51' 3100 build in PA New to Site

[99 to Life]

June 4th weekend,

YouTube - ‪1951 Chevy...

Here is some footage of my buddy driving the truck. He got super hyped on seeing me driving up the road because he likes the stance, so now he wants
one. I think it will be great, so we might work something out to split a truck or figure out a way to get one going for him.

Tore the carb apart and there was quite a bit of sediment in the bowls and my seat filter. So I replaced those and re adjusted the floats. Then put a 1/2" spacer under it. Seems to have really helped with it starting better when hot. But I am still showing a bit rich at idle and cruise. However, it seems more stable than before at WOT. I think I might swap my jets out and see if that helps. I blew my ignition switch because the wire on the solenoid was coming off and arching, so I replaced that and got a fuse for that line, so that will be another security feature I'll have. Worked on painting the inside of the doors. I still got to paint some trim and touch up some stuff, then get some good pics so I'll post those when I get it finished up.

here is the bed and rest of the misc parts I got, way to good a deal to pass up, I'll actually use these on my 55.1 that I'll be starting this fall.

[daverod]

Your making me really want to get mine on the road. I know it will still be awhile. Do you think you could have put your fan in front of your rad. Where did you buy your fan? Trucks lookin great. Glad your getting it dailed in.

[xpickup]

99 to Life, Now all you have to do is find one for your buddy now he has been bitten by the truck bug. Truck looks and sounds great. That is a nice loooking bed.

Shannon

[daverod]

killer shots of your truck. lookin sweet.

[Groyd]

Originally Posted by daverod

killer shots of your truck. lookin sweet.

Agreed.

[xpickup]

99 to Life, Sounds great on the plans for the new truck. The pictures of your truck look great too.

Shannon

[Russell Ashley]

"white walls a must, patina"

I agree, LOL. That's what I'm going for with mine. Neat pics, the truck looks great.

[ejn74]

your truck is looking Awesome! The new project looks to be fun also.

[99 to Life]

Aug 15th,

Geesh summer is flying by. Anyway, been super busy lately. Finalized my house blend for now. I have to get my friend to shoot the real pics, but I shot these for now. Did up some shirts, I like the black on the brown the best. I wanted a basic vintage one color logo tee I could wear and give out. I have others I have to print too. That is my actual truck on the coffee bag too.

I been pouring my cement pad in my driveway by hand. So that has been killing my weekends. I put some boot wires on this weekend, that is all I got to work on the truck. drove it out to my friends camp which is about 15-20 miles from my house. Had a chance to show my friend the truck and it was cool to have someone ask so many questions that you can relate to, not "when you gonna paint it" or when you gonna fix it up questions.

Next weekend I am hoping to put in my electric wipers. that is about the only thing holding me back from taking a longer trip. I am trying to head
down to Virginia in Oct for the karbkings show. Before that I have to change the pinion seal and have my trans looked over. 5th gear I think need some work, but it gets me by.

[Malibob]

Kick ass truck man. I just got one too ('53)- well it should be here on Monday. I am also in PA- Pittsburgh area. Well just wanted to say awesome rig. Hope I can get mine looking thtat good fairly quickly. Hope to see you around.

[99 to Life]

Aug 18th weekend

Didn't get to work on the truck at all this weekend. I was going to put in my wiper motor but it didn't show up until today, so I'll do that next weekend. I really didn't have the time or patience to fab something up, I just want to bolt and go for now. In the future I'll def try and get creative, but right now my weekends are too important so I just sucked it up and bought this from classic parts.com. However I'm sure I could have ordered this direct now that I know what brand makes it. good news is, it is USA made. I paid the extra $40 cause I'd rather support that.

Finally finished up my 20x8 ft patio extension. Took me atleast 4 weekends to complete. Did it all by hand. Now that that is over I'll be building a carport over it and also hoping to get another car port build and my metal garage up before winter, so I can comfortably work on the new project 52' truck.

[xpickup]

99 to Life. The New Port wipers are really nice and work well from what I heard. They are always at the street rod show in york. Can not wait to see the next build.

Shannon

[99 to Life]

Yeah this wiper set up seems really top notch, I hope it goes in with ease.
The 52' I think I am going to paint, two tone. metallic blue of some sort with white roof. It's been brewing in my head for a couple weeks. I am a huge fan of patina, but I just haven't found anything else patina wise that would be suitable. I'll start a thread on it this fall hopefully.

