Building a '49 for myself

[tre5]

I'm finally doing a complete build for myself. It's been a while since I have been able to do a complete build for myself. Some of you folks may know some of my other builds (probably the red 67 roadster). I have a couple projects that I'd like to do for myself but customer's vehicles come first. However, I have decided that I am going to get my 49 done this year! So here's some history on this truck. I picked it up in Northern Arizona, just outside of Flagstaff, AZ. The license plate says the tags expired in September 1978... 3 months before I was born! I guess it was sitting on this person's land when he bought it. He was now moving and wanted to clear out his land for the sale. I ran up the hill (about 3 hours from me) and grabbed the truck for $500. It's a 1949 GMC 3100, but I'll be face lifting it to the Chevy front end.
Here's some photos of the day I got it.

[tre5]

[tre5]

I started by stripping the truck down to the bare bones.


Then off to the sand blaster...

[tre5]

I made a huge order to LMC Truck for all the exterior parts for the truck (even some interior parts).

[tre5]

Everything up to this point is actually about a year old. So flash forward to a few weeks ago. I brought it down to my shop and started on the rust repair.


Fit up the new LMC doors with new hinges and latches.

Spent some time on the door gaps and replaced the lower cab corners.

[tre5]

Then started a couple minor body mods to clean up the looks and modernize it just a tad.
No more gas filler or key holes.

Got rid of the fresh air vent (not fully welded in this photo)

And lost the louvers on the pillar

[tre5]

Also built the brand new bed for the truck with all brand new parts from LMC Truck. I modernized a few things on the bed too. Hidden latches, fabric tailgate straps, and less obvious tailgate hinges. Also added LED tail lights and license plate light.. all the lights on this truck will be LED, actually.

[oldman3]

I've seen some of your other work, so I'm along for this build...Jim

[tre5]

A friend of mine that I've known for over 15 years just opened up a new auto paint shop 2 doors down from my shop. This is his second shop he's owned. He decided it was time to start working for himself after 10 years of working for someone else again. He's taking care of all the bodywork and paint for me. We are using Metalux for all the primer , sealer, and paint. U-pol for body fillers, including a "kitty hair' type filler, a lightweight bondo, and a glaze.

[tre5]

Some body work photos.
Here's the "kitty hair" type filler. It's basically a type of filler that has small strands of fiberglass in it.

Then lightweight filler over that to straighten it out.




Ready for primer! It sure needed a lot of body work. The back wall and roof were in rough shape.

[tre5]

Frank spraying the first round of primer.

After 3 coats of primer.

This round will be guide coated and sanded, then another round of primer that will get sanded again, and maybe even a 3rd round of primer to make this truck straight as can be before paint.

[tre5]

I have several great companies on board for this build that need a shout out.
First of all, you may have guessed... LMC Truck. They literally have everything you could need to restore on of these trucks, as well as the other body styles of classic Chevy trucks.
Ride Tech was on board immediately as well. I will be doing coil overs front and rear.

Summit Racing supplied me with a ton of the mechanical stuff. Fuel tank, pump, filters, fittings, hose, spark plugs, wires, trans cooler, wiring, and some other cool stuff.

Dakota Digital sent me a complete gauge package

Toyo tires sent me some Proxes ST II tires in a 255/40R20 and a 275/40R20

Those tires will wrap around a set of 20" Intro wheels in 20x8.5 and 20x10

There's a few more I'll highlight along the way as well.

[tre5]

As for chassis and power plant... I was tossing around a few ideas for chassis. I had made my mind up on a setup. However, the parts weren't in production yet and after waiting over a year for them to go into production, I decided it was time to get this thing going without those parts. So I decided to go the S10 swap route. I just picked up this regular cab, long bed 1986 S10 for $450.

[tre5]

I still plan to run coil overs all around on this chassis. I'll be upgrading the chassis to handle better and sit lower. After reading through some of the threads on this build, I think I'll go with a new Grand Cherokee steering box. Quicker ratio and more degrees of turning which I'm thinking will be fine since I'll have to run spacers/ adapters. I'm thinking a parallel 4 link with a panhard bar or watts link and those Ride Tech coilovers. The rear axle will be a 12 bolt GM unit that I'll narrow to fit the 10" rear wheels.
Drivetrain is a 5.3L LS1 car engine backed by a 4l60E. If things go right, I'll do a single turbo on it as well. Some wishful thinking there though
I'll try to keep this thread updated as I make progress.

[FamilyBowTie]

Nice.

I just started mocking up my 49 on an s10 chassis. Gonna get the radiator support and motor moved back this week (I hope).

What coil overs are you going to run? I was thinking of bags but thinking coil overs may be a better way to go.

[tre5]

FamilyBowTie, I'll be running Ride Tech coilovers. Ride Tech makes upper and lower control arms as well. I'm not quite sure if I'll grab those or not, but I hope to.

[84blaze]

I follow you on Instagram and I just happened to stumble across this thread.

Looking forward to progress.

[oldman3]

Cab is looking great, nice parts you have put together...Jim

[Chevy-49]

Subscribed, great build and pictures.

[oossuuu754]

I am onboard! Looks like a great build, hoping you Turbo the LS1!

[tre5]

Thanks guys! I am on facebook and instagram under Tre5Customs. I'll keep this thread updated as I work on my truck, but if you're interested in any of the other stuff I do it will be on there.

[Advanced Design]

Cool project with nice parts! I am tagging along.

[mikec4193]

Hey Tre5

So I gotta ask...why are you taking both side vents and the cowl vent too??? wont this make the cab too air tight when you get it done?

Just wondering out loud that's all...

I love the all the stuff you have done so far...

I am following this build for sure...

MikeC

[tre5]

I'll be running a vintage air ac setup so I won't need the vents for cooling off purposes. As far as too tight of a cab seal, I don't have plabs to... But I could always cut in a late model style vent in the back of the cab if I needed to. Obviously I'd hide it behind the bed.

Originally Posted by mikec4193

Hey Tre5

So I gotta ask...why are you taking both side vents and the cowl vent too??? wont this make the cab too air tight when you get it done?

Just wondering out loud that's all...

I love the all the stuff you have done so far...

I am following this build for sure...

MikeC

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[tre5]

Brought the S10 down to the shop yesterday to strip it down to the chassis. But first, let me do a burn out, lol