Re: 1981 Chevrolet C50 Pick-up Conversion
 

3 days and no updates? What gives? lol JK man....Just been enjoying your frantic pace since mine is a slow baby crawl

Re: 1981 Chevrolet C50 Pick-up Conversion
 

I agree, I am going through a little withdrawal myself. It was "Family Day Weekend" up here in Ontario. My wife gave me a little gock when I tried to get out in the shop.

I did do some work, just nothing photo worthy. Hoping to get the firewall in primer and the front half of the driveline in a little paint.

Its a short week, off to Daytona for the weekend so no work done over the weekend and first half of next week.

Re: 1981 Chevrolet C50 Pick-up Conversion
 

heck of a build goin there
thats gona be neat to see
tremclad is great,i didn't buff it tho.....i hate winter too
but nice and warm here this week

Re: 1981 Chevrolet C50 Pick-up Conversion
 

Some work done last night on the front frame and firewall. Decided to strip off the vacuum booster and everything else off the firewall to clean and paint the firewall. The thought of not getting everything smooth made me unhappy.

I'm into a bit more work but it will have better final results in my opinion.

I want to get some primer laid onto this bare metal, then start on the shorten.

I am really debating whether to pull off cab and have the frame blasted... I am pretty close.

Re: 1981 Chevrolet C50 Pick-up Conversion
 

subscribed. Nice work so far--looking forward to new updates

Re: 1981 Chevrolet C50 Pick-up Conversion
 

this is awesome

Re: 1981 Chevrolet C50 Pick-up Conversion
 

subscribed great work

Re: 1981 Chevrolet C50 Pick-up Conversion
 

stalking for work...Hope you enjoy your vaca weekend

Re: 1981 Chevrolet C50 Pick-up Conversion
 

Good to be back and even better that I can be back in my shop. Too much time to think when your away... ha!

I got the firewall in primer and got a little head of myself and did some topcoat. What does everyone think of the color? I think it will go well with the blue block and black accessories.

Here are some photos, not the best resolution, left my camera with my wife in Florida.

Started on the rear of the cab.

Re: 1981 Chevrolet C50 Pick-up Conversion
 

damn...what are you sanding with? That is bare metal right?

Re: 1981 Chevrolet C50 Pick-up Conversion
 

The paint is so old and dull, I decided to take it down to bare metal.

I have been using paint stripper, followed by scraper/angle grinder with wire wheel, then paper to ideal smoothness.

Re: 1981 Chevrolet C50 Pick-up Conversion
 

Are you using any kind of rust preventer on the spots of surface rust?

Re: 1981 Chevrolet C50 Pick-up Conversion
 

Its been a few days since I have posted. Its been a busy few weeks. None the less I have been doing some work on the truck.

Re: 1981 Chevrolet C50 Pick-up Conversion
 

Got the interior out and ready prep the inside of cab. The inside will be the same color as the exterior.

I need to finish prepping the outside of the cab. Primer is on order, it was on back order.

Re: 1981 Chevrolet C50 Pick-up Conversion
 

nice

Re: 1981 Chevrolet C50 Pick-up Conversion
 

Here is the first dilemma for my project... ha.

Over the weekend I purchased a 5 speed transmission out of a split rear end medium duty gm truck with a 366.

Unfortunately I did not do enough research on this swap. I thought this would be nice and easy to change over, not so far.... lol.

As per the photos, the bell housing is different, no worries, the 4 speed bell bolts on.... But, the input shaft on the 5 speed is a little longer, and the 4 speed bell is not as wide. Not sure if I have enough clearance in the crank.

Another problem is the input shaft on the 5 speed is about a half inch larger than the 4 speed, I will have to change the pilot bearing. I do not think this will be an issue.

Tomorrow I will see if I can solve the last part of the puzzle. Seeing if I can get the same size diameter clutch with the same input shaft size.

If this is confusing, it kind of is for me too... lol. I do not have a lot of experience with manual transmissions.

Re: 1981 Chevrolet C50 Pick-up Conversion
 

sweet build

Re: 1981 Chevrolet C50 Pick-up Conversion
 

Are you using paint stripper on the body/paint?

Re: 1981 Chevrolet C50 Pick-up Conversion
 

This is an awesome build!

Re: 1981 Chevrolet C50 Pick-up Conversion
 

I am using a paint stripper on most of the metal. I started trying to sand it out, but years on the paint and multiple layers of dead paint had me opting to use paint stripper.

It can be messy, but it has worked to loosen up the paint. I usually put a heavy coat on then use a scraper. Or I have used my angle grinder with a wire wheel. I knock off most of the paint then hit it with my orbital and smooth everything out.

Once done I cover the metal with a self etching primer.

I worked on getting the roof stripped tonight. I will be glad when this process is over, and have the minor dents smoothed out and the cab is in primer.

Here is a picture of my half stripped roof. Had enough for the night, will get the rest tomorrow.

Re: 1981 Chevrolet C50 Pick-up Conversion
 

The transmission dilemma has been solved........................................ Stick with what I had! Ha.

I feel I could spend a lot of time and money to get all of this working. If anything positive about the situation, I will be able to sandblast the original bell housing and degrease and and paint the gear box.

Hopefully I can resell this... ha.

Re: 1981 Chevrolet C50 Pick-up Conversion
 

showoff! lol keep it up

Re: 1981 Chevrolet C50 Pick-up Conversion
 

sweet truck man is it a 427? not sure if it was already said

Re: 1981 Chevrolet C50 Pick-up Conversion
 

Thanks, its actually a 350 with a four speed. This is a 3 ton truck. My understanding is that the 5 tons had either the 366, 427 or Detroit Diesel engines with 2 speed rears.

As per my previous posts, I have since found out that the 366 and I am presuming the 427, however never presume (LOL), have different bellhousings, larger clutches and input shafts for converting to a 5 speed.

Re: 1981 Chevrolet C50 Pick-up Conversion
 

I am looking at a 50 this weekend, low miles 350. missing the radiator ? will a 3/4 or 1 ton work ? Good tires, no rust good glass, but no bed ! What would you do ? Thanks for any suggestions....jack