51' 3100 build in PA New to Site

[daverod]

Get that pig on the road.

[99 to Life]

daverod, I am trying man. It is always something ya know. I can only work on this on the weekends, with a 4 hour round trip to top it all off. OH and tons and tons of rain and I have no room in my garage and water loves to get in there.

So I had to back track again this weekend. the POS oil pan I had on there, someone previously patched it and it leaks, so I took it back off. Got engine all buttoned up and onto the start stand.

didn't have much luck with the timing this time. so I didn't get it running for much at all, plus my battery keeps dying. So anyway, I hope I can get that all ironed out and have this thing running properly next weekend. I have a different fuel line that I prolly will put on, it was on back order but it should eliminate some of that chaos you see. The valve covers are like that so I can see what is going on.

Once I get it running for an hour or so and up to temp and see how she does, I'll put it in. If something goes wrong, I am going to roast myself and then you guys can feed me to the pigs.

[99 to Life]

YouTube - 1951 Chevy 99 to Life_small test...

Ok, well finally some things starting to fall into place. Started the engine friday night with some new plugs and a little lifter adjustment. Saturday I ran it up to temp. I didn't have the right powersteering pulley to run my other aluminum pullies so I had to run these stock vbelt ones, which are actually growing on me.
Put the engine in Saturday night, got it wired up Sunday and took this little test drive. My mum filmed and is clueless. The smoking is from oil that is still on my headers and I grinded reverse because I didn't have a shifter handled so it was hard to find the gears. Overall I am relieved so far. I just have to adjust the carb and tune in the timing. It is idling a little high. Next weekend I'll put the front clip and radiator back on and take her down the road.

If all works out I'll have it inspected the following weekend.

[daverod]

Very cool . I can't wait till mine is that far. Looks funny with no front.

[bjcaldwe]

Congrats. I am glad some things worked out.

[53GMC]

ran through reading the entire build just a few minutes ago...i stinkin love this build....all the hard work put in will surely pay off here soon!

[xpickup]

99 to Life, I am glad you got it now running and i am sure that it made your day. Now get it inspected and drive it. Looks great.

Shannon

[99 to Life]

YouTube - 1951 Chevy Truck_ Test drive.wmv

May 7th weekend. Finally some sunshine physically and mentally. Worked out some quirks with the engine. Holding pretty good vacuum, starts right up, idles good. I actually took it for a drive farther down the road, but didn't have enough memory on my camera to film it. But it drive awesome so far. I didn't really get on it cause of the dirt roads and I didn't want to ding up my radiator. Next weekend I'll have the front clip back on and heading to the inspection station monday if all goes well.

I also replaced a break line that was leaking, hooked up my powersteering pump, which is what is squeeking so bad, I know it is low on fluid so I am hoping that is the problem cause the truck turns so easily. Started staining the wood for the bed. I'll be making some hinging mechanism for it at some point down the road, also got to clear coat it still. Hooked up my whippers to the manifold vacuum, they kinda work but kinda not. Anyone having any luck with theirs? I got to read into it more, it seems like the pass side whipper will go up but the driver one is sticking.

Thanks for the comments fellas, hopefully I get on the road with minimal problems and can start going places with it.

[daverod]

What kinda engine mounts did you use?

[99 to Life]

daverod,

Mine are just the stock kind. The rubber part mounts to the frame, here is a part number from summitt that is pretty much what I got. A2292. As for the part that mounts to the engine I don't know where I got those, as they were just given to me. But I think they are pretty standard, they just bolt to the block with three bolts. Then when you line it up over this rubber mount you put a bolt through them, the mount that goes on the block has a threaded end in it for the bolt.

I had to bolt my rubber mount to a plate of steel, then line up the engine, center it and level it and then I welded the plate to the frame. Then I had to drill four holes out through the plate and into the frame. So I have four bolts holding the rubber mount onto the steel and into the frame, plus the steel plate is welded so it should hold.

I don't mind the set up at all. If I were doing say and OG frame custom mount, I might use a different set up. Plus next time I would like to get a poly urethane mount.

[99 to Life]

May 15th weekend

YouTube - 1951 Chevy Truck.wmv

The time has finally come, May 16th inspection success. Took her out on a trip to the inspection station, road real good so far. Got it inspected and ran out of gas on my way home, go figure.

I am definitely relieved and happy to have gotten to this point, but I still have some more work to do to her. Eventually I am going to undercoat the cab, which is pretty much the only thing I didn't coat on the whole project. I have to put some turndowns on my exhaust and do a little more interior work. I am making a shifter handle this coming weekend I hope and also putting in an upper bearing in the steering wheel to relieve some of the play. I also have to make a door in my bed for the gas filler. Got my radio hooked up and horn finally. Door logos to come soon too, if I get asked what color I'm painting one more time, I am gonna flip out! Hopefully door logos will end most of that. I think you guys will dig the logo I got in mind.

