53 3100 - complete rebuild and upgrade . . . .

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by big_dan

Thanks for all the input, fellas. It's appreciated. I'll hurry up and get the running boards fitted and get it on the ground - I tend to agree that once it's out of the air it'll look right 😆

It's at ride height as it sits, running boards will be 5" off the ground.

Thanks for looking -

Dan

My ride height is 5" at the front of the running board and 5.5" at the rear for a slight rake. I think it is a pretty low ride height considering I'm tucking 22's but it is enough clearance. I just need to watch steep approaches so my front bumper doesn't hit.

Marc

[big_dan]

I think 5" ride height should be OK; I've had lower and it was fine. I don't generally stomp it around speed bumps and drive ways anyway lol 😆.
I thought about tucking a larger front wheel, but didn't want to bag it so I stayed smaller. Tucking 22s is quite a feat!

As for the hood, I've been looking but they're tough to find around east TN. I do have one to go look at, but I may just go for it and see what happens one weekend if I'm feeling lucky. It's worked before! Not talking about much, just a little off the "nose" if that makes sense.

Thanks for looking -

Dan

[6DoF]

i think you're right ... it's not the size but the back spacing. probably looks perfect straight on, but the 3/4 angle presents the wheel/tire at a different perspective to the fender. not that it looks bad, but i think i see what you're seeing. totally fine as-is ... or an easy try-it with a spacer.

i fully support finding a spare hood and taking it to chop-town! worst case, scrap/sell it move on.

[big_dan]

Long weekend, so I figured it's time to get the old rig off the chassis jig and see it sitting on the ground. Only took a few hours to get it apart, so hopefully we can mock it up and roll it outside for a better look soon. On a side note, it's amazing how small these chassis' looks sitting by itself. More later -

Thanks for looking -

Dan

[big_dan]

Burnt a little of the midnight oil and got the body mocked up, on the ground. Exactly what I was hoping for.

Thanks for looking -

Dan

[8man]

Ride height looks good!

[youngrodder]

Looks really good. Nice work.

Marc

[oldman3]

Really nice, love the tuck of the rear wheels...Jim

[6DoF]

so much win!

[big_dan]

All - thanks for the input! I'm pretty stoked how it's gone this far. Now I'm a little more motivated!

More later -

Dan

[big_dan]

Slowly but surely moving along . . . . . Lots of life keeping me distracted the last little while, but the firewall and tunnel are almost done. More later -

Dan

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by big_dan

Slowly but surely moving along . . . . . Lots of life keeping me distracted the last little while, but the firewall and tunnel are almost done. More later -

Dan

Can't wait to see this one near completion.

Marc

[big_dan]

Originally Posted by youngrodder

Can't wait to see this one near completion.

Marc

Much appreciated! That makes 2 of us at least LOL. Here's a little progress. Tinkering with the fire wall and trans tunnel; goal is for the trans tunnel to be removable from inside the cab. Yes, it's heavy (11ga?) but I'd guess it only adds maybe 25-30 lbs total.

More later- thanks for looking -

Dan

[e015475]

Mine's removable from the inside of the cab to get to the back of the engine and the transmission. It is two pieces.





Here's what it looks like from the engine side of the firewall

[big_dan]

Very clean. Looks great!👍

Dan

[joedoh]

beautiful fab as usual!

[big_dan]

Thanks for the input! Still moving along. No where near done yet, still just mocking up, but you get the idea.

More later - thanks for looking -

Dan

[big_dan]

Again, miles to go but a little more progress.

Dan

[6DoF]

it's amazing how low that motor is, that tunnel is coming out money too.

[youngrodder]

Looking very good Dan...

Marc

[big_dan]

Thanks, fellas. Just trying to keep moving forward.

On that note, a little progress. Finished "step1" of the firewall. All tacked together, so back on the chassis to lay out pedals. There's plenty of room behind the driver's side head to "adjust" for the go-pedal, but that's later. Since I'm chucking the high rise bench for lower bucket seats, I picked up a set of reproduction Chevelle? pedals from Speedway. With the hydraulic clutch, pedal ratio and master cylinder position are critical, so I spent a little time making a bench mockup to get everything right the first time (and saving having to lay under the dash). Thanks for looking -

More later-

Dan

[6DoF]

aw come on, the educated gamble to weld in the mount without trial makes for some great anxiety!

[Rickysnickers]

Pedal set up looks good.

[big_dan]

Thanks all. Believe me - trying to measure and get pedal locations and ratios correct laying under a dash is some kind of aggravating! I'll cheat on this one 😆

Dan

[6DoF]

it's not cheating if there aren't any rules

and thank the god's of speed for no rules ... or my build would have gotten me tar-n-feathered a long time ago!