Great Grandads '53 3100

[Tesone]

About 20 years ago my grandfather and started working on my great grandfathers 3100. Unfortunately the project stalled as my grandfather fell I'll and passed shortly thereafter.

This weekend my Dad and I finally dug the truck out from underneath 20 years of stuff and got it loaded up and moved over to my place.







All Loaded Up and ready to go!


This is the worst of the rust. All the other repairs were completed by my grandfather and I when we originally started the project.


Plans are to build a nice reliable driver.
MII Frontend
Rear 4 Link
5.3 or 6.0 Ls and 4L80E

This is my first significant build project. I've done some water cooled VW stuff in the past however nothing of this magnitude so all the guidance and info you have to share will be appreciated.

[oldman3]

Nice history with the truck, good luck with the build, I'll hang around to watch. Anything I can help answer, I'll give it a try...Jim Oh and welcome to the group.

[ADchevys]

Following along.

[big_moss]

looks to be a good start man ill follow good luck on the build

[Tesone]

Thanks for the follow guys.

I scored a super clean motor today. Hadn't planned on doing that for a while but i just couldn't pass it up. Its a low mile 04/05 5.3 with the harness, ecm, drive by wire pedal and 4L60E 2WD. Best of all it came in under budget.

As part of my plans I'd like to put an MII under the front of this truck. However given the history of it part of me wants to hold onto the the original parts and not weld a bunch of stuff onto the frame just in case I feel compelled to take it back to original someday.

Who has experience/info on bolt in cross-members? I know both Scotts and Speedway sells them however there's definitely a big price difference between the two.

Anyone know of others or have input?

--Tesone

[Tesone]

More Progress. Got my garage heater wired up and hung, the dash torn apart and the cab off the frame.









Tomorrow i should have it stripped down to the frame.

While I'm on that subject what do you guys think of the condition of the frame? I'm hoping to be able to clean it up with a wire cup and some sand paper on the angle grinder. From there I'm not sure if i should paint it or hit it with POR15/something similar. I've heard varying opinions on those types of products. Any input there?

[bowtieguy79]

Very Cool! Love projects with family history. I'll be following along as well.

[Tesone]

Originally Posted by bowtieguy79

Very Cool! Love projects with family history. I'll be following along as well.

Thanks BowTie! Just checked out your C10 Swap. Looks great! My dad had a truck just like that when i was a kid. Same color and all.

[joedoh]

nice history! I wish I had something of my grandfathers, we were born on the same day of the same month, different years of course.

[ChuckDriver]

That's a very solid looking cab! Are the rest of the parts that nice?

You might look for a local company to media blast the frame, then you could paint it with Rustoleum or similar product. The results will be much nicer and easier on your back and arms!!

[Advanced Design]

Welcome! Great history on the truck. The cab looks really solid. There are a number of bolt on MII style units though I don't know anyone that has used one.

I have always wire wheeled off a frame and it is messy, time consuming, hazardous because of the dust plus wires flying off and it never really gets the frame completly clean. Next one I am doing under the burb will be media blasted. Doesn't cost that much, better end result and way faster.

[Tesone]

Originally Posted by ChuckDriver

That's a very solid looking cab! Are the rest of the parts that nice?

You might look for a local company to media blast the frame, then you could paint it with Rustoleum or similar product. The results will be much nicer and easier on your back and arms!!

Thanks ChuckDriver. Yessir the rest of the parts are in pretty good shape as well. The truck has been garaged since 78 and considering the low humidity out here is CO its in pretty good shape. We did have to do a cab corner, both Cowl panels and a few other parts but for the most part its in good shape. What do you think of the floors? Thanks for the advice on the Frame. I'll see if i can find someone local to blast it.

[Tesone]

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Welcome! Great history on the truck. The cab looks really solid. There are a number of bolt on MII style units though I don't know anyone that has used one.

I have always wire wheeled off a frame and it is messy, time consuming, hazardous because of the dust plus wires flying off and it never really gets the frame completly clean. Next one I am doing under the burb will be media blasted. Doesn't cost that much, better end result and way faster.

Thanks AD. I decided to go with the Speedway Motors bolt in cross member. I'll be sure to post up pics as i get it mocked up. Appreciate the input on the frame as well.

I spent a better part of the day yesterday pounding out rivets to get rid of unused brackets. Well at least until I confused my thumb with a rivet. That'll slow me down for a few days.

[Tesone]

Finally enough to post an update on.

Got the motor, trans, ecu and pedal in a couple weeks ago. Looks like its in nice shape.



Turns out the place I bought it from forgot to send out the wiring harness, however after a quick email the harness was sent right out.

Also received a huge delivery from Speedway.



Got all the rivets ground down and pounded out so it was time to move onto mocking up the new crossmember.

Radiator Support all trimmed up.



Frame flares all trimmed up and the radiator support reinstalled.



And finally the cross member in place for the first time. (Holy grinder dust . . .)












Hoping to have both the front end and rear 4 link squared away this week.

[oldman3]

Taking shape...Jim

[Advanced Design]

Holy grinder dust is right! Nice progress. The crossmember looks like is has a saddle fitting over the edge of the frame side at the bottom that is bolted on. Who manufactured it? I haven't noticed that style before.

[69CST-V]

Nice work. Awesome that you get to continue on with this project. I'll be following.

[big_moss]

right on man Christmas came early I see lol

[Tesone]

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Holy grinder dust is right! Nice progress. The crossmember looks like is has a saddle fitting over the edge of the frame side at the bottom that is bolted on. Who manufactured it? I haven't noticed that style before.

AD,

This is the Speedway Motors Bolt in Kit.

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Bolt-I...ber,50961.html

[Advanced Design]

Originally Posted by Tesone

AD,

This is the Speedway Motors Bolt in Kit.

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Bolt-I...ber,50961.html

Thanks. My apologies, I scrolled up and noticed you were planning to use the bolt in from Speedway.

It looks like the one from Chassis Engineering. http://www.chassisengineeringinc.com...-ton-pick-ups/

[Elder Rogue]

[QUOTE=Tesone;7393345]Finally enough to post an update on.

Got the motor, trans, ecu and pedal in a couple weeks ago. Looks like its in nice shape.





Motor looks good, care to share the name/address where you purchased??

Randell

[Coach529]

Looks great......subscribed!!

[ptc]

This ones moving right along!!! looking good!

[Tesone]

[quote=Elder Rogue;7394561]

Originally Posted by Tesone

Finally enough to post an update on.

Got the motor, trans, ecu and pedal in a couple weeks ago. Looks like its in nice shape.





Motor looks good, care to share the name/address where you purchased??

Randell

I actually got it off of ebay. The seller was Stricker_Auto out of Ohio.

[Tesone]

Well tonight was a nice productive night. We saw 50 degrees today so the garage was nice and warm tonight. I managed to get the cross member and spring towers all setup.







It went together pretty easily. I only had to massage a couple parts with the grinder and drill to get things to go together.

Pretty happy with the progress. I've just been putting in a couple hours after work each day and really only started working on the cross member install this past Sunday afternoon. I'd say it took me about 12 hours to get to this point including cutting down the frame flares and making the C-Notches.

I guess tomorrow I'll get busy assembling the front suspension. Still feel confident I can make my target of having all the suspension mocked up by the end of this weekend and still hopeful to have a roller by mid January.

PS. Don't make fun of me, I know my work space is a mess. Planing to deal with that this weekend.

--Scott