51 Chevy 1/2 ton, My S10 swap

[Atommik]

I started seriously looking for an AD truck about a year ago. Craigslist was my main source of vehicles to look at, but I did chase down a few other "I know a guy who's got this truck..." kind of leads. In May of 2011 I found this truck on Craigslist.

I got a hold of the owner and went to look at it after the snow melted!!

[Atommik]

It looked pretty decent and the price was right, so in May 2011 it was mine! I work at a body shop and my boss let me (with some help from co-workers) spend a couple of days tearing it down. The plan was to tear it down and basically bring home the body and donate the driveline to a guy who collects and sells parts for pre-47 trucks. He would come and get it, and use what he could from it. My work space at home is very limited. 2 car garage, with my wifes mini van taking up half!!

[Atommik]

I'm planning to get an S10 frame in the spring. So in the mean time I'm doing the bodywork on the loose parts. I cut out the rusted cab floor, toe boards, and inner kick panels and replaced them. I had a local sheetmetal shop bend the floor piece for me and I made the toe bpoards and firewall pieces myself. I bought the kick panels on-line. I may need to cut a trans tunnel at a later time...I added some extra bracing to the floor since I cut out most of the seat frame.

[Atommik]

With the cab floor mostly done, I am moving on to other parts. My boss lets me bring in parts to work, and work on them over lunch, break time and after work. All four fenders are quite beat up, but not very rusty for a 60 year old truck that spent it's whole life in Minnesota!! I'm finished with both rear fenders, straightened and primed, blocked and reprimed for final sanding before paint. I probably have 30 hours of labor into the rear fenders...2/3 of it metal work!!

[Atommik]

The doors are my current project. I started with the pass. door because it has less rust to deal with! I tried soaking the bottom of the doors in phosphoric acid to remove the rust. It worked pretty well! I have more rust to deal with than I thought. I made repair panels for the inner and outer panels on the door. They are all welded in and now I'm fixing a few dents in the door. I sand blasted the jams of the door and now have that in epoxy primer. I'm hoping to finish the right door this coming week and start the drivers side next week.

[Root2812]

Nice truck. That looks to be about the same condition as my 50. Minnesota winters take their toll on the floors. My floor looks just like yours did before you fixed it.

Photobucket of my truck --> http://s901.photobucket.com/albums/a.../1950%20Chevy/

[Atommik]

Yeah, and this truck sat outside for at least the last 5 years with basically no windows except the windsheild! The only other real rusty areas are the cab corners, (front and rear).

[xpickup]

Atommik, Looks like a great start. They all seem to have the same rusted areas.

Shannon

[Atommik]

Shannon, I've been watching your builds, nice work!! You inspired me to build my own truck bed, front bed panel and tailgate. Probably won't start them until March or April though.

Atommik

[Kabwe]

Looking good, keep the pics coming.

[Atommik]

Here's a few more mics pics. That's me on the left, and my cramped work space at home (bottom pic).

[xpickup]

Atommik, Thank you. Let me know if you need any pictures, dimensions or how I do them. Just take your time and watch your heat and it is not too bad.

Shannon

[Atommik]

Thanks, I'll let you know if I need anything.

[Atommik]

I finished the body work on the right door, primed it and blocked it. Found one small low spot. Will fix that, then reprime. Hoping to start the other door this week. It needs some serious metal work on the inner lower. I'll see if I can make some repair panels, otherwise I may have to buy a patch panel!

I've been working out the details in my head for LED turn signals, parking lights and brake lights...shouldn't be too difficult.

I will have HID (Xenon) headlamps retro-fit into the original headlamp buckets and trim rings. I'll post pics if anyone is interested!!

[oldman3]

You've been doing some good repair work on the fenders, doors, etc. Headlight deal is great. Keep posting up the build....Jim

[Atommik]

Cleaned up and refinished the vent window frame for the right door. Finished bodywork and priming/ blocking on right door and brought it home for storage. Will be taking the left door into work to start on it this week.

[oldman3]

Nice repairs to the door....Jim

[Wybrow]

You're doing a great job on this. I have a lot of the same body work ahead of me, nice to see what you've done.

[Atommik]

Thanks Jim, Wybrow...

After getting a good look at the drivers door bottom, and my "success" on the other door, I'm definately going to try to make my own repair panels for the inner door. I should be starting on it this week.

[Atommik]

Decided to take advantage of unusally "warm" Minnesota weather (35 degrees) and sand blast the inner fender panels. Was going to wait till spring, but it's supposed to stay "warm" this week, so I can sand blast outside!

[Root2812]

I am so glad to hear that. I had to leave my truck in MN while I came down to Louisiana to finish grad school. I'm coming home in a few days and I pray it will stay warm enough for me to get a little bit done before I have to head back south. I was figuring the truck would be under 2 or 3 feet of snow by now.

[Atommik]

High's in the 30's all week and no snow in sight!!

[Atommik]

I got the inner fenders and braces sand blasted and epoxy primed this week. Now back to the door rust repair!!

[99 to Life]

love the progress. I will be doing the same exact thing on my next truck. Lots of metal work. subscribed

[xpickup]

Atommik, nice job on the doors. I can not wait to see the headlamps lite. They say they are great to drive with. Great job.


Shannon