47-55.1 Project: Kechi AD S10 4.3 auto

[8man]

Dealing in real estate is my business. So congratulations and well done!

The truck is coming along. Way to go.

[joedoh]

Marc I could have built one years ago but they cost as much as churches these days!


Matt its the S10 pedal mounted right to the s10 firewall chunk! I need to chop some more from the floor but I need to also switch cabs. maybe tomorrow.

[oldman3]

Russ, congrats on the property and shop. Was the dogs name "spot"...Jim

[Brads49]

Congrats on the new place!

[joedoh]

thanks guys, still pins and needles!

Originally Posted by oldman3

Russ, congrats on the property and shop. Was the dogs name "spot"...Jim

it might have been Wilbur!

I need a better picture, its a pig! when you talk to him he talks back!

Originally Posted by 8man

Dealing in real estate is my business. So congratulations and well done!

it was a mexican standoff, but we both decided that it was damaged from the break in and we both just had to adjust.

[gmc684x4]

Congrats on the new shop
lots of great build threads

[joedoh]

got the column mount cut and tacked, I fit it to the pedal brace but couldnt tack it for a test fit because the cab is still wrong.



so I chopped out the firewall section from the 3 window and welded it to the 5 window.




you can see I put the wiring pass through in as well.


pulled the 3 window and started loading up the trailer for the short drive east in three weeks



and rolled the truck back in, after "repairing" the drivers side cowl, the windshield frame, and everything else that this new cab gave me.




I want to get the column test fit in the morning then a lowering job on the springs. I found my two big c clamps, cant wait to see the drop I get out of the leafs.

[oldman3]

Cool...Jim

[joedoh]

I decided to tackle the springs first, and in true application of the "joedoh rule" (if there exists a problem, I will have it), the last and most inaccessible bolt was stuck in the leaf.



these springs were newish, there was a record of them being replaced about 11k ago and they are definitely aftermarket JEI springs, so thats good. but I would bet pink frosted donuts that they reused the crusty leaf bolts. it bears mentioning, if they were stock springs the bolt would be facing the other way, GM puts them in so that they hit the gas tank if you try to remove them, so I would have probably cut it anyway. but cut I did.



I had to bent the mount slightly to get it out but no worries, the bolt will pull it back straight. I used a 14mm socket and another bolt and pounded it through.



I cleaned up the inside of the bushing with a round file and wire brushed a spare bolt (I have taken apart a lot of S10s) so it wouldnt be grabby for the next guy.

The Z85 leafs are highrider/heavy duty suspension, 3+overload. the normal s10 is 2+overload, but instead of taking the smallest I took the middle, so it should be slightly lower than a stock s10, about 1.5" or 3" total drop is what I am shooting for. I started by c clamping the pack and taking out the center bolt. then the pack came apart.






picture limit, next post

[joedoh]

the center bolt did not have enough threads to put the pack back together, so I ran for a cap head bolt. the size is shown in the picture, and you have to sand the knurling off so that it will fit in the hole in the axle pad.



if you are worried about the strength of this bolt, dont, the u bolts clamp the pack. this bolt just holds it while its apart.

Then I moved on to the front. no in-progress pictures, I started just to take the shocks out but everything went so well I just switched out the springs for the lower ones and buttoned it all back up.




the front dropped an honest 2.5" and the rear an honest 2" which will eventually be 3 when the springs settle. normally I would just buy new lowering springs, but they dont have an overload, and the Z85 pack is such a strong spring to begin with. I tried dearching z85 in the past and they never drop as much as I paid for. so this method is a good compromise. I will blow everything apart for paint later, I wanted to see how it looked on the ground, pretty good!

my LED lenses came for my 37 taillights, and of course they are for 37 car which is smaller. but they DO fit right inside the housing



will they be bright enough through the doubled up lens? YES




so I caught myself back up today. tomorrow is cab off, weld up mounts and maybe fix the cab corners while its on its nose.

[OutlawDrifter]

Killing it as usual!

[oldman3]

Russ, nice update, light looks great...Jim

[8man]

Quick work! Nice write up. Thanks.

[joedoh]

got the cab pulled, and did the cab corners after trimming the rear cab reinforcement. the cab will sit 3/4" lower in the rear and be level with the frame now.

I like to trim the big patch oversize so I can clamp it to the cab, then cut both the patch and the cab. makes welding it up nice.



went ahead and trimmed the pass side too low. HUBRIS!



inner needed some work



I guess I forgot a finished drivers patch picture, here is an in-process.



fixed my screwup on the pass side.




I would have had it all done but it darkened up and they are calling for rain today and tomorrow. if it rains tomorrow I will do frame stuff inside, if it is sunny I will tip the cab back and do the kicks/floor patches and the HVAC firewall chunk.

[8man]

Nice fix.

[oldman3]

Look good Russ...Jim

[Old57]

Nice progress, as usual! Good to hear about the shop, hopefully it goes smooth and you can get started in there pretty soon.

[Brads49]

comin' along nicely! I love those taillights!

[joedoh]

thanks all!

they moved the closing date to next week, so I am going nuts.

[8man]

Closing is the easy part, moving in and setting up the shop is the tough part. Have you decided where to put everything?

[joedoh]

it needs some work before I can start working out of it. there was good and bad from the break in, the good was a new 16ft garage door on the shop, the bad is that someone stole the breaker box and most of the wiring in the shop. a few years ago we put a 1100 sq ft addition on the house and I took the test on doing my own wiring, I did 5 rooms of outlets and recessed lighting with a sub panel in the basement, no sweat, so I know I can do this too. there is other work, the house needs siding and some retrofitting. but it has new ac and carpet. So I will probably just move all the overflow parts and stuff in the back to the shop and maybe be ready to work in it by fall.

anyway tuesday morning is the day, I have a homeowners policy and a big check ready.

I have gotten a lot done, although not many pictures. all the mounts are fully welded and so is the frame splice. I removed the oil cooler adapter from the block in true joedoh fashion (last bolt needed drilled out). I noticed the valve covers were leaking and so I gave them a pressure wash and new gaskets. the trans dipstick tube seal just decided one day to puke a couple quarts of tranny fluid on the floor so I put a new one of those in too. the exhaust is welded up and the fuel lines and new rear brake line are in.



I need to finish welding up the HVAC panel and patch the kicks (I may wait till its back on the frame for the kicks) but things are hopping again.



hvac box fits great



picked up some camaro 18s in line with the budget theme. I am thinking of cutting the welds on the centers and making the offset a little better.



here is a shot of the shop from the road. "everything the light touches is our kingdom" haha



tomorrow I might get the cab back on, lets do this like brutus!

[reaper71]

Nice Progress!!


Mark

[8man]

Nice work on the firewall. The shop looks good. I'll bet that check is burning a hole in your pocket, because until you spend it you can't start work IN the shop!

[Advanced Design]

Well, I’ve been missing out! Nice work on the truck....like you’ve done this before a time or two!

And congratulations on the new property with shop!! Delighted it came together for you!

[OutlawDrifter]

Things are moving right along!