Project 54 short
 

I figure its time to start a build thread. Feel like crap today would rather be working on the truck than on here but when your sick your sick.

Anyways the truck im workin on is a 54 3600 3 window. Bought it for a 1000 bucks from a farmer a little over a year ago. The plan is to make it a driver sence the other two trucks iv built sit more than i want them to. I searched around found out that an s-10 swap is the rute i wanted to go. Looking back now im a few thousand bucks ahead going the s-10 rute but id never go that rute again. Time for some pics.

Re: Project 54 short
 

reason it was parked.... broken fuel line... The hich came in handy to pull it outside to wash it...

Re: Project 54 short
 

87 s-10 short box reg cab.... it was cheep and drivable.... 95 c10 rearend 343 gears went threw it all barings seals ect. ... 95 c10 4.3 v6 with an nv4500 trans higher 1st ratio pored gas in the throtle body one turn and it ran.

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air ride 3 link ..... joke went to a trianglated 4....mar-k bed shortened...17 gal tci fuel cell between the rails marine fuel cap...

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All mocked up... tail lights and roll pan...

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Looks good!

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Looks like a great start.

Let me know if you are not planning to re-use that radio delete plate.;)

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Awesome Truck! Nice Work!!!

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Are you sure on the NV being a 4500? I would think more along the lines of a 3000 with a little motor like that.. My Cummins has a 4500 behind it...

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Very cool to see another '54 out there. Mine started out as a 3600 long bed as well.

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cast centre section, pto plate. rpo codes in glove box all lead to prof of a 4500. Wanted a heavy trany that I could rebuild without hassle. Nv 3500 are great but only once can you rebuild it an would be worth the time. A t-56 is what I would of liked but heck thats out of my price range.....Yes im holding on the the delete plate a factory raido would be nice but again price is high on those to just gonna paint it with the raido openings in it. If I find a radio or put the delete plate back in place...?... Time will tell...

Re: Project 54 short
 

Wow, looking good. Nice shop too.
Any info you'd like to share about the body mounts?

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What a great build, nice work so far!

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well you wil lnever need another transmission.... I cannot see a gas motor breaking that thing. Weld the 5th gear nut on as they have an issue vibrating loose and you loseing 5th gear..

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The body mounts I made myself. 5 inches off the frame. IF I went 3" the boards would be on the ground. Used 6 rear cab rubber mounts off of an s 10. Got the front rear of the cab and the core support all on those mounts. The radiator im using is out of a caprice 4 core cross flow with a spall fan 26" wide 19" high, had to widen the core suport a bit to make it work.

Thanks for the pointer on the tranny.

Re: Project 54 short
 

got a new hood from dynacorn fot the grill blasted and in epoxy

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all what got blasted and primed

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How meny of you all that are doing the s10 frame swap are running power steering. The truck came with manual box but the bearings are out of it. I priced a new one to replace the oe unit and it was over $200. I have several pumps off of other projects just laying around. And was thinking that a power box would be the way to go but im not sure if its all that needed.

Any input on the power steering would be great.

Re: Project 54 short
 

good looking project.

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Nice project. I dig your shop space too! Cant beat that in the winter!

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Great looking project so far, Keep us updated!

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Nice project, I'm so lucky I don't have that kind of space. I would be devorced.lol Man I can see it filled with projects.

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Lots of canges have pics soon.
Dii hood not used went with a stock one. Dii hood for sale.
Frame is blasted an painted. Rear suspension moved back 3 inches.
Superior glass fenders and running boards. 2 inch wider
All new front end componets.
Cab is blasted and in primer.
Im shotining the rumming boards right now.

Re: Project 54 short
 

Another nice project to keep up with. Looks good.

Re: Project 54 short
 

Can you post pictures of how you did the radiator support?