Marks Diesel 46 project
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Hi I,m Mark. I love reading about everyones truck projects here so I thought I would try posting my project truck. I bought my 46 Chevy about 5 years ago as a basket case and have been collecting parts and finishing other projects. I started last year but I don't have much time so its going slow. I will try to post some pics to catch up to where I am now. I have never done a complete build before. My goal is to build a daily driver. A 46 1/2 ton with 79 Malibu front suspension, an 84 Mercedes 300D 5 cylinder turbo diesel, 5 speed AX15 jeep transmission and S10 rear and springs.Here is pics of getting it home. Attachment 1501404
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Re: Marks Diesel 46 project
Welcome Mark. I'm subscribed to see progress.
Interesting choice on the Mercedes. |
Re: Marks Diesel 46 project
Welcome, this should be very interesting indeed. I love the 41-46 rigs and you have started with a solid looking one.
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Thanks for the replies. Here are some pics from March 2015. Pulling the engine out of the 300D one evening after work. A friend of mine was junking his mothers old 79 Malibu and I was able to get the front frame section in trade for fixing the transmission in his wifes minivan! I brought it all home to the backyard garage.
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After a lot of measuring and head scratching and some more measuring I started to cut the Malibu frame front crossmember to clear the front sump oil pan on the Mercedes diesel engine. Then I made some steel plates to weld in.
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Here is some pics from April 2015. Put some 2" drop spindles on the Malibu suspension and pushed the truck into the backyard garage. I removed the rest of the front end, made a little jig to mark the placement of the core support for location on the new frame and measured the axle center for centering location of the wheels before I cut the front off the old frame. Then I removed the rest of the front and rear suspension.
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Re: Marks Diesel 46 project
Great project.
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Nice project. In case you do not know, what I found out was the 4wd S10 rear ends are 4" wider then the 2wd S10 rear ends.
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Re: Marks Diesel 46 project
Todd68Chevy, Thanks for the info on the rear axle. The one I have is from a 4X4 I think it will fit. It looked like the tire would rub the bed with a 2wd.
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Re: Marks Diesel 46 project
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Some more pics of the build. I set the frame on jack stands and set up most of the body panels to try to get the stance I am looking for so I could get measurements for the frame graft. Trimmed the frame rails off the Malibu suspension. Then I cut front frame rails off the 46. Then I got ready to join the two frames together. And started to weld it together.
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Re: Marks Diesel 46 project
Cool project. I am in to follow along.
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Thanks for the comments, Here is some more pics of welding and plating the frame. Made a mount for the radiator support(will need to be braced more) and made place to set engine mounts.
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Here is some pics from May 2015 test fitting the Mercedes turbo diesel engine in the frame.
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Tired of mud. The rest of the summer I learned how to pour concrete and did 30 yards in 5 sections. Makes me appreciate those who really know how to do this kind of work!
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Re: Marks Diesel 46 project
This looks like it will be a really cool truck. I love the alternative engine choice. Sometimes you have to use what you got, but will end up unique in the end. Keep up the good work.
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Re: Marks Diesel 46 project
Great project and nice fab work! That is some nice concrete work too!
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Thanks guys for the encouraging comments. Here is some pics of the rear suspension. I used springs and mounts from a 2wd S10 and a rear from a 4x4 S10 that one of the guys at work was scrapping. I had to cut the spring perches off the rear because the frame width is different and I will weld them back on in the correct position when I get the pinion angle figured out. I cut the front spring mounts off the s10 frame and welded them to the 46 frame. I cut the rear shackle mount out of the s10 frame, cut a hole in the 46 frame and welded them in place. I put 2 inch lowering block on it. Should give it the correct ride height but it is hard to tell since I never saw the springs with a load on them.
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Re: Marks Diesel 46 project
That's a cool way of doing it. Should work just fine.
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These pics are from February. I made a cart from some scrap lumber and old tool box wheels to set the cab on. I bolted the jeep trans to the Mercedes engine with the adapter plate. I didn't put the flywheel or clutch or anything in it yet, just setting it up for now. Modified the stock crossmember and used a two bolt Chevy trans mount to get it all lined up.
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I was going to try to use the original clutch and brake pedals but that didn't work out and the kits I looked at didn't look like they would fit in the space I have to work with and were very expensive so I decided to make a pedal set. I went out to the farm supply store and got a hitch pin and some bushings found a piece of 1/2 pipe and some square tubing. Bent the pipe over an old wheel. Made the framework from some shelving brackets. It took me all day to make it. More time measuring and looking than actually building. The brake booster and master will go on the other side of the crossmember.
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Re: Marks Diesel 46 project
Great work on your pedal assembly! It looks good and heavy duty from here!
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Re: Marks Diesel 46 project
Mark, that is some nice resourceful work. Looks really good!
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May have taken all day but looks great.
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I have been working on modifying a 1959 Chevy Bel Air steering column to put in the 46. Ill have pics of that later. Been looking for an interesting 50s or 60s steering wheel. I found this 1961 Impala wheel at the Carlisle swap meet. I cant wait to get this thing put together. Things have been so busy, seems like I don't have much time to work on the truck. This is one of the things keeping me busy....visiting with our third grand child.
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Re: Marks Diesel 46 project
59 steering wheel is a classy pic but I like the last pic best.
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The little one is a cutie. We just spent a week in Hanover visiting with our youngest granddaughter.
The steering wheel is a good idea. |
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OK I'm back at it after a long break. Had to do some major home remodeling and lots of family time with 5 grandchildren and one more next month. all 3 years and younger. I have some step by step pics to catch up to where I am now. Ill post in the next day or so.
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Re: Marks Diesel 46 project
wow I love the mercedes engine choice, nice work!
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Re: Marks Diesel 46 project
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I bought an A/C kit. I was able to get some universal mounts for the compressor. Made a plate and bolted to the engine block and welded the mounts to it. Also mounted a gm alternator.
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Re: Marks Diesel 46 project
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I was looking for an old looking steering column. Had a 59 Chevy column hanging in the attic of the garage. I had to shorten it 4 1/2 inches and bought new bearings horn switch and turn signal lever. I ground off the mount for shifter handle and filled the rest of the holes. Mounted it with exhaust clamps. I cant remember what the universal shaft came out of but I was able to make it work with a shat support bearing.
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Re: Marks Diesel 46 project
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Pulled the cab back off. Made a crossmember for the rear shocks and made up the mount for the brake booster and master cylinder.
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I can almost hear the clackity clack of that diesel! the overdrive will be nice too. I had an 81 300sd and it was a locomotive on the highway but turned a bit too much rpm for my liking.
hey did you know? you can build a lifting frame for your cherry picker and stick it through the windows, you can get a lot more height lifting from inside the cab. |
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Nice progress having ac will be nice.
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I Stripped the frame down and turned it over and finished all the welds. Next will be sandblast and paint as soon as I have time.
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Decided to take a day off work, I needed a break. Got home Thursday and still had some daylight (unusual this time of year). I moved the frame outside to degrease and pressure wash to get ready to blast.
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Re: Marks Diesel 46 project
A great way to clean the frame. Sure beats a wire wheel while still in the shop.
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Friday morning as soon as the sun came up and melted the frost away I started sandblasting. What a job. You don't realize how much surface area there is to a frame! It took me all day with a few breaks I was finishing up as the sun was going down and moved back in the garage. It sure was a good day for the job, warmed up to about 60, a nice breeze to blow away the dust, and lots of sunshine.
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