"Geronimo" 54' 3100 LS built in PA

[Tikal48]

Your making some good progress on the truck. The rims definitely came out looking good! I agree with the stainless headers, only way to go. I was lucky enough to find some for my truck at a great price. Keep up the good work!

[99 to Life]

1-23 starting to look like a truck! tossed cab on to start moching up engine. I have to get an efan to toss on, but I do believe they stick out 3", so I have 4.5" to radiator, so engine can come forward a tad still. heck, my next build I'll prolly end up putting this 5 speed behind, it fits like a glove. The 4L60 is 5" longer.

Got 3" blocks for the rear, debating on putting front springs in. they will need time to settle and will need driven on bf it gets to final height.

I'm working on some engine mounts. Didn't want to spend the money on a kit, so I bought these 3" wide poly bushings and tubing I'll be using to make my own. I'm prolly going to order up some ujoints for the steering asap. I'm curious as to how routing it will go as the path I like is taken up by where the engine mounts will be. So the steering will go above or under the mount.

[99 to Life]

1-27 Not much to report, been cutting back some hours on this build. but should be picking up some steam soon. Fabbed up these engine mounts. basically used 4link ends. I notched the cab to be safe, so I'll make a symmetrical relief on both sides. I felt like suuuuch and idiot today. I kept wondering why the pass side head and drive side head were so much different from the cab. Realized the pass head sets back almost an inch, duuaaaahhhh.

I ordered up 1 steering ujoint and a shaft to make sure I'll clear the engine mount, seems like it will be fine. Going to get an Efan as well, just to make sure I have clearance up front.

Debating on rebuilding engine or jumping onto some cab work. I'd like to get steering figured out bf I take this cab back off, so that was another thought on doing cab work now that its already on frame.

[joedoh]

freakin sweet!

[FarmerSid]

Ha on feeling like an idiot. I can't begin to count how many moments like that I've had. Nice mounts. Nice firewall mod. Should have lots of room for rad and fan. What rad and fan are going with? The fan I went with is 3 3/4" thick.

[99 to Life]

Sid, Efan, and my measurements were about the same and I'm cutting it close up front actually. So.... I'll either move engine back if need or section the rad support and angle it forward as much as I can without compromising the stock holes for everything that ties into it. Ordering Fan today and some waterpump bolts as I can't find them and I'm sick of looking and sick of the waterpump falling off.

[74project]

your trucks are awesome... can there be a coffee and customs in las vegas?

[99 to Life]

74 thanks man. ah maybe someday. I'd like to set up some coffee shops all over, but gotta get home base going first. My dream is to have custom cars and trucks always at the shop so people can see them. But the closet I'd get to vegas anytime soon is driving out there for viva.

[Advanced Design]

99, the mounts look really good. The head on the left side kicked forward fooled me a bit too. Caused me to notch out in the firewall more than I need I think. A good thing is it is metal and can be welded back in.

[99 to Life]

1-28 Worked on steering today, got 1 ujoint and some D shaft. Going to be a tiiiight squeeze. Ordering up a couple more joints and a heim tomorrow so I can have everything to really dial it in. cut the steering shaft down a bit. Also moved the stock steering hole in cab over 1.5" to really help clear the headers. I didn't finish it out yet just want to make sure its all going to work first.

Plasma'd out the stock seat riser, cut off disc was just putting too much crap in the air. This seat is pissing me off, I don't like the look of it, too modern looking. For starters I'm going to take 2" out of the frame so it sits below the corner windows. I may take the cover off and trim the foam, I hate how they are contoured. either that or find another seat. Steering is moched up but will be close to what you see.

It just dawned on me another idiot moment. I can prolly fit the fan on the front of the radiator so I'd have Plenty of room up front. But I will try and see if it fits on inside first. fan should be here next week.

[joedoh]

killin it!

I have been using the cutoff wheel instead of the plasma lately, weird!

[99 to Life]

1-30 Got some time in on making the seat look right. also some more rust damage than I thought, so I fixed the bad stuff. moched steering up again. So we are in the ballpark here. Will get brake and possibly gas pedal going. Need actual trans to see about my tunnel. May just make my usual size tunnels and put my custom cup holder on it.

started game planning some rust issues. also spent atleast an hour removing the stock ebrake. gaaat dam that is annoying. I personally like the setup for use and owner wants it to work too, but it sure is a PIA taking it out and putting it back in to do all the floor work.

ordered up some things that should help me finalize the steering and make sure engine is where I want it. also ordered up a brake booster and a used pedal off ebay, so I can make sure that stuff is kosher.

plans are to get pedals and steering good, work on cab work, then rebuild engine.

joedoh, sadly enough I still use the cutoff a lot because my garage is so tight and I got wires everywhere and my cart is crammed in a corner I hate taking the time to fire up the plasma if its not in a convenient spot. but....I do really love having it. been on the same cup and tip for a while now that I have a 140 pieces of consumables on deck! that's my luck.

