51' 3100 build in PA New to Site

[99 to Life]

12-12-11 update,

Well Winter is officially here as it is freezing and snowing. I haven't done much with the 51'. I have some pinions shims to put in and I'm thinking of making a rustic looking bed with this wood from my barn. Aside from that, I should be working on another engine over the winter and it will be up in the air for what it will go in, might even swap it out in my 51', as I'm hoping to have atleast 400 hp if not a little more. I think that will be about as far as I'll go for this trucks engine.

My daily driver s-10 got totaled, so I bought the same truck and am buying back my totaled truck. My goal for it is to get it set up for air ride, maybe use the 2.2L engine and 5 speed and plop either my 55.1 or 52 on it.

I think I might do another patina one with that and I have a cool paint scheme I wanna do someday for my more traditional build with the original (OG) frame.

I'm working on a carport addition on my garage, so I'll be able to have another roof for something. Been trying to clean out my garage and make space and get it organized, just been mad busy.

Got another blend of coffee going called "let loose larry's light blend" so I been working alot on the coffee company, trying to really do a launch this summer with it.

[99 to Life]

New Year,

Jeesh time is flying. Well I have had a million other things to work on and haven't done much with any of my projects. However, I did get my pinion shims in the truck. Wow what a difference that is. Can't wait to drive it, but I can't because we just nailed with like 8+ inches of snow. Anyway, I finally re did my bed and I'm pretty happy with it. this is wood from my barn, which has a lot of sentimental value to me. I really like how I only have to take out one little piece to get to my filler tank, up towards the head board. It's kind of hidden and I like that. I may stain it this spring, but I want to keep a rustic look to it.

I'm going to install some bear claw latches soon I think, mainly because I want to have an autolocking system and possible alarm hooked up. So I may work on that soon as it just kind of came to mind. I'm also working on another engine that I may throw in the 51' this spring, just to see the difference in the builds. I am running some stock heads and I feel the valve guides are worn, so I figured I might as well through a better engine if I get it built. Kind of excited.

I almost snagged another cab but the guy snaked me. Soooo I may start working on one of the ones I have now. I'm planning on prepping the best of my parts for paint and my patina parts I wanna put together and use on another truck. So I may start two new projects at once and just finish them together. If I can get the frames and engines done, I'll feel like I have accomplished something. So I'll def start new threads for those. As for the 51' I plan to keep the thread alive, because I plan on taking some long trips this summer with her.

[xpickup]

99 to Life, Too bad for the snow or you could have took it for a ride. We only had a dusting. You can keep the snow out your way! Bed wood looks good. I can not wait to see the new builds. I am going to try and get my panel at least driveable for this summer.

Shannon

[99 to Life]

shannon,

well we have been fortunate with the snow this year, but I have a feeling jan and feb are gonna be rough. I got a space set up here in pittsburgh where I can work on engines and fenders etc, so I'm going to start taking every other weekend off of traveling up north. I just have tons of stuff going on, trying to get some car ports and additions build so I have room for all my stuff. This spring I have a metal garage to put up, so that will be my metal fab and engine storage garage. I just don't have the money to build my dream garage right now, so I gotta do what I can with what I got. I'm fortunate in some instances and less in others.

I'm very excited to get another truck goin. I got a really cool idea for a truck that I want to paint and also another patina truck. I have an s-10 drive train that I wanted to bag, that way I'd be getting 25mpg with it, I was thinkin of making that the patina truck. I have a 55.1 series but I just don't know what I want to do with that one yet.

I am suppose to be getting another long bed frame, so I will have two of those, a short bed frame and two original frames. So I have some options.
But I am certain I want a split window 5 window cab for my painted truck, I have a 5 window but it is the 1 piece windshield.

I'd love to see your panel out btw.

[xpickup]

99 to Life, That is what I need is larger garage. I have to see about adding on. You sound like you have a good plan for the other projects. I kinda know what I want to do to my 54 pickup too. That is way down the road. I have to get the panel finished first! When I get it road we will have to meet up.

Shannon

[Larry Daehler]

I am doing the same thing, I was wondering if you mounted the box yet? It looks like it will be about 3" to high on my s-10 frame. Any help would be great.

[99 to Life]

larry, yeah the bed has been mounted. this truck has been done, I'm just doing things to it here and there. You have to cut the rear of the s-10 frame by about 5" in the back if it is a 117.9" wb. So the reg size AD bed will fit. Is this what you are asking? I can pm you some pics if you need. I just made my own mounts for the front of the bed and the rear of the bed sits on my tow hitch and is bolted to the frame. My wooden bed slides in and out, I attached the barn wood to my existing plywood that I had in there. So it is real convenient to take the bed on and off, if I mounted all the wood, I'd be in a whirl wind. I have had to get under there to change a pinion seal, u joint and put in pinion shims already, so it is nice to have a removeable bed.

[99 to Life]

1-16-12

Winter has been pretty mild for us, but this is what we got this weekend. I snagged another longbed frame and a trailer on a trade. The 52' you see there, I finally tried to start. I got it this summer and will start a build thread on it. It rolled over good, but has no spark, so I gotta get some things for it. It has a 235 in it. I have plans for this, more on the traditional side, and another s-10 swap and more plans for my 51'. Here is the carport I am working on the side of the garage. I need more room and fast.

