Bartmans AD-S10 Chassis Swap

[99 to Life]

no problem bartman, once I'm done with my 49'. I'm gonna do another on its OG frame. Doing a swap with static drop on a dime frame isn't bad, bagging it is a little more work, but I think it would be easier and cleaner to just stick with the OG frame. I always thought the price difference was moons apart, but really things are gettin much more affordable. I think I'm gonna start making my own IFS crossmembers. Have em cnc'd out depending on price. But these days you can get a fully welded member with cups for 300 bucks. Then just snag some arms, spindles and you can do all your moch up till money rolls back in. I got a 52' I'm painting and keeping, 235 with 5 speed, think I'm gonna just bag it on OG frame. In between that and two other car projects, I'm gonna do another AD on an OG frame with an LS. When you think you'll be on the road?

[av8tr33337]

Was able to spend a long day fabbing up the radiator support. I have just a little grinding left and then on to other things.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KmcK69g-tM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DTxdNDAqNU

[99 to Life]

yeah metal isn't cheap esp retail. for instance a 6ft 1x1" square tubing is like 20 bucks at lowes, at a metal supplier I found it for $12. But, I found a place and got some drops of all types of random stuff. they had 17ft of square tubing in 4 pieces I got for a total of $12. So less than a buck a foot is better than 3.30 a ft. I'v used probably 35ft of tubing on my floors already.

rad is looking good. only question I have is do you plan on having the stock portion of the mount still bolt to the inner fender/fender? I'm talking about those tabs that come off of the top area on left and right side. I think its easier to have the fenders on so you can tie into them and really see how much room you have with the grille being on there too. but of course its easier to actually do all the welding with the clip off.

[av8tr33337]

Yes I do plan on leaving them on. You right it would be a good Idea to throw the fenders on to double check everything. I'm pretty sure that nothing I did in the fabrication of the Radiator support will come into play on the mounting of the fenders or grill.I am also kind curious how the front fenders are going to look with the drop spindles I got from XPickup. I might just throw them on this weekend and take a few pics.

[Billys68SS]

I really like the way you did the radiator support. I have a question on it though. I'm curious about the inlet and outlet diameter being different from the sbc and hose selection. I know most sbc thermostat outlets point to the left and the mustang radiator upper inlet is on the right. The thermostat outlet can be flipped, but may interfere with accessories... Have you run into anything on that yet?

[99 to Life]

bartman, the stock rad bracket is like a core support. The fenders and inners tie into it. Its gonna give the front end most its strength. I'd put the fenders on and check it out, even if you just have to run some new/different holes to run some bolts through, its def gonna need to tie into that rad support somehow.

as for the waterneck, they make swivel ones. just make sure your rad cap is the highest point of your system, don't let any of the hose run higher or it can't burp itself and you'll get air pockets, so i'v read.

[av8tr33337]

99 to life, I did not change anything about my core support as far as where the fenders attach. I will use all the factory attach points. I guess I am not understanding your concern brother. Did I miss something??

Also Thanks for the info on the swivel Thermostat housing.

Billy Thanks for pointing that out. I had not really looked into it yet, but I'm not the first guy to go with the mustang radiator so I knew there was a way to do it, Just had not crossed that bridge yet. Thanks to 99 to life I think the issue is solved. That's what I like about this forum. Always looking out for each other and helping where we can. As for hoses I think it will be pretty easy to come up with something that will work.

[99 to Life]

bartman, maybe I took what you said wrong. you said "I'm pretty sure that nothing I did in the fabrication of the Radiator support will come into play on the mounting of the fenders or grill." If you plan on mounting the fenders back up with that core support, great. My concern derived from the placement of that support, without the fenders on there, the holes might not line up. maybe I missed someone where you had the fenders on there and got some measurements, but I just didn't see that in your video thats all.

[av8tr33337]

OHHHH Ok 99 to life. Now I get it. I mocked up all the sheet metal a couple years ago. I cut the Radiator support to the height I needed and welded in a new bottom cross piece anticipating that I would run some kind of 19 X 21 radiator. All I was showing in my recent video is what I did to fit the radiator to the support. In the previous video I did regarding the radiator support. I showed the old radiator and original support together, but I just had the two haves of the support laying on the floor with the radiator laying on top. It did look like everything was fully in tact so that may have led you to believe that I only cut it down in my last video with no sheet metal mocked up. Here is the video I made of the mock up. It was my first ever YouTube Video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6hSteQoazw

I Guess I didn't actually get a pic of the radiator support in place when I made the video but the fenders were bolted in place using it.

[Low52]

Hi there im new member and I would like to thank you and everyone else that share so much information making it much easier for us that are new to this, I've saw your video and your cab mounts are 3 1/2 inches from top of frame to top of the mount are all 4 mounts the same or are the back ones shorter?

[_Ogre]

bartman... calling bartman
did you quit or finish?

[tlorber]

I was wondering the same. Hopefully he's been on a cross country tour with the truck.

[oldman3]

Add me to the list, when I saw this I thought maybe he was back posting...Jim

[Clay54]

He just posted on skymangs s10 swap this morning.

[av8tr33337]

Sorry guys no progress to report. Lack of time, money and determination here.

[iowaboynca]

No worries. Kick back and hang around for a while. You never know, it might help out with #3. Once that's improved, #1 & #2 tend to sort themselves out
Seriously good to hear from you.

