1949 Chevy 3100 - the journey begins

[focusedontheprize]

Installed 4 tie downs in the bed. I decided while I was installing those, I would add a trunk for some extra storage space.

[MIKESAD50]

Have you been driving this since the end of 2015 with out changes? You say you made a nice trip to TX. how did the truck perform? Advice to improve it?

[focusedontheprize]

Originally Posted by MIKESAD50

Have you been driving this since the end of 2015 with out changes? You say you made a nice trip to TX. how did the truck perform? Advice to improve it?

I have - the truck is my daily driver and I love it.

Yeah, I just made the trip from California to Texas in it. I was hauling a 350 in the back with the engine stand. The truck rides on a dropped solid axle with TCI drop springs out back. It drove and handled fine on the trip. I was doing 75 and turning just around 2300 RPMs. It is a great cruiser.

With that being said, I am looking to do a lot more of the long distance trips and thus the reason I am putting a 4 link out back right now and a IFS out front in the future. Just looking to make it as comfortable as possible and setting it up for the future heart transplant (eventually a LS swap).

I think your build is spot on. You are doing everything right (in my mind and experience) on setting up the best daily driver with power. I also like you are keeping the patina, the truck will be a badass sleeper.

[54 LS-3100]

Originally Posted by focusedontheprize

With that being said, I am looking to do a lot more of the long distance trips and thus the reason I am putting a 4 link out back right now and a IFS out front in the future. Just looking to make it as comfortable as possible and setting it up for the future heart transplant (eventually a LS swap).

I can't decide between the tci leaf kit or a parallel 4 link out back. Most of the guys I talk to about the tci kit say it's the way to go, but don't have the miles on the kit like you do.

Thoughts? It will be on a cruiser with mustang II out front, a Ford 8.8 out back, and powered by a 5.3/ 4l60e. Not building a high HP track monster

[focusedontheprize]

Originally Posted by 54 LS-3100

I can't decide between the tci leaf kit or a parallel 4 link out back. Most of the guys I talk to about the tci kit say it's the way to go, but don't have the miles on the kit like you do.

Thoughts? It will be on a cruiser with mustang II out front, a Ford 8.8 out back, and powered by a 5.3/ 4l60e. Not building a high HP track monster

It will be a good setup and I think you'll be very happy with it. I am running a 8.8 out back also. 31 splines, 3.73 gears, disc brakes, and a posi unit - all for $125 out the door - it was a no brainer for me.

[Desert1957]

Originally Posted by focusedontheprize

It will be a good setup and I think you'll be very happy with it. I am running a 8.8 out back also. 31 splines, 3.73 gears, disc brakes, and a posi unit - all for $125 out the door - it was a no brainer for me.

OMG, $125.00 tell me where? I could use one.

[Desert1957]

Originally Posted by TNACUSTOM

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.

PM me , I will give a finder's fee if I can locate something decent.

Thanks

[focusedontheprize]

Originally Posted by Desert1957

OMG, $125.00 tell me where? I could use one.

A local pick-n-pull. I specifically looked at Ford Explorers that were 1995 and up. I believe it was the first year they included disc brakes.

[wolffcub]

Originally Posted by 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....

what are your tire size specs?

[MIKESAD50]

Read thru the build and very nice. Thanks for the tips and look forward to updates.

[99 to Life]

looks great

[focusedontheprize]

Originally Posted by wolffcub

what are your tire size specs?

Fronts: 15x6 on 215/75/15 with 2 5/8" whitewall
Rears: 15x8 on 235/75/15 with a 3" whitewall

[focusedontheprize]

As MIKEAD50 mentioned, I decided to change a few items on the truck.

It all started with the drive from California to Texas.

Friday night, the truck was packed up and loaded. I have a 350 4 bolt main in the back with the engine stand.

A little side note - since I have lived in California it maybe has rained a hand full of times. So when I brought the truck out I had intended to install a wiper motor and wipers - well lets just say I never got to it. So during the few days we tried to put something together that would work. I was close however the wipers end up not working. RainX it was...

Saturday morning I decided to put another coat or 4 of RainX on before we left

The first of many stops for fuel:

Few random shots:

[99 to Life]

congrats on the journey. why you bringing the engine? wipers are a must. I'v used mine so many times.

