Project: Family Heirloom

[selfbuiltrods]

I've been meaning to start this thread for a while now, so there has been plenty of progress and plenty of pictures from my other forum threads.

This:


Is my 1949 Chevrolet 3100. It has been in my family since it was new. I have been patiently waiting to build this truck since I was about 15. 10 years later, I have a wife and four kids, and have finally reached a point in life where I can build this truck the way I probably would have ten years ago. I tossed around many ideas over the past year or so. I always knew I wanted it on the ground, but thankfully I have listened to a few friends of mine, and eyed a few builds on here. I originally wanted to do a full blown build on the truck, but I decided to leave the body the way my grandpa left it and keep the 216. The body really is in fair shape, but there is typical rust. I did not get pics of both cab corners or the rear lower sections of the front fender.





I plan on replacing the weatherstripping, installing new wiring, adding a T5 trans, and possibly touching up the interior a bit. Thank you for checking out my project!

[selfbuiltrods]

We stripped it down in a few hours...





And got the frame on stands...

[selfbuiltrods]

A few days later I started modifying the chassis. I didn't want to do a typical C notch, because I wanted the frame to look as factory as possible. I z'd the rear rails, and re-contoured the rails to look semi factory.

[selfbuiltrods]

Today I got the rear suspension tacked together minus front gussets on the air bag plate and shocks. Hopefully this coming week the rear gets finished along with installing the air tanks (two, three gallons), the 20 gallon fuel cell, and the front suspension.






The rear end is from a Mazda pickup (so I could keep six lug and my factory wheels) The downfall is that its has 3.09 gears. Im trying to find an RX series car right now to rob a new chunk from. The RX cars have 3.50 gears from what I'm told. I have 88-98 GM 1/2 ton drop spindles with '98 C2500 "light duty" six lug rotors up front.

[selfbuiltrods]

Heres what our shop looks like at the moment.




Anywho... The rear is all tacked together now, and I'm moving on to the front suspension today! I'm really happy with how the shocks came out. I'm pretty sure that the gussets I added to the front of the bag plate arent going to stay at that angle. I think as the bag opens in its clamshell nature it will rub the gusset. All i'll have to do is angle it out a bit. Overall I'm stoked about the rear!

[selfbuiltrods]

I got the front frame section boxed.

[selfbuiltrods]

Soo.... 23 hours went into this dude Saturday! Got in around 6:30 Sunday morning. Needless to say we busted ass.

Cutting out rusty floors, making templates, replacing cab corners...




2am this morning...


Results...








A few small problems. I'm only getting about 6" of lift as of now. Solutions... Uniball upper control arms and a different shock setup on the rear. Example...

With shocks...


Without...


The start of a beautiful sunrise as I closed the shop for the morning, lol.

[selfbuiltrods]

I got the chassis stripped down and started welding last night. Its a busy week for me. My youngest turns 11 today, has a choir concert Thursday and a sleepover Friday. I plan on having the chassis painted Sunday. If that happens, I can start fitting the body Monday and Tuesday. I wont get to work on it for about a month after Showfest so I'm trying to get as far as I can before next Thursday.

I fixed a little bit of my lift issue. I re-angled the upper balljoint up front, and remounted the upper shock mount. I clocked it downwards on the tube to fully compress the shock.

[JML55]

Really cool idea on the rear frame rail. I love the front seat too.

[selfbuiltrods]

Originally Posted by JML55

Really cool idea on the rear frame rail. I love the front seat too.

Thanks! Gotta have a place to sit your bum!

[xpickup]

selfbuiltrods, love the z job you did too. Keep up the great work.


Shannon

[selfbuiltrods]

Originally Posted by xpickup

selfbuiltrods, love the z job you did too. Keep up the great work.


Shannon

Thanks Shannon!

[_Ogre]

Great idea on the frame z . Lots of pics .nice work

[wickid demon]

Truck is coming along great. Got love rust repair i like the way you did your Z on the frame. Keep up the good work!

[selfbuiltrods]

Put in another 26 hours Friday/ Saturday.





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[selfbuiltrods]

Front suspension pics...




I did re install a tube gusset for the upper arm mounts, but didnt get a pic of it. :/

Showfest pics...






Got er home...


Started on the motor tonight...

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by selfbuiltrods

....I decided to leave the body the way my grandpa left it and keep the 216....

What happened to "keeping the 216"?

[selfbuiltrods]

I've got a need... A need for speed lol
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[selfbuiltrods]

Hey guys! Sorry I havnt updated my thread, but here is some recent progress!

Shortly after showfest we got the motor in it...



my valves are mounted in the framerails like so...


Got all the air ride plummed...



Got the front clip finished...


Got the new axle narrowed...






[/quote]

[chevyboy73]

this is way cool! i love how you left the body mostly original. the truck would look great with those factory wheels!

[Katrina/10]

I think I missed something, when/why did you go from 6 lug to 5?

[_Ogre]

might have something to do with starting out with a stock frame and installing all new suspension on it

[Katrina/10]

[QUOTE=_Ogre;6259170]might have something to do with starting out with a stock frame and installing all new suspension on it

Well, he put a Mazda rear end it it to keep it 6 lug, then it has white wheels on it which are 5 lug.

[Katrina/10]

See post 4.

[selfbuiltrods]

I started out using 1997 K2500 front rotors and a Mazda axle so that I could use my stock wheels. The Mazda axle was too narrow, so I swapped over to 1997 1/2 ton rotors and narrowed, matching rear axle.
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