Kodiaks 53 / S10 Build

[Kodiaks53]

Well here we go. i hope to successfully document my build here and maybe help someone along the way as I was helped and motivated by so many here.

I have a 53 I have had collecting dust for many years and finally got motivated by the build threads here. Plans are for a 1979 350 4bolt main that came out a truck my Dad bought back in 79 (Big 10). Followed up with a 700R out of a 91 Camaro. All of the TBI stuff also came from the Camaro. The bed wood came from my Grandpa's Barn so its oak. I purchased a AD Engineering kit and have been getting all my mounts in place on the S-10 frame. (standard cab long bed, 94 model) I have already installed the 4wd s-10 rearend. Right now I need to finish getting the front end sheet metal in place so I can locate my motor mounts.
Here are some photos of the truck I started with:

Cab mounts

Front wheel looks to be centered

The inner fenders help get the radiator set up in place and located, support brackets are on the outher side.

Passenger side support bracket.

and for now the running board support brackets.

Now on to locating the engine mounts and stuff......................

[1952ssr]

Good to see progress and pictures. I also remembered I have a pair of wheel adapters for your front to get the offset the same with the rear if you need them. Keep up the good work.
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[Kodiaks53]

I could probably use those. We'll have to get together so I can get them and the bed kit.

[Atommik]

I'll be watching this build, I'm also doing an s10 swap, but making my own mount brackets. I'm doing the body work first, then getting an s10 frame. I hope to get a frame in the next month or so as alot of the bodywork is done.

[Kodiaks53]

I got my inner fenders trimmed this morning so I can line up the front end sheet metal. Then I can get the motor and tranny in place to tack weld in the motor mounts. I got to find my transmission mount, I know its around the shop somewhere.

[xpickup]

Kodiaks53, looks like a great start. Keep up the great work and keep showing us the pictures. I love build pictures.

Shannon

[Kodiaks53]

Thanks xpickup I think its the feedback that keeps lots of us moving foward at least for me it is ! I like pictures too. I need to resize my first photo so its not so big.
I work on weekends and Monday and Tuesday and I'm off Wed, Thurs and Friday and those are my truck work days. I usually update my posts on the weekends while at work (gets lonesome on the 3rd shift some nights) looking foward to later this week, rain so I can spend time in the shop!

[britnjc]

Looks like your a getting a good start. I bet you cant wait to get it rolling

[Kodiaks53]

Well I got a little more done today. Got the front end radiator mounting all setup and tack welded the motor mounts in place. Just couldn't resist sitting the Chevy value covers on the engine. I bought them from the chevy dealer about 12 years ago. Tomorrow I hope to get the transmission crossmember in place.





Once all this is done it all comes apart to do the final welding of the mounts and clean up the chassis.

[Kodiaks53]

About the engine.... It was in a 79 Chevy Big Ten Silverado my Dad bought new. At about 80K miles it started to smoke a little so my Dad buys a crate engine and we swap it out. His truck was running fine and I got the old 350 engine, it's been sitting in the shop ever since. It's a 4 bolt main and I have all the stuff to rebuild it sitting in the shop. New rods, pistons , rings etc. just send the block out to be freshened up with the heads and put her back together. Then I'll send the tranny out.

[1952ssr]

I love seeing progress. I noticed your truck was green orginally then painted red like mine, that's to funny.

[Kodiaks53]

I got the transmission crossmember built up today and clamped in place. Will do some last measurments and tack in place once the pinion angle is set correctly. Its very close now but I want it to be right. Hope to get the fenders and hood set in place tomorrow also.

[Kodiaks53]

I took a look at some guages I had aquirred a while back and thought it might help someone looking for guages for their truck. I found that the panel from a mid 70's Chevy truck will fit into the bezel of my 53.


If you take it apart you get the individual units. I like having the gas and speedometer as the larger ones. You also get a very nice place to locate your SES light if your going with EFI.

[IMG][/IMG]

Now I have to find a place to mount the temp, volt and oil pressure guages.

[Kodiaks53]

Got the transmission crosmember all leveled out and tacked in place the other day. Met up with 1952SSR Thursday afternoon and picked up the bed strips and a couple of wheel spacers that will get my front wheels in line with my 4X4 rear wheels. I managed the get the rear bed mounts bloted in place today and the bed back together for a test fitting. Slowly but surely

[britnjc]

Originally Posted by Kodiaks53

I took a look at some guages I had aquirred a while back and thought it might help someone looking for guages for their truck. I found that the panel from a mid 70's Chevy truck will fit into the bezel of my 53.

If you take it apart you get the individual units. I like having the gas and speedometer as the larger ones. You also get a very nice place to locate your SES light if your going with EFI.

Now I have to find a place to mount the temp, volt and oil pressure guages.

I really like this idea. how did they all mount up. more details please

[Kodiaks53]

britnjc,
I still have a bit more to do to get it all together but the back case looks like it will fit over the new guage with a little trimming. I hope to keep it all together so I can use the guage lighting and mounting hardware. I plan on getting details and pictures together in the next couple of days (my days off). Details comming shortly!!!

[Kodiaks53]

OK, more on the speedometer....If you trim off some off the tabs and excess sheet metal it is a pretty nice fit.

Then I removed the back of the orginial speedo housing since the new speedo is a little longer or deeper than the orginial. Just a little filing on the plastic housing around the corners to make it easier (very gentle with the filing) and she will fit right in.


I still need to make a couple of small sheet metal straps to hold it all in place. The gas guage is basically the same but I will not use the old housing, I'll just make a bracket to hold the guage in and double as a mounting bracket too. Once I get this bracket made I'll come back here and post the photo.

[britnjc]

Very cool mod. I like the way you think!!

[Kodiaks53]

Been a long while since I last posted, what can I say life happens! Picked up a running 307 with only 60k miles on it yesterday and it sounded great. Also made a trip to Summit Racing just south of Atlanta today and picked up a new tranny crossmember and radiator.

[T-P Auto]

Kodiaks53;

I never thought about useing that set of gauges.
I have two sets out of a 1978 1/2 ton pu.

Thank You;

Really a very good post on your build.
Ck out my post also, just getting started on my project.


Tim

[Kodiaks53]

Thanks Tim, I collected stuff for several years from a friend who owned a wrecking yard. Hopefully I will have some other stuff that will come in handy !

[stewdecky]

Used your idea on my truck. Works great. Thanks for sharing Kodiak53.

[Kodiaks53]

Neat job, looks great!

[Kodiaks53]

Been doing lots of little things to the truck in the past few weeks. Got some new shoes for the rear and mounted them up on the wheels I plan on using. I think they look good anyway. Finished checking out all the setup of the sheet metal and it looks good so I'm ready to tear it all down and start the for real assembly. Ordered some brackets from Summit and bed parts and hardware kit from LMC. That stuff should keep me busy for a while! Took some pictures the last few days so I'll be posting them pretty soon (hopefully tomorrow)

[Kodiaks53]

My wheel set-up.....

[IMG][/IMG]