51 Farm Truck

[dsraven]

ok, disregard those, lol. didn't know you were done and driving, sweet.

[dsraven]

got any done pics?

[Hey Dude]

Patience,... all in good time. I'm going to try to post a chronological progress as though it's a build thread. It's just only going to take me a week to get it done this way.

[Hey Dude]

I followed the S10 Swap thread pretty much to the T with minor exeptions.

I used my own cab mount design based on a blend of designs from that thread and the design using a 4x4 tubing. I bent mine out of flat plate but they "look" like the 4x4 design sort of. I regret not taking pictures of the metal fabrication components. As an ex-autobody guy, and an old farmer, I used what was laying around and engineered around what I had. I was able to weld everything with my Hobart 140. I cut everything either with a cutoff wheel, jig saw or the sawzall.

I completely disassembled the frame and had it sandblasted. I then primed it with DP90 and painted it chassis black.

[Hey Dude]

The only "real" bodywork I did was the front cowl/cab corners and kick panels. They were all rotted out from mouse nests. 98% of the seat padding had been stuffed into that space between the kick panel and outer sheet metal. Then it got wet over the years and well, you get the idea. The rest of the truck is pretty much rust-free. Bottoms of the fenders are pin-holed but that gives the patina character I guess. As an old autobody guy it's hard not to make a show truck out of everything I touch...

BTW, the outer sheet metal panel from LMC was pretty good but, the kick panel and intermediate brace were junk, and that's being kind. I could have made them from scratch and spent less time on them...

[joedoh]

hey dude! nice truck!

Originally Posted by Hey Dude

As an ex-autobody guy, and an old farmer, I used what was laying around and engineered around what I had.

this is the way! it takes some real thinking on your feet to do one of these and guys who are used to tab a into slot b instructions really struggle! NICE WORK!

[Hey Dude]

Yes, my radiator core support mounts are actually leftover garage door track hardware.

My bed cross braces are Unistruts.

The front bed mount is the original S10 mount, cut off the frame and turned around left side to right side.

[Hey Dude]

A closer look at the front Box Mounts

Lots of holes to weld up

Holes filled & welded. Fusebox passthrough cutout. Fresh paint.

The frame going together, ready for engine/tranny mounts

After the engine & tranny in. I set them back 7" and lowered them a half inch. I flipped the leaf springs around and moved the spring perches back an inch on the frame.

[Hey Dude]

Cab to engine clearance. Time to run wiring harness

Cab mounted for the last time

Front clip re-assembled ready to bolt back on. I sandblasted the insides of all the fenders and DP90-Chassis Black. Next up...dash...what to do?

[Hey Dude]

Location I chose to bring the factory S10 harness through the firewall.

I put the PCM in the center. I also had to repin the DRAC so my spedo would be correct after the rear gear change.

[Hey Dude]

Now for the part that I'm going to get blasted for here... I grafted the S10 instrument panel into the AD dash... Yikes! that was hard to do emotionally. My dad wanted the modern gauges. What a challenge though. Lots of fabricating and bracing involved to support the column and cluster.

You can almost see where I mounted the seatbelt shoulder strap bolt.

[Tempest67]

looks like a nice clean install of that dash, well done.

You lost me at 'repin the DRAC', but I am enjoying the pics.

Thanks for sharing

[Hey Dude]

Originally Posted by Tempest67

looks like a nice clean install of that dash, well done.

You lost me at 'repin the DRAC', but I am enjoying the pics.

Thanks for sharing

The DRAC module is the little box attached to the PCM on the First-Gen S10's. It tells the electric speedometer what to display. There's a circuit board inside. You have to remove existing solder bars and replace them to new locations. There's a formula that is based on gear ratio and tire diameter.

I should have typed it as Re-Pin not repin

[Tempest67]

I don't know how you guys all know this computer stuff.

I guess I am old school with carbs and distributors, but I enjoy watching you do it.

Thanks, and keep it going

[Hey Dude]

Fitting the Box for the last time.

Started on the first attempt

Mom & Dad taking it for the first drive.

[Hey Dude]

Rear fenders mounted and getting the runningboard set in place.

The rear seat out of our junked 95 Corsica might fit on the factory seat frame?

The red upholstery has to go.

I was able to use the S10 seat belts, The seat cover from RockAuto for the rear Corsica seat looks okay!

[Hey Dude]

Wiring and lights are all finished.

Mounting the doors for the last time.

Final stance photo's

[Tempest67]

looks great, nice job.

some good ideas in this build, thanks for sharing

[Hey Dude]

Delivering to Dad on his 86th Birthday.

[dsraven]

that pic of the folks driving it is cool. looks like Mom is knitting a pair of socks while they drive, haha.

[dsraven]

you gotta look for some center caps for those wheels to finish it off.

[Hey Dude]

Those are the OEM wheels from the 89 S10. My intent is to get smoothies with the baby moons when the budget allows.

We have been enjoying driving it this fall. Now that winter is here I have parked it in storage until spring. We'll save our pennies so we can finish it off next spring/summer.

One of the things I'm most proud of is that I was able to build this truck while staying under our $3,500 budget, so far. The single biggest expense was the rebuilt transmission at $1650. I spent roughly $800 at Rock Auto for steering, suspension, seat cover and misc engine tuning parts. Roughly $600 at LMC Truck for cab sheet metal and weatherstrips. And roughly $450 at the local Auto Value for paint/primer & welding supplies. Everything else was good old fashioned elbow grease and farmer-engineering. Of course I already had both trucks so that would have been an added expense.

It took me 24 weeks to get to get to the last photo posted.

I still have work to do next year. I don't have any bed-wood in the box yet. I still need a right-side runningboard (nobody makes one), I want to find tail lights that match the ones bolted on top of the front fenders. And I need to insulate the floor and put carpet in the cab. Then when the budget allows I'll get a Vintage Air unit.