54 GMC, S10 swap, OM617 diesel

[DieselRat]

Well we got hammered pretty good today! Waiting for round 2 tonight at 6. Luckily when we lost power I had a generator as well so we made out ok, were just tucked away in amish country here so we are not very high priority to getting our power and internet back!

I plan to be out in the garage making some progress tonight. Just waiting for sunny days to drive this baby! Bring on the spring time!

[av8tr33337]

That thing sounds sweet. Sorry About the damn weather. This has been a crazy year for sure. Can't wait to see some pics or video of that thing cruisin down the road.

[chev3600]

Hang in there, you'll be cruising soon enough. Truck looks great

[DieselRat]

Slightly exciting update. FINALLY can almost say wiring it is done, waiting on a headlight switch and provided everything works it WILL be done!

Connected the battery tonight to test some things, so far glo plugs work, and it turns over with the key! Being this is the first thing I've ever wired from scratch that's a great feeling to know it works! Hope to roll it outside tomorrow and snap some pics and stuff.

[99 to Life]

congrats man. wiring is def time consuming, good feeling when its done though. Word of advise. Depending on the switch you get, say like an aftermarket 12v original style. The circuit breaker is only 20amps, odds are its gonna get hot and trip, thus killing all your lights while driving. ask me how I know. I dealt with it for a while actually until I finally wired up a relay. While your at it, might as well wire a relay for each headlight. You can get relays on ebay for next to nothing.

[DieselRat]

Thanks for the tip, ill have to look into how to splice in relays for that.

On a side note, water gauge works, boost gauge works. Turn signals work, key ignition and vacuum shutoff works. Moving along.

[DieselRat]

Been really busting stuff out on this thing lately. Lots of late night work sessions. Got kiddo #2 coming in apr/may and trying to get my most time consuming stuff done by then. I INTEND to drive the crap out of it this summer!

Anyways, some overdue pics and progress stuff...
First off, I got rid of the mercedes alternator in favor of the cheaper and easier to find 10si GM alternator. Therefore I had to fab a bracket. My neighbor is a big tractor guy and had a nice little slider bracket I needed. SO a little cut and weld and I have this:



Mounted up and painted



eyeballed up a little shorter V belt and we have charging power.

Got about 99% of my wiring done, Just need to do my wipers and brake switch. Finally got a headlight switch and got my lights all working properly.



Also got some insulation from speedway when I ordered the headlight switch. Fit that all up and glued down.



Obviously carpet was going to be an issue with my goofy trans tunnel, so I went all suzy home maker and cut out panels and sewed them all together. Came out better than I could have imagined! Its just laying here in the pic, going to use some glue and panel fasteners to keep it all taunt when I'm ready for the final install.







To do list:

Fix leak at oil filter reservoir (doh only gasket I didnt change go figure) and change oil
paint and install bed wood straps, then fuel tank in bed.

mirrors (open to suggestions there)

finish up my door panels and weatherstripping.

[hotrodred]

I like it. Needs some wide whites and steelies.

[54worker]

Looking good man. Keep it going and you will be driving this thing by summer for sure.

[DieselRat]

Got one of my doors hung. Major pita. I had just put on new weatherstripping and there was no way it was ever going to close all the way with that on. I ended up taking the strip from the latch down off, now it closes. Its not perfect but its gona have to do for now until I can figure some other way. Takes a hearty slam to get it to close too.

[99 to Life]

my door gaps where great until I put weather strip on, now it sticks out and is gay looking. There actually is a right an wrong way to put them on, maybe I put them on wrong. I'll def be on point with my current build, no way am I letting that fly again. I just been dealing with it cause I have no time to work on my 51' if it needs it.

[DieselRat]

I think you hit it right on the head. I wasnt quite sure which way it would go either. The way I have it seems like it fits the countour of the cab when its closed, it just seems like its 1/2" too thick ha! Its tolerable for now, and Ive read the same issue with a lot of guys. I think Im gona fit up the passenger door first and get it ligned up then do the stripping on that side.

