57 build

[pugs]

the truck has kind of been sided for abit saved a 70 swb from the shreder, not like ineeded another project. Im also contemplating going with an s-10 chassis under the 57 to get it down the way i want and also mite be switching to a 307/350 thats in the 70 , then put the L6/pg in the 70 and make it a DD

[71'tahoe]

Hey pugs has any one ever dne an s-10 swap on a 55-59 truck before? I am curious...hope it work and post lots of pics!!! truck is coming along nicely! love the dash!

[pugs]

i never seen the s-10 swap done yet either but i have a few ideas in my head for cab mounts, and as for the bed i will cut down the s-10 bed so the floor and wheel tubs will fit the stock step side bed. the dash is coming along just need todo a;itt;e work onthe passengers side to make look more evenly to the drivers side

[pugs]

ok been awhile since i posted about the 57, i had metioned going to an s-10 chassis, well i snagged 1 up, just had to remove the m/t/t-case and a few oter parts for a buddy and the frame was mine i slide the cab on the chassis and somewhat hung the front sheet metal on it im liking it already one i get in the garage i will get pics of how im doing the cab mounts, i have a good fairly simple idea on im going to do it using exsisting s-10 mounts. any way here are a few teaser pics

[55dude]

how much wider is the track width? i also have heard the negatives about the 4wd setups vs the 2wd. the one thing i can say is most of these trucks see "limited use" so if the ball joints need replacing at 75,000 miles (aka 10 years) buy napa parts because their lifetime warranty, they ask no questions. can't be that much weight difference in the 250 inline vs the 4.3 v6. keep the pic's coming.

[pugs]

your right as far as the 250 vs 4.3 but i also have no transfer casr and no front diff in, and with that i can get t down alittle lower and still have plenty of clearence. believe it or not this truck still has the original reveted balljoints on yet. its no pro-touring truck and i driven worst around over the yrs. i will have to remeasure as i dont quite remember the track width off hand but i believe its like 6" total width vs the 2x

[pugs]

meant to say i can the engine down alitle lower and still have ground clearence

[hotrodsbyray]

Pugs,
Been studying the hood and grille pics. What about a small center grille in the hood opening to match the floating grille in the front end? Just a thought - I am so OCD I would have to make the holes match.

[55dude]

what kind of pieces are you going to make to simulate the half shafts in front? maybe just cut them off leaving the stub ends? they say the 4wd frame kicks up farther in the back and is wider. wish i had mine side by side to compare.

[pugs]

well been tinkering with the truck, got the m/t mounted where i need it at.instead of using the stock 4.3 block mounts i went to once from a 67 chevelle, now i did have to narrow and replate the mount that bolts to the frame for it all to work out, still need to drill a couple of hole to totally have them nice and tight





while walking the local u-pull today i seen this crossmember laying on the ground,no clue what its out of but it was the right length. i used the rear hole on drivers side to bolt it up andthen cut about 1.5 inches off the passenger side and the trans mount plate and welded them to the yard crossmember it worked perfect





ineed to do alittle trimming onthe toeboard for more trans clearence and then start on the cab mounts. also while at the yard did alittle measuring on a 65 long stepper and i think now im going to pick a long bed up and then just shorten up the sides about 8-9"

[nuke1]

looking great pugs, i like the s-10 frame swap idea, never would have thought of usinf a 4x4 frame, but use it if it works is the way to look at it, glad to see it coming along, great job, any pics of the 70?

[pugs]

thanx nuke its a slow process but its getting there. no recent pics of the 70 as its in pieces, but i have the cab about 2/3rds (inner rockers, supports, and corners) done and about all the parts to get it together but it mite be going bye bye as i need the cash will be laid off soon and gf had to have surgery this past week so i need to watch the cash

[54 jimmy]

lookin good. i just got laid of too. got my steering mocked up. hope everything goes ok for your gf.

[71'tahoe]

Pugs,
Im confused...you getting rid of the 57 or the 70?? If you get rid of the 57 I will never know how to do my other 56' truck...If you sell the 57' pm me first...

[pugs]

i was looking to off the 57 a couple of months ago but since changed my mind and im offing the 70.

[nuke1]

sorry to hear about your misfortunes, hope everything goes good for you

[pugs]

well i figured out what to use for front cab mounts, took a 1/8 th piece of flat stock about 2.25x2.5 cut a slotted hole and welded it to what was the radiator support mount trimmed down, will need to cut off what was the s-10 front cab mount. now i dont have them welded to the frame as of yet til i get the floor/toeboard trimmed out, front frames horns trimmed alittle more, and the rad support made up. also mocked up the frontend im using. rear cab mounts are going to be alittle tricky on account that the holes are right at the edge of the frame, but i kind of have that figured out with a piece of 2'square tubing

[71'tahoe]

So you cut the front raditor/core support mounts of the frame and relocated them back behind the origonal front cab mounts and palted the top of the rad/core mount? Sorry,Im just really interested in how you are doing this!!

[pugs]

yup you got it right

[memo43]

Man that's a good looking truck you have there,
what did you end up doing with the hood with the hole in the front (i think it was a GMC hood.) what are your plans for the bed.
thanks an keep the pic comeing.

memo

[bensimmons_05]

You ceartainly have a nac for making things work. Great work, Can't wait to see what you will do next.

[pugs]

thanx ben, to me building an old truck is lots of fun when most of my parts are found at the local u-pull it.(old school/very low budget) only thing really holding me up is locating rear fenders, once i have them , i can get the bed properly positioned, then i will know how much i need to extend the front of the bed. the way im looking at it id say no more then 6" is all i have to go

[pugs]

i got the hump area all tacked yesterday. once i get the cab back off the frame i will need to do alittle trimming off the original opening, then roll it up to meet the the new hump perimeter and finish welding all up

[pugs]

well as luck would have it, i was looking for rear to atleast bolt onthe truck so i could get me bed lined upand everything centered with the wheel. this guy i talked to a few weeks ago stopped by and gave a rough but fixable pr of rear fenders. i bolted the up moved the box to were i need it to sit, and now i need to add about 7" to the front of my box for it all to work out. gonna push it outside tomorrow and do some cleanup again and get more pics







pic of about where bed floor will be

[pugs]

here a few pics of the truck outside today, im debating on extending the box 8" forward or if i want to shorten the frame, with doing the frame i will need to relocate a fuel tank of the rear of the bed.









pic of rad support, i will running a 14" piece of 2x3 rectangular tubing for front frame horns