54 3100 daily driver build

[jmsaunders]

Well I've been hanging out on the site for quite a while now and have decided to finally start a build thread. What can I say, I've seen the skill level that a lot of members have and it just embarrases me when I look at mine.

But I picked up this truck about a year ago in NC and hauled her back to TN.





I'm putting a Fleet crate 350 in her that has about 20k miles. Yes I know I really need to replace those valve covers lol.





I plan to use a 700R4 or 4L60E to help with mileage.

[jmsaunders]

I've done a little bit of work on the interior. Here are the before pics. Must say pretty solid starting point.







I wire wheeled them to get rid of the majority of the rust and then used POR-15 to neutralize the rust and cover the metal to protect it from further rust.

[jmsaunders]

Hopefully next month I'll be able to get the suspension done. Travis over at AZPROPERFORMANCE is awesome. I KNOW that I ask a lot of questions and he was patient and helped me with my selection of suspension parts.

I picked up SS6 and cups for the front suspension.



and SS7 and brackets for the rear



I have the Stage 1 air management package ordered and can barely wait for the Santa in the big brown truck to arrive.

Because I've snooped quite a bit on this site I really like the idea of what Leevon is doing with his project popeye and plan to install a set of trailing arms and crossmember that I picked up for practically free. Here's a link to his build he has mad skills and imagination http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=383265&page=8

[thelonerife]

I'm gonna be following Himey. subbed

If I can help w/anything lmk

[jmsaunders]

Much appreciation Chuck and let me know if you need help with anything. I'm up in Springfield/Clarksville area bout once a month. Right now I just need time and encouragement. I often hesitate because I have no idea what I'm doing.....just what I hope to accomplish lol.

[thelonerife]

Great. I know you can do it. It just takes patience and a little help every now and then. If you need anything hit me up. Love these trucks too. I have a buddy with one just like yours. I'd like to find one like it if you see one. I think this is the best year imo.

[PAWS 72]

Looking good so far.

[jmsaunders]

Got an email from Travis. The air management shipped today!!!! Pretty excited about getting it in so I can begin working on the suspension. I've never had a vehicle with air ride before but I'm looking forward to it because of how smooth everybody says it rides.

[thelonerife]

Awesome! I want to do air ride one day.

[jmsaunders]

I've wanted to for a while now and have always talked myself out of it. I just always talked myself into believing it would be a waste of money. Then somebody told me that if I'm building it to drive and keep that I should build it like I want it. So since I have no plans of selling her I decided that she'd get air ride lol. Now if I was building her to sell I prob wouldn't as that would just be one more place to take a loss when I tried to sell.

[jmsaunders]

Always trying to plan ahead so want to get member opinions. The firewall is shaved and the way that the previous owner did it there's no way to mount hinges in the original location.
what do you think about these hinges





The patented Bilt-Rite hinges from Sachse Rod Shop are designed to separate the surfaces while pivoting open. No more rubbing or wearing off paint. These are quality, classy, and versatile. Made of 6061 T-6 aluminum. Can be used in any vertical attachment application like hoods, trunks, tilt front ends, pickup tonneau covers, etc.

They run about $200 but look like they wouldn't take much fabrication to mount.

[cubber]

Good start so far! A lot of my stuff came from Travis, too. They are good to deal with. Air ride is definitely an adventure!

[jmsaunders]

Quick update. Came home from work today and the Santa in the brown truck had visited me again. Got the front shock relocation kit, brackets for relocating my rear shocks, and mounting plates for my rear bags. I'm mounting them directly to the trailing arms and was told that I really don't need the mounting plate. However, my life and the life of my wife, sons and daughter may depend on how safe the vehicle is so I choose to over build lol.







Also, I found a radiator core support locally for sale that I plan to go pick up either this weekend or Monday after work. Slowly getting the parts needed and will hopefully have the truck driveable soon.

[jmsaunders]

Pro1 air management system from AZPROPERFORMANCE arrived today. That's the last of the parts that I was waiting on. Hoping to get it all installed and brakes done over the next couple of weeks. After that suspension should be done and I'll either move on to interior or body work. It's getting closer and I'm getting excited.

[cubber]

Man, you have started this quick, and it's moving fast! I like it! Maybe a work day in your future???

[thelonerife]

Congrats on getting all your stuff. I can hear it now. pssssssssssssssssssssssss

[jmsaunders]

Originally Posted by cubber

Man, you have started this quick, and it's moving fast! I like it! Maybe a work day in your future???

Actually I've been working on her for about a year now. Right now I'm just in parts collection phase. The first year things did go slow as I would start and then realize that I didn't have all the parts I needed. Trying to avoid that this year lol.

[thelonerife]

J'aimi, I'm glad you spelled your name in your signature. I've been spelling it wrong.


I have been collecting parts for mine too. Funds are getting low though.

[Kabwe]

Nice looking truck. I'm glad you started a build thread man and there is no need to be worried about anybody's skill level we are all here just sharing and receiving information and truck to be trucks we can be proud of. Thanks for posting your build buddy and keep the pics coming.

[jmsaunders]

I was all prepared to do a little bit of suspension work on the truck this weekend and ran into a snag. It appears that when the previous owner grafted in the front clip that they did it wrong. Driver's side is about 1/4 - 1/2 lower. So I spent a lot of the weekend scratching my head, making phone calls and mumbling under my breath.

I thought about getting somebody to attempt to cut it off and re-graft it in level, hunting down an original frame and going mustang II or an S10 swap. Figuring that re-working the front clip will just weaken the frame I trashed that idea. Looked for a LWB S10 and it appears that most of the owners in my part of the world think they are made of gold I scratched that idea. Then got lucky. Found an original frame for 450.

So now I'm waiting for the owner to stip the truck down to the frame and hunting a decent Mustang II kit. If anybody know of a good ket let me know. So far I've found a reasonably priced one from CPP but I've heard such negative about them that I haven't pulled the trigger. I also found this one http://www.fulltiltstreetrods.com/hub_to_hub.htm . Have any of the members have any experience with this company or kit?

[cubber]

Heidt's is a good kit. Speedway motors carries them.

[JRANGER]

Sub!!! Lol....Cant believe i hadnt seen this!! Nice

[jmsaunders]

Originally Posted by cubber

Heidt's is a good kit. Speedway motors carries them.

I just checked out theirs and they seem to be a good deal. Just have to call them and ask a few questions (ok maybe a lot of them but I'm a master it seems at asking questions lol).

Hopefully, I'll be able to order one soon.

[jmsaunders]

Well spent Sat helping Rus work on his truck. But also scored a 5.3



also got the wiring harness pulled and began working on it a little bit

[JRANGER]

very nice