"52 3600/3100"

[Mains52]

Road trip this weekend and got a frame, inner fenders and the lower grill piece for $200. Made out pretty well I think. This Derek fella from Iowa was one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met. I haven't spent barely any time in the garage since hunting season started so never mind the cluttery mess.

[Mains52]

Weekend update. Took my s10 frame to the old mans barn yard snagged my front axle set up off of my 3600 frame and manage to slap it on the new frame and also mock up the new rear end. Still having a back and forth battle between IFS vs drop axle on the front and 4-link vs a flip kit on the rear all is with budget on the mind of course. Also made a commitment to carb my 5.3 by buying a brand new edelbrock carb off a guy at work for $150. I was the first one to take it out of the package so I figured 150 was a decent deal for a 650cfm.

[Mains52]

First 2018 Update: After my entire family, including me battled the stomach flu all week and weekend. I was able to get out in the garage for an hour last night and cut my bed sides down the 9 1/4 to make them shortbed sides. I forgot to take pics so those will come later. Hope everyone else started the new year off in the garage/shop. I have a triangulated 4 link on the way and have committed to bagging my truck. Its what I wanted form the get go and I decided I don't care how long it takes to buy it all. I am going to bag it.

[Mains52]

Switched over to some body work this weekend. I did receive my 4 link and let my 2 yr old son help me open it. He cried when I told him we had to wait to put it on the truck. Also ordered a set of bags for the rear. Managed to remove the galvanized duct work patch from a previous owner. I’m going to wait until I collect all of my suspension parts to start on the chassis. I am only getting random 1hr sessions in the garage so it’s going to be slowly but surely.

[Mains52]

Well I guess my phone pics turned on me darn it oh well.

[Mains52]

Did some harness work last night. It doesn't seem hard at all, just a lot of work. I need to take 1 more wire out that I didn't initially because its for 4wd. I feel like I'm not in need of any 4x4 stuff in my harness. My wife loved the pile of greasy plastic loom on the floor also haha.

[Erics51chevy]

Let us (me) know how the 4 link turns out! Im thinking of putting one in. What kind of 4 link is it and what rear did you end up with? Sorry if it was already mentioned. Also, im not sure if it matters with a carbed engine but i had to send out the computer to disable the vats system if your not using the original ignition and key. The guy also disabled other things i didnt need for the check engine light not to come on.

[Mains52]

Originally Posted by Erics51chevy

Let us (me) know how the 4 link turns out! Im thinking of putting one in. What kind of 4 link is it and what rear did you end up with? Sorry if it was already mentioned. Also, im not sure if it matters with a carbed engine but i had to send out the computer to disable the vats system if your not using the original ignition and key. The guy also disabled other things i didnt need for the check engine light not to come on.

Its an ebay triangulated 4 link. Paid like 145 for it from steveshouseofspeed. Seems like its great quality. Due to budget it ends up being cheaper for me to run the stock EFI on the 5.3 than to carb it. I plan to send my computer to Brendan at LT1SWAP.COM. I am just doing everything I can do for near free right now. My rear end is a 10 bolt 3:08 posi out of a nova or something idk my parents got it for me for my birthday last year. With my plan to have a nice highway cruisable truck the 3:08 fits pretty well.

[dsraven]

something that can work pretty well for wiring harness is to pin one end of the harness to a piece of plywood (those push pins from the office cork board work ok, or a screw if you don't mind the hole in the plywood) and then string the stragglers out so you can untangle the whole thing. the stragglers can also be pinned to the plywood and a quick label on a piece of tape helps you remember what wire is for what circuit. remove the plastic loom at that point for ease of visual.

[dsraven]

if you are looking for some 4 link stuff check out welder's series out of eastern Canada. they have all kinds of stuff besides 4 link kits and the USD is pretty good right now.

[Mains52]

Originally Posted by dsraven

if you are looking for some 4 link stuff check out welder's series out of eastern Canada. they have all kinds of stuff besides 4 link kits and the USD is pretty good right now.

I just watched some old episodes of TRUCKS on Project CLASSIX. (AD TRUCK).
They used welder series for the front and the rear and kept raving about how good the stuff was. If I wasn't worried trying to sneak everything past the wife I would be ordering stuff left and right haha. I am going to use HOTRODPLANS.COM MII plans and build my own cross member and spring hats. I get the metal for free so why not try, right.

