Marks Diesel 46 project

[Diesel46]

Hi I,m Mark. I love reading about everyones truck projects here so I thought I would try posting my project truck. I bought my 46 Chevy about 5 years ago as a basket case and have been collecting parts and finishing other projects. I started last year but I don't have much time so its going slow. I will try to post some pics to catch up to where I am now. I have never done a complete build before. My goal is to build a daily driver. A 46 1/2 ton with 79 Malibu front suspension, an 84 Mercedes 300D 5 cylinder turbo diesel, 5 speed AX15 jeep transmission and S10 rear and springs.Here is pics of getting it home.

[63 & 64 Bowties]

Welcome Mark. I'm subscribed to see progress.
Interesting choice on the Mercedes.

[3drburb]

Welcome, this should be very interesting indeed. I love the 41-46 rigs and you have started with a solid looking one.

[Diesel46]

Thanks for the replies. Here are some pics from March 2015. Pulling the engine out of the 300D one evening after work. A friend of mine was junking his mothers old 79 Malibu and I was able to get the front frame section in trade for fixing the transmission in his wifes minivan! I brought it all home to the backyard garage.

[Diesel46]

After a lot of measuring and head scratching and some more measuring I started to cut the Malibu frame front crossmember to clear the front sump oil pan on the Mercedes diesel engine. Then I made some steel plates to weld in.

[Diesel46]

Here is some pics from April 2015. Put some 2" drop spindles on the Malibu suspension and pushed the truck into the backyard garage. I removed the rest of the front end, made a little jig to mark the placement of the core support for location on the new frame and measured the axle center for centering location of the wheels before I cut the front off the old frame. Then I removed the rest of the front and rear suspension.

[CHIZZLER]

Great project.

[Todd68Chevy]

Nice project. In case you do not know, what I found out was the 4wd S10 rear ends are 4" wider then the 2wd S10 rear ends.

[Diesel46]

Todd68Chevy, Thanks for the info on the rear axle. The one I have is from a 4X4 I think it will fit. It looked like the tire would rub the bed with a 2wd.

[Todd68Chevy]

Originally Posted by Diesel46

Todd68Chevy, Thanks for the info on the rear axle. The one I have is from a 4X4 I think it will fit. It looked like the tire would rub the bed with a 2wd.

I did the same thing. I swapped out the 2wd rear end for a limited slip 4wd to get the tires out in the fenders better.

[Diesel46]

Some more pics of the build. I set the frame on jack stands and set up most of the body panels to try to get the stance I am looking for so I could get measurements for the frame graft. Trimmed the frame rails off the Malibu suspension. Then I cut front frame rails off the 46. Then I got ready to join the two frames together. And started to weld it together.

[Advanced Design]

Cool project. I am in to follow along.

[Diesel46]

Thanks for the comments, Here is some more pics of welding and plating the frame. Made a mount for the radiator support(will need to be braced more) and made place to set engine mounts.

[Diesel46]

Here is some pics from May 2015 test fitting the Mercedes turbo diesel engine in the frame.

[Diesel46]

Tired of mud. The rest of the summer I learned how to pour concrete and did 30 yards in 5 sections. Makes me appreciate those who really know how to do this kind of work!

[lower50's]

This looks like it will be a really cool truck. I love the alternative engine choice. Sometimes you have to use what you got, but will end up unique in the end. Keep up the good work.

[Dieselwrencher]

Great project and nice fab work! That is some nice concrete work too!

[Diesel46]

Thanks guys for the encouraging comments. Here is some pics of the rear suspension. I used springs and mounts from a 2wd S10 and a rear from a 4x4 S10 that one of the guys at work was scrapping. I had to cut the spring perches off the rear because the frame width is different and I will weld them back on in the correct position when I get the pinion angle figured out. I cut the front spring mounts off the s10 frame and welded them to the 46 frame. I cut the rear shackle mount out of the s10 frame, cut a hole in the 46 frame and welded them in place. I put 2 inch lowering block on it. Should give it the correct ride height but it is hard to tell since I never saw the springs with a load on them.

[lower50's]

That's a cool way of doing it. Should work just fine.

[Diesel46]

These pics are from February. I made a cart from some scrap lumber and old tool box wheels to set the cab on. I bolted the jeep trans to the Mercedes engine with the adapter plate. I didn't put the flywheel or clutch or anything in it yet, just setting it up for now. Modified the stock crossmember and used a two bolt Chevy trans mount to get it all lined up.

[Diesel46]

I was going to try to use the original clutch and brake pedals but that didn't work out and the kits I looked at didn't look like they would fit in the space I have to work with and were very expensive so I decided to make a pedal set. I went out to the farm supply store and got a hitch pin and some bushings found a piece of 1/2 pipe and some square tubing. Bent the pipe over an old wheel. Made the framework from some shelving brackets. It took me all day to make it. More time measuring and looking than actually building. The brake booster and master will go on the other side of the crossmember.

[Dieselwrencher]

Great work on your pedal assembly! It looks good and heavy duty from here!

[Advanced Design]

Mark, that is some nice resourceful work. Looks really good!

[lower50's]

May have taken all day but looks great.

[Diesel46]

I have been working on modifying a 1959 Chevy Bel Air steering column to put in the 46. Ill have pics of that later. Been looking for an interesting 50s or 60s steering wheel. I found this 1961 Impala wheel at the Carlisle swap meet. I cant wait to get this thing put together. Things have been so busy, seems like I don't have much time to work on the truck. This is one of the things keeping me busy....visiting with our third grand child.