Wife's 48

[8man]

We have a '48 5 window pickup I picked up for my wife. We have been going to car shows for years and she decided that between a '69 Chevelle and a 5 window truck, she was a truck girl. I bought the '48 in pieces. The PO had started the rebuild, got sick and sold it. I bought from the second guy who wanted to do it, but got sidetracked with his other project. It appears to have most of the parts, including a new tailgate, bed front, bed support rails, and other new sheet metal repair parts. The frame was cut and the front clip from a '79 Firebird was fabbed onto the back part of the frame. I don't like the look of that work, and was very excited to see the article on using an S10 frame.

So tomorrow I'm going to look at an S10 frame that has been "stripped" (or so says the mechanic who has it) for a 54 truck conversion. The guy has a restoration shop and he started this for a client who decided to just quit the project, and now the shop owner is getting rid of it.

I'm going to have a LOT of questions as this goes on, but the first question is "are the body parts interchangeable" between the '48 and the '54. He will sell me the S10 frame with the cab, inner and outer front fenders, bed sides and some "in bad shape rear fenders" all for cheaper than I can find an S10.

He has removed the S10 cab supports, and that is ok and even if he gouged the frame or something it can still be repaired - right?

I like the doors from the '48 since they don't have the vent window to rebuild. Will they fit the '54 cab (if it is in better shape than the '48).

I know this was a long read for a first post, but I just found this site yesterday (9/18/17) and just arranged to go look at the S10 frame and pieces tomorrow (9/20/17). So any help is appreciated.

I promise pictures will be posted as I move forward, as well as more questions.

Thanks,
Robert

[mongocanfly]

first off welcome...
now for your body parts...

front fenders and grill for a 47-53 are different from the 54-55.1 (5bar grill vs bullnose grill)..

obviously the 47-53 windshield is different than 54-55.1 ( 2 piece windshield vs 1 piece windshield)...

the cabs 47-53 and 54-55.1 are different....(because of windshield)

and the bedsides are different 47-53 and 54-55.1 ( flat top vs angled bedsides)..

doors should interchange. ..

your 48 front sheetmetal as well as the 48 doors will fit the 54 cab..

there's lots of good reading here on the s10 swap..joedoh as well as skymangs and others have layed out the build process very well

[8man]

Mongocanfly, thanks for the quick reply, and I'm really glad to have found this site. I have already read the Skymangs and Joedoh threads. They both did excellent jobs, and I'll be going back to them again and again.

Now for my more detailed questions after looking at your response.

I like the 54 cab with the one piece windshield, but she likes the grill on the on the 48. So if I got this right, I can use the 48 grill on the 54 fenders, or I can put the 48 front fenders and grill on the 54 cab. Either way it works for what we want.

The doors interchange, and that means I can use whichever of the 2 sets of doors are in the best shape. So maybe I can get by with minimal sheet metal work.

I like the 54 bed, and may go with that if the front bed piece, tailgate, tailgate hinges, and bed frame supports will work with the 54 bed, because they are all new in the box and the 54 bed has none.

Now I hope the frame is as good as presented.

[oldman3]

[QUOTE=8man;8043317]I like the 54 bed, and may go with that if the front bed piece, tailgate, tailgate hinges, and bed frame supports will work with the 54 bed, because they are all new in the box and the 54 bed has none./QUOTE]

54 and 55 lst series beds, are completly different that the 47-53 beds, nothing will exchange. Rear fenders can be used. Here are a couple pics for visual difference. Hope this helps...Jim

Pic 1 Here's a 54 bed mounted on a stock 50 frame (mine) which required some modifications.
Pic 2 Tailgate and how it mounts to the uprights, with flat top on bed sides.
Pic 3 Old rusty bed, but you can see the shorter front panel and the sloped bed sides.
Pic 4 Different mounting style for the tailgate on the 47-53.

Another note the splash arpron between the bed and running boards are also different. 54-55 short height and 47-53 taller height.

[lv2tri2]

I'm interested in your build. I'm working with a parts combination of similar years.

[mongocanfly]

joedoh thanks...I forgot about the door strikers being different. ..

jim thanks. ..for straightening me out on the bed....I was thinking front panel was same..I knew the sides were different...but I also thought tailgate was the same..

[mongocanfly]

48 grill won't fit the 54 fenders...youll need to stick with the 48 fenders for the 48 grill...bed parts should all interchange

[Russell Ashley]

"she decided that between a '69 Chevelle and a 5 window truck, she was a truck girl."

Sounds like she's a keeper, LOL. Keep us posted on your build, you know we love pics.

[8man]

Yeah, after 37 years I think she's a keeper too. I have headers on my current project because she saw some on a car at a show and said "you need some of those shiny things".

Pictures will start this weekend. Picking up parts from the 48 and going to look at and probably buy the S10 frame with the 54 cab.

[OutlawDrifter]

You have been given good info above. Hussey also has a good build thread, I used mounts similar to his and used his measurements for setting my cab in place.

Mine isn't as detailed, but also on an S10 frame with an LS engine.

[joedoh]

doors wont interchange without an adapter striker for the door jamb.

you are from texas so I will say this, get your REGISTRATION DONE BEFORE STARTING WORK. you will be in for a very unpleasant surprise if you wait till the truck is done.

