51 Chevy 1/2 ton, My S10 swap

[sevt_chevelle]

Duraglass is a product name, made by USC if I remember right. Duraglass is a short stranded fiberglass reinforced body filler. Typically used as a base coat over welded joints then finished off with regular body filler.

[Atommik]

Exactly...As sevt chevelle said. I always put a thin coating of duraglass over any weld that will be filled over with regular body filler. I feel it helps to keep the regular filler from "shrinking" after the area has been painted. Also if there are any tiny pin holes in my welds that I didn't see, the duraglass will fill them nicely. I also try to clean off the back side of my welds where ever I can access them. Then apply a coating of etch primer and seam sealer to seal out any moisture.

[68gmc780]

Another question,sorry, in post 106 you sealed the body seam with panel bonding adhesive.Is this the belt line you sealed? I've read where others have welded this seam.I'm assuming that the panel bonding adhesive is sandable,paintable,etc.Is that correct or does it require some other treatment to make it primable/paintable?

[Atommik]

Yes, I did use "panel bond" or panel adhesive in the cab seam. I cleaned the seam as thouroughly as possible with a grinder and a small sand blaster. Then I applied the panel bond and forced it into the seam as much as possible. I wiped off the excess and let it harden. After it was dried, I sanded down any extra panel bond that was left visible, basically leaving only the small amount that went into the seam. As far as paint/ primer prep is concerned, as far as I know, no special care is needed. Check the label on the panel bond you use.

I also use it to seal the back side of welds, and my cab floor is bonded and riveted down to the cross braces I made for the cab. It's great stuff!! 3M makes a good one as well as Kent. Our shop also uses Norton adhesives and they work well too.

It's a 2 part epoxy based adhesive. Depending on the brand you buy, you may need to buy a applicator gun. Most come as a side by side "auto mix" cartridge. It mixes in the nozzle as you squeeze it out.

[mknittle]

i am looking forward to seeing that color in the natral light. looks great!

[blacklistcustoms]

Not to hijack the thread but the 4X4 rear axles are wider than the 2wd axle by 5" and wont require spacers for the wheels, should just swap in from what im told- hope it may help too.-Nate

[99 to Life]

s-10 4x4 rear end will still need spacers. I'm running 2" spacers

[Atommik]

I'm planning on the 4X4 axel swap and planning on using spacers. I suppose the back space amount of your wheels, and how you want the wheel to fit in the fender, are all factors in deciding on spacers...

Mounted the brake booster and master cylinder on Sat. Also replaced all the front brake lines. Safety first!!

[blacklistcustoms]

Well......?

[Atommik]

I called the guy I got my frame from, and he is getting me a s10 4x4 rear axle. Should be delivered next week. Not much time for the truck the next couple of weekends, too much other stuff going on and mandatory overtime at work!

[99 to Life]

glad to hear. not glad to hear about the OT, but hey not a lot of people can't even
get OT, let alone build their own truck.

[Atommik]

Nothing too exciting...Here's a couple of pics of my booster and master cylinder install from a couple weeks ago...(In case you noticed, the steering shaft made from electical conduit IS TEMPORARY!!)

[chevyboy73]

sweet and my favorite color! good luck!

[not2oldchevy]

Booster and mcyl looks like a real good fit, what is it out of? Thanks

[skymangs]

x2 on the booster and master. Also would like to know what your brake pedal assembly came out of. It looks a lot lower on the firewall than the setup I am mocking up right now. I'm using a 70 C10 pedal assy. and a 91 S10 booster/master.

[98layinframe]

Looks exactly like the master and booster that's stock in s10's up until 97. Ive got atleast 3 laying around.
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[Atommik]

Booster and MC are from 90 GMC S15 (S10), same as my frame.

Not sure about the pedal assembly and bracket, I got them from a friend, who got them in the trunk of a project car, that he bought from the widow of the guy that had started the project (48 Pontiac coupe). It's definately a GM bracket, but thats all I know! There were a couple of pedal assmeblies in the trunk, and I picked the one that fit the best.

[skymangs]

Lucky you! I think I about have the C10 assembly cut up enough to work. My Master is going to sit considerably higher on the firewall though.

[torchlight]

Howdy from a fellow Minnesotan! Just read through the whole project and I really liked all the pictures and description of the work being done. Great project!

[Atommik]

Thanks Torchlight, always nice to see someone else local on here. There's 3 or 4 of us that post somewhat regularily. Maybe someday we could all meet at a show or something!

[Atommik]

I got the s10 4x4 rear axle dropped off at my work today. Measured for new brake lines and picked them up after work. Also,UPS should bringing the rear wheel spacers tomorrow. Hoping to get the brake lines bent and installed on the 4x4 rear end this weekend and disconnect the parking brake cables on both rears axles. Next weekend I'll install the 4x4 axle on my project. According to my measuements, I should have 1 inch of tire clearance from the box side to inside edge of the tire. Pics on Sunday!

[Atommik]

Got a little done today...Rear end cleaned up, removed old parking brake cables, installed new brake lines on axle, and painted rear end (POR 15). Also got my spacers for the rear.

[99 to Life]

its all coming together, such a great feeling.

[Atommik]

Today was one of those rare days where everything goes like it is supposed to, without trouble, or trips to the parts store.

Got the 4X4 S10 rear axle installed, parking brake cables and brake lines hooked up, and new shocks(nothing fancy).

The distance between the inside edges of the rear tires, with 4X4 axle and 2 inch spacers is 52 1/2 inches. That will give me a little more than an inch between the tire and box side. And probably about 2 inches from the outside of the tire to the fender.

Also spent some time doing the final trimming on the front inner fenders and and front sheet metal alignment. Now that I'm happy with the fit, time to tear it apart and install the motor/trans, hopefully next weekend.

[99 to Life]

looking good, yeah funny how you notice when everything goes right, cause it seems like things always go wrong, especially when you don't have much time. So no plans on lowering it? you got a driveshaft in mind?