True Grit- '51 AD/S10 swap

[IWanna49]

Hello everyone! I've been a long time reader/looker here and finally acquired one of my dream projects. As a kid I never really had any long, long term dreams other than restoring an old car when I "got older." I was a teen of the '80's and always loved the ZZ Top car.

After coming across this forum, I fell in love with the AD trucks and the 41-46 ones as well. The rest, as they say, is history.

This will be my first step into the resto/build arena. I wanted to thank a few of the members here for their guidance, knowledge and patience over the last year with the dozens of questions I've had so far, with many more to come I'm sure! 99toLife and Skymangs have helped more than they know, as have the build threads of countless others (oldman, orrieg, kim57, coulter, dubie, sgtusmc, chizzler, youngrodder and countless others). The talent here is simply amazing.

My plans are to build a truck that's safe, reliable/dependable and keeps most of the OG styling with a modern drivetrain. Mix that in a blender with my personality and creativity and see what shakes out. I want it low and loud and probably with the original patina. There's just something that I love about rust and chrome!!

[IWanna49]

A little history on the truck. The gentleman I bought the truck from was retired but has built engines/hot rods most of his life. He bought the truck just over a year ago from another gentleman in his community that had the truck in his barn/shed for the last 30+ years. The PO's plan was to build his first rat rod out of it, but he and his wife have decided to move to Florida so he's liquidating all of his projects.

[IWanna49]

The PO got the truck complete (actually a 3600) and blew it apart. Soaked as much as he could and cut very little. I opted for just the body since I'm going to do the s10 swap. The only things missing we're the door handles, steering wheel, seat and original gauges.

Bear with me, I'm still trying to figure out the picture posting!!

[IWanna49]

More pics

[IWanna49]

One at a time for now!

[oldman3]

Glad to see you started your thread, will hang around and watch the build...Jim

[IWanna49]

Thanks Jim. I know your knowledge will be needed at some point!

This will be my donor truck, a '93 s10 that my dad gave to me. I know it's a short bed, but I think I have a couple of options that I will ask you all about a little later (any input is gladly accepted!). He was still driving it up until a couple of months ago, has roughly 225k miles on it, never wrecked. I think it will be cool to have something of his underneath my first build. I plan on stripping it, keeping what I need for the build and selling off the rest for parts or a welder.

[IWanna49]

For now I have everything stored in my granddad's barn (except for a few pieces that I brought home to play with). I have a few tools that I can at least start on some of the body work with, so that's my plan for now. After I get the s10 stripped I'll probably start working on suspension, etc. I want to do a static drop, 2in drop spindles and 3in blocks in the rear. My stance will be heavily influenced by 99toLife's '51 and Skymangs builds. I want a sbc for the powerplant and a 5 spd tranny.

[IWanna49]

My best friend is working on a shop/barn that I may be able to do some work in. Last weekend he brought home a '49, also blown apart with an s10 frame. Looks like we will be doing twin builds!!

[IWanna49]

Here's my buddy's '49 coming home

[IWanna49]

Took the top rib off of my grill, sanded some to see what was underneath

[IWanna49]

Hood latch too

[IWanna49]

Really excited how they turned out. My plan initially was to paint the hood latch panel glossy black. I want to paint the engine compartment too to give the inside a nice clean look. But it matched up so well with the grill I think I'll just clear them both and call it done!

[IWanna49]

The floor, rocker panels and bed are the worst. Everything else seems to be pretty solid with the usual needs

[IWanna49]

Firewall

[IWanna49]

Bedsides

[IWanna49]

Drivers side corner

[IWanna49]

Passengers corner

[IWanna49]

If anyone can help with posting multiple pics, please do! I tried through Photobucket as well with no luck

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by IWanna49

I know it's a short bed, but I think I have a couple of options that I will ask you all about a little later (any input is gladly accepted!).

couldnt be easier. first drill out/grind off (it will be easier to grind) the rivets holding the front leaf perches to the frame. then disconnect the rear shackles by taking the big bolt out of the frame (you may need a new bolt and bushings after this, sometimes they are really rusted in there). drill/grind out the spare tire mount/shock mount crossmember. cut the ends of the frame off right in front of the rear shackle mount using your straightest cut perpendicular to the frame. flip them over, and weld them back on. slide the leaf perches back 9-10 inches (do NOT measure on the angle of the frame, it has to be straight back, scribe some lines to help you line it up) and tack weld them in place. reinstall the shackles, fish plate the joint, weld in a crossmember for the shocks. bobs your uncle.

I got this tip from a local guy on another forum and he is on this forum too. the real benefit of this is more than you think.
1. the s10 leaf perches are lower than the frame, so if you want to lay frame even if you buy a fancy s10 bolt in link system you have to move the perches to allow the frame to lay out
2. moving the perches back also moves them up, and moving them up lowers the rear of the truck about 2" so even if you DONT bag it to lay out the truck will have a nice low stance.
3. if you are bagging it and keeping the s10 gas tank, this gives you about 10 more inches of clearance between the tank and the axle, which anyone who has ever bagged an s10 will tell you is critical.
4. if you are keeping the stock tank and bagging the truck, this gives you a ton of room to move the stock tank brackets back (and up) along the frame, where the s10 gas tank usually hits the ground before the frame like to perches.
5. if you are keeping the stock s10 drivetrain in its orginal location, a 1 pc longbed s10 driveshaft bolts right in
6. the factory axle bumpstop mounts arent in the way any longer.

here are a couple more pictures of my shortbed turning into a longbed.

[IWanna49]

Joedoh- you covered both of the options I had in mind. It's great to see your option in pics and it's good to know that it will lower the rear that much too. That'll save a little on lowering blocks. Thanks for the info!!!

[rusty76]

I'm thinking I'll follow along on this one. Keep it up.

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by IWanna49

Joedoh- you covered both of the options I had in mind. It's great to see your option in pics and it's good to know that it will lower the rear that much too. That'll save a little on lowering blocks. Thanks for the info!!!

no sweat! we short bedders have to pass on the tricks.

[IWanna49]

9/4- Been working on slowly stripping some of the smaller pieces I have here at the house. This is the left inner fender before during and after. Flap disk and angle grinder for most of it, wire brush and drill for the tight spots.

[IWanna49]

After some clean up