Rust-Eh (1953 Chevrolet 3100)

[joedoh]

nice clean work, as usual!

that reminds me of my 2500HD, reg cab ong bed, mine has a 10ft aluminum flatbed on it, so useful!

[84blaze]

I'm at the point where I think I might end up looking at this thing foir the rest of my life. My garage doesn't have enough power running to it for me to run my welder and other stuff so I've decided to put my welder up for sale and buy a code 504 kit. If I buy the kit i have a better feeling that ill get to work on it.

It's already starting to get colder and I'm not looking forward to the winter.

[lower50's]

How much is the kit? Maybe take the extra money the kit would cost and run more power to your garage. Just a thought.

[99 to Life]

I'd say with how far you have come, scrap that kit. If I recall its 1200 or something. Those kits are such a rip off. you started your cab mounts. just tac weld them 110v is fine. Then drill 2 holes criss crossed from each other. That would be plenty to hold them. Heck even run a bead down both sides. Or... yeah get some 220v out to garage. Cost me 300 bucks for them to run a line well over 50ft overhead. I got an eastwood welder (onsale now) because funds were slim at time. The welder is fine as long as it doesn't blow its gas solenoid. I then purchased a used hobart 175 for $350 bucks and its been the best investment. Leasing a 4ft tank is another 150 bucks or so.

when I did my 51' (almost 6 years ago) I had now welding skills, learned everything on my own. built the engine etc. it still goes even though I want to redo alot on it. But I had a 90amp craftsman I ran fluxcore through. it got all I needed done, I bolted my cab mounts on with that one. I get that time is an issue for alot of us and esp with you being away alot. but... its your call. Invest in your electric and equipment and or, give someone else the money that may or may not make your build go faster.

[HUSSEY]

Originally Posted by 84blaze

I'm at the point where I think I might end up looking at this thing foir the rest of my life. My garage doesn't have enough power running to it for me to run my welder and other stuff so I've decided to put my welder up for sale and buy a code 504 kit. If I buy the kit i have a better feeling that ill get to work on it.

It's already starting to get colder and I'm not looking forward to the winter.

As 99 said above, I'd invest in a power feed over a kit, either 220 V or larger diameter conductor. I'm not an electrician but I've managed to add new circuits myself, I put in 220 V feed to an electric dryer in my house, had it code inspected and signed off by the city. Its really not that hard, you just need to research it, and your local city code inspectors will tell you if you're doing it wrong. Plus, you're still going to need a welder for other parts of the truck.

If you stick with doing the mounts yourself, have you figured out where you're going to set your cab? I can offer my advice. My cab mounts were constructed to place the bottom of the cab floor board support 4 in. from the top of the frame. The rears were then placed to level the cab floor with the frame.

I found out that at this height, my radiator fitting was TIGHT. I only had about a 1/8 in. left so I lucked out. Also, the distance between my driveshaft yoke and un-modified AD floor is just under 1/2 inch. Because of this, I may go 4.25 in. if I ever did this again. But with that all being said, I had made the assumption when I decided on 4.0 in. that it would be easier to shim it up a little than go down. Also, looking at where your frame is, you would either lay or daylight the running boards aired out with the cab 4.25 off the frame.

I look forward to seeing how your air ride comes out…I’d like to bag my truck down the road.

[Dave836]

Hey there, was just checking out your thread and have to say it looks great so far, and you should be proud. I haven't noticed many members on here from Alberta, so that's awesome also. I am doing an s10 swap as well. It's actually funny to see how similar the truck I am working on is compared to yours. It was originally a 3/4 ton grain truck complete with box and hoist. Mine is definitely a budget build which is nowhere near the quality of yours (and many others on this forum). I used a 2001 s10 platform , with 1999 Silverado power train (5.3/ 4L60e), zr2 diff. I struggled to get everything in there. But I managed to keep most of the goodies ( cruise, tilt air, abs ,power steering) . Just recently got it running and moveable ( no more pushing it around!). Thought I would post a pic.

[iowaboynca]

Hey 84,
I going to jump on the "get more power to your garage" bandwagon. I try not chrip to much about the TV shows but a few years back Ian from Extreme 4x4 actually did about a 1/2 show on how to wire up your garage for power. It go me thinking...

And don't worry so much about just looking at it. Mine sat for almost a year before I jumped into it.

