49 ls1

[skymangs]

Thanks all for the encouragement.

Here's the last few. Kinda stuck till I get that brace. Did I mention how much I dislike spot weld cutting and debris flying in my face all day?

[99 to Life]

some serious metal surgery there, looking good.

[oldman3]

Chris, not sure if this is the area you need a view of, but it shows the cross sill that goes on top of the body mount bracket that ties into the door sill. If this isn't what you need, let me know...Jim

[skymangs]

Thanks 99, I'm glad that dashboard is going to a good home!

That's really close Jim, but I need the area they cut away to show the floor brace and body bolt. The right side rocker panel (last pic I posted above). Does it extend past the the door frame? What is supposed to be between the floor brace and the door frame to support it? I'm thinking the forward part of my rocker panel just gone (rusted away), but the edge looks pretty clean, so I'm not sure. I just ordered a body manual for the truck, but it will be a few days before it gets here.

[99 to Life]

hey sarge, I think this is the pic your looking for. Rocker extends all way out to toe board, outer/door jam welds to it, as does the inner cowl piece (not shown in pic) then the "cab mount brace" would meet underneath. Floor gets folded over rocker all the way up to toe board. found a thread with great pics over on the "no s10 frame swaps allowed site"
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...9357&showall=1

[skymangs]

Nice 99, that's exactly what I was looking for. Rocker goes all the way to toe board. Perfect.

Thanks,

[oldman3]

Chris, here's some pics showing how I replaced mine, don't mean to fill up you thread with my stuff, but hope this helps...Jim

[skymangs]

Jim, that's a LOT of metal work! Pretty much exactly what I am doing, only I'm doing it one side at a time. I think I am going to create the forward rocker panel on each side instead of getting a whole one from classic. They are in good shape once they clear that forward portion of the door frame.

Thanks,

[oldman3]

Chris, I think your right, just tie into your rocker and go forward to the pillar (door frame). Your new cross sill should tie into your new rocker piece and go over toward frame (as per the drawing). Knowing you, you probably already have it done...Jim

[skymangs]

Thanks so much guys for the pics. I was able to use those to wrap my mind around how to transition from that curve in the rocker panel to the straight cowl brace. I was able to cobble together a half decent looking panel that fits the floor brace as well as everything around it. here's a pic.

Jim, you were right. Banged it out tonight Off to the city tomorrow for my cab braces and a drivers floor pan. Gonna show my buddy Chris how parts shopping is supposed to be done... Commuting in a slammed '48 Chevy!

[99 to Life]

lookin good, just seen a fellow members truck on ebay with LS swap, said he was getting 26mpg average. Thats the second time I heard that number. I was planning on dropping one in my 53' belair, now I'm thinking on doing one for my next truck, aside from the 52' I'm doing (235 with 5speed in that one). Good power and torque with awesome mpg, is the most logical thing to do it seems.

[skymangs]

Nice 99, I know for a fact that my buddy ran power tour with his 49, 4.8L, 4L60E, running a 3.73 rear end. He said his average mileage for the entire trip was 23mpg. mind you, we were all lighting the tires upon request, stop and go traffic, AC on, etc... That right there sold me! I don't doubt your 26mpg highway mileage figure for a second. I think with overdrive, and my 3.08 Camaro rear, it ought to do pretty damned good for mpg.

[xpickup]

skymangs, metal work looks great. The cowls are all ways my least favorite area to fix. Sometimes I think it is the panels.


Shannon

[skymangs]

Got all my pieces and parts from Classic today. Dvr's side floor board, both cab to floor braces, and Left side lower door frame patch.

This is how you're supposed to shop for old truck parts!

[skymangs]

I got the rocker panel patch in today, Had a real B$@ch of a time with the brace for the lower hinge pocket. 2 bolts broke during the hinge removal. I tried to get another used one a Jim Carter's today, but Arnold didn't want to cut one out, and no one makes a reproduction. I wound up drilling and tapping the two upper bolt holes and re-using the stock one. Wasted about an hour on that this evening. Got the bracing welded back in, and the floor to cab brace in nice and straight. Tomorrow I'll start putting the rest of it together.

