49 GMC Pickup

[tlorber]

Hopefully you can get it all in without tubbing. I want my truck to look pretty and all when I'm done, but my overriding criterion is that I need to be able to fit in sheetrock or a sheet or plywood when I need to. Doesn't happen often bit when it does I don't want to have to borrow a truck from someone else. 48" baby, 48".

[Billys68SS]

I got a little bit done today. I got the cab mounts tacked to the frame and the cab all secured. I got the bed all mocked up. It looks like I have a couple of choices as far as the bed goes. I can keep the original s10 rear end and put a tiny tub in just for wheel clearance, or raise the bed floor and not have to do that. Or I can put in a wider rear and keep the bed floor in its oe position with no tub. I'm thinking I might keep the bed floor stock and keep the s10 rear and add a small tub and call it done.
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[Billys68SS]

The closest obstacle with the bed is this crosssmember. I can easily modify this or replace it altogether to allow myself a little more space. There is at least an inch between the angle strip on the side and the frame otherwise. So I think I like where everything is currently located. I'm not going to finalize much right now until I get my cab here. Looks like there will be another delay for that as weather and finances are not allowing me to travel to get it. Hopefully soon though.
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The rear cross sill is sitting on top of the frame, I will probably drop it down a small amount once I have MY cab on and I know exactly where everything is going to sit.
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[Billys68SS]

Originally Posted by tlorber

Hopefully you can get it all in without tubbing. I want my truck to look pretty and all when I'm done, but my overriding criterion is that I need to be able to fit in sheetrock or a sheet or plywood when I need to. Doesn't happen often bit when it does I don't want to have to borrow a truck from someone else. 48" baby, 48".

I understand what you are saying. I agree, but to be able to keep the oe bed depth I don't mind sacrificing with a little tub. I won't be hauling much if anything in this truck. I have my old Dodge for that. :-)

[99 to Life]

cool man, progress is progress. Sup with that visor, you gonna run that? depending on your desired height, on my 51' with a 2/3 static drop. my bed strips were flush with the top of my frame rails, and that puts my running boards and fenders about 5.5-6" off ground. So just giving you some reference, if your bed is x amount of inches off the top of your frame rail like your pics show, add that to the 5.5-6" and that should be your ride height. I'm running a 26" tall tire.

[Billys68SS]

LOL... I picked that visor up earlier this year cheap!!! I am thinking about running it. I think it's for a 1954 Olds 88. The guy had several things for that particular car and this visor doesn't look like the ones I have seen on trucks. It's going to need a little bit of fab work to get it to fit and look right, plus some missing chrome trim has me wondering what I'm going to do... So time will tell!
My tires are 25.4" tall so they are a bit lower than yours. Preliminary measurements has the front of my running boards 6.5" off the ground without the weight of engine/trans yet... So I should be around 4.5" when all is said and done. I'm not even going to need drop spindles!

[99 to Life]

I like that visor, be cool to make it work, but might work better with a 54-55 cab. I'd say if you find some cheap DS buy em just in case. Depending on your preference of height you might want to go lower. I don't see the engine sagging the frame down 2" with stock springs, atleast if it had a 4.3 in it. If it had the 4 banger in it, I'd get different springs as they prolly aren't rated for that much weight. Just my take. but the spindles and blocks really get you low with keeping the cab 4" off frame.

[05snopro440]

4-cylinder springs are no problem.

[Billys68SS]

Originally Posted by 99 to Life

I like that visor, be cool to make it work, but might work better with a 54-55 cab. I'd say if you find some cheap DS buy em just in case. Depending on your preference of height you might want to go lower. I don't see the engine sagging the frame down 2" with stock springs, atleast if it had a 4.3 in it. If it had the 4 banger in it, I'd get different springs as they prolly aren't rated for that much weight. Just my take. but the spindles and blocks really get you low with keeping the cab 4" off frame.

I am going to try to get some stuff done tonight. I plan to take it off of the blocks I have it on, then I will know just how low it really is!!
My cab isn't 4 inches off the frame like a lot of the guys on here. I built my mounts 2" add the bushing from the s10 and I'm 3" off the frame in the front.
I can get a set of 2" drop spindles brand new on eBay for $119 with free shipping, but I really don't think I'm going to need them. We will see when I get an engine and trans in. That's money I can spend elsewhere!

[99 to Life]

my friend had springs from a 4 banger and when he put in his sbc it rode like shat. so he bought aftermarket higher rated springs. Its a crap shoot, you might luck out, but then you might not and have some worn old low rated springs. on my current project, my cab is 3" off frame and my bed sets much further down than yours. you can see what I mean if you check out p. 4. Mounting the bed is a little forgiving though, some guys like a little rake to stance or maybe a little more tail dragger or just as dead even as you can get. Once you get it off the blocks and on the ground you'll get the most of your visual and go from there. If you are mounting your body that low, than yeah DS aren't necessary.

