1949 Chevy 3100 - the journey begins

[focusedontheprize]

A shot one of my buddies took when it was on the street:

[focusedontheprize]

The next project was getting the transmission sorted. After all my research on here and Stovebolt, I came to the conclusion I should have gone with my original setup from day 1 - T5 swap. I still do not know how I veered off track, but this time I was going to do it.

One of my buddies had a NWC transmission laying in his garage he was willing to part with. It was originally from a '85 Camaro and he said the car didn't have many miles on it. So after buying him a couple beers I was a the proud new owner of a T5.



In the last picture you can tell the amount of grease and dirt that was cake on this transmission. So I brought it over to the car wash the next day to clean it up.


I located a S10 tail housing in the junk yard. The owner was nice enough to let me swap it out for no charge so that was a great deal. I opened up the original Camaro box and was very pleased - no broken teeth, no damage or real wear, and the syncros were in mint condition. I really lucked out on this one. Picked up a shim kit, checked the end play, and buttoned it all up. I am running a hydraulic clutch setup on this and it shifts like a dream.

[99 to Life]

very cool

[focusedontheprize]

Thanks 99.

Bolted up the running boards and put new seals in the doors and under the hood.


Also at this point I installed a shop truck bed - went over to Home Depot and picked up some lumber. I actually am really happy with how it came out and it only cost me around $50. I will have to grab photos of it when I am home again.

[focusedontheprize]

To catch this up...I had the chance to drive the truck 3 weeks ago when I was home. I had swapped in the transmission and put in the adjustable T/O bearing from Novak at the time. It was a life saver.

The truck drives great...I can tell it has a difficult breathing through that single barrel carb and that intake so that will be the first thing to be swapped out..but other than that it drives great.

My wheels caps finally arrived from Wheels Vintiques....

[SamsAutoParts73-87]

Those caps really complete the look.

-Sam

[focusedontheprize]

Thanks Sam. They really do.

I am bouncing the idea around of putting them and painting the logo black. I am going to through it in Photoshop today and see how I like it.

[SamsAutoParts73-87]

I think that will look good.

-Sam

[BlueJeep]

Looks good! What size tires did you end up with?

[chevyboy73]

this thing turned out sick! I love the whitewalls and the orange body, they go great together. got a sound clip or anything of this beast?

[focusedontheprize]

Thanks Levi. I am really happy how it turned out - just something refreshed that I could throw some miles on and not worry too much about it.

I am traveling, but I will try and get a video clip of it soon.

Thanks again.

[TNACUSTOM]

Originally Posted by focusedontheprize

First, I want to say you guys have a phenomenal forum here. I have been only reading it for a few weeks now, but you guys are quite good at what you do and are very helpful. Props to all you guys.

Picked her up in Minnesota and had her shipped back to NY. It has been a bit of a feat trying to find a AD truck in NY that is in good shape and a reasonable price. Finally found her back in January.

She is a 1949 Chevy 3100. It originally was a farm truck in Nebraska with a 216 4 speed still in it. The truck is pretty solid and I am very happy with the purchase.

Here is the goal: I want to have it driving by July 4th. My plans are to:

- Lower the truck
Front: 4" drop axle - probably go with Sid from droppedaxles.com
Rear: 4" lowering blocks with stock leafs

- Change the drivetrain
After doing a bit of reading, I am seeing the 216 isn't that great of a motor to go with because of the splash "oil trough" system. My goal is to stay with the inline 6 (I would really like a 292) and I am matching it up with an S10 5 speed.

- Swap out the front drums for discs
This seems to be a feat if I do not want to go with a kit and I want to keep the 6 lug setup.

Other than that, I want to drive her how she looks. I love the look of these trucks and would like to keep it mostly stock (straight axle and such).

I definitely will have a bit of questions for you guys, but July 1st is my goal to take my first drive

Here is a few pictures of her:

It is weird how on the east coast you can't fine these trucks. I can drive around in a afternoon and at least five sitting in driveways or yards.

[99 to Life]

TNA, thats refreshing to hear. My friend just moved out west and he sends me pics of salvage yards all over the place. Its crazy how scarce stuff is over here and how bad it is. We def aren't spoiled over here. Even when your done with a project, if you don't have a heated garage, you gotta deal with sweating. its just a never ending battle.

[focusedontheprize]

@BlueJeep: 215/75/15s out front...235/75/15 out back

@TNACustom: Yeah, it is just one of those things that we have to deal with. It is funny when we go to shows and guys instantly ask where I bought it out west.

