Mr. T's truck - 49 3100 on an S10 frame

[skymangs]

Thanks Jim,

Spent most of the day finishing up the running board brackets and bed rails. Got the wiring harness mostly in... Should be ready to run it once I get those drop spindles and get them on. Here's pics.

[918733]

Looking good what are the plans for the gas filler ? and what are the size and off set of the rims they look like they fit really nice with the bed on ? I'm doing the S-10 frame swap as well

[oldman3]

Chris, like the bed set-up. Should make it easy for off and on....Jim

[skymangs]

918733: The gas filler is now through the drivers side splash apron, pics below, and the wheels are mid 70's nova. They are 14", not sure of the backspace, but I can check it when they come off. They are a little narrow for the truck, even with the 4x4 rear the inside edge touches the bedside. Owner's bringing me some spacers for the rear this weekend.

Jim, thanks. I'm not sure if it will be painted or not, seems like a wise idea to make it removable.

Here's todays progress. Gas filler shortened and installed. Wound up cutting it into 3 pieces and re-welding the whole mess back together at appropriate angles.

[skymangs]

Here's the beautiful Walnut bed wood and strips going in. I HATE assembling beds on these things. The holes NEVER line up, and always require finagling. Much easier to wood them with barn wood and call it a day.

Steering stuff came in today, new borgeson and shaft. Looks like it won't need a double and heim. Column went in at just the right angle I guess

[skymangs]

Hopefully those drop spindles will arrive tomorrow. I'd like to get them in before hanging the front sheetmetal!

[oldman3]

Chris, nice job on the gas filler, like the position. Bed wood looks great...Jim

[skymangs]

Thanks Jim.

Today's progress. Core support finished up. Rad floats on poly support cushions now. Here's pics

[skymangs]

Drop spindles came in today, so I went ahead and installed them, along with new ball joints, brake hoses, brake pads, etc.

[av8tr33337]

Looking freekin awesome. Love that Bed wood, and your core support. I went an el cheapo route with a 65 Mustang radiator, but I'm still going to have to kick it out at the bottom to keep it from sticking way up above the core support. Your set up looks great.

[oldman3]

Chris, did the drop spindles put you where you wanted to be??...Jim

[xpickup]

skymangs, man you are rolling right along. Looks great.


Shannon

[skymangs]

Bartman: Thanks, I've tried several different radiator setups, and never been completely happy with them until I switched to a cross flow. I do know several folks who have used the Mustang rad with success though.

Jim: looks like the bottom of the running board is about 8 inches off the floor. I'm happy with it.

Shannon: Thanks, I appreciate it. Hoping this one will be home by the middle of next week.

[skymangs]

So first up is the trans cooler. I recommended a Ford Exploder cooler. It is the same high efficiency plate style cooler that B&M sells for like $150, but from the J/Y it costs $10. I learned that trick from my rock crawling days. Made some brackets to mount it in front of the Rad, but left space for the owner to add an AC condenser later. Put a couple "speed holes" in the one side, since it was in front of the radiator fins. Next I trimmed the inner fenderwells for A frame clearance and the front end went together

[skymangs]

Then I made up some frame to core support brackets that would be adjustable in the future (learned that one the hard way on my kids truck). they are 1/8" plate steel, so they ought to be pretty sturdy!

[skymangs]

Since the passenger bedside is from a 41-46, I had to make a fender pattern for it from the left bedside, and drill all the correct fender holes. Once that was done, I mocked up and welded the passenger side running board. The final pic is the S10 e-brake with a 48-53 brake release handle grafted into it. Tomorrow I'll be building a cover panel for both the e-brake and the lower steering column, so all the guts won't show. That's it for today. Enjoy!

[rambler]

looks great!

[918733]

Looks like your making great progress I have a few more questions is that the abs modul by the master cylinder and if so will it still work and what do you have to do to make it work ? and it looks like you used the original gas fill neck and cap ? maybe I'm over thinking this but do you think using an old style gas cap on a fuel injected motor would throw an evap code, wondering what your thoughts would be on this

[nuke1]

very cool truck and progress!!

[oldman3]

Chris, looks good and moving along. Great ideal with the emergency brake. Hood looks like it fits nice to the fenders....Jim

[skymangs]

Rambler: Thanks, It's coming along.

Nuke1: Thank you

918733: ABS should work fine since I'm using the original harness and ecm for the truck, so should the cruise control, and other bells and whistles. As long as all the wiring is plugged in and routed correctly, it should run just like the stock S10. The filler neck and cap are the stock S10 pieces. The owner gutted an old cap, and glued the cover to the S10 screw in cap. But yes, you would need a non vented cap for a pressurized system like this.

Jim: As always, thank you. I am pleased with the hood to fender fitment. This one doesn't seem to be warped like my son's hood!

[BlueJeep]

Looking great, and very quick too. Funny how much faster the 2nd one goes isn't it? What year s10 was the donor for this one?

Another tip for the gas cap is that 1990's Harley's used a vented gas cap with a thread that is very close to the stock s10. I bought an aftermarket one for mine, even has the ratcheting feature when it's tight.

[918733]

Cool tip on the Harley gas caps, and I just happen to have a couple extras

[skymangs]

Thanks Blue Jeep, This one was a 93 short cab, long bed. Nice tip on the Harley gas cap too...

Got a bunch done today, but nothing picture worthy. Will post some tomorrow. I always leave all my bolts (for cab, bed, running boards, fenders, etc.) loose until everything is together that way if it needs any wiggle room for proper alignment I have a little left. Everything is tight now. Owner stopped by today to deliver a pair of rear fenders, and some other misc. parts. Should have this thing done by mid week.

[skymangs]

Sorry it's been a few days since updates. Spent the last several days troubleshooting fuel delivery and wiring issues. Finally replaced the in tank pump with an inline, and got the fuel pump relay to receive a reliable signal from the ECM. So it starts and runs with no problems now. PWEW!

Here's progress, truck is just about finished now. Need to work on some gauges, make some bumper brackets, hang the doors/hood, and install the seat. I'm out of town till Sat evening, so I should have progress pics by Sunday.

Driveshaft is a 92 Chevy short bed with the slip yoke swapped out to the S10 yoke. With the 6" shift in driveline, the shaft worked out to be 56.25" yoke to yoke, which was perfect. Also installed the glass, and repaired a few holes here and there for the owner.