54 3100 daily driver build

[cubber]

good progress!

[jmsaunders]

Originally Posted by cubber

good progress!

She's coming along. I figure if I can break her down into small projects then I'll eventually get her there. My first major goal is to get the suspension complete and anything that deals with the frame done. I figure it'll be easier to do those little things like run lines and such without the body on the frame.

Glad to hear you made it to FL and back safely.

[jmsaunders]

Well this was a busy week for me at work and the weekend that I work so didn't get a lot done. Started stripping the frame and getting it cleaned up. Other than that I got a few of my suspension parts primed and painted.
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[jmsaunders]

Well I meant to do a mid week update yesterday but got busy. I've finally gotten the front of the frame ready. Some of the rivits just did not want to come out but I finally got all of the brackets off. I metal treated and POR15 the front part of the frame and got the boxing plates tacked in.

It took me a couple of hours to get the frame level where I wanted it. Ok maybe not exactly where I wanted it but after an hour and a half I claimed good enuff lol. Front to rear I have roughly an 1 1/2 rake. I was shooting for 1 1/2 to 2" so I'm happy with the rake. From left to right it is off by .10 degrees from level (per the digital angle finder). I just could not get it dead on and admitted defeat and chalked up a win for the frame.

Hopefully will get the boxing plates fully welded in in the next couple of days and then I'll see about getting the crossmember tacked in. All in all a pretty productive week for me on the truck.

[cubber]

thats great, man! can't wait to see it!

[thelonerife]

Lets see some pics J'aimi

[jmsaunders]

I'll post some pics tomorrow. Got slightly stalled out this week as we all do at various times during a build. Did get the boxing plates fully welded in, removed the brake booster from the firewall (picked up a frame mount one over the weekend) and started shaving that part of the dash.

With any luck this weekend I'll end up getting the body temporarily mounted to determine what rake I want so I can begin working on the MII install.

[Rusbuilt]

Sweet! We need to plan the work day!

[cubber]

Originally Posted by Rusbuilt

Sweet! We need to plan the work day!

x2!!!!!!!!!!

[jmsaunders]

Originally Posted by Rusbuilt

Sweet! We need to plan the work day!

Works for me, right now the first weekend of the month is the only one that I'm not available for. Me and the much better half do plan to make a trip to FL during June but she can't get either weekend off so it'll be a Monday - Friday trip.

And now for the updates

Finally got the M2 boxing plates welded in





I then got the cab and bed moved over to the 'new' frame




My goal for this week is to get a front fender mounted, ride height mocked and the M2 crossmember installed.

[cubber]

Nice welds! Good to see it coming together. I am pretty open for the work day, also. Have you heard about the show/swap meet at Lebanon Fairgrounds on June 1st? it's from the same bunch that put on Redneck Rumble. Is that the weekend your are busy/ (wasn't sure if you meant first weekend, or first FULL weekend). Truck is lookin' sweet!

[jmsaunders]

unfortunately I have work that weekend. Sometimes it seems like somebody has my work schedule and goes out of their way to schedule something fun on the weekends that I work lol.

[cubber]

I know what ya mean, man. Don't worry, there's lots of stuff coming up!

[jmsaunders]

Ran by the shop and put in a quick couple of hours. Got the fender mounted so that I could 'mock' up the rake that I want. I apologize for the bad pic but the shop is to small for me to get a good side picture.



I then got the truck level so that I can see about getting the crossmember tacked in later this week. It took a lot of 'minor' adjustments but I finally got it where I wanted it.

[Rusbuilt]

Looking good friend!

[cubber]

Cool!

[JRANGER]

That looks like its going to be a nice truck

[thelonerife]

Nice progress J'aimi and pics. I'm ready to do a another work day too.

[jmsaunders]

Well I had to work over the weekend so I didn't get any work really done on the Truck. I picked up a set of used tires to use for mock up and rolling around purposes.



I also picked up some metal while running around in Nashville to do some frame/chassis work. The M2 crossmember is tacked in and hopefully I'll have it fully welded in by the end of the weekend and the front suspension complete.

[cubber]

That's awesome! You are really making progress.

[jmsaunders]

Thanks Matt. I just try to put in 1-2 hours a night between when I drop Alex off for football practice and when I go back to pick him up. I figure if I can just get 1 small project done then I'll get there quickly enough. Oh and mentioning Alex I forgot to tell you all he was the most improved soccer player for his school. Needless to say I am very proud of him!!!!!
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[cubber]

That's great! Tell him cogratulations for me. Hopefully we will all be hangin' out soon.

[jmsaunders]

Originally Posted by cubber

That's great! Tell him cogratulations for me. Hopefully we will all be hangin' out soon.

I will and agreed lol

Well the last half of the week has been productive for me. I got the M2 crossmember welded in and the wheels mocked up.




This morning I went to my local local treasure yard and scored a rear end from a 98 GMC Jimmy. The rear end I'm swapping out was 61" and this one is approximately 60" so I'm losing an inch on the sides. But it does come with rear brakes (definately will be one of the cheaper disc brake conversions I could do lol) that do have the parking brake function. It's geared at 3.42 so that should work well and help me get decent mpg as I do plan for this to be my daily driver.





I definately can not run as wide of a rear wheel as what was on here originally but seeing how I was planning to get new wheels anyway that's not to much of an issue.

And finally here's how she sit with the M2 and rear end mocked up with wheels.

[Rusbuilt]

Very nice J'aimi

[cubber]

That looks soooo cool! Good score on the rear end, too. It looks like you have got yourself a roller. It feels good to be able to set it on the ground, I bet!