[TNACUSTOM]

Originally Posted by focusedontheprize

@BlueJeep: 215/75/15s out front...235/75/15 out back

@TNACustom: Yeah, it is just one of those things that we have to deal with. It is funny when we go to shows and guys instantly ask where I bought it out west.

Yeah I live in the dry part of Washington things last a lot longer over here. My truck has been stores in a barn on the west side of the state for the last 30 years where it is a lot wetter and when I went to pull it out of the barn it had a lot more rust then it went in with. But not bad at all just needs cab corners that weren't rusted out when it was put in the barn. I'll post picks soon I've started working on it. I have bought a lot of parts such need to start putting them on.

[48ChevBagged]

Love your truck. It has an awesome patina.

[focusedontheprize]

Originally Posted by 48ChevBagged

Love your truck. It has an awesome patina.

Thanks. Somehow I am know for orange cars now - my '72 Challenger was Vitamin C orange before the restoration. It will be going back to that color after it's done.

[TNACUSTOM]

Originally Posted by focusedontheprize

I do not like rust. I hate it.

So with the frame being bare and my parts on the way my father asked me when was I plan on assembling the front end again. He then looked at my reaction and without me even saying a word he goes "That rust is bothering you isn't it?". You can bet your a** it is. That had to go.

So with some help of my old man and my buddy we moved the frame down to another location where I could prep it and paint it. I was going to originally get it blasted, but I then wanted to POR15 it more than anything. So off with the flap disks and the drill.....

Before:





After (corner of my 1972 Challenger):



So for anyone who has never used POR15 before it loves rusts. So if you decide to put it on anything that is already rusty and you want to clean it up a little bit, make sure you don't go over board. I just "one three-ed" the frame enough where it was clean, but there was still exposed rust. You then will clean it, prep it and dry it, and I end up laying two coats on POR15 on it. It came out a glossy black and I wanted to tone that down so I headed over to Home Depot to pick up a few of their Rustolem Flat Black rattle cans and ended up with this look....



That was exactly what I was looking for and all my parts will be painted the same way.

I was in the paint store the other day and someone was buy POR15 and they said they had it in semi and flat black now. Just thought you might like to know.

[99 to Life]

I hate a rusty frame but I like a lil rust on the body!! just a lil surface rust with the patina. I'm about to strip and coat my second frame, was gonna have a blaster do it and epoxy it. I coulda prolly had that done for like 250ish. But since Im on such a tight budget and actually have to work as slow as the money comes in, I'm doing this one by hand again.

Another alternative is chassis saver for anyone whom never used it. they offer it in satin, which I'v just got but yet to use. Their silver is really nice, they have lt. grey, gloss black as well. also cheaper than POR.

[focusedontheprize]

Originally Posted by 99 to Life

I hate a rusty frame but I like a lil rust on the body!! just a lil surface rust with the patina. I'm about to strip and coat my second frame, was gonna have a blaster do it and epoxy it. I coulda prolly had that done for like 250ish. But since Im on such a tight budget and actually have to work as slow as the money comes in, I'm doing this one by hand again.

Another alternative is chassis saver for anyone whom never used it. they offer it in satin, which I'v just got but yet to use. Their silver is really nice, they have lt. grey, gloss black as well. also cheaper than POR.

On this build..I stripped the frame by hand like you see. It is a great option if money is tight and you have the time. However, next time I will probably send the frame out to the blasters as I found a guy here so does it for a great price.

[focusedontheprize]

Well I decided I haven't spent money on Lucile in a little bit...so I need to keep her happy.

Last week I decided that one barrel needed to go...so I found a Holley 390 and ordered a Clifford Intake Manifold.

Now we wait..

[TJ's Chevy]

Any updates on this sweet build? Especially wanna hear on the 292. lol Did a very similar build in my 66...old worn out 292 with clifford intake and headers, hei, and 600 cfm edelbrock 4 barrel...thing moves! lol

[focusedontheprize]

Originally Posted by TJ's Chevy

Any updates on this sweet build? Especially wanna hear on the 292. lol Did a very similar build in my 66...old worn out 292 with clifford intake and headers, hei, and 600 cfm edelbrock 4 barrel...thing moves! lol

Hey TJ -

I will have to get one for you. Guys think there is a V8 under the hood and are amazed when its just an old inline 6.

The Holley/Clifford update really made a huge improvement.

[yahoos]

Perfect build! Had the opportunity to go to Sids open house at the shop when I was 18

[Henney]

With your current stance, what is the distance from the ground to the running board?