New guy - Picked up a '53 3100 Project

[hobo]

Hey all. I'm a member of many forums, but new here. Have wrenched on Harleys for almost 30 years as a hobby and have done a few muscle cars and even a couple old airplanes. This will be my first AD truck, and I'm looking forward to it.

1953 on an S-10 frame with Mustang II front suspension. I verified that the top is chopped 4" but was also told that the bed was stretched 7" (I see some weld marks that kinda confirm that as well). I'm learning what the past owners have done over time. Some good, some crappy. Looking forward to learning with the crew here.

Yanked the "newly build and never fired" 350 to see what I had, and found a bad spot on the crank where someone had drove the connecting rod bolts into it. So...glad I verified the build, but hate that I have to build something else for her now. Oh well, that's part of our hobby.

[mongocanfly]

welcome.....
looks like a good project ....
curious that they put a m2 on the s10....thats usually one of the reasons for the s10 swap..is for not having to do the front suspension...
which makes me wonder if they put it on a swb frame which led to shortening the bed....
but your bed has been shortened..btw..not stretched...
bed should look like this.......

[hobo]

Who knows WHAT has been done to this old girl over the years Mongo. I DO know that it appears that I have more bed behind the fender than your pic does. I don't have a good pic, but here's one as an example...

Your idea of dropping the truck on a swb s10 frame makes sense though since the front of my bed certainly looks shorter. Maybe they shortened the front and lengthened the rear. :-)

[mongocanfly]

or just moved the fender forward
pull a measure on the bedside...that'll tell....

[MARTINSR]

I don't believe it's chopped 4" I am thinking more like 3.

If you want to find out for sure measure how tall the door window opening is and post it here and one of us will tell you the exact amount.

Brian

[Fred n' Ethel]

Some original dimensions for reference.

[hobo]

Originally Posted by Fred n' Ethel

Some original dimensions for reference.

Thank you - that helps a lot!

[hobo]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

or just moved the fender forward
pull a measure on the bedside...that'll tell....

Measurement from the top/front of the bed to the top/rear of the tailgate is just short of 75"...

[mongocanfly]

on mine the bedrail end 2 end measures 79 11/16.....

[hobo]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

on mine the bedrail end 2 end measures 79 11/16.....

You were correct that mine has been shortened then. Interesting that I measure about a 7" long patch down both sides of the bed. Again, who knows WHAT has been done to this old girl over the years.

Should be a fun project...

[MARTINSR]

You're teasing me, so how much is it chopped?

Brian

[MiraclePieCo]

And that's not a Mustang II front suspension - it's Chevy.

But it looks like a great start with all the right parts. I especially like those headers that go around the steering shaft.

[hobo]

Originally Posted by MiraclePieCo

And that's not a Mustang II front suspension - it's Chevy.

But it looks like a great start with all the right parts. I especially like those headers that go around the steering shaft.

What Mongo said above made me wonder and I was just researching that, so thank you! I bought the project from someone who bought it from someone else, who bought it from someone else. So, I'm taking everything I was told with a grain of salt. I've only ever had a few muscle cars in my days (68 Camaro, 69 Chevelle, 69 Nova). I'm more of an engine guy and never dealt with a Mustang II suspension in the past to I appreciate the clarification.