[DieselRat]

Just had to report back that I spent the better part of the day getting the driver side door to barely work, and all of 5 mins and the pass door is spot on and closes with ease. Ugh

[DieselRat]

Been putting in a lot of time trying to finish things up. Got my doors and all panels for the interior done. Drained my oil and replaced the leaky oil filter canister gasket. Ended up making one myself since I was impatient on waiting to order in parts. 85 MB parts are regularly avail at the auto parts store!

Got a driver side mirror and my E-fan mounted. Bed wood is bolted down and battery recessed below the surface, still need a cover for that



A couple pieces of my wood were warped so working on flattening them out before I crank it down allthe way (thats the white edges you can see)

Fuel tank is in and plumbed up, even though its a little small Its growing on me.

My plan for the radio under the seat worked out great. Also found some new speakers I had stashed in my garage so I made some boxes for behind the seat.





Drove it around the block quite a few times the last couple days, runs and drives good pretty excited to start put some miles on it.

Still need to finish wiring the fan, get a brake light switch. And make a lic plate mount then Ill be ready to go get some stickers.

Not entirely happy with my paint, wish it would have not had a crappy paint job to start with. Any ideas on dressing it up or what do it with the paint? Stay tuned for a driving video.

[99 to Life]

looking good man, get some miles on it and worry about paint later.

[iowaboynca]

I thought you did a great job on the paint myself. I agree with Hotrodred, get some nice steelies w/ whiitewalls and i think it will look awesome.

[DieselRat]

Thanks! I do like it, I just like natural beat patina paint better ha! I think maybe it just need some black accents.

White walls are in the future I just dont have money for them now. The skinny walls i got that came on the s10 are all but new so I will probably wear those out first.

[DieselRat]

Waiting on a call back from my insurance and hopefully going to go get it inspected and road test it today. Not quite finished, but all the major stuff is done. Still got some little things to conquer but all in all its just about there!

[99 to Life]

i think the truck came out great. I think if even if you snagged some junk yard steelies and blackwalls you could set it off even more on the cheap. what insurance are you dealing with? I started out with collectors insurance through hagerty, have since switched to grundy, almost a hundred dollar difference a year.

[DieselRat]

Just got a quote through my allstate agent for hagerty at $173 a year. I didnt think that was too bad?

And Im probably gonna shoot these wheels black til I settle on something else.

[DieselRat]

Got my sticker! Roads suck around here but was overall happy with road manners so far.

[99 to Life]

yeah its a great feeling having it all legal and road worthy, taking them first long test drives. they say anything about the frame swap?

[DieselRat]

I took it to a buddy on mine so he knew what was to be expected, so I had no issue there. Hopefully I can take a driving video tomorrow. Love the sound of turbo spooling up!

[DieselRat]

Well Ive managed to put 125 +- miles on it. (My speedo is off so mileage isnt exact) found a couple issues of course.

Number one is I need an oil catch can setup. I have a breather on the valve cover that I was hoping would catch some of the misting oil, but instead its collecting it and making a mess. So its gonna be a rainy weekend here Im gonna come up with something to remedy that before it slicks the whole engine with oil.

2nd I need a tach. Its hard to tell how high Im actually revving the engine. This engine does have a pretty high redline as far as diesels go but I dont want to push it.

3rd its a blast to drive. Its not gonna smoke the tires or run 10 seconds, but its peppy and spools up fast, has plenty of power to pull hills in 4th gear.

Finished up my sound proofing in the cab so it doesnt drone quite as bad now also. Its fun to drive around in an old truck. Of course everyone has questions, had a guy come take pics of it at the fuel station the other day. Despite all that I still get tailgated by women drivers. Cant win that battle.

[99 to Life]

Hey congrats, its great putting the first handful of miles on it. A good sense of accomplishment and all the hard work can be enjoyed (for the most part lol) you'll always be tinkering with something on it, it will keep you busy.