Project "Sweet 16"

[skymangs]

finished heater box

[skymangs]

Here's the thingamajigger I made for the wiper motor. It is the base of a 97 S10 wiper arm, drilled and tapped for 8/32 bolts, with the original piece bolted to it. Works very well.

[skymangs]

I spent 8 hours making accessory brackets on Friday. I used scrounged pieces from like 3 different engines, and cut them up and welded them for what I needed. here's some pics

[skymangs]

Total build cost to date is $2608... We're going to bust our $3000 budget, but hopefully only by $500 or so. It looks like the Suburban ac/heat isn't going to work (unit is just too big) so we're gonna go the under dash ac route. I'm hoping to score a good deal on a vintage one to fit the theme of the truck.

[99 to Life]

Hey still not a bad budget. Crazy how this stuff adds up. You definitely have a nice truck for the money and are conscious of what you are spending and still its expensive. Plus you didn't have the buy the truck right? I have like 10k in mine and I don't even know how sometimes. Nickel and dime crap kills things, but so does brand new harness, booster, heater, wipers, engine stuff, o2 sensor, aluminum rad list goes on. But its the extra stuff that really makes it that much better and nice to have some modern things mixed with the old. Anyway keep it up and good luck with your AC hunt. Knowing you, you'll find it.

[skymangs]

Thanks 99. I think it's gonna be a sick little truck when it's done. I don't cut corners on the important stuff. (ie. harness is a brand new ez wiring harness). I think most of the money saved has been due to building our own stuff, vs. buying pre-modified parts.

[PurdueSD]

This is a really cool build. Gave me some good ideas! Im about to try adapting an 88 burb brake pedal assy, booster and master. Also planning on using the same gas peddle. Thanks for the pics!
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[99 to Life]

yeah I hear you. No need to buy cab mounts for example. If you can't fab that stuff, you shouldn't be building a truck LOL. Some stuff I have such little time to play with, I'll just buy it. Others I'd rather build it or fab it, like most patch panels.

[skymangs]

Yeah 99, I'm usually that way with most of my builds. On this one, I wanted to show the kid that you can have the cool stuff, without the cool bill. Also want to teach him the value of building everything youreself. Ya know schools don't teach that anymore, pride in workmanship, a dying trait!

Purdue, The 88 burb stuff ought to work I think. My throttle pedal/cable is from a 91 chev. Good luck on your build, I'll be checking it out shortly

[skymangs]

Got a lot done on the truck this weekend. First up is the Fan shroud and 16" electric fan. It's a tight fit, but I have about an inch of clearance between the fan motor and the water pump pulley.

[skymangs]

I also got all the front sheetmetal hung and aligned properly (Hopefully for the last time!). The hood latch panel had to be modified to compensate for the rake of the radiator. I wound up removing some, and adding 3.5" to the top of it. It's tack welded for now, I'm low on welding gas and need to get some this week.

[skymangs]

Here's the radio and wiper switch panel (for behind the center grill on the dash). Got them finished up and figured out how to mount it today. Gonna work out pretty slick!

[skymangs]

last update for today. Here's my almost finished gauge cluster. The gauges are all Autometer, I gutted the gauge cups, and used the innards behind my original faces. I still need to paint that one needle white (couldn't find an electric oil pressure gauge with a white needle). Second pic is the back with the new sheetmetal added to enclose it.

[dleeadams]

Definitely subscribed!

I'm am just starting my 51 / s10 swap. Trying to get my 8 yo son interested and in the shop with me as much as possible. He hasn't quite grasped that old with patina is cool. 6 yo old Daughter is into it though.

Learned alot reading your build thread. WOW less than 5 months since you started this. Keep up the great work.

[jed971959]

looking good
did you check to see if your heater motor turns ccw or cw if I remember right i tryed a one wire fan and it turned the wrong way(1993 astro van?)
I used a 2 wire fan from a 2002 blazer and switched the wires around to turn the right way
Jim

[skymangs]

Thanks dleeadams, start them as young as you can!

jed971959, I honestly never even considered that it might turn the wrong way! I guess i'll be heading out there tonight to check that it is spinning correctly. Which way is right for the truck, ccw or cw?

thanks

[jed971959]

I don't remember and my heater is in storage shed for the winter
just hook it up to a batt to see where the most air comes out
of . defrost,floor outlets or the cowl sided
jim

[skymangs]

Will do Jim. thanks. Has anyone bought from classicparts.com? Thier prices are pretty cheap, and in the final stretch I'm finding I need a lot of little stuff (i.e. hood hinge bolts, rubber stuff, etc.). I found a thread, but all the reviews are 2008 and earlier...

Oh, and by the way. We just commited to run 2 days of Power Tour from June 2-3. I thought it would be a great motivator for the boy, Father and son running with 3000 hot Rods for 2 days. Grandpa may even come down and drive my little vert in the tour, just for kicks. Now I gotta make some tracks to get this thing ready!

[dmack91]

I had one order through Classic Parts. Sending unit, gaskets, misc. small stuff. I was happy with the parts and prices.

[msaintg]

I have bought a lot of stuff from Classicparts.com (almost ALL of my stuff actually)..... LOVE them! Good prices, prompt, accurate, even cheap shipping. I even love how their website is laid out for easy shopping. mike

[xpickup]

skymangs, Truck is really coming along. I hear you on making everything rather than buying. I love to figure ways of saving a buck. That will be cool to do the Power Tour. I order most of my parts from them also. They were called chevy duty till they were made to change there name some time back. I have probably been buying from them for 20 years, starting when I built my lowered 69 chevy truck. Keep up the great work.


Shannon

[skymangs]

Thanks all, I am glad to hear that everyone's happy with classicparts. I'll be making an order here in the next couple days. Truck is really moving along nicely now, can't wait to start driving it!

[99 to Life]

yeah I get most all my stuff from them too, website is great. I've spent alot with them and all that little stuff ads up quick. power tour seems great, good luck. I know you'll you make it.

[skymangs]

Thanks 99. Jed971959... Looks like you were right. the damn thing turns the wrong way. It moves tons of air through the lower output, but when I flip it to defrost, it still only moves tons of air through the lower output. Will look for a Blazer 2 wire motor next time I'm at the JY.

[skymangs]

Well, I just wanted to report that 4 months of patient searching has FINALY yeilded us our pickup box. A near perfect match. I found it on Craigslist, about 15 miles away from my house! We gave $600 for the box, fenders, tailgate, running boards, splash gaurds, driver side window, a nice working speedo, a good set of hood hinges, and running board brackets.

It looks like I'll have to move the rear end about 1.5" forward. I am hoping I have enough slip in the driveshaft to accomidate it. Otherwise I'll have to have it cut.

On the downside, we have officially busted our budget. We are at $3200 and some change. We still need about $200 in interior and misc. parts from Classicparts, some AC components, and a stereo. Looking like we'll wind up just north of $3500 by the time it's all said and done.

I'm hoping to be driving this beast in the next few weeks!