51' 3100 build in PA New to Site

[gigamanx]

I told myself I wouldn't use cc for my build but I hit a wall where I knew a small investment would give me the ability to do a lot of projects. So I broke out at tractor supply and got the welder and an air compressor. Got myself way ahead on the truck now where I hope to be driving by spring. Without the welder I would have stared at the same truck all winter.

I spent 2 months hunting a Hobart 190 or 210 on CL. They are few and far between which tells me ppl like them. I called tractor supply and said I haven't gotten coupons in the mail in a long time and they did the order over the phone with 10% off

OH it's still 50 off right now. That's the best price I found new and I really dug out the coupon sites and deals but couldn't uncover better. Unfortunately labor day weekend deals were pretty crappy too

[99 to Life]

hahah, I feel you. been there done all that. I needed a better welder years ago and got the eastwood 175 simply bc of price. Its a good welder but the gas solenoid is extremely unreliable. I sent one welder back, got a new one, gas solenoid went out very first pull of the trigger, they sent me two more gas solenoids. So to say the least I would never buy from them again. I too bought a compressor from tractor supply. Got 100$ off the 80gallon. It does make sense to buy some things on credit as long as you can pay it back (I still owe about 600 on compressor). I just have to be careful with that. I'm still working off the 5k I put down on my garage and my income these days just seems scarce. I pay over $50 a month just in loan and cc interest right now!! so I gotta be careful.

[iowaboynca]

try to pay a little extra each month on that principal...$5-10 dollars each month will help in the long run against the interest...

[99 to Life]

oh for sure, I most always do that on everything. Brought my heater home so now I gotta hook that up so I have heat this winter. I slowed down a bit on the 51' bc I had to snag my welder to finish up Geronimo. But I'll be dabbling with the truck through fall and winter. I have Geronimo to finish still, then starting another 54' for a friend, and gonna tear down a 49' I have. Projects are abundant, hope to post some good pics here soon.

[99 to Life]

5-23 Sorry for leaving yall hanging. Been wrapping up Geronimo for a friend of mine. I got a zr2 rear end for the 51'. Should be nice since its wider and posi with 3.73 gears. Trying to jump back on this truck now that it is warmer. I gotta drag my welder back home since my other mig crapped the bed.

Anyway, here is a pic of a shirt I designed and printed for this years AD nationals in Franklin Indiana come this Sept. Also a pics of Geronimo I'v been working on for over 2 years on and off. have about 550 hrs in this build so far, its a driver at the moment just need to finish it.

Oh and I picked up some more patina trucks (one last year and one this year) I should be putting that money into my 51'. But these are all future investments.

[99 to Life]

Oh, here is a rendering I did of the 51'. Not perfect but its my first one I'v done. I been slightly pondering some Mob wheels with a thin whitewall. but I don't have the duckets for them anytime soon. But I will probably atleast change the rim color over to black.

[oldman3]

Nice...Jim

[Advanced Design]

The trucks are a solid investment for the future. Truck looking good....nice job on the shirt design too!

[99 to Life]

1-2-19 WOW hard to believe I started this thread 9 years ago! Well truck is still tore down in my home garage. The more I get into it the more I'm changing. I literally might just redo everything on the truck, even the wiring bc its just not as neat as I want it. Last year I started on a budget rear 4link, well this year I look at it and say yah I don't like it. So I'll be designing a full custom rear link setup for the s10 guys. I'll be designing some stock frame stuff as well. Last pic is bag brackets I designed for 2x2 tubing. These are prototypes, I now can bend 1/4 material so that is prolly the route I'll go with these.

I'v spent about 2 months span designing my version of an AD-S10 kit. I was never a huge advocate for bolt on stuff, but I understand the need for it. So I made the first fully adjustable 2-6" off frame height kit. All designed and cut in house. Been a huge learning curve for me with the cnc aspect and fabrication and just making this work out to be fully adjustable. So I been testing it out on my 51'. I can't get full truck shots in the garage really bc its just so small. But I'll try and update on here more. Right now I'm testing out my new motor mounts I made for sbc. I'll have LS mounts also.

[NorCalGal]

I really like the looks of the running board brackets. Being adjustable is smart too.

[oldman3]

Henry, looks like you been busy, nice stuff...Jim

[99 to Life]

thanks, yah the RB brackets are my favorite! Jim, been insanely busy. I'v been making inner cowl panels and kick panels also for people. I'll be designing the 4link kit sometime this year. Would be nice to have my 51' back on the road, but I just want it done right. I'm just not happy at all with the quality of this truck. But as much as I dislike it, that pushes me to make it much better. seeings I never changed my own brakes bf I built this truck, I did ok!

I got a zr2 rear end for it now also, can't wait to get that in there.

[oldman3]

I hear you on "doing it right". Sounds like you got everything planned out, can't wait to see it going together...Jim

[dsraven]

too bad you hadda go mak'em look so perdy.
looks nice nice stuff. great job! awesome fab skills.

