Sue's 51 build
 

Hi everyone. I'm not new to the site but haven't posted much, just a question here and there. I've appreciated all the help and advice and though I should take the time to start my own build thread. I'm a little techno-challenged so be patient with me regarding the posting of pictures.

The truck is a 1951 3100 that I found on a farm about 50 miles southwest of Spokane Washington. It was in pieces and the motor was gone but otherwise complete. We loaded it on a trailer with a backhoe and hauled it home in the middle of the winter about a year and a half ago. It was in typical shape for it's age and for having been a farm truck and probably never parked inside.

[IMG]http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/u...000_0060-1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/u...102_5191-1.jpg[/IMG]

The plan is to make it a daily driver for my wife so it's getting all the mods to make it a safe, reliable and comfortable truck that will be somewhat affordable and easy to drive. I've been working on it on and off since bringing it home but am paying as I go so progress depends on the limited funding I have available.

The truck has the usual rust issues but is not as bad as some I've seen. I won't bore everyone with a lot of pictures of the truck as it was, everyone knows what a rusty beat up 51 Chevrolet pickup looks like.

I'm going to post this now to see if everything works and add some more shortly. I have figured out how to put up pictures but only one under the other. Can someone tell me how to put them side by side to save scrolling?

Re: Sue's 51 build
 

You're doing fine. Scrolling down is just as good as scrolling to the side. Anxious to see more.

Re: Sue's 51 build
 

good start on that truck - love stories like that - best of luck

Re: Sue's 51 build
 

Okay, on with the build. Here is the frame just back from being sand blasted. I'm not making a show truck so I'm not going to be filling all the unused holes and making it all pretty. Functionality and affordability are the key words for this build and I plan to do about 95% of the work myself.

[IMG]http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/u...102_6259-1.jpg[/IMG]

After removing the unwanted hangers and crossmembers, I boxed the frame rails in front and installed a Mustang II crossmember from Speedway. I'm using tubular control arms to eliminate the need for a strut rod and a Mustang II power steering rack to make it easy to steer and turn. It will have power brakes as well with 11" rotors.

[IMG]http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/u...102_6269-1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/u...105_6694-2.jpg[/IMG]

The rear suspension is a four-bar setup with coil-overs from Alden Shocks. I found a 9" Ford rearend that was already set up with brand new disc brakes. It was close enough to the right width that I didn't have to narrow it although because I went with some pretty wide tires, I may have to modify my bed and rear fenders a little to make everything fit.

[IMG]http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/u...105_6654-1.jpg[/IMG]

Re: Sue's 51 build
 

Looking good. I'd much rather scroll down then side to side.

Re: Sue's 51 build
 

Looking great man, keep posting those pictures.

Re: Sue's 51 build
 

Worked some overtime this weekend to buy parts so haven't made any progress on the built. Here are a few more pictures of the current state of the project. This is a better picture of the completed front suspension and steering rack. I had to space my steering rack away from the crossmember an additional inch and a half for clearance for the steering linkage.

[IMG]http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/u...SAM_0182-1.jpg[/IMG]

This one shows the completed 4-link setup with the panhard bar tacked into place.

[IMG]http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/u...M_1027-1-1.jpg[/IMG]

Here is a close-up of the front suspension minus the shock and sway bar which I have yet to install. The mounting bracket that came with the "Mustang II" sway bar isn't compatible with mounting bracket holes that are in the "Mustang II" compatible lower control arms. So much for the "bolt right up and go" theory.

[IMG]http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/u...M_1142-1-1.jpg[/IMG]

Here is a shot of the front end with the motor in place. In keeping with the goal of a safe, reliable and driver friendly truck that my wife will like and want to drive, I selected a fuel injected 5.3 Vortec motor out of a 2005 GMC pickup. It is backed with a 4L60E four speed overdrive transmission from a 2001 half ton 2WD pickup. With almost 300 HP from the stock motor, and the prospect of getting 20+ MPG, I think this is the perfect setup for a truck that will be driven regularly. I have the motor mounts built but am waiting for my headers to arrive before installing them. I also still have to build a transmission crossmember that will match the rear coil-over and fuel tank crossmembers. I also plan to replace the entire original firewall with a 4" recessed firewall.

[IMG]http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/u...SAM_1143-1.jpg[/IMG]

As previously stated, I plan to do the majority of the work on this project myself. What I don't have the tools or expertise to do myself, will be done with the capable assistance of my brother Bruce with Rodlink LLC in West Richland, WA. Bruce has been building street rods for over thirty years and there isn't anything he can't do with sheetmetal and a welder. This beautiful little all steel 32 is the latest example of his work. It's his personal car that I was privileged to be able to contribute to by doing the bodywork on after he rebuilt the entire thing from a total. Look for this one in the magazines once he finishes the interior this winter.

[IMG]http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/u...SAM_0868-1.jpg[/IMG]

Re: Sue's 51 build
 

You might want to add a gusset on the crossmember tube (last pic) and a support on rear tube arm . They have been finding out that the MK II are starting to show cracks on main crossmembers because of deflection. Just a suggestion I did it to mine, beautiful build you have! :ito:

Re: Sue's 51 build
 

Here is how I did my sway bar and double shear rear on tube bottom arm.

