Bill's 49 5window daily driver project

[el_diablo]

Hi fellas. Been around here for a lot of years but I sold my 71 a long time ago. Recently stumbled onto a really nice running and driving '49 and snatched it up to turn into a daily driver/easy Harley hauler instead of using the duramax/trailer..

It is on an S10 frame and had a 350/th350 in it when I bought it. I am swapping in a LS 408ci stroker with trickflow heads, a 4l80e with PI 3600 triple disk converter, and a 9" to handle it all. I will be running it naturally aspirated for the sake of driving and enjoying it for a little bit and then strap a big Whipple on it later since the engine was built for boost anyway. I have had the engine since the summer of '09 and it's really been whored around between other projects of mine without ever running so it's finally found a good home. I imagine it'll make around 500 to the tires before the blower and 800 or so on pump gas after the blower. This is the tame side of my shennanigans.

Without going on too long in this first post, I'll get a few pics up in a minute. It's currently getting the hood badges removed and smoothed up and then getting painted satin black with a red interior. I know it's been done, but I like it and everyone else can stick it. haha Paint/body guy is bracing up the running boards and adjusting the panels so they fit nice and tight as well. (After Hours Paint & Body in Norman, Matt)

Has anyone seen a truck with a 15x10" rear wheel/17x8" front wheel? That's what I'm leaning toward so it fills up the front wheel well better (and handles at speed.) I don't care for the wheels on it now so I'm switching to a 15x10 rear with a 315/60 drag radial. Billet specialties makes them. Polished/anodized black combo.

The truck as it sits before paint. It's actually painted this color right now, not in primer. It sits WAY too low for my tastes and especially for something I fully intend to drive a lot unless it's raining or snowing. I'm not sure what springs are on it right now or how it was lowered so I think I will hunt some stock s10 springs and swap those on and see how it sits. If I don't like it I'll adjust fire as needed. Probably end up doing some springs, shocks, swaybars, and brakes minimum. It'll be fast enough to warrant some safety precautions.








The engine/trans (when it was bolted up to my '01 Camaro's k-member/suspension)




The wheels I want to put on it.

[el_diablo]

This week the shop is going to be shortening up the frame about 2 1/2" to close the gap between the cab and the bed and get everything mounted properly.

[Chevette]

Originally Posted by el_diablo

This week the shop is going to be shortening up the frame about 2 1/2" to close the gap between the cab and the bed and get everything mounted properly.

Why not shove the cab back that amount? I don't know if it's just my eye, but it looks a little too far forward.

[txrdnek]

I agree the cab looks to far forward, about the distance you are talking about. I did the same thing on my first attempt at placing the cab on the s-10 frame, and after looking at it for a while I realized it wasn't back far enough

[el_diablo]

I haven't seen the truck in person yet (in afghanistan) but I think you guys are right now that I look at the pics again. Good call. It's an extended cab '86 s10 frame so I'm not sure if he'll still want to shorten it a little or not.

Paint/body guy is digging into it now.

[solidaxel]

First all welcome, and thanks for your service,

From the looks of the side shot it looks like the front wheels are not centered in the wheel opening..............like maybe 2 inches!

Yes the bed would be easier to t re locate but the wheels will not be centered from the looks of the pic, JM.02CW