47-55.1 Starting a 52 Chevy 3100 Project.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Wow! I hadn’t checked in on some threads in awhile and the torches and pitchforks came out and ran Brian out for having an opinion. Sheesh.

Criticize hm for expressing his opinion on a forum that’s ALL about expressing our opinions about AD & TF trucks?

Criticize him for where he lives influencing his opinions?

Criticize him for how much he talks about himself? I talk about myself all the time on my thread. Who ELSE would I talk about?

OP- Good luck on your project. I wouldn’t do it your way and neither would Brian but WTF do you care? It’s YOUR truck and YOUR money. Do it anyway you want and hopefully you’re happy with it but if you’re going to come here and post about it please listen to more than one person’s opinion. Doesn’t mean you have to TAKE their opinion, just consider them.

[Shinysideup]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Wow! I hadn’t checked in on some threads in awhile and the torches and came out and ran Brian out for having an opinion. Sheesh.

Criticize hm for expressing his opinion on a forum that’s ALL about expressing our opinions about AD & TF trucks?

Criticize him for where he lives influencing his opinions?

Criticize him for how much he talks about himself? I talk about myself all the time on my thread. Who ELSE would I talk about?

OP- Good luck on your project. I wouldn’t do it your way and neither would Brian but WTF do you care? It’s YOUR truck and YOUR money. Do it anyway you want and hopefully you’re happy with it but if you’re going to come here and post about it please listen to more than one person’s opinion. Doesn’t mean you have to TAKE their opinion, just consider them.

I'm behind you on this. I think Brian made great points that need to be thought of before major decisions. We are here to help with our experience. I've watched/helped a friend with an s10 swap and it was anything but simple. I personally woundnt lower an AD truck to that chassis. It is plain to me that joedoh has trolled him and mucked up the OP's thread with his crusade for all things s10. To each his own but dont jump him for an opinion, just state yours ...to the OP.

[gigamanx]

Keep us updated. Running truck in three months is ambitious and I thought I was ambitious with a one year project Using the same engine might speed things up since you don't have to build a new cross member, motor mounts, or driveshaft unless you ditch the two piece shaft for a single tube.

[28TudorAZ]

Originally Posted by gigamanx

Keep us updated. Running truck in three months is ambitious and I thought I was ambitious with a one year project Using the same engine might speed things up since you don't have to build a new cross member, motor mounts, or driveshaft unless you ditch the two piece shaft for a single tube.

I want it running and driving in a year but if I get it done sooner that would be great. It has the 1 piece drive shaft so it will just need to be shortened. I am using the 350 TBI motor/700R4 from a 91 Chevy. I decided to custom build the motor mounts so I could control more of the height of the motor and maybe not have to hack up the floor board as much. I will custom build the transmission mount as well. I already have in my head exactly what I am going to build and have the metal.

[joedoh]

I like the wide core mount on bushings too. looks like a good plan!

Originally Posted by 28TudorAZ

I want it running and driving in a year but if I get it done sooner that would be great. It has the 1 piece drive shaft so it will just need to be shortened. I am using the 350 TBI motor/700R4 from a 91 Chevy. I decided to custom build the motor mounts so I could control more of the height of the motor and maybe not have to hack up the floor board as much. I will custom build the transmission mount as well. I already have in my head exactly what I am going to build and have the metal.

be careful the oil/tranny pans dont stick out below the front crossmember, that is the limit of down for me. if you move the motor back to the firewall, a rcsb s10 driveshaft will fit.

[28TudorAZ]

Set the motor and tranny in today during my lunch. We are going to set the front end back on tomorrow and see if we can fit a fan and radiator in there.

[28TudorAZ]

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[28TudorAZ]

Got the motor mounts welded in today.

[joedoh]

I always use 2 1/8 forward of the hole but my mounts are based on skymangs so they are 3 3/4 wide, so thats the same as 2 1/4 forward of the oval hole, unless my math is wonky.
I also cut my body mount holes a little larger than the mount for some small wiggle room they are centered on this truck currently though.