[skymangs]

I was a real bad boy today. My neighbor has a pretty straight old 83 1 ton dually Chevy. Runs good, but has a hole in the fuel tank. 6 brand new E rated 265/75R16 tires, nice solid cab, welders flat bed with 3 onboard tool boxes... He told me the other day he'd let it go for $600. I started getting nasty ideas of a new Tow Pig in my future. Today I negotiated for a REAL straight, rust free 56 GMC 6400 1.5 ton (wide front fenders) truck cab, fenders, grille, etc. I'm seeing a 56 GMC 6400 on an 83 (short) dually chassis with a widened short-bed step side box, 454 and overdrive 5 speed. So of course I went immediately out and bought the Dually. Damn, its a freakin disease isn't it?

[Billys68SS]

I definately want to see THAT build!!!

[oldman3]

Chris, nice repair work on the cab. That 56 sounds like a winner...Jim

[99 to Life]

I love the parts getter pic. I always love rolling up talking to someone in the truck, for instance when you go and negotiate the 56' deal, roll up in your truck, they know you mean business. Can't wait to see the patch work all done, your day sounds like most of mine, every bolt that can break does, every step I take I'm usually making up for the step back I took! Its not a disease, its a passion, an art and outlet really. Hard to fight off those outlets of creativity and learning. Man has made the world what it is, not dissing women, but man made most of the industrial advances to this world. So thats what I tell my lady, "I can't help it, its in my DNA". There a few projects my lady don't know about though. Atleast you got a couple done, so she doesn't thing your all talk. You gotta be able to back up your passion ya know, can't just hoard stuff cause then they start doubting you. They don't care that extra door is worth 100 bucks any day of the week and someday is gonna be worth more, or you'll need it.

[skymangs]

thanks all. I totally agree 99. I have an unspoken agreement with my wife. About 6 years ago, she quit asking what all this was costing us, and I quit volunteering the information. Seems much better that way!

Got a bunch done today. Used my air flange tool and punch so I could get some decent plug welds in the toe board. Got the floor in, got the kick panel in, got the lower hinge pocket in, everything is in, just need to finish up some seam welding tomorrow and slap that outer cowl on tomorrow. Then on to the left side.

[skymangs]

I just wanted to share this, I found this beautiful steering column on ebay. I checked into the company before I bought. I just couldn't believe an aftermarket tilt column for $160. They are based in Iowa, 100% locally made, and had great ebay feedback, so I took a chance. Column arrived today, couldn't be more pleased with the fit and finish of the column. Tilt, brand new 4-way and turn signal switch, it even came with billet knobs on all the levers. Totally impressed, well worth not having to re-work junkyard columns!

[skymangs]

last post, promise! Picked this up for the old man today. Genuine '59 GMC 336 cid... Will go in his 59 Big Window GMC Custom Cab fleet pickup. I don't know how unusual it is to find one of these, but it turns, and I trust the guy who told me it was a good running truck when parked, so I figured it was worth the $150.

[oldman3]

Hey Chris, nice repairs on the floor, etc. Column looks great, nice price. Don't know much about the old GMC engines, but I'm sure you don't to many of them...Jim

[99 to Life]

patches are coming along nicely. That column looks good, I feel like those have been coming much cheaper these days, along with alot of stuff. I'm usually a straight column guy, but there are some projects I foresee that could use one of these. That engine looks cool as hell, I'd say a good deal. I love GMC man, gots my vote. I love buying old I6's that no one wants, gonna come in handy one day. Love the new tech out there, but love the traditional stuff too.

[vht]

Post a link to the ebay column, that's nice. I need a column for mine, tired of looking for something that'll work.