53gmc build! With pics!

[PRWFAB]

Originally Posted by 63panel

Do all you can to make your grandad happy,one day he will be gone and they will be a million things you will want to tell him and show him,trust me.I like your build. Ray

AMEN
I'm a grand pappy and 50% of the time I don't work on my truck cause I spend it with the grand kids. And I am not complaining a bit love my truck but the grandkids come first. I always say you can't apprechate your own kids cause your to busy watching them when you have grandkids you can sit back and watch them. (you can only understand this if you are a grandparent) my son things Im weard. PS the Tk looks great!

[53GMC]

Thanks 63 panel and PRWFAB....i teach all day long and coach football after school so its hard to find time to wrap some things up but i cant wait to take him on a ride one day....will be one of the best moments in my life....he told me when i started it was a waste of time...now he just smiles when he sees it when he is up at the house and asks when he can ride in it haha

[a5Ben]

What's the thickness on the metal you used for your cab mounts? I'm about to source the metal for mine. Also, do you have any pics of how you did your running board mounts?

Thanks!
Ben

[53GMC]

A5Ben,

i used 3 inch tubing...i want to guess 1/4" thickness on the metal tubing. Im not close to the truck right now or i would go out to measure. i used the tubing and could cut it at a diagonal angle so that i could get two out of one section. then i just cut out four pieces of metal and welded them to the top of the mount with a hole drilled in the top. Hope that helps!


I ordered a set of 2" wheel spacers for my back wheels from MC Motosports to help fill the area within my back fenders and clear my bedsides from rubbing. They work great and came with the lug nuts to use....

anyone have a check list of stuff to make sure is finished when you are getting close to an end on your project before primer and paint??? thanks guys

[a5Ben]

Looking good! I actually made my cab mounts today. Well my 9yr old son and I did it together...

Do you have any pics of how you did your running board mounts?

Ben

[53GMC]

i dont have any pictures at the moment....but i will try to see if i can get you some this coming up weekend

[53GMC]

I bit the bullet and decided i wanted to go with the original steering wheel and buy a floor mount Lokar shifter with the 16" arm...i found one on their website i really liked and would like that look anyway. plus i wanted the original column in there....

but what to do with the ignition? i took the ignition off the S10 column (took about an hour to figure out all the little kinks) and fit it into the original hole of the dash.

doesnt look that pretty right now but i didnt have time to clean it all up, grind, and make it smooth yet....will have pics of that later...but here's the general idea....some paint chipped off and what not....can fix it later...

[Thadious]

Instead of playing around with the S10 column ignition, since the locking mechanism isn't required anyways, I went with one from an mid 70's van ignition. They mount perfectly in the dash hole and the wiring colors are almost a direct match for the S10 harness colors. If you find that you need a new keyset, harness plug or any other part for it, they are readily available or orderable from any auto parts store.

Cheers,
Ted.

[53GMC]

wow! thanks ted! a mid 70's chevy van? that is some great advice and I will definitely keep that in mind for the future!

[53GMC]

no pictures, but i decided i was not quite happy with the centering of my wheels in the front fender wells. So...i decided to move my cab back about 2 inches. had to move my mounts back, and i took the whole front clip apart the other night and will finish putting it all back in place this next weekend. i tried to convince myself the spacing was not that bad, but i decided to move the cab back some....every time i looked that way i noticed it...my girl friend didnt but because i know my truck so well, it stuck out like a sore thumb....so...now its fixed haha

[1952ssr]

Originally Posted by 53GMC

no pictures, but i decided i was not quite happy with the centering of my wheels in the front fender wells. So...i decided to move my cab back about 2 inches. had to move my mounts back, and i took the whole front clip apart the other night and will finish putting it all back in place this next weekend. i tried to convince myself the spacing was not that bad, but i decided to move the cab back some....every time i looked that way i noticed it...my girl friend didnt but because i know my truck so well, it stuck out like a sore thumb....so...now its fixed haha

Now that's passionate, but I can totally understand. I felt the same for mine in the rear but, then I realized I mounted my leaf springs in backwards.

[53GMC]

yeah...not so much passionate as aggrivated when i saw it i noticed it and others didnt but i knew it was there...plus if i wanted to put some oversized tires on it one day (mild mud grips) i could do that....

[53GMC]

Hey guys.....im looking for a radiator that will fit into the rad. support off an AD truck that will have both transmission and oil cooler lines built in.....i believe the measurements are like 19x22" but i cannot find one that size with both those hookups....if anyone could let me know i would be extremely grateful so i can get on with my project! I know a 1969 mustang one will fit and all, but i cant find one with both hookups...

[Thadious]

I opted for a secondary rad for my trans cooler and plan on using the rad cooler for my oil. Not sure if you will find both.

Best of luck,
Ted.

[53GMC]

Thanks Ted for the quick response. I doubt i will find one either but I'll search a little longer...could i just use a radiator with transmission cooler lines and then buy an external cooler to use for my oil cooler?

[Thadious]

Can't see why not... but I've heard of trannies going from overheating alot more often than from hot engine oil... and I would think that under normal driving conditions or even towing... you're oil should be fine (as long as you use decent quality stuff), whereas the tranny might get alot hotter and from what I understand, a secondary trans cooler does a better job than running it through a hot rad...

Just my two bits... for what it's worth,
Ted.

[53GMC]

thanks ted! i understand now why you made your decision...i didnt know that was the case as far as how hot the tranny would run...thanks again!

[53GMC]

Got my steering all done with the original column and wheel being used with the S10 hookup...so much easier (at least for me) than running around looking for parts off of astro vans, other connections, etc.

i put a link to my write up in the main forum for all you guys to see and hopefully use to save you some time....

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=1#post4236179

[53GMC]

pics of the steering

[53GMC]

more...

[docrock]

I should have done that with my column. looks great. my inside cab is all 93 silverado stuff

[99 to Life]

It should be a law to only use OG steering columns. Petition anyone!!!! I
sat mine more towards the dash so it isn't in my face. Lookin good, glad you
went back to the OG column.

[53GMC]

Thanks guys for your compliments. I got tired of looking at the '96 S10 column just sticking out from the dash like it didnt belong haha

Mine is a little bit too close towards me for my liking. However, going back and taking it out and cutting it down is not worth those two inches when i can live with it like it is

[solidaxel]

Originally Posted by 53chevyforever

Here is my 53 GMC project..so far new bumpers, grill, wheels, mirrors, plan to install small block with 200R4. Also upgrade to 12 volt system.

Nice BLACK G M C, I like BLACK G M C !!!!!

[53GMC]

got some gauges in the truck...slow progress due to funds...but plugging away bit by bit....put in a new fuel filter for the truck...it was cutting out when i applied pressure to the pedal but that fixed it....bought some modern style running boards....my longbed ones were really beat up on the passenger side and finding a replacement for a longbed is tough....without paying out the wazoo....anyway when i have pictures of them i will post them