[Erics51chevy]

Ive been looking into welder series things and ive heard good things. I used brendan and he is very good and quick. That should be a good highway rear. Mines a 3.73. See if i need to swap or not when i get it done.

[dsraven]

check the welders series youtube on welding up the MII crossmember. if has some really good ideas on how they do it.
good luck, post pics so we can all see it.

[dsraven]

you could also check into the dodge dakota front suspension upgrade. they are made for a small-midsized truck and may have more parts available at the corner parts place. industrial chassis makes a good youtube on their version but would also work for how to do it yourself. some of the stuff interchanges with viper i think.

http://www.industrialchassisinc.com/...ota-based-ifs/

[whitedog76]

Originally Posted by Mains52

I just watched some old episodes of TRUCKS on Project CLASSIX. (AD TRUCK).
They used welder series for the front and the rear and kept raving about how good the stuff was. If I wasn't worried trying to sneak everything past the wife I would be ordering stuff left and right haha. I am going to use HOTRODPLANS.COM MII plans and build my own cross member and spring hats. I get the metal for free so why not try, right.

I just got the "economy" crossmember from CPP today. I'm impressed with the quality of it. It would be hard to duplicate the crossmember and hats to get the same results.

For a little of over $200, money well spent in my opinion.

Chris

[Mains52]

Originally Posted by whitedog76

I just got the "economy" crossmember from CPP today. I'm impressed with the quality of it. It would be hard to duplicate the crossmember and hats to get the same results.

For a little of over $200, money well spent in my opinion.

Chris

I'm still up in the air on building it with it being so reasonable. I want to just buy it. I'm going to try and sell some OE parts to take some of the edge off of the costs. Did purchase my 2600 bags over the weekend so I have a full set of bags now the rear can be started and ill have the bags for the front when it comes time.

[Mains52]

Weekend update 1/16/18: Did some more harness work. Received all of the stuff to make it a 4 wire fuse block and ordered a soldering iron so any splices or new connectors will be done correctly. Just need to tape, loom and finish labeling the harness.

[Mains52]

Got my rear bags last night. My boy was pumped to open the box. As the parts roll in my son thinks its a Christmas present for him every time. This truck will be his first vehicle if he wants it, so technically they are for him. Front bags are on their way also.

[Erics51chevy]

Haha love it

[Mains52]

Weekend 1/23: Received my front bags and was really surprised at the size difference between the 2500 and 2600 lb bags. I ordered a new kick panel from Classic Parts so pretty much 3/4 of my driver side will be new. I figured since the temperature fluctuation in Illinois right now is surface rusting everything in my garage, I'd clean my block up a little bit to see if I could get rid of 170k miles worth of carbon. Honestly there was barely anything that was stuck on. I was happy with how easy they were to clean. I still plan to send my block in to have it cleaned and checked along with checking the crank and putting new rings in.

[gigamanx]

Originally Posted by Mains52

Got my rear bags last night. My boy was pumped to open the box. As the parts roll in my son thinks its a Christmas present for him every time. This truck will be his first vehicle if he wants it, so technically they are for him. Front bags are on their way also.

My daughter seems to have an affinity for my truck so much so that she wants to drive it to prom and to high school some days. Between her and your boy, they will definitely be the coolest kids in school when they roll up and lay the frame down to park haha.

[Mains52]

Originally Posted by gigamanx

My daughter seems to have an affinity for my truck so much so that she wants to drive it to prom and to high school some days. Between her and your boy, they will definitely be the coolest kids in school when they roll up and lay the frame down to park haha.

Oh yeah I hope he still thinks its cool when he turns 16. I just hope in 13.5 years they are allowed to drive gas vehicles to school.

[Erics51chevy]

Id love to build a car or truck for my kid as well one day. Just worried having more than one they will all want one and my wallet will be empty.

[Mains52]

Originally Posted by Erics51chevy

Id love to build a car or truck for my kid as well one day. Just worried having more than one they will all want one and my wallet will be empty.

I figure if I just start a new build each time I have a kid Ill have 16 years to finish them right? Unfortunately here in a couple years when I start my next one my daily driver will be paid off and Ill have more money for the next project. So whomever gets the 2nd truck might be getting a nicer one.

[Erics51chevy]

Thats what i figure too. You'll be that much better at everything as well.