51 Chevy 1/2 ton, My S10 swap

[Atommik]

Well, now that it's home, I've got to re-arrange my garage. I had built a large shelf that I could back under, so the truck sat nose to the door. The problem is, it's a really tight fit and takes a while to get it in just right, being careful not to hit the uprights on the shelf. So all that nice exhaust smell is filling up the attached garage and getting in the house. Looks like I will need to rebuild the shelf a little smaller, so I can pull straight in and have the shelf be over the hood, with the tailgate near the door. Then I can pull in more quickly and keep the tail pipe outside for as long as possible. Either that or I will need to keep it parked outside, which I don't want to do. I'll figure something out!!

[99 to Life]

its always something, one thing I usually say is why I'm so happy to actually enjoy these trucks with patina is if you hit something, oh well it comes with having a truck, it happens. I have several miles of dirt roads to travel too, so by the time I finish my painted truck I'll have another location where I don't have to take it on dirt roads. But lets say you "did" put a scratch on your fresh paint job, you'd be able to fix it no problem.

[Atommik]

Here's a couple of pics of my tight fit in the garage.

Also a close up of the headlight swap now that it's finally done! I just installed the Lexan lens covers and new trim rings.

Hoping to work on the garage shelf project tomorrow. I took a few days off for a little family time and camping, but it has been really hot and humid so I have no desire to work in the garage. But it needs to be done!!

Also, turn signals don't work. 4 way flashers work, but no blinkers. I'll be re checking fuses and flashers and double checking some wiring. May need a new turn signal switch.

[mknittle]

I would say a redesign is definitely in order.

[Atommik]

Yeah, it will also force me to get rid of some junk!!

[Daze57]

o yeah we all got plenty of junk !!

[Atommik]

So, garage project is done. Shelf is about 1/2 the size, but way easier to get in and out of the garage now, and less junk!!

No luck on the turn signals. Fuses good, flasher unit good, no power at turn signal wires at the connecter coming from the column going to the connecter from EZ wiring. Hazards have power there, horn has power there, brake lights have power there,...Bad turn signal switch?? Or possibly a wiring problem within the column? What do you think??

If I need a turn signal switch, that may be difficult. I have no idea what year or model my column is from, mid eighties I'm guessing. Hopefully they used the same set up in many models/ years...

[54 jimmy]

the turn signal switches are pretty much the same on trucks/vans fron early 80's to mid 90's. I think they have a part# stamped in the plastic. hope you get it figured out. the reason I say this is I needed one for a 91 s10 I had and I had a 80 ish fullsize van column laying around and it fit no problems.

[Atommik]

Well,
Back from a short vacation, so time to think about the truck again.

I had another first on Saturday...ran out of gas (on the way to gas station). At least I was only 2 blocks from home. Will now certainly install my gas gauge sooner rather than later!!

After putting a few miles on (10-15) I have re-evaluated a few things. I need some door seals!! The rattling drives me crazy going down the road!! Also, the Altman bear claw style latches will need to be a priority. Just driving around a little I can see the door latches loosening up. No surprise door openings yet, but the new latches will need to be bought soon!

Having a trans hump instead of a 12 X 20 hole in the floor really cuts down on road noise and engine fumes.

Hoping to take the steering column apart on Saturday and fix the turn signals. If I get them working I may go to a cruise in Saturday night. I just don't like driving very far without signals!

[99 to Life]

cool man, ironing out kinks seems never ending sometimes. I'v ran out of gas a few times, couple of which I knew it was coming, need to get back on getting my gauge to work, got a brand new sender. Good luck with the signals.

[Atommik]

Finally got the turn signals working. Seems that my own mistakes are the hardest to figure out! After checking fuses and everything else I could think of, I followed the turn signal flasher wire back the fuse box to find that I had installed the fuse box "upside down" with the fuse numbers upside down. No big deal, the wire loom fit in the cab better that way.

However, weeks later when I installed the cover I just snapped it on right side up, not realizing until tonight that the fuse I thought I was testing, was for the not yet hooked up radio. The actual turn signal fuse was blown. Problem solved. I have now turned the fuse cover 180 degrees to align it with the correct fuse locations.

Feeling mostly happy and a little stupid that this 2 week long problem is finally fixed.

[99 to Life]

hey man congrats, the little bugs that take forever to figure out, will get solved just sometimes takes longer than anticipated, atleast you don't have to do a whole new switch or spend any more money on something else you don't need to be spending money on.

