49 3600, s10 swap, project boogie

[lower50's]

I like the bed idea.

[joedoh]

well I tried. to be completely fair it didnt start raining till I put the floor on the frame. I spent an inordinate amount of time sweeping and waiting for the rain to break, the 49 bed needs some braces cut out and rain+electric grinder is probably ample fun but I will avoid it.

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Nice work on cutting the bed floor. Me, I usually am off on something like that...my approach usually seems to be measure a bunch and cut a bunch, then weld some back on.

what has two thumbs and didnt compensate for the curve of the back of the cab? THIS GUY


so make that measurement 19" from the center of the bed mount.

[Advanced Design]

Good call on not mixing grinder with rain. At least you don't have to weld some back on.

[84blaze]

Did you use the stock sleeve bags with your RideTech 4 link kit?

Looking to get something different but dont know what would work.

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by 84blaze

Did you use the stock sleeve bags with your RideTech 4 link kit?

Looking to get something different but dont know what would work.

I would figure you could just bolt in some double convoluted bags, but the problem is that whatever you put in wont have near the lift of the sleeves. sleeves get 6-almost 7 full inches from collapsed to inflated, double convolutes not more than 4-5. plus the sleeve bags ride amazing, double convoluted bags have too much spring rate unloaded and are too stiff at any kind of ride height.

wait, I need some sleeves for this truck... ur um, sleeves are terrible, yeah. you should totally send them to me.

the thing I change out on the ART airbar is the shocks, they limit travel and are too short to be effective.

I can really only work on this thing mondays and tuesdays, and the baby got everyone sick this week so I broke my fever dragging stuff around. got the bed from the side yard, my daughter was home so I did it alone.

choppy choppy


eagle eyed readers will notice the fenders are gone off the 46, I sold them (and a bumper) to a local guy doing an s10 swap.

[99 to Life]

I don't have a problem with the sleeve bags at all. Well just like you said though, I'm lacking the travel I should have. So I'm sourcing new shocks and adding blocks under the bags. My body is very low off body since I didn't notch rear or dehump the front lower arms. You got a bead on the shocks you use? haven't had time to source them yet.

as for the rear fenders, you said off the 46' correct?

[joedoh]

yes, off the 46. see I bought the 46 and it wasnt till the tow truck was unloading it that I realized it had 47-55 rear fenders (and probably the whole bed) so I have been looking for some 39-46 fenders. A friend in holcomb has a set but he wants to sell them with his 41.

for rear shocks I hope this doesnt bite me in the ass by saying it out loud online (by raising prices) but I have found a huge surplus of brand new takeoffs from new jeeps on craigslist, usually I can get the springs and shocks and even the lower arms for under $100, they are gas charged and have like 9.5" of travel. I had them on my 65 with the airbar and it rode like BUTTER on a hot pan everywhere and every ride height. I had extended arms on that truck so I even used the fronts. the jeep guys buy the jeep and put a lift on immediately, and dont want the original stuff hanging around, fine by me. I used the bushings and rod ends from the lowers to make a tilt bed hinge, it holds up a 4k lb jeep it will hold a 800 lb bed.

[99 to Life]

ahh noted on the fenders, I was gonna say, those aren't 46' fenders and though maybe that was a typo and 2. why in the hell would you sell 46' fenders. Makes sense now, but yes those things are extremely hard to come up on.

[joedoh]

there we go, tires held it almost right, had to let some air out of one



my wife was home and my daughter is on spring break so I did this alone of course.



bolted down and roughly lined up



I will tack weld it after I get a fender and running board mocked up but it looks about right based on the 47

[lower50's]

Wow doing the bed like that makes it look factory. I like!!

[joedoh]

thanks!

got it tacked, thats enough for today, my illness is still kicking full steam

[99 to Life]

ur a real trooper. I was never sold on the s10 bed deal, but honestly I like how yours looks. nice work.

[joedoh]

I dont think I would ever leave it steel, this is just a nice way of getting

1. a sold bed mount
2. wheel tubs
3. a solid base for a wood floor

all in one swoop. since the floor needs raised to clear the s10 frame anyway and usually the bed is rusted at its lowest point (like this one is). plus it reuses another part of the donor, I am all about that. I have put together wood floors that were part of the structure of a bed, NO THANK YOU, I would rather have a pineapple enema than do that again.

[99 to Life]

Oh yeah I'll never do a floor mounted to bed. I like making my bed wood slide out in one piece. I'v used that feature on both my trucks many times. So easy to just get to everything from up top. I still like that steel look, it almost seems like a factory piece esp with the patina.

[joedoh]

need to get the floor squared and patched so I can blow it apart for finish welding.




drilled for spot welding to the braces


not 100% welded yet but soooo much stronger.

[99 to Life]

nice job, who do you use for patches? I seen some usa made ones on ebay for good price.

[joedoh]

I got the floor halves with toe boards on closeout from a distributor for goodmark, they were $40 each free shipping! it fits ok, you can see I cut the battery cover mount out and it was a little short. not a concours restoration though so no big deal. I got the cab corner from bowtie bits because its local.

I need to do a little work to the drivers side but I dont think I need the entire patch. also need to fix that spot over the windshield. but that can wait, next is blow it apart, finish weld everything, paint the frame, change the axle, install the exhaust and gas tank, steering column, wiring, drive, bag, glass, drive!

[lower50's]

You make it sound easy.

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by lower50's

You make it sound easy.

haha not that easy, but the wiring is plug and play, the glass is assembly, and the bag kit is bolt in. there isnt a lot of fabrication there.

[joedoh]

score! I was going to order drop leafs and blocks and install this extra 3.42 rear I have at the house to replace the 3.08 in the 84 frame. I spotted a 4.10 10 bolt on craigslist and thought I saw lowering blocks in the picture


sure enough, 3" blocks! when I got there in fact I noticed it had ZQ8 wheels on the truck (he put a 9" and a 350) and the front looked lower than a standard s10, I checked the glovebox for the GT5 code and while it is not a G80, it DID have the ZQ8 code. so the leafs are 1.5 drop leafs too.


so for $50 I got drop leafs, drop blocks, AND 4.10 gears. and even recent monroe gas shocks. guy even used his tractor to load it, didnt break a sweat. yet.


there is a giant grass fire southeast of us and with all the wind and smoke it made for an eerie sight yesterday

[rusty76]

Killer find. You sure do find them.

[99 to Life]

great score, hope that fire goes out.

[joedoh]

well I guess the consensus is they arent drop leafs unless they happen to be aftermarket. sure look to have a flatter arch to me. I am not complaining, 3" drop blocks are $45 by themselves.

started blowing it apart for finish welding and painting the chassis today. going to lay in the exhaust and fuel lines and brake lines while its apart too. taking the cab off with the hood attached and by myself was pretty scary but it all worked out.


cleaned out the garage too, gotta stay organized

[Advanced Design]

Good progress! Did the grass fires go out?

[joedoh]

yes! in the realm of "what the heck", it SNOWED 3" on easter and PUT OUT THE FIRE

I am not even kidding



that was about noon, after a lot had melted.