49 ls1

[oldman3]

Hey Chris, loved the progress update, sorry your ride doesn't get any love for a few weeks, but understand paying jobs coming in. Video was good. Post up link to next job for us fans...Jim

[FarmerSid]

Man you get a ton done in a day. It takes me a day just to get a floor pan modified and ready for welding.

[IWanna49]

Can't wait to see the body back on and the stance with the new wheels. It's gonna look mean!!

Greg

[IWanna49]

Can't wait to see the body back on and the stance with the new wheels. It's gonna look mean!!

Greg

[skymangs]

Jim, Thanks a bunch. I love building these trucks, and each one gets the same amount of attention to detail as I put in my own rigs. Looking like I have two coming in back to back for frame swaps!

Farmer Sid, Thanks, I had my buddy Aaron here for the last 10 days, so it averaged out to about 26 hours a day of work. Easy to get a lot done when you are both used to building with the same mind-set.

Iwanna49, Thank you... Ask, and you shall receive!

Yup, those are the running board brackets 1/2" off the ground. Airs up to around 9" of ground clearance.

[skymangs]

Did a LOT of metal work on the box. Some patch panels, repaired that corner, capped the front and rear edges of the side-rails, and filled the stake pockets. Also sprayed a ton of that rust reversal paint on everything. After backing it out in the sun, I really like the way the box looks. Kind of rat-roddy, with top notch engineering underneath. I officially changed my mind today on paint. Gonna cut the cab back down some, and replicate the look of the box all the way around. Just cant get enough of that "well-loved" look!

[skymangs]

Here's a sneak peek at the '52 coming in next week. It already has a carb'd 5.3L, and posie's drop leaves all the way around, but the owner wants to get it lower. It's going on an S10 chassis, with a goal of 5.5" ground clearance at the bottom of the running board. I'll post a link the build thread once I get some picture worthy progress on it.

[IWanna49]

Don't know why but I love the heck outta those yellow wheels!!

[IWanna49]

I forgot from your build thread, Sarge, but was your red truck a static drop or was it bagged?

[skymangs]

Static drop. S10 chassis with 2/2 drop. Cab stands were about 4.5" off the frame, plus the S10 bushings. I have learned a whole lot about how to do them better since then though!

[99 to Life]

nice progress sarge. honestly bf I read what you said about paint, I was digging the way the bed looked. The whole patina/fauxtina just wets my whistle. There is almost no paint job that would be as unique and different/one of a kind as the patinas.

[oldman3]

Looks like a nice piece to start with....Jim

[STOCKISH]

Awesome progress man. I have a quick question, what do you set your wheelbase at on these trucks? I dont have a good bed for mine yet but would like to go ahead and set my wheelbase so I can move forward to other projects. Any side pics where I can see the wheels centered in the wheelwells that you could give me a wheelbase measurement on? Thanks buddy.

[skymangs]

99: Thanks brother, This look has really grown on me since I did my Son's truck. I just love the attention it gets!

Jim: Yup, that 52 already has a carbed 5.3/700R4 combo. He just wants to lose the solid axle so he can enjoy driving it a little more. I agree with him on that point!

Stockish... Factory wheelbase is 116, but the rear wheels look too far forward in the rear fenders for my taste. I like my wheelbase to be 117" on the nose. Both the front and rear wheels get centered that way. With a custom frame, it's hard to give you a dead measurement. Tomorrow I'll measure from the back of my cab to the axle centerline and get back with you.

[99 to Life]

I'v seen a truck that had a similar look, as if he used a rust converter on it, it really gives it a nice unique finish.

I'm not a fan of the factory look either, they claimed they did it that way so when the bed is loaded the wheels will center. S10 swaps with reg cab longbed are 117.9 so yeah right in there is a good number to be at.

[skymangs]

I agree 99. I usually move the rear axle forward a hair on the S10 swaps. Just like them how I like them I guess!

Here's a link to my '52 build in progress. Should be done in 2 weeks, but the owner just added AC to the list. His goal is for a cruise on 17 May... I always seem to cut them close to the wire!

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=1#post6637050

[Iceburgh]

might have missed it some place but what are your plans for A/C.
I have my engine in and it is over to the passenger side 3/4" to match the rear.
Almost everything fits but not sure what to do with AC compressor.
I was hoping to go low on passenger side but I am either out of room or don't have the correct bracket.
Any help would be great

[skymangs]

Iceburg, I'm using the factory '05 Denso compressor and bracket. I notched my crossmember, and welded in a 1/8" plate "can" for clearance. There are pics farther up of the notch. Tight, but it does clear with room for torque rock.

[skymangs]

Wow, it's been a while since I worked on this truck! Finally got a little "me time" today with the old girl. Steering linkage is all finished up, and I started working on the "look" for the cab. I'm calling it "Shabby Chic"... It's a mix of several layers, several colors, covered with black and wet sanded. I'm kind of digging it

[skymangs]

I took a stock 55-9 in cab tank fuel sender and chopped it down so it has exactly 7" of throw. Same as the depth of the mustang tank. I also installed a 3/8" return line in the top for the Corvette fuel filter.

Finally, my new Vinyl decal for the air tank went on. That's probably going to be it for this week, I have a '52 GMC in the shop for an S10 frame swap this month.

[oldman3]

Hey Chris, nice decal for the tank, make sure to post up the new thread, so we can follow along...Jim

[skymangs]

Thanks Jim, I see you found the other thread ok.
Link is http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...79#post6692579

Got a nice afternoon of work on this one today. Started out by installing the rear disk brakes. they are weld on brackets (from ebay), 75 Chevy 3/4 ton pickup calipers, 71 Camaro brake hoses (really long), 1990 Camaro rear rotors, and 1.5" 7/16" studs.

[skymangs]

Here's the rear brake line arrangement, the Camaro hoses came with a nice bolt on bracket about mid-way up the hose, so I used self threading 5/16" bolts to secure them to the bottom of the frame, ensuring (of course) that they were un-stretched at full droop. I made a couple of tabs to hold the inside end, and got some 5/8 x 18 jamb nuts from Ace to secure them. I have some nice stainless double line clamps on order (3/16" on one side for the brake line and 3/8" on the other for the fuel line). Once I get them in, I'll post a pic of the line routing along the frame.

[skymangs]

I also got the fuel system about 90% ironed out, but didn't take any pics before I dropped it back down. Next time I'm under it, I'll take one.

The core support and radiator are also finished. Plenty of room for efan.
The radiator is a Speedway 19x22 with passenger side upper and lower hose openings. I used a Canton racing straight water-neck, and it gives me an almost perfectly straight shot into the lower outlet of the radiator.

[ghettoluxury]

It is looking good, must feel nice to get a little done to your own project.