[Nut Case]

84Blaze

Consider this: Find a local electrical whole sale business, these you can find on the net. Go there talk to a counter monkey, tell him what you have and ask him what you need to do so this is done to local codes. I looked at some pics in your thread looks like there are power lines overhead.

Get the cost to get power from your meter base to where you want it.

Then search the net on how to do it and get er done.

Your going to take an AD and use a S-10 Donner, you have the guts to do this electrical addition. Very important tip, turn off the power in the area you are working, you don't want to pop the corns on your feet.

You won't regret getting 220 to your shop area.

I have done this before, if you go this route and have questions PM me.

Keep on keepin on

Nut Case

[84blaze]

Thanks for all the input guys!

I went against everything you guys told me and sold my welder (Made $1000 profit) and I bought a Code504 kit. It showed up on Tuesday and It's already mounted. I should have the body on by the end of the weekend!

I would not have been this far along already if I didnt go this route. I'm happy with the decision I made and I finally have that initial push to get some **** done on it this winter.

I'll post a bunch of photos sometime this weekend!

Thanks for following. For those that are interested, I've been posting pictures on my instagram @84blaze if you want a sneak peak.

Cheers!

[iowaboynca]

Originally Posted by 84blaze

I'm happy with the decision I made...

That in the end is the most important thing.

[lower50's]

[northern 49]

I've got the same deal with not having enough power to the garage. I have access to a 220 welder at work anytime I want but I wanted to be able to work on my truck at home, so I went a similar route on my truck and went bolt on, except in the form of a speedway bolt on Mustang ii on the stock frame. I have no regrets so far and I'm sure you won't either when all is said and done. I have a small 110 machine that gets me by for small jobs and anything I can easily take to work I weld there. Happy truckin'.

[84blaze]

Update!

Like I said above, I bought a Code504 kit to get myself moving along on this project.

It showed up in 4-70lbs boxes





Within the first few nights I had the kit installed.



Because this truck will be bagged I wasnt able to use all of the box mounts or crossmembers that came with the kit.

[84blaze]

I've also been working on polishing my 24" Semi wheels for my Dually project.





The rims will never be perfect but once they are shiny I will be happy with them.





The box turned out to be the perfect colour



And a picture of my 6.0L Swapped 84 S10 Blazer

[84blaze]

Before the body went on











Parts truck ready to be sold:

[84blaze]

I love this shot!

[northern 49]

That's funny I think I was just looking at your parts truck on kijiji.

[northern 49]

Nice progress by the way!

[jkeating1]

When you see all that steel on the frame, it doesn't seem like too bad a deal to me. There is a lot of engineering in that kit. The value of the motivation factor in keeping the project moving is an intangible--it's worth a good bit.

[84blaze]

Originally Posted by northern 49

That's funny I think I was just looking at your parts truck on kijiji.

It's on there. I had a guy come buy tonight to take a look. You should buy it!

[84blaze]

Originally Posted by jkeating1

When you see all that steel on the frame, it doesn't seem like too bad a deal to me. There is a lot of engineering in that kit. The value of the motivation factor in keeping the project moving is an intangible--it's worth a good bit.

It gave me a huge head start. I'm still happy with the decision.

[joedoh]

woot nice work man!

[northern 49]

Originally Posted by 84blaze

It's on there. I had a guy come buy tonight to take a look. You should buy it!

I would love to buy it. Who doesn't need a couple AD trucks around, I don't think my wife feels the same way though. I am always checking kijiji for these trucks but I really only need a few parts anyway and there is always something down here in the forgotten corner(Medicine Hat).
That is a good looking blazer you got there by the way.

[lower50's]

Nice looking kit that really catapulted you ahead.

[NeoJuice]

84Blaze you have a great project there. If my project was at the stage you were starting from, I would have totally got the code504 kit. I looked at the code504 kit even before I bought a AD truck LOL.

For myself, I wanted something a little closer to turn key for my abilities. Maybe once I get through with this project I will dive a little deeper next time. My build is a budget, have fun truck, patina rat rod build.

You also have some pretty sweet sets of wheels. I hope to put something like those on my truck and get rid of the rallies. I wont be running air ride but hope to maybe try and tuck some big wheels like you got.

I'm in Edmonton as well. I look forward to seeing future updates on this build and hopefully seeing your truck in person.