51 chevy 3100 5 window build

[big_moss]

99 that's what my roommate had suggested just get it running as is and do whatever metal work needed done drive it for a while then tear it back down then paint it. ill probably go ahead and paint the interior frame and under the hood all slick for now. and yeah I for sure consider myself lucky even though he didn't use the truck he still bought it as a project he wanted to do so im honored to be able to have the chance to build it. im getting my 2500 out of the shop today after some front end work new tires and an alignment so all I gotta do now is get a trailer lined up and get to east tx to get the 51 picked up hopefully the weekend of the 7th ill be picking her up

[99 to Life]

nice, hope you get it back smoothly. Of course you could always paint engine bay, interior and frame (somin I luv seeing on a patina truck) then just add color later if need. plus, its always nice to test drive and fit bf paint, esp if its your first build. Nice to shake it all down and not have to worry about the paint.

[big_moss]

for sure on your 49 build did you end up running spacers on the front. im going to talk to bill at ekstensive metal works in Houston to see about getting some custom arms built but as of right now im just gonna be laying it out on the stocks with spacers and cups

[99 to Life]

I was almost gonna put some spacers on front, but decided not to. I'm using an s10 steel wheel so I don't know the offset. I used the speedway tubular arms 8" for uppers. used stock lowers. I didn't dehump the lowers or notch the rear frame. So that makes for the body mounting a little lower like around 3". gives you good bed depth. I did get poly bushings for the lowers. they were like $75.

[big_moss]

good morning guys I had a pretty busy weekend and don't have much left of my donor truck. this weekend I got the transmission, seat belts, cab, and wheels sold bringing my total to 840 on what ive parted out off the s10 which I got for 300. hopefully this week I can find buyers for the few things I have left.
heres a few picture of my shop also

[99 to Life]

that's awesome your making out on the s10. wish I had that shop! you could fit a lift in there tho!

[big_moss]

I know it man I didn't think id sell this much off of it. and yes we want a lift in there bad

[made2drag]

cool....im in...by the looks of some pics on here, you know what you're doing and this ride will be sweet too..

[big_moss]

yeah a little bit weve got a lot of cool stuff in there just wasn't very motivated over the summer to get out and make any real progress. but now that its cooling off my roomates and I are in the shop at least 4 night a week

[big_moss]

good morning guys well I had a busy weekend. I hauled a truck back to a friend of mine in east texas that we had been building that he lost all motivation on and he payed me to haul it so I figure while I was up there id pick up my 51 as well. so my uncle and I got it loaded with his front end loaded and got it home yesterday afternoon. haven't unloaded it yet because some how over the weekend I managed to lose a ramp. but I also sold some more parts of the donor s10 and out my total on parting that out to 900

[99 to Life]

congrats, sux about the ramp

[big_moss]

yeah I found a brand new pair at the local trailer supply store for 150 so im going to pick those up at lunch today and then gonna try and get the truck unloaded today. before I bring it into the shop im gonna try and pressure wash all the dirt and varmint crap out of it. random question but whats the salability of an original frame suspension and motor and trans. since im not using any of that ill try and get it sold to someone who actually would need or want it.

[99 to Life]

Let me just give you my piece of mind. When I started my 51' five years ago, I thought I'd never have a use for the frame. I couldn't be happier with keeping it and infact I wouldn't get rid of it for nothing. For you since it was your paps you're gonna want to keep it, maybe not now but someday, I guarantee that. but anyway, frame is 100 bucks, engine no one will want most likely ( I would though, got a collection of 1-6's). Someone might give you 250 for it all, just never know. Someday all these OG frames will be sought after and or worth something, so if you could keep it, go for it.

[big_moss]

defiantly I think later on the will be worth their weight in gold. ill post it for sale and if it doesn't go quick then ill just keep it for a later date. but if it does sell then Ill just be putting that money back into the build.

[joedoh]

well you may end up keeping it and making 99 happy. I advertised both of my frames complete with engines and trans and axles for months at $100 obo and I didnt even get a single call.

happy thoughts dont fold like cash but they are still happy!

[big_moss]

well after calling in a favor from another friend of mine to borrow a ramp we got the truck off the trailer last night. hooked it up to my room-mates truck and a few good tugs later she was off the trailer. plan id to pressure wash it tomorrow evening and get all the mud, dirt , and animal crap from the inside and underneath before I bring it into the shop. this weekend ill hopefully get the motor out of the donor s10 sold and start taking off all the crap I don't need from the s10 frame. maybe start a little disassembly on the 51 as well. I still need to find a 4x4 rear-end and some tubular uppers been searching craigslist but no luck so far. and heres a cool shot my mom got sunday on our drive home coming into Houston.

[made2drag]

that last pic is awesome!!

[99 to Life]

cool congrats. I'v drug some trucks home in some nasty weather bf. One of which was an insane snow storm, wasn't fun. Luv that DS patina, I'd faux in that fender to match!! The rear end shouldn't be too hard to find, if worse case moch up with a narrower s10 if you can't find you 4x4. The tubular uppers I used were speedway, cheap and pretty good. I just put polly bushings in my bottoms, so you can easily reuse your bottoms.

[99 to Life]

p.s speedway usually offers shipping deals around holidays. might wanna hold off and order in a month or so when sales hit.

[big_moss]

thanks made2drag my mom was supper excited that she got the picture. and 99 thanks for the tip man that's a good idea just hold off till Christmas and order them then. so did you just order the m2 uppers? you wouldn't happen to know the part number would ya??

[tiddlar]

Originally Posted by 99 to Life

p.s speedway usually offers shipping deals around holidays. might wanna hold off and order in a month or so when sales hit.

they always do... usually.. i thought... or,. just sign up for email newsletter theyll give your free ship.

[iowaboynca]

I just got their catalog the other day. Its advertising free shipping on anything over $99

[99 to Life]

almost certain these are the ones I ordered. You can easily find the info online as a lot of s10 guys use these. You won't need anything for M2, completely different things. You'll need to order two of the same side, ex. 2 rights that are 8" as I did. These are meant for circle track that is why they have two diff sizes.
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/IMCA-S...-Arm,7241.html

[big_moss]

thanks 99 for the link so rookie question. is the reason you do uppers instead of just running stock uppers just to correct the amount of camber youll have??

[99 to Life]

To my knowledge the 8" tubular would be the same geometry as the stock s10. So really its more just like replacing the nasty looking stock ones for starters. 2. tubular are stronger and IMO just easier to deal with over the stock ones. I didn't want to take the riveted in stock balljoints out, clean the uppers and rebush them, so... I bought new ones. It looks better, performance wise I can't say anything about but these seem good. They are needle bearing which are smooth, but you gotta keep them greased. If you are on a budget just keep the stock ones, but I'd rebush them, by the time you spend loot on poly bushings and the time, you could have had the tubulars. Now the bottoms are a diff story, you hardly see them so I just used them. Getting a set of top and bottoms is pricey.