[focusedontheprize]

Now that we are in Texas I really needed a truly dependable daily driver especially with these summers. I decided to upgrade the truck in segments - so I started out back first.

The truck was in Texas for 25 hours - long enough to get into trouble with it.

Removing the exhaust was the first priority. The exhaust was always something I was disappointed in about the truck. At the time I was on a very tight time schedule and decided to have a shop build the exhaust. It was one of my biggest regrets - so out it comes.

Couple hours later:

This weekend I am going to start filling the holes in the frame in preparation to box it.

[focusedontheprize]

Not much for photos today. More dirty work than anything. I started to wire wheel the frame and started to fill the holes in the rear frame rails behind the last running board mount. Hopefully have both sides finished and smoothed before the end of the weekend.

Picking up the 4 link from Scott's this weekend in Fort Worth.

[OutlawDrifter]

Very cool daily driver, looking forward to the 4-link setup.

[focusedontheprize]

Originally Posted by OutlawDrifter

Very cool daily driver, looking forward to the 4-link setup.

Thanks Outlaw. I am hoping to have it back on the road by July for the next show.


I started to disassemble the complete truck. Pulled the running boards, hood, front bumper, and clip this afternoon. Tomorrow I am going to pull the cab and the drivetrain. Next steps are to cut the rivets out and start filling holes/boxing the frame.

I have been searching the Internet for the best static setup and came across KC's 1953 Chevy that I fell in love with. This is the goal

[focusedontheprize]

It has been quite a busy month and a half. I was in Florida for a week and then California another 3 weeks so truck time has bee limited.

Before I left I headed to Fort Worth and picked up Scott's 4 link rear suspension. Like everyone has said, the quality of the work is unbelievable. I am very happy with everything. While I was in California I placed the order an order with Scotts for the IFS and picked it up while they were in Austin at the Lone Star show. Just a few pictures from the show..






_AJ_'s bada$$ Duramax

[focusedontheprize]

Went home and unloaded the Jeep. It was like Christmas - except the presents weren't wrapped and it was April.


Took inventory of the new parts and finished up the cab dolly that night.

[99 to Life]

nice pics and parts, damn your gonna be busy now.

[focusedontheprize]

This weekend I was able to sneak away to the garage on Sunday. The garage is getting smaller and smaller by the day so I needed to organize everything and get some things off the floor. Once that was done I pulled the cab. Thanks to everyone who has posted tips and tricks on making the cab hoist - it really makes life so much easier when you are by yourself.

The garage is getting a little tight....

Tonight the girl was out with her friends so I pulled the motor and transmission. I am hoping to get to a bare frame by Sunday so I can start remove the shackles and the crossmember.

[Desert1957]

Just curious about $$$$$ for this conversion. Looks like roughly between $4500. to $5500. for all the "Scott's Hot Rod" parts based off his web site. with no labor.

At what point should someone consider just purchasing a completely finished chassis? or even an S10 conversion? I ask these questions based on trying to form a budget for my OWN future project.

I get the whole do it yourself thing, I know many people love the whole tear down and reassemble process. Just trying to understand every build thread I read.

Thanks

[focusedontheprize]

Originally Posted by Desert1957

Just curious about $$$$$ for this conversion. Looks like roughly between $4500. to $5500. for all the "Scott's Hot Rod" parts based off his web site. with no labor.

At what point should someone consider just purchasing a completely finished chassis? or even an S10 conversion? I ask these questions based on trying to form a budget for my OWN future project.

I get the whole do it yourself thing, I know many people love the whole tear down and reassemble process. Just trying to understand every build thread I read.

Thanks

Absolutely and it is a great question. There is definitely a point where you start considering if it is worth looking for a full chassis compared vs. piecing together the front and rear clips.

My recommendation is try to really consider all your factors - money, time, your labor capabilities, and use for the truck. In my case, I had saved up a certain budget for "Suspension upgrades" so I had a fixed budget. I had priced out AME, RideTech, TCI, and other companies and no one could come close on price from me going this route. I also gave myself quite a window of time to get the suspension done so I didn't need something immediate which a full chassis helps you.

Also me personally - I did not want to do a S10 swap. So that was pulled from the cards immediately.

[MIKESAD50]

John,
It was nice to talk with you.
Looking good on the truck progress. The shop/Garage space gets small quick when the truck is not much more than a frame.