49 GMC Pickup

[Billys68SS]

Originally Posted by Cape Codder

I think rear disc brakes are way over rated. The back of a pickup is pretty light unless you are using as a work truck. The parking brakes for disc rears are usually nothing but problems and thats why GM went back to drums on the light pickups. I would never even consider switching a rear just to gain discs. Just one man with 40 years or auto repairs opinion.


I will add that I love the project though.

Thanks Cape Codder. I tend to agree. But at the same time it is something that not alot of folks are doing. I havent given the rear much thought. I want to get all of the sheet metal and drivetrain mounted before i jump on that. This is one of the very few things that I have not "planned out." Almost every other aspect of the project has been planned in my mind for some time.

[99 to Life]

cool project man, gots some potential. I like hearing about trucks that been in the family for so long. Its def nice to have extra parts for moch up, like you got going on. It comes in handy big time. I'll be watching.

[Billys68SS]

Originally Posted by 99 to Life

cool project man, gots some potential. I like hearing about trucks that been in the family for so long. Its def nice to have extra parts for moch up, like you got going on. It comes in handy big time. I'll be watching.

Thanks 99'

[Billys68SS]

I haven't been able to make much progress lately. Work and weather are curtailing my ability to do much. I did get the front cab mounts cut out, although I think I'm gonna change them before assembly and installation. I've decided on a different approach for the rear cab mounts.
I went yesterday to see a guy who has a sort of AD truck graveyard. He has EVERYTHING! Mostly oe parts but some new stuff too... Not all trucks, but mostly! I picked up a bed, in pieces, for my project. It will need a little work, but still very usable.

[99 to Life]

nice score on the parts, nice mounts too.

[Billys68SS]

Thanks 99'. Guy had LOTS of parts! I will be going back! Possibly for an s10 frame and an AD cab

[Billys68SS]

Got a little bit done today. I was finally able to get back on my truck and do some uninterrupted work!
I modified my front cab mounts to drop the front of the cab down to 2" before the new rubber cab mounts. No pics of that!
I stretched my frame 9" to 117" I built this little rig to hold the frame in place while I cut it and rolled it back. Worked pretty good too.
I still have some filling to do, but its straight and true and solid. I used pieces from a 1968 Chevelle frame I have had for a long time.

[99 to Life]

nice, I like the jig idea.

[Billys68SS]

Thanks 99'. It was my brothers idea. I had a different idea, but this was much simpler to make and worked pretty well.

[Billys68SS]

So much for getting anything done this weekend when the weather is cooperating so nicely. I got a couple of pieces cut and was welding them in on my frame when the welder started spitting! I ran out of gas!!! And of course, no one is open on a Saturday! So I guess I will have to wait until the first of the week to get anything done!

[99 to Life]

dang man, sorry to hear. thats the common theme lately, running outta gas. This weather blows, it was super warm today, but that means everything in my garage is soaked from sweating. So luckily my work day got swapped to tomorrow. But.... I gotta do a whole new exhaust on my POS daily. Its all too ironic, so I'm not even holding my breath working on my project, so I'll have to wait till next sat. I feel you man.

[Billys68SS]

Haha... Yeah everything in my shop was completely covered in sweat! Took box drawers were dripping. I'm like really? I have a small bottle for my other welder, but it's with my brother in Pittsburg! Figures! Guess tomorrow I'll be doing some non welding chores and stuff in the garage. I was able to get some gussets fabricated for my mounts, but can't do much else. I have run out of metal fodder. So I'm gonna have to find a metal shop and get some press droppings. Hopefully!

[99 to Life]

yeah man, wish I would have know about some metal places a while ago. I couldn't find any a few years ago. Got some connects now though. Just found another place that is really good price. Pretty bad when the big chains sell 1x1 tubing 6ft for 20 bucks, I got 17ft of it in drops for 12 bucks. There is always something to do, even if its stripping rust or cleaning something up. all that little slave work crap adds up in the end.

[Billys68SS]

I knew where to go and it was close when I lived in WV and worked in MD! I haven't bought any metal since I've been back here except a sheet of 16ga for my brother and that's no where near my work or house. But I've talked to a few places. They still aren't close to the shop but oh well... I'll figure something out. I'm gonna work on some shelves tomorrow and if I get done with that I may start sanding some of my pieces. Banging out those rear fenders and knocking apart the front clip!

[Billys68SS]

I got the front clip knocked apart and started sanding on my rear fenders Sunday. Spent most of the day cleaning and building a shelf in the garage. Mostly piddling. Hopefully this coming weekend will be more productive.

[99 to Life]

cool man, any progress is better than no progress. My exhaust busted on my way up north so I had to spend my work day trying to fix that, busted 2 out of 3 bolts on the manifold, POS s10, I hate daily drivers. I drive over 400 miles a week so gotta keep em going. Maybe we both can have something worth wile to post this weekend.

