My version of the s10 swap

[BlueJeep]

I have found time to chip away at it a little more. After finishing up the tranny cooler mount, I decided that I needed to add some strut rods to hold the nose up like the original truck did. Since my radiator support is totally custom, I had to come up with a new way to do it. I decided to make it adjustable so I could fine tune the hood gap against the grille. Here's how I took that concept to completion:


Adjustable:

[oldman3]

That should work...Jim

[72-c20]

Good adjustment mechanism!

[ricott]

I love your truck and your attention to detail. Take lots of pictures of Goodguys and get fired up - that what I'm planning to do at Goodguys in Columbus next weekend!

[BlueJeep]

I had a little more repair on the running boards that I didn't get around to doing until recently. The picture pretty much sums it up.



I had some more little things to do before pulling the cab off for the last time. I ran my nylon fuel lines, that took all of about 10 minutes to do. I used a fuel filter for a 2000 chevy van that had quick disconnects on both sides which'll make changing it very easy. So far I'm a big fan of the push-connect style fittings, and no expensive AN fittings to mess with.



I bought clamps, and made the standoffs to weld to the firewall so the lines would run where I wanted them.





I also finished up some things with my inner fenders. Welded on the ECM mount, rounded some edges, and welded 5/16" rod to other edges to keep them from being sharp and to hold the contour I wanted.





Lastly, I pulled off the cab for the last time. Time to finish welding up little things on the bottom and firewall, bodywork and paint the firewall, and spray Raptor liner on the bottom of the cab.

[oldman3]

Great update, and some nice work...Jim

[99 to Life]

very nice stuff.

[BlueJeep]

Work continues on the cab. I've filled in the firewall where I sliced it to make room for the passenger side head.



And I got rid of the rest of the holes that I decided I didn't need.



I scratched my head a while on how to run the hoses cleanly and out of the way for the Vintage air unit. This is what I came up with. If I hadn't already welded the heater air intake hole shut, I'd have run them through that.



We then took a couple days to visit the grandparents before school started. We took our obligatory drive in the Model AA.



Back to the cab.


I had a bunch of partially finished welds that needed to be completely finished. I also built reinforcement for the seatbelt mounts in the event that they are ever needed....now I'll feel safe.



And I had some door gaps that were still bugging me. I have spent a ton of time on door gaps, makes me really respect cars that I see around that have nice gaps. This one I made the relief cut and then put the door back on (hinge side). I then needed to adjust the gap like I wanted it and then hold it in place and take the door back off so I could work. This is what I came up with to hold the panel in place. I was able to put tacks on it with the door shut and then take the door back off, worked well.



Mostly finished with this one, still a little touch up left.


As I look around to see what else I need to finish before Raptor lining the floor, I remember that it was a little tight in the tranny cooler line area with my new tunnel. I'll have to chop off a piece and weld in a patch once I find my pictures to see how much needs to be removed.

[99 to Life]

very nice work!

[oldman3]

Nice work, love the seat belt brackets....Jim

[BlueJeep]

Got the bottom prepped and ready to finish. Now all I need is a block of time to prime, seam seal, and spray the raptor liner....maybe next weekend.

I got about 5 minutes of help from one of the boys. Wasn't fun enough to keep him engaged I guess.

[Kodiaks53]

I really like the seat belt setup, been thinking about something like that for mine. Keep up the good work, looking good !

[BlueJeep]

Yesterday was a good day! During the week I finished up the prep work and did most of the masking.



This is how high up I decided to go:


After our soccer game yesterday I started in on it. I started with 2 coats of epoxy primer to cover up the bare spots and allow everything else to go on within the "re-coat window. Once that had set up, I seam sealed everything I could with Lord Fusor 803, and by the end I figured out that my gloved finger was the best way to smooth out the sealer (less succesfull attempts were made with a 1" paint brush and a piece of flexible plastic cut from a milk jug container).





And then it was time for the liner. For those who haven't used it this stuff is VERY easy to use. I've heard many fantastic testimonials of this product which is what led me to try it. As long as it holds up well, I'll be another positive review. Sprays easy, covers great, looks great.

Took me from this:


To this:








I'm pretty excited!

[oldman3]

That looks super nice, you did a great job...Jim

[Billys68SS]

Is that Herculiner?

[99 to Life]

Looks top notch. I too use SPI epoxy primer. I went as far up with the bedliner as you did too. I even covered my cab corners and back wall where you won't really see it. Again, used finger for seam sealer as well. Nice feeling having the cab all sealed up. Should last another 60yrs no problem.

[BlueJeep]

Originally Posted by oldman3

That looks super nice, you did a great job...Jim

Thanks Jim, I'm very happy with it.

Originally Posted by Billys68SS

Is that Herculiner?

Nope, Raptor liner.

Originally Posted by 99 to Life

Looks top notch. I too use SPI epoxy primer. I went as far up with the bedliner as you did too. I even covered my cab corners and back wall where you won't really see it. Again, used finger for seam sealer as well. Nice feeling having the cab all sealed up. Should last another 60yrs no problem.

Thanks! Yes, I thought about going up higher on the firewall, but refrained because I didn't want to cause problems later when I try to ground solenoids or other electrical devices to it. Trying to be as forward thinking as I can be. It really cleaned up the toeboard area where the majority of my patches were.

I'm also pretty fond of my finished tranny tunnel.

[rgunlock]

That looks really good BlueJeep. I know that it feels really good to have part of the cab DONE!!!

[Russell Ashley]

Love the "Patina" you added to the shed. Truck is looking good too. Nice work on both.

[99 to Life]

yeah that shed is off the hook, luv the shrinking discs they are a great tool.

[oldman3]

Shed is kick a$$, looks like it's been there forever. Truck is looking good...Jim

[LEEVON]

Looking good!!!

[BlueJeep]

Spent a bunch of time working on the oil cans I had in the back of the cab. After a bunch of learning, some stretching here and some shrinking there and the cab is now ready for the body shop. I couldn't reach my hand in far enough to do all the stretching I needed to do so I had to get creative.

Here's what I came up with. Worked very well and I needed to make some post dollies anyway so killed two birds....

[Rude Dude]

Great idea on the dolly tools! Love the spray on bed liner too.

[99 to Life]

very nice two birds with one stone