[reaper71]

Really nice stuff!
You planning on selling them on the regular?

Mark

[Advanced Design]

Very cool 99! What did you cut them out with?

[papas52]

nice work 99 ! keep it going & keep restoring !

[99 to Life]

reaper, yah actually I been moving a few kits/sets already. What is nice about my stuff is guys will want either the whole thing or buy it in pieces. My printshop is so slow right now so this is my only income right now. I'v sold quite a bit of inner cowl panels and some kick panels too. I have tons more stuff I'v had in mind for years to make. It takes a ton of time prototyping and then getting actual production parts done. not to mention instructions!

Doug, honestly I got a hold of the first batch of Langmuirs 25x23 cnc machine
and then got a hypertherm xp30 which I highly regret not going with the 45.
I takes roughly 20 min to cut a 12x24 sheet of 3/16 with all the pierces I have
close to 100 per sheet. But its been a huge learning curve. I am really thinking about a Wright cnc machine next. There are alot of affordable options out there now days. I never thought I could afford a machine. The hardest part most have is the programming. I have a good background with vector art so I have a good jump on it, but still learning.

I will be working on some stock frame suspension parts also. Possibly IFS stuff and def my rear leaf spring conversion kit and prolly a 4link kit. I do plan to make a 4link kit for the s10 also. I made one for my 51' but I am changing it and I will def keep updates on that as I go.

[99 to Life]

Here is the machine. Seriously it takes up more room than you think esp with all the metal you'll have laying around. I cut at a different location and fab them at another. Little keychain I played around with! A crappy photo of the mounts mocked up on my 51'. I almost have them all mounted final now. I got my motor mounts almost in also. My home garage is very small so I can't even pull the engine all the way out right now, like I want to. A pic of some completed patch panels.

Last pic is the front bay of my garage in town. In the right bay is a 52' that my friend got, I'll put my kit on this too. he is doing a flatbed though. I'm helping him with it once it warms up. Right now I'm just doing parts. The 54' panel there is my friends I also have had no time or motivation to work on for him. So
right now this garage is just a storage facility. In the back of this garage is the lift bay as seen in the first picture.

[oldman3]

Henry, hope this really takes off for you. It is very nice looking, and should make things much easier for the guys going s-10. That "Made in USA" sticker is great...Jim

[99 to Life]

thanks Jim, if nothing else it will help my builds in the future both s10 and non s10 builds. Plus I'm learning another skill in the process. Design, cad, fab and getting better at welding, its a win win. The Lord blesses even through struggles, in fact the struggle is the blessing most the time! hopefully have some more pics on the 51' progress soon. My phone is usually full so I can't take pics unless I bust out the real camera!

[Advanced Design]

Good for you on building a business. The parts look good 99, and like Jim I like the sticker. May you have much success!

[99 to Life]

Thanks guys. Yeah my concern was.... was the usa sticker made in the usa! Im eventually going to get a lazer to etch all the parts. You can see on alot of my kit I incorporate usa or a keystone (for pennsylvania) in the parts. I'v been a big advocate for usa made and PA made stuff since I was 14yrs old when I started a clothing brand. Which that lead to starting a printshop. Anymore all my business ventures are in someways just kingdom based. The Lords been putting me through some trials. He gave me extreme motivation and ideas and I have to use them for his will.

[99 to Life]

4-9 Tons of things going. I been slammed 5 days a week making pretty much s10 kits. Trying to inch in some time to put into my 51'. Im designing a new 4 link for it. Currently in these pics. I am 4" off frame, 26" tall tire and not notch or dehumped stock LCA. As you can see I need to come down a lil. I could easily drop down to 3" off frame by just unbolting my mounts and sliding them down. I may do that. I will be adding a small notch in rear. I got away with 2.5" off frame on my 49hardtimes truck, it laid out. So just wanted to show you guys the options with the s10 routes if bagging them.

Next up is a pic of my bumper mount setup. What I like about it is the option to mount the bumper in out up or down. here you can see I have mine tucked.

Next I'll talk about motor mounts. I make and move quite a bit of just them, or you can get them in the kit too. In this picture you can see I'm able to run the mechanical fuel pump as my mounts set engine up enough to clear. Likewise with my LS mounts, they allow you to run truck oil pans with good clearance.

Next post I'll just post more pics of things I make. I'm itching to get this rear link kit done, whip up an air management, get interior painted and do exhaust. I been so back and forth with how far down I want to tear into this. Right now I'm just itching to shift gears and I know I'm a ways off. So Im back to just do what I can to get it on road.

[99 to Life]

4-9

Here is one of several transmission xmembers I designed. This is adjustable up and down. The other one I have allows the exhaust to pass through and is alot more involved than this one.

Next up is a full layout of my kit, minus back bumper brackets.

last pic is just some weld pics.