer dual piston brakes or s10 brakes before I order spindles and rotors and calipers.

Re: 1941 project fenix
 

I decided to add this one to my low buck build threads. It will fit nicely.

Re: 1941 project fenix
 

they always start out low buck, and then they end up, well not high buck but mid buck for sure haha

the s10 donor has some okay appearing seats with terrible covers, and a headrest. I am going to go for a nice rich burgundy interior on this one so I drew up what I want the upholstery to look like. the pleats will be half rounds, really bumpily. I think it will look nice with the bolsters. I think he said they were 89 fwd lebaron seats.

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...psjo89thbg.jpg

I cleaned out the garage and decided it was time to take out another shelving unit. I had cleaned off everything from the 49 and all the extra S10 parts I would never need (TCC or ECM for a 98 blazer? how do I even save these things). Eventually I will get rid of all the shelves on the right side of the garage but for now there IS SO MUCH ROOM FOR ACTIVITIES! :lol:
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps6vbbfwrs.jpg


did you ever have a moment of clarity? I marked the cut for the frame trim and started to get out the plasma cutter, but I wanted to make sure I knew where the fuel lines ran. usually they cross over on the trans and come up the back of the engine but I didnt see them, I figured it out and quickly decided to use the spinny wheel to make my frame cuts. :eek:

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps0g5cd4yw.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps5bb4gxkr.jpg

well that could have escalated quickly! luckily I am the uber careful, googles and a faceshield kind of careful.

did the other side. dont worry about where the cab is in relation to the cuts, I was pushing it side to side to make room. the cuts actually work out perfect with the taper of the cab.
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...pslvfepreg.jpg

Thats all I got done today but the real trick was organizing the garage and not burning the place down haha. we had some errands to run, time for a new work laptop since its a new year, self employed guys know the glory of Jan 1.

Re: 1941 project fenix
 

Wow ya that could have been bad.

Re: 1941 project fenix
 

Oh yeah, very good move on using the cut off wheel. Good thinking!

Re: 1941 project fenix
 

Great project. I ended up buying 3 windshield frames to make one good one. Hopefully your inside header panel covering the wiper motor is in good shape. Also bought 3 of those.

Re: 1941 project fenix
 

yep, header is good! I have bought 5 of these trucks to build two, and still opted for the new windshield frame haha this was literally the nicest cab out of all of them. smells like cow poop inside, I will power wash it once the mounts are made. the other trucks all came from further south and smell like rat pee.

all squared up and roughly leveled.
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps8ujyham2.jpg

I dont need it perfect yet, the mounts will be mirror images on either side and will level it, and the mounts will also have a little wiggle room. Still considering lowering it another inch on the frame.

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...psd5wgts98.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...psktjalcqh.jpg

but the mounts are designed in my mind so its just a matter of cutting steel. I may do a mid mount, or at least a support, once I cut the seat riser out I am worried the floor will get floppy.

looks like I can move the motor back 8.5 inches. I would like a little more, but cest la vie.
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...pspgapcdzx.jpg

Re: 1941 project fenix
 

little homework at the tag office, some records searching, and registered the old gal.

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps8bwniwjs.jpg

Re: 1941 project fenix
 

That's crazy to me how you can get tags like that. Seems really easy.

Re: 1941 project fenix
 

its not bad, there are a few caveats I have found though.

it doesnt work for ANY truck, it will have to be a Kansas truck originally, if the VIN is in the database as being from oklahoma or nebraska or I guess 47 other states, they will admonish you and slap your hand and tell you to go have an inspection done.

usually there will be an entry of the VIN and then 30-40 years of nothing, if there is a recent registration (last 20 years or so) they want you to find the last registered owner. this was the case with my trailer, it was old enough to be sold on a bill of sale but it was last registered in 99, I had to hunt down a title in order to regsiter it. I did that today too.

you have to be the expert. sometimes there is NO record, that is where provenance helps. The form the seller signs is a kind of affidavit to the history of the truck and a release from obligation. I also get an extra affidavit for farm use just in case. If it comes back with no record, you have to have supporting docs to how you determine the year and model. in this case the VIN was 5AL so a 41 3/4 ton, you also have to get the weight rating correct, the plate says 5800 lbs so that is easy.

they can always stop you at any point and tell you to get an inspection, in this trucks case I would have probably punted, I dont really invest any time or money until the title is taken care of. but the guy I bought it from was 93 and owned the truck since the 60s, I had the farm affidavit so I knew it was a local truck and pretty low risk. I will tell other Kansas guys, be careful buying on a bill of sale if the guy lives downtown and has only had the truck a couple months, unless he has a bill of sale from the farmer.

so it LOOKS easy, and in most cases it is, but only because I read the rules and know what to expect. I have seen guys just get rolled at the tag office, a good tip is: if they start smirking while you are talking, there is a good chance you arent going to be happy. I stick to 49 and down because everything else needs a MVE (VIN inspection) and the trooper that does it is... thorough. and super enthusiastic about his job on the front lines of auto theft where he has to wear a bulletproof vest over his medals for valor (/s).

Re: 1941 project fenix
 

Enjoying this build, I am in for the ride :chevy:

Re: 1941 project fenix
 

I am glad there are others like me. NEVER start on a truck/car until title is processed. People give me the same looks/questions all the time about how I get things thru so easily. I checked into the stuff before I start and found out the rules. Then there was questions, I went down and asked the folks. When I was building my shop I had some contractors askingin how I got all my build permits done so quick. I looked up andf asked what the rules were. Some were goofy, but its a rule deal with it, get your stuff in line and go. What took them hours/days I got done normally in less than an hour.

Re: 1941 project fenix
 

yes, thats definitely the better way to do it! I wish I could say that it was because I am so smart but really it is because of experience. When I built the 65 it was first a 62 and I loosely interpreted the rules for tagging, and spent a lot of time arguing and a lot more time changing to a 65. lesson learned, be the expert and know the rules.

I think that is the fundamental difference that people miss when asking for help, that advice given without experience is only opinion. I try to give advice as often as possible, and when its my opinion I say it is.