[Billys68SS]

I got my truck off of the blocks last night and the front of my running boards are 6.5" off of the floor and the rear of the running boards are 8.5" I will be dropping the bed down some, but it's still going to have a nice rake to it. I like that though! If once I get my cab on I decide I want less rake, I can drop the rear of my cab down some and then drop the bed to match. I really want to keep as much of the bed depth as close to original as possible. We will see! I won't be doing much fab work for awhile with the exception of the radiator support... I need to get a mock up engine and trans set in to see where all of that is going to be.

[99 to Life]

yup sounds about right. 3" cab off frame should put boards about 6.5 off ground no drop. my 51' has a 2/3 drop and is 4" off frame and boards are about 5.5". I think the math adds up. The extra 2" I got where keeping cab off frame and boards lower by and inch. Had I been at 3" cab off frame, with DS my boards would be 4.5" off ground. Just so happens thats what my 49' is at, though on bags, I'm running DS and will be 1" lower than my 51' at ride height. again both mine with 26" tire, yours being 25.5 thats only .25" difference in height really.

[Billys68SS]

25.4" was the diameter per tirerack.com. Actually my tires sitting on the ground are right about 24.5". Still only an inch and a half lower than yours.

[99 to Life]

actually it would half that. say you had a 24" tire and put a 26" tire on, you only gain 1" in height.

[Billys68SS]

Tire diameter is 1.5" lower, but ride height is 1/2 of that at 3/4" which is equal to the difference in the radius rather than the overall diameter.

[99 to Life]

exactly. good old radius.

[Billys68SS]

My old 54 is up for sale again... I wish I could afford it! I'd bring her home and bring her back to glory!!!
http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/m...322777140.html

[05snopro440]

Originally Posted by Billys68SS

My old 54 is up for sale again... I wish I could afford it! I'd bring her home and bring her back to glory!!!
http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/m...322777140.html

$2500 isn't a bad price. Hope someone gives it a good home!

It's too bad the guy that's selling it obviously knows nothing about cars.

[Billys68SS]

Yeah, I knew he didn't when I sold it to him.

[Billys68SS]

Went to haul off a little bit of scrap this morning and this is what I saw!
I was so disgusted I wanted to beat someone swiftly about the head and neck!

[T-P Auto]

Billys68ss;

Have you cked out the with of your bed on tha S-10 REAR END?
I think you will find you might have to make tubs to let the tires clear.
If you find a S-10 4x4 the rear end is about 5" wider then stock S-10, that way your bed will set inside your tires with out rubbing. Your bed measures 50" inside to inside?
The S-10 wheel to wheel is like 48"
Just something that I have alreadycome across on my project.

Tim

[Billys68SS]

Originally Posted by T-P Auto

Billys68ss;

Have you cked out the with of your bed on tha S-10 REAR END?
I think you will find you might have to make tubs to let the tires clear.
If you find a S-10 4x4 the rear end is about 5" wider then stock S-10, that way your bed will set inside your tires with out rubbing. Your bed measures 50" inside to inside?
The S-10 wheel to wheel is like 48"
Just something that I have alreadycome across on my project.

Tim

Yeah, I've done all of that measuring. The bed is 49" inside width. The stock rear is 47 1/2" backing plate to backing plate. With the wheels and spacers I am running the spacing drops to 44" lip to lip. I have a rear that is 54" wide (I think) so it should work just fine. This should give me 51 1/2" lip to lip. Which will give me 2 1/2" between the wheels and the bed sides. 1 1/4" per side.
I will get back on this as soon as the weather cooperates. I'm gonna kink of slow down for awhile as bills and work is taking precedence.

[ghettoluxury]

I would have had to get them to pull it off the pile for me to drag home. The wife wouldn't have been happy but who cares.

Originally Posted by Billys68SS

Went to haul off a little bit of scrap this morning and this is what I saw!
I was so disgusted I wanted to beat someone swiftly about the head and neck!

[Billys68SS]

I second that ghettoluxury... Problem is this particular scrap yard doesn't have a license to sell, only buy! Which is a travesty in itself! Anyone with a conscious would have never let this happen. I was told that the guy who brought them in, had bought them from an estate. Apparently this was at the bottom of the quality he purchased, at least to him! I'm thinking this would make a phenomenal rat, toy hauler!!! Oh well... Nothing can be done now, it is destined to be a whole lot of tin cans or something. Boo hoo hoo!

[Jyman]

I would try and talk him into giving it to you for a large donation to support local businesses. because then you would get it for "free" and technically he would not be selling it.