My first build 50 on a 03 s dime frame

[Dillon_1213]

Hey guys I've been searching a lot about this swap and am currently undergoing the transplant on my 50 chevy on a 03 s10 standard cab short bed frame I have the front cab mounts at 1 1/2" off of the frame to the cap of it under the channel with the bolt holes which sets the floor at 3" in the front my question is, is there suppose to be like a square tube under the back that's od is 1-1/2" as well and I'm wondering if I just need to level the frame then level the cab to get the proper height for the rear mounts? If that makes sense at all. Here's some facts about it though I picked the 50 up from my buddy's dad for 400 bucks in great patina condition i fit the cab and messured a few times decided to chop 9" out of the bed and it looks sweet! I've redid the cab mounts a few times but finally got them where I want it in the front. The front mounts are 4x4" 1/8" steel am cut at angles and are pretty slick and should be dressed up with some sick welds. I had the s10 it was my dd tell I rolled it (long story short don't be stupid even if you do get away with it) it's been dropped I believe 2 in the front and 3 in the back and I believe I may keep it that way depending on how low It sits when the motor is in. I sold all the motor and trans from the s10 4.3 vortec and made my money back and am dropping a 350 wth a th350 which I'm getting from a local brother for some tile work so there's a bonus but it should be getting bored and stroked. Then a Camaro 8.5 LSD in the rear and a caddy steering column all new steering parts and suspension and the frame is getting por15 soon (it's being shipped) also tell me some pointers any info would be great I'm a pretty good fab guy this is my first build ever and for being 19 I'm confident that it will turn out great!

But here's what I started with

Then after the bad thing that turned good I'd like to think!
Then more tear down. I mean we tore the doors off literally.

Then moved it to another buddy's shop since ours was still being built but turned out sweet!

Then hauled it all in to find out I'd only get 60 bucks! Ha

First round cleaning!
And the pics of my baby after we moved to another place with a lot more tools and tons of chevy parts and my buddy's dad has a great load of classic parts but he hooks me up well he hoards a little!
And the bobcat pullin her out!

User the cat to drop the cab on to! Sorry I forgot to get tear down pics but it was mostly blue wrench work.
Then the test to see!
Then the first round of fitting but I didn't like the mounts I wanted to build some for no reason. We all know how that goes.

I figured out how much chop out of the bed was nessacary there so I found center and chopped 9" out by the channel and plan on doing some one inch angle all around the bed and raise the floor then the running boreddd will get a chop as well. I know some guys don't think it looks cool shorter but I love it it gives it that look I'm going for.
Then it was moving day again. Time to bring it home!

I got it all degreased 4 cans of degreaser and 1 pressure washer
1 stainless wire brush and 2 plastic brushes a bucket of dawn and warm water

Don't work I'm going to make new frame horns! I also figured out the gas buzz box doesn't up hill well. I never used one tell then and well we up hill everything at work.
Shaved the old mounts makin it pretty for some new welds and por15
Did some simple math with some soap stone.
Here's where I got it looking good and low.



And some more!

It sure is close!

1-1/2" off the frame to get that 3" off the floor because of the channel but she doesn't look bad just needs to be up on some mounts in the back!
Then I won't drill tell I get my motor set in to see what all I have to cut and make sure I don't have to cut the fire wall. But yes I am tunneling for the trans but it's all perfect center or the wheel to the center of the front wheel arch on my good fender and I think on the bad one after I straightened it up a bit last night it's pretty good. also I want it perfect cause I wanna build it and love it when it's done. Anyone want to buy the old frame? I'm around Gretna ne?

[FarmerSid]

Cool! That short short box looks neat.

[Dillon_1213]

Thank you. I'm going to some back mounts up tonight. I read the other day on the how to swap on here about having to use a 6"x6" 1/4" thick for plates between the cab and the mounts so they don't pop through. I should be able to get some of that by the end of the day and us a porta band and maybe some pieces for the frame horn I'll make a cut out so I can cut it at work tomorrow

[Dillon_1213]

Didn't get anything going I had class today and I never got to get some 1/4" plate and I got some por 15 in the mail then I deiced to buy a gallon of the metal prep and the paint stripper and chevy orange engine enamel for the diff cover and the motor when I get it and back from the machine shop. Also I know this doesn't really matter but kind of I'm ordered a Jackson hsl-100 shadow hood so when's gen Forman hooks me up with a nexgen lens I'll be fabbin in tall cotton!

[Dillon_1213]

Also does anyone have a 8.5 Camaro rear end with a LSD they want to sell?

[Dillon_1213]

So started rear cab mounts after I leveled it all out frame and cab with 3 jacks and a couple levels
Then I messured it all up after it was perfect and made sure the wheels up front were still centered and the front cab mounts were centered (mine sit 3" in front of the oval hole and are perfect I here a lot of guys say 2 and an 1/8" it wasn't the case for me) I recommend anybody building mounts not to use 2" tubing because the first round I made my own tubing 2" and it's a bastard to be able to tweak for final adjustments then it's hard to put the nuts on the bolts!
Then got the vise mounted and can use it to hold my material for my cuts!
4x4 tube will make life easy you can make 2 mounts outs of 7"!
also I'm going to build some supports for the tops and then church them up along with some bracing and hole filling on the frame I want it to look sharp! Along with the running boards which I have to go out and get from my buddys house. Then those are goin under the knife. Also weld those all out and probably get the parts to do all gas welds on them or tig or I may just 6010 then 7018 cap then do some degreasing with the por stuff and then use the metal prep. But here's how low the back sits on the frame with the proper height here's the mounts I just have to zip them off and hit them with the grinder! And the flux core makes those welds look bad I haven't cleaned them off yet!

