todd68chevy
 

Here is a couple pictures of my 46 in progress. It started life as a 1 1/2 ton firetruck and now the cab is being installed on a S10 frame.

Re: todd68chevy
 

Hope you do not mind. I thought this was worthy of its own thread. I copied it from the pic post.

Re: todd68chevy
 

No problem with me, Thanks. I will try to post more pictures and description later when I get home. Thanks again LIZ for thinking it is worthy of its own thread. Todd

Re: todd68chevy
 

I agree.This shows another way to go with combining the early iron and cardboard & plastic moderns.Basically there will only the the newer features w/o the cardboard & plastic.This is a good one to follow.

BTW,I`m really excited about this new forum.:D

Re: todd68chevy
 

Todd, You've certainly got your work cut out (no pun intended) for you. It will be super nice when its done. What are you planning on powering the truck with?

As much as I like what you're doing I've got to admit that what's left of the little boy in me thinks that restoring the original firetruck in bright red, covered with shiny chrome and brass bits would have been awesome too. Was the original firetruck still mostly complete? You might be able to sell all the parts to someone on a firetruck website (there's GOT to be one out there!) for a better price; and maybe as a package, than just by garage sale or on Craigslist. Just an idea to help finance your project.

Re: todd68chevy
 

I hope when I get done I have a good looking truck that I can drive anywhere.

I am also excited about this new forum

Re: todd68chevy
 

I did get into a bigger job than I was originally planning but it will be fun when I get done. I am going to run a 283 cid sbc, three dueces, 700r4 transmission and the original S10 rear diff.

This was a complete truck bought from a fire dept. when I started but I have a 1940 Chevy Firetruck also that I am keeping a firetruck that I am upgrading the drivetrain only on. There are firetruck clubs out there that have shows for antique firetrucks also. The 40 Chevy is going to look completely original but the front and rear axles are from a 1988 Chevy box truck and small block Chevy engine and turbo 400 transmission, power steering and power brakes. Thanks again, Todd

Re: todd68chevy
 

Todd, looks like a very nice project. I saw those pictures and thought how cool a resto-mod fire truck could be. All the lights, siren, etc, but dropped with a modern drivetrain and custom touches. I too am really excited that we got this forum!

Re: todd68chevy
 

Here are some more pictures. The 1993 S10 frame had to narrowed 5" behind the front control arms. I am going to have S10 front and rear suspension, steering and brakes. I am even using the brake pedal, booster and steering column. I am going to run a 283 cid sbc with 3 dueces, 700r4 and the S10 rear end. I put a 1939 dash in it because I liked the looks of it better. Now my buddy that is doing the body work (I am helping when I can but I am not a body man) has talked me into stretching the cab 6" in the doors for more leg room.

Re: todd68chevy
 

That work on the frame looks nice.You have a good body man to be eager to jump into a cab stretch you didn`t ask for.

Re: todd68chevy
 

Thanks Special-K and yes I am very thankful to have very good friend that is a very good body man. I think the hardest part we have been talking about is that the rear of the cab will also need widened because the cab keeps getting wider as it goes back. I have an extra cab and doors to be able to do the project. I had the PhotoShop people show me what the stretched cab will look like-- http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=383763 --check it out. I really like it. It is hard to tell it is even stretched. The red 1948 Chevy in the thread is my buddies wifes truck and he really wished he would have stretch that cab is why he thinks mine needs to be and I am agreeing with him. Here are some more pictures.

Re: todd68chevy
 

Looks like you guys are making some really nice progress. After seeing you p shop thread, I thought about how much nicer it looks after the stretch. I am excited to watch your progress. When cutting your cab, you cut with a sawzall, plasma, or what?

Re: todd68chevy
 

Well the progress was good for a while and then I got busy on other stuff. I have been trying to get back to it and this thread has really got me thinking more about it. I am going to be working on it again this weekend. The cab will probably be cut with an air saw. It is air operated and uses a blade like a jigsaw. My buddy uses it to cut out rusted panels and other items. It gives a good cut without distroying the metal. I hope to have pictures of the start of the cutting next week if things go good.

Re: todd68chevy
 

Air saw works very well. Good luck with the motivation to get rolling again. :thumbs:

Re: todd68chevy
 

Well He started cutting Saturday and started reassembling on Sunday. It was a good weekend!! We ended up using the extra cab that I had and cut the original cab back 3 inches and the second cab 3 inches forward. We decided to try changing the door angle instead of widening the rear. Here are some pictures of the weekends progress.

