New guy with 52 AD project.

[BigJock]

Lookin' good so far 52 Rat, when I see what some of you guys take on as far as rust is concerned, I realise how good my cab is.
That amount of work would scare the hell out of me,and my bank account........

Love the drivetrain you're using,that should suprise a few folks at the stoplight drags!

Keep up the good work.

[1947hillbillytruck]

looks like you and me have same amount rust to repair.great work.where's this truck from??

[52 Rat]

Originally Posted by 1947hillbillytruck

looks like you and me have same amount rust to repair.great work.where's this truck from??

The truck was originally from North Carolina, USA and I am in Western NC. From my research, I am the second owner, via my father-in-law. I will have some update photos this afternoon.

[52 Rat]

I made some progress on the 52 over the Holidays. I installed the left and right side valance, finished welding the floor pan and toe boards, rockers, and installed the right cab corner. I also cleaned and rebuilt the rear cab mounts. I need to weld in the back floor and left cab corner. After that the rust repair on the cab will be complete. Enjoy the pics.

[52 Rat]

[52 Rat]

[99 to Life]

looking good. did you replace the bushings in those shackles? Where did you get the replacement bushings?

keep it up

[52 Rat]

Originally Posted by 99 to Life

looking good. did you replace the bushings in those shackles? Where did you get the replacement bushings?

keep it up

Yes I did but for some reason I did not take a photo of the bushings. I purchased my parts from a local vendor, Carolina Truck Parts, Inc. This vendor travels around to all of the swap meets and does not sell via the net. LMC and Classic Parts along with others have the rebuild kits.

[Tatt2d51]

Looks good. I just started my first ever build a couple hours east of you on a 51.
Question: How are you going to drop the stance as in the pic you posted with the original frame? Thought it was only possible with custom or s10 swap?

Excuse if dumb, I'm a newb...

[52 Rat]

Originally Posted by Tatt2d51

Looks good. I just started my first ever build a couple hours east of you on a 51.
Question: How are you going to drop the stance as in the pic you posted with the original frame? Thought it was only possible with custom or s10 swap?

Excuse if dumb, I'm a newb...

I installed an IFS front suspension with a 3" drop spindle. I will run a custom truck arm style suspension in the rear with a "C" notch in the frame. I may run air bags to get the truck very low when parked.

[99 to Life]

52Rat- that is cool keep it local. I wish I could do that. I get most my stuff from classic parts.

tat251' You got to start somewhere, so asking is a good way. But also reading and subscribing to others threads will help a ton too. as for 52Rat's stance he is doing and IFS (independent front suspension) and or MM2 set up. You can lower your OG truck without that by using a drop axle in the front, they can run about 300 bucks. but then you will have costs of adding disc brakes and power steering etc. For the rear, you can use a different rear end (keep in mind width and gear ratio), and just block the rear with lowering blocks.

[Russell Ashley]

52 Rat, Nice work you are doing. Keep the pics coming. Trying to read your doors, they don't say Snell Construction Co, Snellville, Ga. do they? About five miles from me, No connection to them but I pass by there often. Would be a coincidence.

[ChuckDriver]

Very nice work!

[52 Rat]

Originally Posted by Russell Ashley

52 Rat, Nice work you are doing. Keep the pics coming. Trying to read your doors, they don't say Snell Construction Co, Snellville, Ga. do they? About five miles from me, No connection to them but I pass by there often. Would be a coincidence.

Russell,

I can't believe you were able to make out the advertisement on my doors. Yes, they say Snell Contractors Inc. Snellville, GA. I contacted the owners of Snell Construction and got a little history of the truck/doors. I purchased the doors from a guy in Sylvia, NC so the doors did not come with the truck. Mr. Snell purchased two trucks for the business in 1952. Snell Construction offered to buy the truck but I'm not going to sell it. My father-in-law gave me the truck and I told him I would not sell the truck.

[Tatt2d51]

Originally Posted by 52 Rat

I installed an IFS front suspension with a 3" drop spindle. ....

I dont know how i missed that -

[52 Rat]

Originally Posted by Tatt2d51

I dont know how i missed that -

Not a problem. Actually I have a 2" drop spindle not 3 as stated above. Sorry for the confusion.

[BlueJeep]

Do you have any more pictures of your firewall clearances and front of engine clearances? I'm going to paint my truck and run it one more year with the 4.3, then switch to a 5.3 and I want to be proactive on leaving enough room for the 5.3. Thanks!

[52 Rat]

Blue Jeep, I hope this helps. At this time I don't have the engine and trans in the truck but this will give you a good idea of the style of motor mounts I am using.

[BlueJeep]

Thanks, looks good! I think if I make my tranny tunnel a little larger, I can slide the 5.3 back to within 1/2" or so of the firewall and have plenty of room for the electric fan, etc.

Is that a truck oil pan or a car one?

[52 Rat]

Originally Posted by BlueJeep

Thanks, looks good! I think if I make my tranny tunnel a little larger, I can slide the 5.3 back to within 1/2" or so of the firewall and have plenty of room for the electric fan, etc.

Is that a truck oil pan or a car one?

It is a truck/lq4 oil pan. The engine is a 6.0L lq4. I will be modifying or changing to an F body oil pan.

[BlueJeep]

Originally Posted by 52 Rat

It is a truck/lq4 oil pan. The engine is a 6.0L lq4. I will be modifying or changing to an F body oil pan.

Are you changing for ground clearance reasons?

[52 Rat]

Originally Posted by BlueJeep

Are you changing for ground clearance reasons?

Yes, the rear sump is too low. I am running a 2" drop spindle and the engine is mounted low in the frame, so the F body oil is my best option. I have seen a few truck pans that have been cut down and re-welded. You may want to check ls1tech.com. There is a lot of information in the hybrid conversion forum.

This photos show the motor mounts and how the oil pan fits in relation to the Heidts cross member.

[ratty 46]

WOW ... nice build. If nothing else you will become very good at metal panel replacement.

Ratty 46

[bjcaldwe]

Do you have a pic of your sway bar mount?

[52 Rat]

Originally Posted by ratty 46

WOW ... nice build. If nothing else you will become very good at metal panel replacement.

Ratty 46

Thanks Ratty 46. I've had previous practice and love working on these type of projects. I'm in my office all week and working on my rat rod projects keep me sane; it is my therapy.