[av8tr33337]

LOL thats great that you got it figured out! That's one of those kinds of mistakes we all make from time to time, but we think twice about telling anybody! Well you are among friends and we have all made blunders along the the way.

[oldman3]

Yeah, welcome to the "I can't believe I did that" club, I've been a member for years...Jim

[Atommik]

Here's a pic of the re -arranged garage/ storage shelf. Much better than trying to back in!! Still kind of tight , but it works.

Also a pic of the trans hump. Nice and small. Riveted in and seam sealed.

And I got the fuel gauge installed. Works great!

[99 to Life]

looks great, so you using a 12v gauge in the OG cluster or using a voltage reducer in the OG gauge.

[Atommik]

I put an aftermarket "GM" gauge in the 1951 housing. With the differences in the OHMS for the senders, I figured this would work best. The gauge is a 0-90 OHM just like the S10 tank sender.


I'm planning on going to my first "event" with my truck Saturday night. A local "cruise in" (Anoka, MN). Looking forward to it. Planning on meeting up with a buddy from work with his 1969, SS 396 Chevelle convertible. I think several local forum members have been there before. Hoping to see a few tomorrow night.

[99 to Life]

cool, maybe I'll go that route on the next truck. on my 51' I bought an aftermarket tank just so I can plop a 30' ohm sender in it, got it to bench test on one of my gauges but when I tried it with the gauge in the truck, no luck. Haven't gotten back to it yet I gave up a long time ago. But I'm annoyed I went out of my way to have a gas gauge and got nothing right now but a ruler and guessing.

Good luck at the show, have fun.

[oldman3]

Enjoy the cruise in, take pics and let us know how it turned out...Jim

[Atommik]

Early Saturday morning, I made a temporary bed floor. It will hold me over until I can spend more time and money on something else.

Well the show was great, the trip home, not great...more on that later.

The show was packed. I got there a little late so I was kind of parked off the beaten path. I did get a few nice compliments!!

The weather was great. I think that's why there was such a big turn out. Maybe 800-1000 cars and trucks.

[Atommik]

More...

[Atommik]

Now for the bad news. The show was about 20 miles away. By far the longest trip I've attempted with my truck. Obviously getting there was not a problem. However, about half way home I started to feel a weird vibration. I was thinking I would need to get the wheels re-balanced. I thought I remember seeing a wheel weight laying on the ground when I still had my truck at work. A lot of possibilities were going thru my mind.
All of a sudden, there was a huge crunch/ crash noise as my left rear wheel came off while I was going around 40 MPH. I got to the side of the road and stopped as my tire/ wheel passed me on the road. Kind of a "cartoon" eerie image. No injury to me, nobody else driving along side of me hit anything that flew off my truck(brake drum.)
As I was calling road side assistance, some one who pulled over to help, called and got a squad car to pull up behind me with their lights on to avoid any more trouble. Then a guy who was also at the show pulled over to help. Of course I had no jack or spare. He lived near by so he went home and got a floor jack and lug wrench. We managed to get the wheel back on. (I love the "brotherhood" of car guys always willing to help each other.) The tire has a huge cut on the inner sidewall so it's junk, but at least the tow truck could pick the truck up by the rear and get me home.

After a little investigation, I realized the lug nuts that hold my wheel spacers on, came loose. The wheel with the spacer still on it is what came off. Then with nothing to hold the drum on, that came off as well. So when I stepped on the brakes, the rear wheel cylinder blew out with no drum for the shoes to press against. Very happy to have the S10 Master cylinder with dual chambers so I at least had front brakes left!! I was so mad at myself because I was going to re-check all of my lug nuts on the spacers and wheels, but I got distracted by other projects and never did it. Stupid!

The damage to my truck is limited. I'll need a wheel cylinder, tire and some serious rear fender repair or maybe replacement.. I have full insurance coverage but I'm not sure if I'll file a claim. I guess I should, that's what it's there for.

I wasn't sure if I wanted to tell this part of the story because it's embarrassing, but maybe some will benefit by my error!!
Here's a couple pics of the damage.

Thankfully no one was hurt and the damage not too serious.

[Katrina/10]

You're luck nothing worse happened! Glad you are ok.

[oldman3]

First glad you are OK. I drive my truck alot during the season and I check my lugs about once a month just to make sure. That's one thing I hate about spacers, have to remove wheels to check, I've heard this has happened to many before...Jim

[Atommik]

From now on, regular lug nut checks!!

Maybe some loc-tite on them?