[pstar116]

i am actually in fairview pa doing a 50 build right now. you ever get driving around up here you can stop at the shop if you want. im like 3 miles off of exit 16. 2 exits west of 79. im still in the chassis stages right now working when i get a chance. but have a ls1 sitting here ready.

[54 jimmy]

i hear you we have had a mild winter so far. been cold here so i ave been working on my truck when i can. i am almost done. plans are to have it done within the first two weeks of feb. fingers crossed. love your truck man.

[65Pickup]

Just finished the thread, great truck. Get it out for that show with 'Poison Ivy' it will be well worth the effort.

What are the first set of toothed pulleys from, brand name?? Like them. Again great build.

[99 to Life]

65 pick up,

thanks and yeah I'd love to attend the show, I'm gonna see what I can do. heck, even if I have to trailer my truck off the dirt roads till I hit pavement I would be ok. But the weather is really weird up there because of the lake effect. In pittsburgh, we won't have any snow but 2 hours north we will get like six inches in one night.

those pullies are a cog belt or gilmer drive, you can find them on ebay for like 125 I think and the belt you can get replacements from jegs. I might use them on a different engine but I am liking the the vbelt on this engine now.

glad you read the whole thread. I jump around a little, but the next build or two I'll have way more informative or exciting stuff. This thread I'll leave open because I plan on showing people what I'm up to with the truck.

[65Pickup]

Thanks for the Gilmer info, good luck with the show, hopefully Mother Nature will cooperate.

[99 to Life]

Jan 28th Budds auto

Well I finally made it over to deerfield ohio where this 1959 and older salvage yard is. I been wanting to go for about two years now. It was really cool to see all these relics. Kinda sad to see the condition of some, but atleast they aren't crushed. Talked to the owner for a while, pretty cool guy. If you are in the area def check him out or check out his site. http://www.buddsautoonline.com/home

[99 to Life]

Jan 29th 2012 World of Wheels Pittsburgh

Well, I feel like a smuck not being able to take my truck to my hometown show. As most of you know, my truck is two hours north of Pittsburgh and the weather just hasn't been great to take it down here. So I finally went through sunday and checked it out. Two floors of some really nice stuff. I enjoyed the lower floor the most. Tons of great local stuff. Here are some of my favorites from the show. There were tons more but I don't feel like uploading too many. I got to meet Fritz who has the 54 GMC which I'm sure you all know of, also the blue ford truck I'v seen floating around on this site, I love that truck. So it was cool to see some of these trucks in person. The best is at the end when they are all leaving. Great to see and smell the atmosphere. It's funny cause quite a few people couldn't get their rides started and or needed a jump, funny how these things work.

[youngrodder]

Thanks for the lead on the used parts yard. I will call them to try to track down the driver side interior window frame trim that I'm looking for.

Thanks
Marc

[99 to Life]

marc,

no doubt man, its all about networking. They used to specialize in AD trucks, they have a couple trailers dedicated to doors and grilles, so some of it stays
inside atleast. I can for see myself having something like this eventually. I'm going to look into my local zoning laws. I'm all about saving these old gems.

[daverod]

Cool pictures. To bad you did'nt get to show off your truck. Did you have any problems when you hooked up your power steering pump lines. I bought a new s10 hp line but the fitting on the end is different where it hooks into the 350 pump.

[99 to Life]

Yeah I'll get to show off the shop truck sooner than later. I got some stuff I wanna do to her anyway. As for the pws line. I almost made that same mistake. Just buy pws lines for a sbc and they will be proper fitment. I think they were less than 20 bucks for them. Don't quote me on that. so don't buy s-10 lines.

[daverod]

Thanks Bud. I already bought and returned the s10 line. Looks like another trip to the store.

[mcrock54]

Have you finish your truck it looks cold where you live
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[99 to Life]

yeah man my truck has been done. I'm just doing little things here and there on her. I think I might swap engines out this spring. I'm slowly working on 355 with vortec heads. Hoping for atleast 400hp on this engine. Working on a 52' with inline 6 and I'm going to paint that. I am starting a build thread eventually.

[daverod]

I always seem to end up here to see how it's done.

[99 to Life]

daverod,

thanks man. Glad I could be of some help. I'm working slowly on another truck, will start a thread soon. Also I'm about to install an auto door lock on my 51' within the next few weeks, along with my door logos hopefully. So I'll then post some more pics. would like to post some pics of me traveling this summer with it. Just been soo busy trying to make room and build some garages for my projects. Working on another engine slowly as well.

[daverod]

Very cool. Good to see you busy. Can't wait for the logo I've been thinking about mine. Somthing in construction. I've been thinking about "Mammoth Errection". HA ha What did you do for headlight bulbs? Also turn signal switch? I was thinking if I did the headlight relay thing I might get by with the 6volt headlight switch? I also have a wire that says ignition ignition? I have the same harness as you. I think it goes to the ig switch but its a really long wire.