IMG_0681 by Joe Doh, on Flickr

I chucked a fender on to see how my alignment is, its important to "tuck" the rear of the fender into the recess on the cab, it will almost snap to it. also it is important to level the bottom style line of the fender so it doesnt point up or down.

here is my (fender only)! alignment.

IMG_0682 by Joe Doh, on Flickr

this truck has the Z85 rpo which is the high riding suspension, bigger coils in the front and an extra leaf in the back. so my tire will go back slightly with a drop coil too.

so make sure your fender style line is mostly level with the frame, it could be you have the front pointing down a little.

[28TudorAZ]

Originally Posted by joedoh

so make sure your fender style line is mostly level with the frame, it could be you have the front pointing down a little.

Thanks for the tip. I think it might have been pointing down. I loosened up the fenders from the the cab and raised it, and my dad is coming over tomorrow to help put the hood on again and we will see how it lines up.

I ended up re-using the mounts for the front end from the S10 to mount the radiator support. I am going to drill a hole in the frame and weld a bolt to the top of the frame.

[joedoh]

mounts look great!

you should ask a mod to move this thread to the project section.

[28TudorAZ]

Originally Posted by joedoh

mounts look great!

you should ask a mod to move this thread to the project section.

Thanks I tried flipping the s10 conversion mounts but the height was all wrong.

How do I get a moderator to do that?

[8man]

You are making great progress. Looks good.

[28TudorAZ]

Originally Posted by 8man

You are making great progress. Looks good.

Thanks. Resealing the motor set me back a few weeks. I guess it gave me time to clean it up and look at the inside. The motor looked brand new inside. No build up at all.

[oldman3]

Looks good...Jim

[28TudorAZ]

Made some more progress over the weekend. I came up with something a little different on the dash. I don't like how the radio is at the top like it was an after thought. I plan on putting a 57 Chevy modern truck radio in it. I also plan on putting the A/C vents above the stereo as well.

[28TudorAZ]

Originally Posted by oldman3

Looks good...Jim

Thanks. I figure if my dad wants it old and rustic looking I can at least make everything you don't see look nice. I am hoping to start the motor in the next few weeks. I have some welding to do on the cab to fix holes and also need to finish the final welding on the cab mounts.

[joedoh]

I like the later radio idea! truck is looking great

[Volfandt]

I like lower mounted radio too.
You know, a radio was an after thought back in the day.
Same for a heater and horn too.

I knew the original owner of my 49 3100. According to the paperwork when he bought it, he opted for the dealer add-on horn and by pass oil filter but not the heater and radio.
His son told me he added the heater that 1st winter (got the Arvin heater kit from the dealer) but didn't think a radio was necessary for a farm truck.

Sorry for the side bar.
Enjoying your build.

[28TudorAZ]

Originally Posted by Volfandt

I like lower mounted radio too.
You know, a radio was an after thought back in the day.
Same for a heater and horn too.

I knew the original owner of my 49 3100. According to the paperwork when he bought it, he opted for the dealer add-on horn and by pass oil filter but not the heater and radio.
His son told me he added the heater that 1st winter (got the Arvin heater kit from the dealer) but didn't think a radio was necessary for a farm truck.

Sorry for the side bar.
Enjoying your build.

Very cool to know. I would have guessed most people didn't care about a radio at that time so Chevy just said lets not redesign everything since know we are changing in 55 and just add an extra step of punching a hole at the top. I have to pick up some round vents at socal tomorrow so hopefully I can finish the dash. This truck is going to be a driver so it has to have A/C in AZ.

[mikebte]

Great thinking on the radio, should turn out nice.
I second the AC in AZ.

[28TudorAZ]

Originally Posted by mikebte

Great thinking on the radio, should turn out nice.
I second the AC in AZ.

Almost done with the dash. Just need to finish the body filler.

[28TudorAZ]

Set the bed on there so I could get the running boards lined up.

[dsraven]

ya, umm. your engine is missing! is that why the hole in the floor? flintstones foot power?...
kidding
looks good. coming along nicely. do you plan on spacers for the front wheels or you have the look you like?

[28TudorAZ]

Picked up some craigslist wheels. I am thinking 3" spaces all around.