[Dillon_1213]

Got some more progress I figured I would use a s10 bed floor to put this all together but I have to wait tell Wednesday since I got carried away blowing money so hopefully with being broke tell then most of my por paint remover comes and all that jazz. Then I'm ordering Polly bushing new u-bolts 2" rear blocks for a Camaro rear I need to go and find.
I tore the bed all Down to rebuild my chop and use the sheet metal gap clamps and make the bed sides look good as well as put 1" angle iron all around it and tub it out a tad


Then this is where this is at

And maybe be inspire for a rat rod mower lol. With a newer 6.75 horse motor and it re painted
I need to put a 6x6 1/4 inch plate under each of those mounts on the rear mounts

[Dillon_1213]

ny suggestions on dash color I want the inside, frame. Inside of the bed and under the hood all dressed up but the out side still patina with some type of clear to pesevre it.

[ghettoluxury]

I would go with the original gray for the interior. You can get it from classic parts and brothers.

[Dillon_1213]

What's this gray look like? I think I like that idea! I'm going to also start on drilling and bolting the cab and doing my rad support with gettig the grille on as well. Does anyone have a hood latch plate that they wanna trade for something or sell?

[Dillon_1213]

I need to get my rear bumper and running boards soon I think I'm going to make sliders for when I get the nads to start ordering airbag stuff

[Dillon_1213]

I'm going out to the shop to start putting the front end together since I have to wait tell tomorrow or the weekend to go get a bed floor. Hopefully my buddy comes with with the sawzall. I'll post some pictures in a bit of the front clip.
Maybe a few ideas though because it seems like my radiator is going to be tiny!

[Dillon_1213]

So this is what I've got I'm going to have to chop a lot out! And build a 1" x2" support off the bottom of the frame rails then well have something! Then I'm going to notch the inner finders and figure the grille mount and try to fab up a an air damn to keep it cool

[Dillon_1213]

Got the motivation today to tinker. I think it was the por 15 coming in the mail telling me hey you better get to this before it gets to cold!
and the moon eyes stuff just a few things but I plan on getting a few other big parts from them. Hopefully later I can get my running boreds and find a Camaro axle and maybe make it a package deal with a visor and a caddy steering column from my friends dad

[Dillon_1213]

Got the cab finally mounted and centered up where I like it! Used the hell out of a line laser and figured well if I want to mount the radiator core support I would probably want the cab square. not really pic worthy but I used grade 1/2" bolts with a lock washer on bottom I'll probably go get the oblonged lock nuts after the mock up is done. I feel like hardware may get pricey because I like shiny stainless but it fuses together when you tighten it down apparently?? Any input on that? What would you use and why?
Thanks guys and gals sorry it wasn't that big of an update but I'm slowly picking at it and the Mosquitos tonight ended the fabbing pretty early......��

[49tomchevy]

Here is what ours looks like on short s-10

[Dillon_1213]

I like that look! That's a really nice looking build. How high up did you go off the frame for te mounts on the cab and what all did you do for the bed?

[49tomchevy]

We just made mounts and used rubber biscuits setting the cab floor on the frame. Built a new bedwood frame from angle(actually bed rails) halfway up the bed sides so it sets above the tires and floored it with finished oak.

[FarmerSid]

I am using the stock frame but I bought the cab mounting kit from LMC and it came with 1/2" bolts 3" long I think. I am going to use SS bolts on final assembly. The spacer that came with the kit is 1/4" thick by about 2" square. It also came with 2" square steel shims about 32nd thick.

How's the cab support bracket under the floor that the bolt goes through? Looks like you have some repair to do around that area.

[Dillon_1213]

49tomchevy that's the idea I wa having but I want a s10 bed floor so I can linex it and and not have to worry about it rotting out.
Farmersid I see what your talking about I was going to use the og frame but I said screw it this will be cooler to me just putting stuff together is always fun for me. Also no just the kick pannels and the side pannels need replaced that support bracket is solid. I was suprised my self.
Also ordered a set of hammers and dollies from summit. They were cheap and had a bad review for not lasting long for daily use! So I figured well this is just to straighten up a few things so I can't beat the price 25 bucks. Sure why not I'm not a tinner or a body guy so it'll be a good starting point plus I want to be able to hammer and dolly that bed when I start putting it back together

[Dillon_1213]

Finally got my 1/4" plate 6x6 squares one of my buddy's at work cut them for me and have them to me so it's starting to go good. Now I just need to make templates and cut out some frame horn caps out of 1/8" with the torch and Clem them up with a grinder.

[49tomchevy]

You can find pictures on net of raised bed instead of tubbing.

[Dillon_1213]

Yeah but I want the bed low. I love that look for some od reason everyone i know loves lifted trucks and they all are like what are you going to do in the winter I say the same thing as every winter not leave untell I think it's safe enough to stop. But I received a new thing it just needs a nexgen lens and a till man mig glove riveted to the bottom.hsl-100 4-1/2" x5-1/4" welding hood!

Now it must be time to do that rad support! Gotta test new equipment.

[Dillon_1213]

So what I did tonight was get the support bar accross the bottom of the frame then started to shave the frame by Filling a bunch of holes and blending a lot I re welded the welds accross the top of the frame so I have more surface to make a smoother transition. Then made a template for the peice that I'm going to cut at work.

Here's the finished product (of the passenger side) I cleaned it up more since I took the pic earlier but Ill clean it up more after I get some more rocks for the top weld

Also I'll take a pic of the piece I welded between there before I start the support and ones of it as I go.

[Dillon_1213]

I got some new body hammers in the mail today it was pretty quick shipping ha I should have ordered heim joints.. I'm going to here in a few to start a 4 link.. What size would you recommend?