project: What did I get myself into 50 chevy

[blitz'd]

Originally Posted by SledBurban

I adjusted a south carolina claim for you today.. YOU ARE WELCOME!!!

Hey thanks! I turned away a North Carolina claim and sent them your way today!

Originally Posted by vintage_car

would love to see the tubbing project and what driveshaft are you using?

I had a custom one built by a local driveline shop. When I get back in town ill start body work on the bed and post more pictures. I was trying to get it running before I got called out to work and was sooo close but didnt happen.

[SouthernRodder]

Looking good man. Did you ever find a taller rear tire. I've been racking my brains the past week on tire combos. Thinking of either 18x8/18x9.5 or 18x8/20x10. I'm kinda leaning toward the 18s with a 235/55 and a 255/55 tire combo. I would really like a 285/50 on the back (I like em fat) but can't seem to find a matching tread for the front. What size spacers did u wind up using?

[vintage_car]

if you don;t mind me asking...what did that driveshaft cost? I have not had luck at the junkyard sourcing a 59" one and it is looking more like I will need one made. I have been priced $200-250...wasn't sure if that was spot on, to much, a steal?

[daverod]

I pd 150 cut and balanced.

[blitz'd]

Ive been hard at work on this thing the past few weeks. Finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Heres some pictures of more s10 swap mounts, front bed mounts



Running board mounts




Radiator support shortened, new lower mounts fabbed from S10 bumper mounts and radiator mounted. Perfect fit, made it all adjustable so I can get all the front sheet metal to line up.




Got the floor all patched up and rust free, put on a coat of Rust Bullet top and bottom.



Laid out

Aired up


Front end got painted last weekend, I was rushing to beat the cold weather and ran out of hardener for the clear on sunday so these still need a scuff and clear.



Dash parts all painted

[Root2812]

Originally Posted by blitz'd

Where did you get that tranny hump? It almost looks plastic in the picture.

[Fat Mike]

Do you have some dimensions on those running board brackets that you made and possibly some locations to where you installed them on the frame? Your truck is bad a$$!

[blitz'd]

Originally Posted by Root2812

Where did you get that tranny hump? It almost looks plastic in the picture.

From a swap meet, its metal from a 60-66 chevy truck. I think they were the same from 60-72 actually just different heights and shifter holes.

Thanks Fat Mike, the tube is 1x1.5" 11 gauge and gussets are 3/16 fronts are 14 1/4" center is 15.5" long not sure if im going to make a rear one yet since access is limited back there.

[blitz'd]

Been busy on this, slacking on updates. Front clip is painted and installed, hood took 3 rounds of paint to get right. The clear kept showing stripes, once I grabbed the wrong reducer and wrinkled it all to hell. Repainted the cab also, went with more gloss than before. I like this round of paint better, I call it low gloss. Its glossy but no reflective qualities.





Lots of custom work on the bed, here is one of them.



Lots of parts rolling in



Engine getting buttoned up. Waiting on a few more parts before its a runner. Brakes are done, new lines, booster, master, pads, rotors, etc.

[blitz'd]

Final paint on hood, still not perfect but im over it.



Sweet good fortune!



One of the more fun parts, finding a rad hose to fit this nice angle. Ended up with a cool flex metal hose knock off.



Finished off the frame in the rear. Old picture but the ends of that rear tube got boxed and everything finish welded. Still need to mount my air tank, battery and compressor in this area. USPS lost my new battery cable this week.

[blitz'd]

As you might be able to tell from the last few pictures the cab has taken a beating since it was painted. I repainted the firewall this weekend and am planning on repainting the cab too. The fenders and hood are a little darker in the pictures above, that is the new paint color. I darkened up the red a little and added a little more gloss to the clear. I wanted a cool satin sheen not just another flat paint job.

Sound deadener is in, carpet is on the way. Wiring is in progress. Ordered a new steering column, ive gone this far and im not putting the ugly 80s GM column back in it.



Oh, I had a hell of a time fabbing up a trans tunnel that looked good so while at a swap meet I found this guy for $20. Its a removable tunnel from a 60s chevy truck. Had to move the shifter hole but came out perfect.

[xpickup]

blitz'd, looking good. The stance is killer. Keep up the great work.


Shannon

[Kabwe]

The truck is looking NICE!

[youngrodder]

Looks good. I started final assembly last year. It was one of the most enjoyable parts of my LONG build.

Keep up the good work.
Marc

[ratty 46]

Coming right along ... great progress & build.

R46

[Larry Lindley]

Good job your almost there like the color.

[blitz'd]

Almost forgot to post this! I came up with a good cheap alternative to body mounts. Wish I had used these instead of the more expensive body mounts I bought a while back. These are for V8 belaire engine mounts part number 602-1044. 1045 is the same but a little larger. Best part is these are under $3 each. I used them for my rad support.





Finished up the frame section today, decided to punch some "speed holes" for some visual appeal and to help route wiring and air line. Mounted up the air tank also.



Made some mounts and hung the front bumper finally. Still need to adjust it, hood is not lining up properly on the drivers side though. Looks like I got that left front rad mount a little too high. Easy fix.



Speed holes and frame graft. Wish I had thought this through a little more I could have made it look a little more seamless from the top if I had done it differently. Was more focused on strength even though this doesn't support anything really. Doubt I will be hauling anything in the bed of this one! Wait till you see the wood floor I built!

[blitz'd]

And I just realized how bad my camera sucks! I need to rob the wifes Nikon tomorrow.

[drivea55]

That color is great!

[fat56]

Your build is coming along great.. Love the paint, im also going with the more semi gloss finish not just a flat paint job. That pearl really makes it.

I have been told it is super hard to paint, without it looking streaky.

Cant wait to see photos in the sun with the front fenders on.

[av8tr33337]

Just curious are you planning to use a splash apron behind your front bumper?

[blitz'd]

Originally Posted by fat56

Your build is coming along great.. Love the paint, im also going with the more semi gloss finish not just a flat paint job. That pearl really makes it.

I have been told it is super hard to paint, without it looking streaky.

Cant wait to see photos in the sun with the front fenders on.

It is, and I think the low gloss clear makes it even worse. I had to paint the hood 3 times to get it to look right.

Originally Posted by av8tr33337

Just curious are you planning to use a splash apron behind your front bumper?

I want to make my own, just haven't decided on what to do yet. Need to get my hands on a dimple die and or bead roller.

[nfamus10]

Those gates hoses work great for those crazy angles on the radiator. Truck is looking killer.

[blitz'd]

Originally Posted by nfamus10

Those gates hoses work great for those crazy angles on the radiator. Truck is looking killer.

Hey welcome to a real forum! lol. I tried the gates rubber hose and it was too tight of an angle and made it collapse. I ended up with a cool flex style metal hose. You can see it in one of the engine shots. Worked great. I actually liked it so much I ordered another one for the upper hose...powdercoated black.

Good news is, USPS found my battery cable and its on the way.

Some updates, fuel line is ran and gas tank installed, engine and front clip wired up. Air tank and compressor mounted. Re-engineered my brake pedal to work with the column moved over. The old column came out right into the header so It got moved about 2 inches to the left. Also had to make a new bracket for the stop lamp switch. Had to cut and weld the pedal arm with the booster pin on the other side to gain some clearance.





Got a chrome column in trade for helping a buddy paint his truck, not my style so it getting painted vintage white like the dash on my next round of white paint. Waiting on a column drop and a u joint from CPP to connect it.

[blitz'd]

Took some pictures with the wife's Nikon. I don't use it much since its expensive and confusing. Got a great shot here of the chip I put in the paint installing the bumper.