[Sam03]

Nice build keep it up and keep sharing pics and updates!

[Billys68SS]

Originally Posted by Sam03

Nice build keep it up and keep sharing pics and updates!

Thanks Sam! I'm trying.. If the weather and everything else will just cooperate! LOL

[Billys68SS]

Henry, I hear ya man! I just had to put new struts and shocks on my magnum. I've been putting it off forever! Just got tired of hearing the rattle. I still need to do tires and brakes on it.
I found out last night that I have a brake locked up on my S10 front end. Not that it's a real big deal because I plan to replace all of that stuff anyway! It's just like, what else can be working against me? Oh well... I'm hopefully gonna pick up my last pieces of sheet metal this weekend. Guy I got my rear fenders from hopefully still has the running boards!

[99 to Life]

Yup I can't stand working on daily drivers and anything that takes what little time we have to work on hotrods away. Its a constant struggle as it is and then weather and bad breaks smack you in the face. Heck my metal garage I put up has some leaks so when the snow thaws, my floor gets soaked. To start my work day and deal with that....what a great way to start the day. Its almost funny cause what will go wrong usually does. Just gotta keep fighting, its all we can do. Things pan out eventually. You got any pics of you 66 and 37?

[05snopro440]

The S-10 diff is plenty strong to hold up to driver duties, the only reason you might need to change it is because those wheels don't have much offset. You could change to a Camaro diff to get the wheels out a bit. Don't mess with a disc brake diff though, then you need to change the master as well, and even then I know a lot of people that wish they would have stuck with a drum brake rear.

Cool project.

My '46 is on an S-10 frame with a 455 Buick and the stock diff. I'm running 15x10 rear wheels with 3-3/4" backspacing, though.

[Billys68SS]

Say it with me... "I will not run out of gas again!!!" LOL Just for boot measure I bought a new cylinder today when I went to get my empty exchanged. They made me a super sweet deal I could absolutely not pass up. The 120lb cylinder was on sale for only $10 more than the 90lb. It was only $151.00. This was still about $10 less than I paid for the 90lb like 3 years ago. So needless to say I have no excuse for ever being out of gas!

Henry, I don't have any pics of them right now. I'm a little embarrassed to let anyone see them. But I will post some for you when I get a chance to take them. Leaving for work before daybreak and getting home after dark isn't conducive to photo opportunities unless inside the garage. I will warn you though they are not in the best condition. The 37 is in pretty much the same condition it was in when I purchased it... When I was 15!!! The 66 was a pretty much complete, and running truck a few years ago. I parked it to work on it, life got in the way and it has been sitting for about 13 years. I have been acquiring parts for it slowly as well to put it back together. I love that old truck and that's one I will never part with!

[Billys68SS]

Originally Posted by 05snopro440

The S-10 diff is plenty strong to hold up to driver duties, the only reason you might need to change it is because those wheels don't have much offset. You could change to a Camaro diff to get the wheels out a bit. Don't mess with a disc brake diff though, then you need to change the master as well, and even then I know a lot of people that wish they would have stuck with a drum brake rear.
Cool project.

My '46 is on an S-10 frame with a 455 Buick and the stock diff. I'm running 15x10 rear wheels with 3-3/4" backspacing, though.

05snopro44, I still haven't made a decision on the rear. The s10 I have I believe was a 4cyl truck so I'm not sure that diff would hold up to more than a couple of hole shots... LOL I do have a spare rear out of a 1968 Chevelle that I could use. But I've also thought about checking around to see if I can find a good, cheap camaro rear. The local Pull-A-Part sells complete rears for under $150 so if I can find something that is the correct width I may go that route. As far as rear disk brakes, I'm not going to go out of my way to look for something like that. I like disk brakes and I don't see a problem with them on the rear, but I'm also trying to stay inside of a budget so I won't be buying conversion kits and all that mess. The wheels I have have a pretty positive offset and to get them to work on my truck I had to use spacers. I currently have 1.25" spacers all the way around.
Thanks!

[05snopro440]

Yes, the S-10 diff is up to the challenge. Lots of guys assume they're not, but that's just not true. I know guys putting a lot of power through them and they're just fine. You can always upgrade with a locker or posi too. Biggest thing is width.

[99 to Life]

I wouldn't fear running an s10 rear, esp for starters. Unless you have a solid build hp and torque engine and are hotrodding it constantly you should be fine. I'd say find one out of a blazer or 4x4s10 for the width, then you can still use you spacers to adjust your wheel tuck. Cans still with a 2x4, just need much wider spacers. If you go with camaro its 60" wide which IMO leaves no room for error on your rims. If anything a monte carlo or nova would be my choice after the s10 and blazer, they are 2-3" narrower than the camaro. Nice score on the gas too. My neighbor borrowed my welder cause he loaned his out, and he ran outta gas, so he had to borrow gas too. Nice to have a neighbor with welders and tools to help eachother out.