54 chevy boards on the floor build

[mlc216]

10.24.10
I picked up my '54 chevy project today. Pulled it out of the weeds. So far the project has cost me $50 for gas to go get it. Thanks to my good friends nick and joel for all the help.

Well, here she is beautifully propped up in my carport. This will be a slow build as I have to get rid of a few things to help fund this project. My plans are to lengthen the frame as needed, mount the body, and continue body work until I can afford powertrain parts. I will be building the truck to be my daily driver so I will spend time making it right.

Here's what I start with... 1954 Chevy Pick-up body just laying on top of an 80's reg. cab s-10 frame.

Questions? Suggestions?

[mlc216]

This first half of this weekend was spent trying to get the body line up where I wanted it on the frame. Once I felt like I had the front wheel centered in the front fender, I marked a few things. I then started to cut the crossmember and trailing arm assembly out of the '66 frame. Took a lot longer than I thought but it is free from its original home.


After getting the '66 suspension cut free I decided to go ahead and remove the leaf springs and shocks from the s10 frame. Got all that removed and this is how it sits right now... Frame on jackstands with the rearend free to be moved back however far I think it needs to be moved back.

[mlc216]

As of monday Nov. 8th we took the cab off the frame so I can get at the frame better to install the crossmember/trailing arms and work on patching the cab as well... Planning on working on the floor/toeboards tonight.

[mlc216]

Here's the powerplant!

[mlc216]

Ok, I know that there hasn't been a lot of cool fab work or handmade firewalls going on here, but I am doing work and I am trying to keep the thread updated.

This came in the other day...

as soon as I get the cab mounted up, I'll get this brake assembly installed.

Picked up my 4wd s10 rearend from the local junkyard yesterday...

It's not a positrac version, and from the numbers I have no idea what it is. But it is wider than my stock s10 rear end and it is 5x4.75 with the same brakes, which is good because I think they dropped it and bent the drum brake backing plate. So, I'll have to pull apart both rear ends and take a backing plate off the original s10 rear end.

Anything look odd in this picture?

I didn't notice before that one of my trailing arms is bent. Well, after seeing this I started to re-think my suspension strategy. I'd rather not spend 4-500 on a 4-link and another 1000+ on an airbag kit, so I'm just gonna settle for a static drop for now...

[RootBeer 6117]

Cool project I like the idea of using these rear ends. I owned 63, and a 65 chevy truck and a 66 suburban, I read some one else on here doing this last week(sorry I read to much on here to remember whose) look foreward to updates.

[mlc216]

Well actually I'm not going to use the trailing arm setup anymore. I don't want to try and straighten it because I know I won't be able to make it perfect with my limited tools. I don't want to spend all that money on a 4-link setup and bags right now either, so I'm just going to put the s10 leaf spring setup back on and static drop it as low as possible.

[bjcaldwe]

The Project Popeye thread by Leevon has the trailing arms put on his stock AD frame. He did a great job on it.

Keep up the good work.

[mlc216]

Cut off the ends of the frame... 11 in from the end

Flipped around the pieces and used a piece of angle to clamp the frame rails together and keep them aligned

After it's welded up. Still have to finish grinding the outside flush and make a plate to strengthen it up a little. Mocked up with a leaf spring and measured what the wheelbase would be. Came up with 117" and I'm happy with that until I can get a measurement with the rear end and wheels on.

[mlc216]

Got a ton of work done today! Picked up a bandsaw at dirt cheap for $110! After that I headed home and used it to cut up some plate to box part of the frame.

After that I welded some plates I had made for the front leaf spring mount and put the rear end back in with 3" blocks. Here is a picture of the frame with the longer wheelbase and lower ride height.

And finally I pulled the motor out and put the cab back on because tomorrow I'll be trying to get cab mounts built.

Should have more updates tomorrow!

[mlc216]

Didn't get a whole lot done today on the truck because I did some organizing. Ok, so here's what I did to get started on cab mounting/floor building:

I can't exactly build the floor until I have a transmission mounted up, so first I welded some angle iron to the inside of the kick panels. Then, I cut a couple pieces of 1x1 tubing to span from side to side. Right now the tubing is just resting on the frame and I still need to make actual body mounts, but I needed a way to set the body on the frame.

At ride height, with my new wheels! I got bored while organizing so I used a little left over spray paint and window chalk to brighten things up a little...

[mlc216]

20 something degrees outside and I'm still at it!

Cut the s10 rear cab mounts off and re-used them for the front cab mounts... Did both of the frame side mounts tonight and I'll have to do a little more cutting so I figured I'd give the neighbors a break since it was 9 already.

[mlc216]

Finished up the front cab mounts and I was so excited I decided to put a couple bolts in each fender and set the bed on the frame.

I'm pumped! This is pretty close to the ride height I'm going for.

[mlc216]

12.31.10
Got started yesterday doing all the prep work so Stinson and I can chop it today as soon as he gets here. Started by taking all the trim and windows out of the door.

Then I stripped some paint and rust on the inner roof skin so I could see where to drill out all the spot welds.

43789 holes later I was able to pull the entire skin out pretty cleanly.

So that left just the roof and inner supports. This will make it easier to cut the top off and also use a hammer and dolly when tacking it back together.

Conduit because we can do it! Braced the cab to keep the flexing at a minimum.

Something else I've been meaning to do was make some type of offroad ready welding cart. I couldn't see spending $100 or more on a big wheeled cart so I picked up this dolly and made it work haha

Also been scoping this truck out locally

I think it's a '58?

Well on to chopping, more updates tonight!

[mlc216]

Convertible? What?!


And split it


a couple relief cuts


Like what I'm seeing


Using some angle iron to help line things


Later on that evening








I'm happy. Took 3 out in the back and about 3.5 up front. Didn't lean the posts back or in any. Relief cuts in the back and split the front half in two pieces to keep the posts stock.

[mlc216]

Welded til my gas ran out...

[52 Rat]

Sweet project! Keep the pics. coming.

[Rusty 59]

Way kool! I like it- cut to shape, bend to fit, and designed to suit your own vision.

[Tatt2d51]

You made it look way too easy!

[mlc216]

Snapped these earlier in the day when I had it rolled out
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[mlc216]

Ok guys got a little more done...

I set the old bench seat in there and strapped the s10 steering wheel/column to the dash. Yes I sat in it and made engine noises...

I worked on the roof some more. All the filler panels are added and it is mostly welded up. I worked a lot today on getting the crown of the roof right and I think it looks a lot better now.



Then I made one of the vent window frames fit... Not sure if I like it with or without... What do you think?


And finally more mockups!


Posted via Mobile Device

[Fat Mike]

Man that is a nice chop! Love that you are showing alot of pictures!! How far up on the pillar did you do your chop? It seemed like everything lined up pretty well.

[mlc216]

I didn't really measure how far up the pillar we cut... We just went an inch or so above where the lead ended and cut there so we wouldn't have to deal with cutting/grinding where the lead was...

[OrrieG]

Looking good. I would not put the vent windows back in, you have to get glass cut anyway, may as well go full size.

[itstheshu]

Originally Posted by OrrieG

Looking good. I would not put the vent windows back in, you have to get glass cut anyway, may as well go full size.

x2