Re: Sue's 51 build
 

Here is a good read on supporting the rear arm

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...d.php?t=257826

Re: Sue's 51 build
 

Re: Sue's 51 build
 

Sweet build!

Re: Sue's 51 build
 

I've made a little progress with the truck but have been waiting for my headers to arrive before making the final decision on the location of the motor and transmission mounts. I plan to put a 4" recessed firewall in so I located the motor where I want it front to back and then removed the cab for room to work. I'm waiting for the headers to decide how far above the crossmember I want it. I was able to find some of the other parts I need for the motor at a local salvage yard including an alternator/power steering bracket, alternator, power steering pump, starter, fan and flex plate, all for about $200 dollars. I expect to get the headers tomorrow and hope to be able to make some real progress this weekend.

http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/u...SAM_1147-1.jpg

http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/u...SAM_1148-1.jpg

Re: Sue's 51 build
 

Your build is coming along very well! looks like you will have quite the ride!

Re: Sue's 51 build
 

Okay, I finally got my block hugger headers from Sanderson Headers. The driver's side fits about like I envisioned and gives me sufficient clearance from my motor mount and the steering linkage. The passenger side clears the starter fine but dumps out too close to the motor mount as I had it mocked up. I will have to make a slight modification on the motor mount but nothing too drastic. I'm glad I waited to get them do discover this, I hate cutting new welds loose.

http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/u...SAM_1171-1.jpg

http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/u...SAM_1172-1.jpg

Here are a couple of pictures of the mount that attaches to the motor held in place with a jack.

http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/u...SAM_1175-1.jpg

http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/u...SAM_1173-1.jpg

So, I got up Saturday morning all ready to start tacking my mounts into place and went to turn my shielding gas on and found that the valve had been open for who knows how long and all the gas was gone. *&#% I hate when that happens. Oh well, what's a few more days in the big picture of things. I'll get some more gas on Monday and get back to it then.

Re: Sue's 51 build
 

Are you SURE you want a 4 inch recessed firewall???? That really eats up the leg room and it is not needed for a Gen3 engine install into an AD truck. Make sure that is what you really want before you weld in your mounts.

Jeff

Re: Sue's 51 build
 

Okay, I finally finished the transmission crossmember. I hope to get the motor mounts done this weekend.

http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/u...SAM_1188-1.jpg

The decision to recess the firewall was based on my desire to use a stock fan. Sue and I are both on the shorter side so a little less leg room isn't really an issue for us. Four inches is just a conservative estimate. I'll recess it only as much as needed and it may well end up being somewhat less than that when it's done.

Re: Sue's 51 build
 

I finally finished the motor mounts today. I fabricated the mounts from some heavy duty square and rectangular tubing I had on hand. The only things I had to buy were the rubber mount kit and some bolts. They may not be show quality mounts but they will work just fine and the price was right.

http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/u...SAM_1191-1.jpg

http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/u...SAM_1198-1.jpg

http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/u...SAM_1199-1.jpg

http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/u...SAM_1200-1.jpg

Re: Sue's 51 build
 

Like how everything is coming together on this build, nice job.....Jim

Re: Sue's 51 build
 

Great job on the mounts!

Re: Sue's 51 build
 

Lucky wife!!! Could I find a wife that would do like that for me over there, stateside?
I wish you well with it. Andrew

Re: Sue's 51 build
 

He everyone, I can't believe it's been over a year since I've posted here. I had to put the project on hold while I helped my son start his motorcycle roadracing career. How time flies when your traveling all over the country and maintaining a race bike. It has been quite a ride but I'm ready for a few months off and a chance to get back to work on the build. I haven't done much at all on the truck but am back to work on it this weekend. My brother is coming up tomorroe to finish up the heavy welding on the four link setup and crossmembers. I'm working on hanging the doors today in preparation for the chop. I'll get some pictures posted tonight when I come in from the shop.

Re: Sue's 51 build
 

Glad to see you back. I was wondering what had become of this build, will be ready for some pics and the updates....Jim

Re: Sue's 51 build
 

Thanks Jim. It's interesting to hear from you, I actually looked through your entire build thread last night. I really like the way your truck turned out, you do excellent work. I envision my truck looking a lot like yours when its done so I will probably have a few questions for you as I go. I found a really straight and rust free set of doors without wing windows for my truck last fall and just finished putting them on. The driver's door fits really well but the passenger door sticks out at the bottom on the latch side. I'll have to play with it a little more but expect to have to do some cutting and pasting to get it right. By the way, what are you working on now?

Re: Sue's 51 build
 

Here are the doors I scored last fall for $50 dollars each. They are very straight with no rust through anywhere. The passenger door has some surface rust on the exterior but they are both really solid. I had to break off and drill out all six hinge bolts on the passenger side but only one on the driver's side. I rebuilt the hinges with new pins and springs and they will work just fine. I just couldn't justify spending $300 dollars for new ones. I also had to cut some access holes in the cab to replace the backing nuts for the hinges, I wasn't planning to leave those louvers in there anyway:) My plan for the winter is to chop the top two and a half inches and replace the rusted out corners of the cab. If I get all that done before racing season starts next spring I'll work on the recessed firewall and replacing the cab floor. Also, what do most of you do with the drip rails? I would prefer to shave them off but don't want water running into the cab if I get caught in a rain shower.