54 3100 daily driver build

[jmsaunders]

Well the last of my suspension stuff has arrived. Should be everything I need to get that part of the build done (minus some minor purchases at the local auto parts store). Now I'm just waiting for the guy that I bought the frame from to get it stripped down and ready for pick up.

[JRANGER]

O_O I SEE PARTS!!!! Drool... lol Nice

[Rusbuilt]

Late as always but I'm gonna be following your progress J'aimi!

[jmsaunders]

Welcome Rus. Hopefully I'll begin actually putting some of the parts on soon. Right now my schedule is just so slammed that I haven't had a chance to do much of anything. Not complaining because work is good (and helps fund this hobby)......just missing the relaxation of actually turning wrenches lol.

[Rusbuilt]

I think since its warming up the next work day needs to be at your place! We can build a temporary garage with some 2x4s and a tarp if we have to!!!

[JRANGER]

^^^ x2

[cubber]

I'm in

[jmsaunders]

Originally Posted by Rusbuilt

I think since its warming up the next work day needs to be at your place! We can build a temporary garage with some 2x4s and a tarp if we have to!!!

Temporary???? That sounds sturdy enough to me to be permenant lol. Well unless a strong wind comes by.

[jmsaunders]

Well here's an update of what I've been up to when I've had time for the 54. I rented a shop (30X60) that is close enough to the house that hopefully I can do more work during the week. It's roughly 2 miles from the house so it should be possible to run by and get a couple of hours in during the week also. It took me quite a while but I've gotten it mostly cleaned out and ready for me to begin moving parts/vehicle into it.

And through patience I finally found 4X2 4l60E out of an 01 Surburban. Went by and picked that up today and dropped it off at the shop.

The guy that I'm getting my frame from also called me yesterday and he should have it ready around the first of the week.

Next week I have plans to build me a work table, free standing shelves, get parts/tools/etc moved in and get the frame over there. With any luck I'll begin to make progress on my build.

[cubber]

That sounds really great! Sorry I missed you and Alex today. I was only able to stop by for a sec, and y'all had left. Hope to see you soon, and check out the shop!

[jmsaunders]

Sorry i missed u too. Had to leave though to get ready for Knoxville. Up here today for work. Just glad i got to stop by for a while.
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[jmsaunders]

Took tomorrow off and have a big day planned. The frame is ready so going to get it. Then if I have enough time I'll also go and pick up the one with the bent frame and take it to the shop. Then I'll be able to decide where to put some table and shelves and begin taking the parts over there.

[Rusbuilt]

Sweet!

[jmsaunders]

Well got the frame and the truck into the shop. I had my oldest Alex call 2 of his friends. So me, him, his friends and Josten (second oldest son). Wrestled the truck into the garage. It's definately a lot easier to move a vehicle with about 4 teenagers. And the best part is it only cost me $20 (I threw his friends 10 dollars each).

I was a bit concerned that both vehicles wouldn't fit in there side by side but it appears that they do. I'll have plenty of space to work/store parts it seems. Hope to be organized soon. (Yes, I'm one of those that if I don't get things organized before I begin working it'll bother me lol).

[Rusbuilt]

J'aimi wheres the pictures???

[jmsaunders]

Was rushing to get one of the boys (Drew) back to the house. He apparently forgot to tell his dad where he was going (got a call while we were wrestling old girl around a corner). I plan to run back out there tomorrow and snap a few pics to share.

[JRANGER]

lol You know we love the pictures

[jmsaunders]

Well didn't get anywhere near as much done as I had hoped today. Took me all day to build a work table (yes my carpenter skills are still in ummmm shall we say development lol).





I still have some stuff the previous owner left that I need to haul off. I didn't take it when I hauled off the other stuff because these things are metal and I figure I'll run them to the scrap yard next time I go.

And here's a couple of pics of the truck and frame in the shop.





And one last one. My helper Josten.

[Rusbuilt]

Nice looking shop sir!

[jmsaunders]

Why Thank You. I still have some improvements I want to make to it once I finished organizing it. But I'm happy with it the way it is. Plenty of room to work, and I can finally take the truck down to the frame and do the build correctly.

[cubber]

Looks like a good place, man! I just picked up some scrap wood from a buddy to build a workbench with.

[jmsaunders]

Originally Posted by cubber

Looks like a good place, man! I just picked up some scrap wood from a buddy to build a workbench with.

Awesome. Just don't do what I did. I built mine 3' wide and probably should have gone 2 - 2 1/2. I like having that much room but I'm having to stretch to reach the back of it lol.

I still need to make some shelves (for storage) and will not make them as deep so I can actually reach the back

[jmsaunders]

Well decided to do a little work on the cab. There was something funky going on in the cowl area so I decided to hit it with a flap disk and possibly do a little bit of feathering.



However, as always, what starts as a quick little job quickly escalates. Although where it was flaking in the top circle I felt the body filler was a bit thick I was willing to live with it. However, if you look at the bottom circle it apprears that the PO didn't like the rounded edge between the firewall and cowl and built up body filler to change it.



That to me just looks like a crack in the paint waiting to happen somewhere down the road..... So, I started removing all the body filler.

I also decided that I would cut away the area where my hinges should mount.





I've started tacking in this area and still have lots of work to do on it. But all in all I feel that its a good start. It'll probably take me a few days to get it done but hopefully by the end of the week I'll have the cowl and hinge areas cleaned up.

[jmsaunders]

Well this last week has been interesting. I cut away the sheet metal the PO used to cover the cowl area. Here are some update pics.






I'm slowing getting better at welding (Big shout out to Jeff aka Jranger for the tip to move the wire in small circles). I'll have to go over it a few more times.

[jmsaunders]

Today I gave the cab a rest and played with the frame a bit. Did a bunch of measuring on it. Wanted to make sure it is square before I begin trying to upgrade the suspension. I measured both sides to make sure they were even/close. They're 1/8" of each other.

To keep from boring you here's a pic of the rest of my measurements. I discovered that the last 1 to 2 foot section of my frame is slightly tweaked. Not so much bent as twisted. Since this area is behind the rear axle I'm going to do a little BFH work on it and not worry to much as it won't affect my suspension any.