51' 3100 build in PA New to Site

[steve aleve]

Sorry to bring this up again but I am finally getting ready to start welding the cab mounts and I wanted to be sure I understand what you are saying. I have looked at mine and I have a cab mount, the s-10 mount on top of that and this all bolts into the channel that is part of the cab. You said that your body is about 4" off frame. Does this mean that the cab floor is 4" above the top of the frame? Is this the cab mount height from top of frame to top of mount? Bottom of channel to top of frame?

Maybe another way of asking is to see where the bottom of the running boards are in comparison to the bottom of the flat part of the frame..

Hopefully I am making sense...

The reason I am so concerned is because I am hoping to have the running boards 5.5" above the ground when all is said and done. I have 2" drop spindles and 3" blocks in the back. The way the frame sits right now (no engine, no cab, no bed) is pretty high and I am wondering how much this will go down once all of this weight is on it.

[99 to Life]

steve, sorry for the belated reply. typical cab mount measurements are taken from top of bushing that goes on your fabbed up mounts down to the top of frame. Up front on the cab the mounting point is different because they used shackles in the back. But the s10 frame actually dips down where the front mounts would be, so it kinda offsets itself a little bit. If anything the back mounts can be adjusted by maybe half and inch, but its really not going to be noticeable.

I'd get the mounts clamped onto frame, put your bushing on there and get cab on, see if you like the height, which is hard to tell without the clip and running boards on. as long as you don't go over 4" off frame height you'll have a good stance with the 2/3 static drop you have (which is what my 51' is)

Just note the way you mount your bed, if its too high, your running boards are gonna too much rake and be higher in the back. you could mount bed a little lower and give it a slight taildragger look, keeping boards even closer to ground.

[steve aleve]

Originally Posted by 99 to Life

steve, sorry for the belated reply. typical cab mount measurements are taken from top of bushing that goes on your fabbed up mounts down to the top of frame. Up front on the cab the mounting point is different because they used shackles in the back. But the s10 frame actually dips down where the front mounts would be, so it kinda offsets itself a little bit. If anything the back mounts can be adjusted by maybe half and inch, but its really not going to be noticeable.

I'd get the mounts clamped onto frame, put your bushing on there and get cab on, see if you like the height, which is hard to tell without the clip and running boards on. as long as you don't go over 4" off frame height you'll have a good stance with the 2/3 static drop you have (which is what my 51' is)

Just note the way you mount your bed, if its too high, your running boards are gonna too much rake and be higher in the back. you could mount bed a little lower and give it a slight taildragger look, keeping boards even closer to ground.

thanks man! Without the cab, engine and trans on the frame it sits pretty high and I just wanted to make sure that I wasn't going crazy.

[99 to Life]

you have a built thread? Its going to look high without the body one there. I wouldn't bank too much on the engine doing much of any lowering. Alot of guys try and take that into account but I can almost bet you your not dropping 1" with extra weight. The frame is going to look high too. the key to these looking low is the fact that the fenders and running boards sit so much lower than the cab. You really need the running boards on there with fenders to get the desired height.

also there is about a 2" gap or so between the running board and cab, they used a factory rubber to fill that gap, keep that in mind when moching up, its all hard to explain until you get body on and see how you want it.

[steve aleve]

Thanks,

I don't have a build thread yet but I should get my act together and start one. Keep an eye out and hopefully I can get one going soon.

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by 99 to Life

william flynn highway, rt 8, I know it well. I grew up in the north hills, and got to pittsburgh almost every weekend. in fact I am thinking of making my truck have door art for baierl chevrolet (thats rt 19, wexford) thanks for the flashback! GO STILLERS

[99 to Life]

joedoh, right on man. gold old raaaaught 8. My family migrated in Sharpsburg from italy, alot of them then moved to allison park, as you know stone throw away. I got fam from titusville to pittsburgh via rt8, slippery rock etc.

[joedoh]

we used to go dahn raut 8 on the way ta lahrnsvil. sister worked at glenshaw glass. lots of polish family still there, I make "progies" and "gwumpkies" and "kelbassi an egg" for the family here and they love it.

I grew up about a 2 miles from north park, still remember cruising the lake all summer. so yeah, alison park, hampton, deer lakes, yeah. went dahntahn every time I could. I remember when primanti bros was a LUNCH COUNTER. ONLY. stargell on the wall.

man I could go on and on, maybe better stop haha

[99 to Life]

joe, haaaahha funny how tight knit pittsburgh is. Yah we could talk for dayzzz about it. better spare these folks.

[1948GMC]

Did you do anything to preserve the patina I am wondering what to do with mine

[99 to Life]

48, honestly I'v done nothing in the 5 years since I'v had the truck in my hands. I did this summer wipe some CLR or whatever its called on it (seemed to do little if anything) and then I waxed it. I think keeping wax on it would be key. I always like to coat underneath everything with por15 or chassis saver, then coat it with a bedliner. The underneath will kill you faster than the top. I live in a nasty weather area, we get great lake effects, snow rain, moisture out the wazzzooo. I've driven it in the winter a few times so that hasn't helped me out. I'v noticed some wear and tear on it so I won't do that anymore.

I'm thinking of a satin clear coat on my current build. problem with that is getting all the dirt and oil off so the clear can set. I'v heard boiled linseed oil and kroil in a can works as a good preserver.

[1948GMC]

Ok thanks I will try that

[99 to Life]

great looking truck, I'm a huge gmc fan. you gonna get a build thread goin?

[1948GMC]

Yes I am I tried hamb and am so done with that the advisors delete all my posts

[1948GMC]

will start it right now in fact will post link in a minute

[99 to Life]

yah hamb aint gonna do you no good with these trucks man. this is your best bet right here. they are hypocritical and drama driven.

[1948GMC]

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...91#post6978591

[Iceburgh]

Originally Posted by joedoh

william flynn highway, rt 8, I know it well. I grew up in the north hills, and got to pittsburgh almost every weekend. in fact I am thinking of making my truck have door art for baierl chevrolet (thats rt 19, wexford) thanks for the flashback! GO STILLERS

watch for the mudslides and the shutdowns

[99 to Life]

iceburgh, yeah and the never ending road work. is it just a PA thing or do they draaaaag out road work?

[joedoh]

hey we had pittsburgh pop for christmas, it was like drinking a time machine I was 11 years old again

[99 to Life]

nice, hope yinz enjoyed that Taaaalm Tucker n'at

[99 to Life]

5-17-15 been a while since I posted on here. Been busy as heck with family, work and my current build 49hardtimes (just about ready for the road). So the first pic is up on the PA/NY border area up past erie. I drove my 51' up, scooped my friend up and hit my second ever swap meet. (yeah too busy I don't even go to them). So this was the dunkirk swap. A couple weeks ago we hit up Canfield which is much bigger, but I liked dunkirk better.

The rest of the pics are of the two trucks. I have a build thread on the 49' in my profile if anyone hasn't followed and want to see more of it. Very labor intensive build. I'll have over 800 hrs in it. Full roller Vortec sbc with 5speed, bagged on s10 chassis, accuair air management. Fully done up engine bay and interior is just about done.

[oldman3]

99, cool pics...Jim

[Sim6]

Your trucks look great. Is the first picture in post 397 your 51'? If so that has 2/3 drop? Just looking for an idea of how mine will look. Thanks 99.

[99 to Life]

Sim, yeah thats my 51' s10 chassis 2/3 drop. looks different sitting on the hill. it sits pretty dang low. I'm about 4" off frame