[joedoh]

that door has a drop handle, its probably a 51 at the latest.

abandoned projects make great starting points, usually haha

[8man]

Joe, that's funny because I didn't even look at the doors except for the vent windows. In George's defense, he didn't say they were 54 doors, he said "they were the doors for that truck".

They are so rusted out, I'm just using them for the parts. I may practice on them before I do the other doors.

[8man]

Had some time to check out the 54 cab yesterday. I wanted to see what kind of "pig" I bought. Well the floor seemed good from the bottom and the top.
IMG_1764 by Robert Moorman, on Flickr

But then I found the fiberglass.
IMG_1763 by Robert Moorman, on Flickr

That tell tale crosshatch pattern just did not make my day. I checked it from the engine bay side and it's not visible there, just steel, so I need to get the fiberglass gone to see what problem I have there. I also found fiberglass inside the cab, below the floor level at the back two cab corners. On the outside rear cab corners I found rust and some bondo.
IMG_1760 by Robert Moorman, on Flickr

I knew about this bondo from when I picked it up.
IMG_1758 by Robert Moorman, on Flickr

Then I found a couple more things to make it interesting.
IMG_1759 by Robert Moorman, on Flickr

IMG_1761 by Robert Moorman, on Flickr

I definitely have a "pig", just don't know if I can make a silk purse out of it.

I started looking at sheet metal parts today. I'm looking at LMC, CMW Trucks, Classic Parts and GMCPauls Truck Parts.

Since I'm new here, any direction to the better quality, price, etc. would be appreciated.

I think I can get rid of the bondo with a cupped wire brush, but HOW do you clean out the fiberglass? Media blast it? I know I've got to get it down to bare metal to figure out what I really have and whether or not it is worth trying to rebuild, given my NOOBIE skill level.

[mongocanfly]

well your dealing with the same thing everybody else is...most of the suppliers sell the parts made by the same people...so really no advantage..one is definitely better for bed parts though...mar-k all the way for bed parts..
on the fiberglass sand blast would be best. .it can be removed with a sanding disc on a angle grider but its very very messy. ..and harmful to breath..
no matter what you do you've got a lot of work ahead of you..

[dsraven]

with the look of the rot in the window area, have you looked at swapping the rear cab wall, completely? may be less work than you think compared to the time to fix the existing.
how is the roof panel in the gutter areas?
the custom dash looks like it is stock. seems like a metal man must have been around at some point.

[joedoh]

oog

rust repair is my white whale. I wish I could find a way to do it without complaining about it non stop.

[8man]

I wish I had more experience at it, but after 35 years of sitting at a desk I started the Jeep and found it to be very interesting. Although I had no rust problems on it like I have on this truck. I'll find out what I've learned and probably continue getting my doctorate in sheet metal repair. Maybe I can retire and spend days on it instead of just hours stolen here and there.

[8man]

Gigamanx, I'm interested in how your floor shifter works. You are right on the BM shifter that came in the truck. Laura kind of likes it, but just said she was thinking about a column shift. I have so much to do before that decision.

May have found some used parts close enough to drive up and look at. I'm looking forward to that road trip.

[8man]

Got the 48 home today.
IMG_1781 by Robert Moorman, on Flickr
That's it in front. It is in better shape than the 54, but since it has the split windshield, I think I'm going to practice on the body work on it first.

It has the Firebird front end mated to the rear frame of the 48, with an S10 rear axle. After looking at it, I know why I got a spare dash, someone hacked the old dash up at the radio. I did get all the body panel parts to repair it, so starting on it and getting it to something either for me to keep or sell will give me some experience and should be ok. I need the practice with the mig.

Oh, and two gratuitous pictures of the current project,
IMG_1670 by Robert Moorman, on Flickr

IMG_1671 by Robert Moorman, on Flickr

I promise, last pic of the 79 on this board.

I didn't realize how much bondo the 54 had on it until I got the 48 near it. There is no "roll" between the rear windows and the lower body panel. So before I start anything on it I'll get it media blasted and primed, but I doubt that it will be soon.

[mongocanfly]

nice looking jeep ya got there...
just for future reference.."the roll"...your talking about is called the beltline on these trucks...and wow...that's a lot if bondo

[mongocanfly]

looking good...but...in your 3rd pic in post 40 of the cab corner. .it looks like theres a few holes left in your welded seam...be sure to weld those up solid...

[dsraven]

what is your process for metal prep with your project. are you sand blasting the entire project or just the repair areas? if blasting everything are you covering the whole project in weld through primer or just the welded areas prior to welding?

[lower50's]

That looks good, everyone starts somewhere.

[8man]

Mongo, I was looking at that picture after I posted it. I was wondering if all metal would fill and cover. Apparently not, so I'll go back and touch it up with the MIG once I get to the welding supply and get some gas.

Raven, the project was media blasted and primed before I bought it, but it sat for years since the primer was done before I got it. So for my repairs, I'm using a wire wheel to clean off the primer and any rust from the spot where I need to weld prior to welding. Then I am spraying the areas that will be covered with new metal with the weld through primer. Then I'm covering those areas up with new patches and welding them in place. Then I'm spraying some more primer on until I can get the whole cab blasted and primed properly.

Lower50's, thank you. I know others are laughing at my work, but starting a project like this with no prior body repair experience, I do feel like I am learning and improving. I have a ways to go, but looking at the welds, they are not proud, so any filler will smooth over them, and they are getting better. Oh, and I've removed rusted out panels.