[Advanced Design]

Nice fix on the seat mount. I tried a seat from the mid 90's in my truck. It fit though the contour had me sitting to far to the left of the steering column. Is this one ok?

I used the cut off wheel way more than the plasma cutter.

[FarmerSid]

Nice 99. Do you think there is a way to use that seat without removing the riser from the floor?

[99 to Life]

seat location seems good and I'll prolly cut the foam to get rid of the contour anyway, I personally do not like modern looking seats in old trucks. Sid- It would be close keeping the riser, I'm sure it could be done. but I kind of like having the room under the seat.

[Coach529]

Originally Posted by 99 to Life

seat location seems good and I'll prolly cut the foam to get rid of the contour anyway, I personally do not like modern looking seats in old trucks. Sid- It would be close keeping the riser, I'm sure it could be done. but I kind of like having the room under the seat.

At least I am not the only one who loves the looks of the Original Seat.

I am not a big guy, 5'-9" and 180lbs so it actually fits me pretty good.

Not the most comfortable seat in the world, but works for me.

[99 to Life]

I really dig the look of the "original" seat, but they are just too tall and require the steering to be too high, and they don't fold forward. So my thing is to use the a "stock" looking seat that glance you'd think is OG but really isn't. So with a newer seat, I get space under the seat and behind. I'm always thinking too far ahead. I'm shooting for an interior similar to my 49' but different color scheme. and the dash will be two toned which is cool, kinda more of that late 50's look.

[IWanna49]

That interior is just badass! Did you get the material with the squares in it or did you do that yourself??

[99 to Life]

that is the vinyl itself. its like a basket weave. I went back and forth over that seat for about a year. sourced tons of fabric to find the best combo. The seat on Geronimo will be much more basic and easier to deal with. Hoping the budget allows for the nice seat, may just put a serape blanket on it, till the truck is complete. Going with tan and blue interior, tan firewall and blue engine.

[99 to Life]

1-31 ahhh deja vu with cab work! I actually enjoy it. but Im at the xroads of should I buy this patch or make that patch yada yada. This inner kickpanel was the only patch I'v bought to date on all my builds. Its a nice piece for the 30 bucks or so. The inner cowl is really solid but has rot in some areas, so..... Im patching it eeeeekkk. Got the inside of it patched up, got a lower portion patch ready to be graphed in. Got inner kickpanel trimmed and moched up. I had to coat all the inside bf I weld the inner kick panel in.

Overall not a bad little session today, but I forsee more work than I hoped on the outter cowl and the rest of the inner cowl. I should have just fabbed up my cowl pieces I'v had sitting for ever now. But its nice to atleast have flat pieces laying there, I can then trace them and cut for the patches I need. The outer cowl I should just replace and fauxtina it in. But... I'm low on material and the funds are getting low for now so its all about balancing out time and money.

[99 to Life]

more of the inner kick panel

[Coach529]

Great work. Henry is rough in this area as well..........

[lower50's]

Great work 99. The seat should be better lower anyways, it won't feel like a school bus lol. For the fan can you mount it so the fan motor is above or below the water pump? A push fan does not move as much air as a pull.

[99 to Life]

2-1-16 Actually fan showed up today, squared up she has room, moved up or down, even more room. So good to go there. I found a brake pedal from a corvette on ebay even came with brake switch. spend 35 bucks shipped, can't beat that. So I think it should work out well.

Got some more patches in and cut/fit some for welding next weekend. I got 7hrs in this side. Pass side I think I'm going to use my material I have for the inner cowl (I have pieces cnc'd out and I fab my own) but on this side, I decided to patch it. well...other side I'm just making a new one to hopefully save time. here is a pic of a repop right and then of the ones I make left.

[FarmerSid]

Looks good 99!Saw your inners before. A lot better fitting than the crap after market ones. I went through that hack and slash on my build with those after market ones.

Let us know how you determine the brake pedal location and the bracket setup you use to mount it. I salvaged the one out of the roadmaster but not sure if it is going to work.

I have my fingers crossed that my fan will clear when I get it.

Cheers!