[Clay54]

Man, I can relate to that. All I like is just finishing up but that is where I was 2 years and I haven't even started yet. At least you have accomplished alot and provided me and others with useful and much need info. Thanks, Clay

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by av8tr33337

Sorry guys no progress to report. Lack of time, money and determination here.

waste a few evening on this forum and that will take care of the determination for you, you have a bunch of fans/guys cheering for you here man, git 'er done!

[99 to Life]

yo bartman, hope you get the flame re lite soon. I'm sure most of us can relate. I'v been having some serious melt downs lately. Just gotta chip away when you can. When its on the road (I know seems like they never will get there) its a great feeling of accomplishment.

[Tikal48]

Bartman,

I understand about the time, determination and money issues. But I hope that your determination comes back around. You inspired me on my '48 / S10 build, and I really appreciate you taking the time to share your ideas and pictures of your build.

Good thing there is no set timeline on these builds. My truck was sitting since '80, but I've been only working on it seriously for the past two years. Weekend warrior, because no time during the week. I hope to see you posting again soon and thanks again for the inspiration!

[iowaboynca]

Bartman:
Been seein' you post lately. Welcome back!

[Clay54]

Looking through your build and videos again, I saw at the beginning where you painted your frame and other parts but there is no evidence of any painting other than the finished product. Would you/could you tell me where you were able to paint; was it outside, over tarps, did you have some type booth etc?

Good to see where you have posted on occasion so we know you are still here. Thanks for your help, Clay

[av8tr33337]

Ok I'm finally back but making slow progress. Trying to get a serpentine set up sorted out for my 86 Camaro 305 Power plant so I can move on to other stuff. The issue that Im having is that my passenger side head only has one hole for the serpentine brackets to mount to.

Yesterday I plundered a wrecked 96 chevy astro van with a 4.3. It was a stab in the dark, but the guy gave me the whole front of the engine for 20 bucks. When I got it home it didn't really fit my needs as well as I had hoped so this morning I did some more investigating and then went to "LKQ pick your part" and got something that should work nice. It was off of a 91 GMC Jimmy with a 4.3.

I'll attach some pics. As you can see in the pics both aluminum brackets pick up the two lower holes and the drivers side picks up all 3 holes in the head. The passenger bracket only uses two, even on the Jimmy it came off of. It uses the outboard most upper hole (which I have) and one on the inboard edge of the head. That one I could probably drill and tap but Im not looking forward to it.

The two other pics are not very good but show two different types of braces I found on an 89 S10 at LKQ that attach to the back of the driver's side(A/C Compressor side) bracket. pic 2 shows a brace running form the a/c bracket to the intake. pic 3 shows a brace running for the a/c bracket to the water pump for lateral stability.

The lower area on the on the passenger side bracket is for the smog pump which I will not use, I will probably modify that section by trimming some off making sure not to take away from the overall strength.

I picked up a water pump for 29.00 at AutoZone. Yes it's the reverse rotation for use with the serpentine setup.

I picked up the P/S pump from the Jimmy as well, and I will go back for the A/C compressor. I was thinking about just running an A/C delete pulley but they are about 30.00 and I can get the compressor for about 20.00 more at LKQ and I plan to have A/C Sometime in the near future.

The A/C compressor I picked up yesterday was a bust because it wasn't a pancake design. The Power steering pump would have worked, but it had a remote fill tube since it was down low in the engine bay of the wrecked Astro Van. However the pulley was in better shape than the one I got today so I will use that. The Alternator off the astro van fit perfect. I also got the A/C condenser off the van which is considerably narrower that the Camaro unit I've been hanging on to. I guess I really didn't throw my 20 bucks away.

I am amazed at how slow this is coming together for me right now but hopefully when I get the engine put to bed I can make better time.

[av8tr33337]

Originally Posted by Clay54

Looking through your build and videos again, I saw at the beginning where you painted your frame and other parts but there is no evidence of any painting other than the finished product. Would you/could you tell me where you were able to paint; was it outside, over tarps, did you have some type booth etc?

Good to see where you have posted on occasion so we know you are still here. Thanks for your help, Clay

Clay Sorry I didn't answer sooner. I just did a down a dirty paint job in my garage. It still turned out pretty good even though I didn't prep my shop I.E extensive cleaning and/or tenting off an area. Didn't even throw down tarps. I had it up on saw horses a little higher than waist high so if there was any over spray it didn't seem to stick. Possibly because the residual dust gave it nothing to adhere to. (((((((Hangs head sheepishly)))))

This is just going to be a daily driver so its nothing fancy. I got it down to bear metal (Except for areas around cross members and inside the back half. Just couldn't get in every nook and cranny) by spending many hours with knotted wire cups on a grinder and spraying it down with WD40 at night and hitting it again the next day. If I wasn't do cheap I would have had it media blasted.

I did wipe it all down with lacquer thinner 2 or 3 times before I painted to make sure I got all the oily residue off. I think I used a spray bottle generously and then wiped it off.

I used 2 coats of metal etching gray primer. Don't know the part number. Then 2 or 3 coats of ready to spay chassis black from either O'reilly's or Autozone, don't remember which. It seems to be extremely hard and durable. I used the infamous purple HVLP paint gun from Harbor freight.

I will try to be a little more particular when I paint the sheet metal.

[Tikal48]

Bartman, great to see you back at it! Good luck with the engine! It'll be done before you know it.