[99 to Life]

Aug 29th Well I finally brought my truck to Pittsburgh where I live. Its a two hour drive 100 miles to the button practically. We'll see how she does this week. I think my transmission needs some attention, but other than that it was a pretty consistent drive.

Got my electric wipers hooked up. The directions are a bit off IMO so I might make some up and post them. It wasn't too bad hooking them up, a little tight in some areas. I'm a bit worried now if I have to take out my gauge that it might not slide up and over this unit though. I mounted the switch under the dash so you can't see it.

[yunkyarddog]

hell yeah

[yunkyarddog]

well let my say,after reading your thread i have built confidence to start lookng for and s10 for my 52 it too will be my first reall build. feel good bout the info you have posted and knowing it is your firts build well makes it more down to earth basiclly im not reading a post/thread form a seasoned builder with full shop acces keep it up and you sir will be contacted with tons of Q?'s thanx great job

[99 to Life]

thanks for the comments, glad it give you confidence that is great because that goes a long way. Being intimidated sucks and hinders your abilities. definitely PM or even post any questions. Everyone is gonna do something a lil different, this is an art in my mind. I have some other s-10's swaps I want to do but I want to go the OG frame route on my next one, just wanna do something different and learn all the ways to make these and see what I like best. good luck and be patient, it will work out.

[99 to Life]

Sept 4th weekend,

Well having the truck down here in Pittsburgh was a relief. I have waited a while to get it to this point. I got to show most my friends and some family down here. I drove it back up north friday and then headed further up north to erie, total of 150 miles or so from pittsburgh. Made it with no hick ups, except I have to change my pinion angle as it is off and causing me some drag. Plus my pinion seal is leaking and my u-joint is going, so I'm sure the angle is only progressing their fate. I am also going to put in a one piece driveshaft.

Well here are some pics my friend shot while down here at our shop. I wish I had time to go get some cooler background shots. I like the interior shots. I never really had any good shots of it, through the whole build.

I'm going on vacation from the 10-19th so if I am not updating, that is why. door logos are coming very soon. It will tie everything together.

[99 to Life]

here are some more pics. also here is my pap on his wedding day back in 53'. When I found out he had one of these trucks back in the day, I wanted sooooo bad to build this and show him. Unfortunately he has alzheimer's pretty bad. I want to get a better pick of him smiling but he is waiting for his new false teeth cause he lost his. anyway I feel even more relieved that I atleast got a photo of him in it. It means a lot to me. He just turned 88 or 89, I know my time with him is running out. It is moments like these that I'll have forever though

[CHIZZLER]

cool pics of the truck and your pops.

[72Mountaineer]

Bring it to Wheeling Cabelas car show the 18th, 600+ cars.

[99 to Life]

unfortunately I won't be able to make it to the WV show. I'll be on vacation. Plus I really have to fix my pinion angle and work on my rear end now that I been driving the u-joint is going and my pinion seal is leaking.

[99 to Life]

Nov 7th,

Well about 2months with no posting. I have had the truck out a couple times but I want to change my pinion angle. As you can see I'm about 4-5 deg pos. I was thinking about just getting 6 degree shims from summitt and running them for a while to get me to about -2 deg. I have a two piece drive shaft as well, for the time being, so I think that has been def helping me. I never felt any vibrations or anything, except 5th gear had a different sound to it than any other gear, so I'm not sure if it is the trans or is actually the pinion angle.

Anyway, I'm hoping to do this before the end of the year and maybe get her out a couple more times. I have a few other things I might do such as install door lights/courtesy lights and I'm going to redo my bed.

I am going to start on the 52' over the winter. Still fumbling with what I really want to do as far as the frame and engine. I'm wanting to use the 235 and OG (original) frame. I also should be starting another small block with vortec heads possibly and I have another s-10 frame. So there could be a mix of two more builds to get started before I really figure out which is getting what set up. I'm really itching to get another going and just keep messing with the 51' in between.

[xpickup]

99 to Life, You are just like me, you just can not get enough of these AD trucks

Shannon

[Larry Daehler]

I am doing the same thing, I was wondering if you mounted the box yet? It looks like it will be about 3" to high on my s-10 frame. Any help would be great.