51 Chevy 1/2 ton, My S10 swap

[52 Rat]

Originally Posted by Atommik

52 Rat

The conversion was pretty easy. I just bought a couple of 1157 bulb sockets with wires(try to find some that are small as they need to go inside the housing). Take the light apart, remove the old socket then fit the new socket in it's place. I was hoping to attach the socket coming in from behind the housing, but it is a very tight fit against the grill when installed so I just put it inside the housing. While it was all apart I cleaned up and repainted the housings.I also attached a ground wire from the body of the housing. Even though it is supposed to ground through the housing, a little extra will be good. I took a couple of after pics...

Sounds easy enough. Thanks for the info! I've seen the 1157 sockets with the pig tail wires at Norther Tool.

[Atommik]

I started working on the fenders this week (right side first). I'm trying to be really patient and trying to smooth them out enough to not use any filler, just primer. I wish I could afford new fenders...but there is some satisfaction in repairing all those dents!! (And there are alot of dents/ creases!!) I've got the top surfaces mostly done...just a few small areas left.

[99 to Life]

looking good. I'm all about using OG parts. I'm working on some rear fenders for my next truck. I just started, but I'm having crap luck just sanding the rust off, because my air compressor is a baby. So I gotta get some priorities straight. But I love seeing bare metal and pounding out dents is fun. I love seeing guys bring things back to life rather than just buying it off a shelf, on most things of course.

[oldman3]

Moving right along, fender is taking great shape....Jim

[nacho55]

your truck is looking good, keep the pictures coming, I love watching peoples builds come along it sure helped keep me motivated, I know I have learned more here than I have contributed from this site by watching others and seeing how others did things, also that must have been a popular color, it looks the same as my
55-1st

[Atommik]

Thanks Jim, Nacho55,

Nacho I like the look of your truck, I really like the 54-55 1st series, love the grill!! That's what I'd get if I ever get the chance to do another build. Especially if I could find a panel or suburban!

Atommik

[av8tr33337]

Originally Posted by nacho55

your truck is looking good, keep the pictures coming, I love watching peoples builds come along it sure helped keep me motivated, I know I have learned more here than I have contributed from this site by watching others and seeing how others did things, also that must have been a popular color, it looks the same as my
55-1st

I would say it's the second most popular color....... after rust!!!

[Atommik]

I started on the rear cab corners this weekend. Got the inner and outers, left and right mostly cut out and started fitting up the new parts. I was going to start cutting out the front corners, but I wasn't sure if I should since I don't have any cab bracing welded in. I'll finish welding the rears then do the fronts. I also made a few cuts on the cab to even out some door gap issues at the rear of the door.

[Atommik]

a couple more...

[oldman3]

Fender looks great, nice job. I agree on doing cab corners first then the front. When I did all my replacements I had the cab bolted to the frame with new rubbers in front, etc. I felt it made it easier for alignment of panels etc.. Just my 2 cents....Jim

[Atommik]

Hey Jim,

Thanks, Yeah I would have preferred to have the cab mounted to the frame first also, but I'm having a hard time finding a reasonably priced frame. However I do have the cab attatched to a dolly, mounted at the cab mounts, so I should be really close fit wise when I do get a frame. Also, being up in Minnesota, there's a lot more 4WD than 2WD trucks around. I'll find one, it is just taking longer than I thought, and the build must go on!!

[99 to Life]

looking great, yeah those camel hump heads are def well sought after, but it sux they don't have the accessory holes drilled in them, hence the funny alt brackets. I think they prolly used those heads in trucks too, but I'm not sure. either way, they are good stock heads. Love the progress. You could also just do a IFS on that OG frame you got. But it seems like you got a little ways of work to do before you really need your frame. Keep it up.

[Atommik]

Here's another pic of the right fender...

[Atommik]

I mocked up the BMW XENON headlight in the fender I've been repairing, and hooked a battery charger to the lighting unit...I don't have the trim ring on it and the bucket area directly surrounding the light will be painted body color. I was so excited to see this thing light up! It looks better than I thought it would!!

[Daze57]

your BMW headlight idea is great ! i wonder how hard it would be for us task force guys 55-59 to retro fit the same idea?

[xpickup]

Atommik, everything look great. I like the headlights. They should be bright as H!@#! I always hate when those lights are coming at you because the blind you. Or at least me because the glare up my glasses. But I am sure they are great to drive with because they make everything seem so clear. Keep up the great work.

Shannon

[ChuckDriver]

Lights look great! What model are they from?

[Atommik]

Thanks for the compliments guys!

ChuckDriver, the lights are from a 2003 (I think, but within a year or so of then) BMW 3 series, probably a 330.

[Atommik]

Daze57,
It would most likely work with a TF truck, but Probably not the "4 eyed" models. As long as there is enough room behind the headlight in the inner fender. The modified headlight canister is about 7-8" deep, so check for tire clearance, especially if the truck will be lowered to the ground.

[Daze57]

Atommik

thanks for the headlite info - you are doin a great job and thanks for the picts .

[Atommik]

I hauled my cab into work Friday, and Saturday I worked on it for 12 hours!! Of course I forgot the camera...I'll post a few after pics when I get the chance. I installed the rear cab corners, left and right inner and outer. Also got the right front installed.Sand blasted the back of the cab and sealed the body seam with panel bonding adhesive. Also blasted the door jambs and hinges. Then I decided to filled in a few more holes on the firewall. I will be using the fresh air intake on the cowl but the drain basically comes out on top of the distributor, so I will reroute that and have it drain out of sight, lower on the firewall. That was one long day! I can remember the days of working that hard and long and not being wiped out at the end of the day!! I geuss that was 20 years ago...HaHa!!

Up next: left front cab corner and inner, sand blast roof (carefully), do the body work around patched in areas, fix a few dents here and there, finish smoothing the firewall, sandblast and straighten dash panel. I'm sure I'm forgetting some more items that need attention too!!

[Atommik]

Here's some pics of Saturday's progress. I had to put some etch primer on all the bare steel right away. It was really humid here and 80 degrees. About 30 deg above normal!!

[Atommik]

Here's the new cab corners, with Dura glass filler on the welds.

[Atommik]

more...

[_Ogre]

Originally Posted by Atommik

It was really humid here and 80 degrees. About 30 deg above normal!!

same here. 80f here, 2ft of fresh snow in flagstaff.
strange weather, good for us