project: What did I get myself into 50 chevy

[MrDude_1]

just my opinion, but that engine looks way too high...
id lower it until the bottom of the oil pan is only 1/4" higher then the "skidplate" and bottom of the front crossmember.
everything under the cab will clear better, the truck will handle better, etc..
downside is the engine will be harder to reach with the fenders on, and the mechanical fuel pump (if you have one) may be very close to the crossmember. (notch or run a E-pump)

[blitz'd]

The engine is only about 1" higher than with stock mounts. To get it any lower would require hacking into the crossmember. They sit up high in S10s also. 1/4" from the crossmember isnt going to happen with this frame.

[bustac]

Hey what tire sizes did you end up using on front and rear? btw looks good!

[blitz'd]

245/40/18 front and 285/35/18 rear, the rears are way too small though. Im trying to find something in the 45 series to help fill up the rear wheel wells a little more.

[blitz'd]

Cab is mounted finally! Heading to the steel yard tomorrow to get supplies for bed and running board mounts also need to make a driveline tunnel.

[blitz'd]

Mounted up the front fenders for final fit before I paint the front end. Started fabbing the radiator supports. Aluminum radiator is on order.

Started working on the bed today also. I needed to tub the bed a little bit to clear the tire and brake calipers. Ive got a few ideas for the bed to make it look like it belongs on this truck. Ive always hated how the bed is just a box, it doesnt look right on this curvy bodied truck. I closed up the gap between the bed and cab so ill need to take about 2 inches out of the running board and filler panel.

[troy54gmc]

Man that is sweeeeet looking. You said you closed the gap on the bed and cab but hid it under a towel?? what are you waiting for to uncover it? come on man lets see the progress.

[troy54gmc]

I agree with you on the bed looking to boxy. i saw this truck last year at the Goodguys show. this was the nicest looking bed i have seen yet. the front contoured the cab and it looks like he shortend the rear to. i have some better views of it but ill have to find them.

[yukon ratrod]

looks great! keeper going! will be a great driver. my 48s on an s-10 chassis and the ride is awsome. drove mine all year around for the first two years, but the novelties worn off now. my wife wants a rebuild and modern motor and trans so she can drive it. she seems to have more for that old truck then I do I guess! lol built it 5 years ago so a freshing and a little clean up are in order.

[yukon ratrod]

Originally Posted by hotrodjoe1952

This is killing about about what frame to use on my build, it is a 52 long wheel base truck, original frame is still under it and i am thinking i will reuse it but this s10 conversion is so inviting to me lol...this is my first build involving frame/suspension work and i need some help understanding, would i need to move the rear axle to center the wheels in the wheel well opening? i was told the A-Arms need to be changed as well to give it a wider stance in the front, please someone help me with these questions so i can sleep better lol...thanks!

Here is a picture of what i am building.

I have some picts of a 48 on an s-10 4x4 chassis. it looks great and worked out really well. will see if I can dig up those picts for you!

[yukon ratrod]

heres some shots of the 4x4 chassis. the engine is the stock 4.3 v6 which we moved back 6 inchs to make everything line up the way we wanted. any questions that I can help out with let me know.

[troy54gmc]

hey blitzed here is a better picture of that truck with the really cool bed. is this how you did yours???

[blitz'd]

Originally Posted by troy54gmc

Man that is sweeeeet looking. You said you closed the gap on the bed and cab but hid it under a towel?? what are you waiting for to uncover it? come on man lets see the progress.

Nah, that was just there so I didnt scratch the cab. I forgot to remove it before taking a picture.

Thanks Troy, so far all ive done is pie cut the stake pocket so I could push the bedsides forward more. I have not decided which way to go from here yet. Ill prolly slice and bend the factory front bed panel to contour the cab. If that is too much trouble ill just weld it in further back and make a sheet metal cover the shape of the cab wall.

[MrDude_1]

nice progress.. I cant wait to get mine as far as yours.

[my4by2]

Great looking build man! Absolutely LOVE the shots of the laid out frame with the motor & wheels on it!!! Keep up the great work & keep the pics coming!

[blitz'd]

I need metal or a radiator to keep going. Ive been organizing my garage and spraying test panels all week. My tail gate is 4 different shades of red now. lol. Think im gonna go buy a trailer fender and start making rear tubs tonight.

[blitz'd]

Good progress last night until I got metal in my eye and had to go to the ER. Something popped up over my safety glasses and stuck to the eye. Not fun!

Anyway the front bed panel is now contoured to the cab. Wasnt as much work as I thought it would be. Simply pie cut the top of the bed panel in about 12 places and started bending and welding. Took about 1.5 hours not including grinding. Ill put up some before, during and after pictures after I grind the welds.

[Kabwe]

Looking good man. Sorry to hear about the metal in the eye and going to the ER. I had a cutoff wheel explode while I was cutting on frame. It cost me a trip to the ER and 16 stitches. I did finish what I was doing before I went to the ER so it was not all a lost.lol

[OrrieG]

I started using a full face shield when cutting, grinding, buffing, etc. after I buried a piece of wood in my cheek from the table saw (was wearing safety googles at the time). It is absolutely beat up and scratched from all the stuff it has rejected. Glad for you that it appears to be temporary.

[blitz'd]

Originally Posted by Kabwe

Looking good man. Sorry to hear about the metal in the eye and going to the ER. I had a cutoff wheel explode while I was cutting on frame. It cost me a trip to the ER and 16 stitches. I did finish what I was doing before I went to the ER so it was not all a lost.lol

haha I did the same. I finished tacking up the panel before going to the ER. I got a set of goggle that seal to the face today. Ill be rocking these now. Ill prolly pick up a face shield too. Funny cause im pretty anal about safety equipment, I wont touch a grinder with out gloves, ear protection and glasses.

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by blitz'd

I wont touch a grinder with out gloves, ear protection and glasses.

Yeah I learned things the hard way.lol I need my butt whipped every now and then before I listen. At least thats what my mother told me.lol

[blitz'd]

Started working on the tubs and finished up the front bed panel. I did something a little different here, and I know its been done before but it looks 100x better I think. I dont like the look of round trailer tubs in the bed of these trucks. It looks like an add on, I want all my mods to look factory. Still need to fill some holes and the stake pockets before I can start the body work. Waiting on some mandrel bent tubing I ordered to round the bed rails in the rear. This is the 1st time ive really done anything like this, I think it came out OK. Still have a lot of work to do.







Body bushings came in so I can button that up this week. I need to re-paint the firewall, finish up the radiator mounts, then I can finally wire it again and start this pig. Few more brake lines, booster and driveshaft and I can drive it!

[blitz'd]

Almost forgot one. My favorite part, I think it came out awsome!

[GRIMSS]

Looks great. Nice work on the tubs and the front of the bed. Where did you order your body bushings from?

[blitz'd]

I got them from summit racing, they are the energy suspension universal body bushings.