Here are some pics on the lift for ya. Also some footage inside on the way to the inspection station. Lots of rocks hitting underneath that is for sure. I'll start filming with my digi cam instead of phone, because the quality is way better. Stay tuned

[daverod]

Sounds nice.

[99 to Life]

here are the pics that didn't upload

daverod thanks,

[daverod]

I was kinda feeling sorry for ya workin in that little shop. It's a lot bigger on the inside. No more feelin for ya. Is that a stock tank? Trucks lookin good. What size are those rims/tires?

[99 to Life]

Oh no that is not my shop, that is the inspection station. Though he just told me I could use his shop on the weekends. Very nice guy, so I might take him on it when I need to use the lift, ex. undercoating my cab.

That is not the stock tank, I wanted to run the 30ohm sender but just didn't have the time or resources to adapt one into the s-10 tank. So I opted for a tank that would fit the older senders. This tank came from tanksinc I got it shipped for 250 and 30 or so for the sending unit. I have come to find out you can get reducers to run the 90 ohm senders down to 30 ohm gauges.

I like the tank but it kind of forced me to keep the filler in the bed, luckily towards the very very far end, also my sender is under the xmember so I have to drop the tank to put it in and or adjust it.

[xpickup]

99 to Life, I am glad you got it on the road. Video was great and it sounds good too. Great looking truck. Are you coming to the Nats East in York at the beginning of June? Let me know if you do.

Shannon

[99 to Life]

shannon, thanks man.

I am unfamiliar with that show. Can you send me a link or something so I can check it out, because I will try and make the trip if I can. I am looking for events to go to. I was thinking of heading to this one in Winston-Salem NC called Heavy Rebel weekender which is July 1-3rd. But I don't want to get a head of myself here, I still have to take her out on a long drive and make sure everything is good and dependable, which I feel should be.

I have another engine that will be done soon and another tranny juuuuust in case.

[bjcaldwe]

Congrats. Looks great. I like that ride height. Can you give me a measurement from the center of the front hub to the lip of the fender?

[xpickup]

99 to Life, It is a NSRA (National Street Rod Association) event. It is June 3 4 5. Let me know if you are coming and we will meet up.

Shannon

[99 to Life]

bjcalwe, are you referring to the tuck on the front? or you trying to distinguish the height? I will have to get you both measurements. Off the top of my head I think my running boards are about 7" off the ground, don't quote me though.

shannon, thanks for the heads up. I will try and head out there for sure. Let me see how dependable this thing is and I can go from there. I really want to get to some shows as I didn't really go to any last year. Definitely meet up if I come over, I also want to head over to Martin Guitars factory over in Nazereth which is fairly close to york.

There is one over here towards pittsburgh in new stanton this weekend called rolling oldies.

[bjcaldwe]

Actually I guess both. It looked like a good ride height to shoot for. Also, I liked how much tire was tucked up front.

[99 to Life]

yeah I am real happy with the tuck in the front. I have measured it a couple times, but I just can't remember off the top of my head. BUT, keep in mind my rims are original biscane rims from like 58 and didn't clear my calipers, so I had to run 1.5" spacers up front ran 2" in the back with an s-10 4x4 rear end
I am running s-10 frame with 2" drop spindles and 3" blocks. Running all my springs in the rear and full springs in the front. I am running 14" rims but bias tires, so they have a higher wall, I don't know those specs right now either.

I am real happy with the stance. it rides pretty good so far.

[bjcaldwe]

Center of the hub to lip of the fender will be fine. But no rush. Mine will be on air with mustang II and 2 in spindles, but that ride height looked good.

[99 to Life]

May 21st weekend.

YouTube - ‪1951 Chevy truck...

Been super busy. Took the truck out for a test drive all weekend. It drives pretty good but my tranny def is low geared. It likes 4th gear alot. 5th gear has some noise so I think. It is real hard to hear in the cab, so I have to do some more sound deadening. Gas mileage right now isn't looking so hot. I am still trying to figure it out and have to do some more straight shot tests. But I am between 12-15mpg. .030 over sbc, 3.42 rear end and a 5 speed. I have some adjustments to make still with the carb and I am really soon hooking up and air/fuel gauge so I can see what else is going on. Seems like I should atleast be between 15-20 mpg.

I came up on some parts in the same town that I work on my truck. In the pic I got vent windows which will be going in my truck now, eventually. I got an original radio, might fix up and sell, more gauges, brand new tail gate and some nice running boards. Going to get the bed next weekend, maybe will be picking up a 235 inline and some odds and ends. Price was really hard to pass up. I will be using these on the next project.

also spent some time tearing down a metal garage that someone is giving me, so once I set it all back up, that might be my new shop until I build a bigger garage.

Lastly, I thought the pic of the tow dolly was kind of ironic because the very fist pic of my thread is me towing my 51' and now finally I am returning the tow dolly with the truck I originally towed. That was Jan 10-May 11

[xpickup]

99 to Life, glad everything is working out for you. The truck looks great. I also buy parts when you come across them if they are priced right. Any more thoughts on coming to the street rod show next weekend. Let me know if you do.

Shannon