Re: todd68chevy
 

Todd, we are picking up a 1 1/2 ton 46' out of our town yard soon. I am looking forward to seeing what you do to yours. What are you doing about a bed? Trevor

Re: todd68chevy
 

The problems with the 1 1/2 are the fenders and the running boards. You can run the bigger fenders but it will take a good size tire to look correct and then the bed fenders might not look correct. I am keeping the running boards and taking a 1/2 set of fenders and having modified to make. I plan on using a set of 47-53 truck bed sides and year correct fenders but I only have the bed sides so my plans might change. Good luck with your project and hope to see pictures soon.
Todd

Re: todd68chevy
 

Thanks Todd, when we drag it home, I will shoot some pics, but it will be a backburner project as we got too much stuff dismantled right now and the shop is a wreck. :lol::lol: Trevor

Re: todd68chevy
 

Todd, looks like good progress! Looks like you have the proportions nailed.

Re: todd68chevy
 

Any updates?

Re: todd68chevy
 

Sorry to say but not much. My buddy doing the body work has been working on his own truck for a while and I have been busy this summer and have not worked frame either. I am planning on getting back on it this winter. I do have a couple pictures of the door way back together but the roof still needs modified. The problem with the roof is that the cab gets 1 1/2" wider in the 6 inches of stretch so it was either widen the back or rebuild roof to work. My buddy desided he would rather redo the roof than cut the cab into more parts. I hope to have more soon. Thanks for asking

Re: todd68chevy
 

just wondering do you still have the gas tank for the 46 for sell 931 261 9293

Re: todd68chevy
 

I have 1 or 2 gas tanks available. I have sold a couple for $50.00 each but I think shipping will be a killer.

Re: todd68chevy
 

do they still work if so let me know how much shipping will be to clarkrange tn 38553 thanks

Re: todd68chevy
 

Todd i could use both tanks im working on a 40 gmc pick up and a 46 gmc 1 ton if you like you can reach me at 931-261-9293 anytime

Re: todd68chevy
 

If you can clean it up so it doesnt smell like gas,
and pack the tank up in cardboard,
greyhound will ship for around 80$

Re: todd68chevy
 

Thanks for the information. We actually worked out a deal that I was going to Alabama and met up with him in Nashville, TN. I used to ship using Greyhound but they closed the local terminal and now the closest to me is about 100 miles away. Thanks again, Todd

Re: todd68chevy
 

Went and spent the weekend with my buddy in Michigan and fit in some project work time while I was there. With the stretching, where the front half and back half meet are not the same width. The roof part of the door jamp has already been modified and this weekend we worked on the bottom of the door jam. I removed the seat riser and split the rear section so it could be widened. He reangled the front piece and welded them together. That got the door frame right. Then we cut the inner part on the floor and made the rail for the center panel line up straight. I cut filler panels and he started welding them back in. I also removed a rusted section in front of the floor board so it could be replaced with a better panel I had removed from another cab. Not a lot of progress but at least we got some work done on it after not working on it for a while. The next trip up I am going to take the frame and dog house parts so we can get it remounted before cutting the door and making them fit. We want it bolted to the frame incase we are not straight right now. Hope to post more sooner than the time it took to get this done.

Re: todd68chevy
 

More pictures.

Re: todd68chevy
 

One more

Re: todd68chevy
 

Well it has been a while without progress but I am looking for parts again and hope to get this project moving again shortly. I have a question about aftermarket sheet metal. I am looking at buying some parts to make a bed. I would like to know if anybody has anything to say good or bad about the new sheet metal for these trucks.

I am thinking about just buying a new tailgate but concerned if they are weak like the 67-72 tailgates are or maybe the original ones were not strong either. I do not expect them to hold extreme weight but would like to be able to sit or stand on it. Will they hold 300 lbs without bowing? new one or original?

I am also looking for new STEEL rear fenders. Does anybody make them? I have found fiberglass but I want steel.

Thanks for your help and advice

Re: todd68chevy
 

I made the trip to my buddy's in Michigan this last weekend and was able to make a little progress on the the truck. We got the stretched cab placed on the frame for the first time since stretching it. Made new rear cab mounts so the cab could be bolted down and the roof can finished. We also spent some time getting the front fender and bed side mocked up to see how things are going to work out. I now have a new list of items I need to get before the next trip north. Here are some pictures.

Re: todd68chevy
 

Started gathering more parts for the next trip north to work on the truck. I found a 4wd S10 rear end with limited slip and only 90,000 miles on it, so I gain limit slip and width at the same time. Also bought a S10 bed last night to use for a donor for the floor and inner fenders. Still looking for a tailgate, front bed panel and rear fenders before I make the trip.

Re: todd68chevy
 

My Mar-K parts came today. Tailgate, Front bed panel and hardware. Getting closer all the time. Heading to swap meets the next 2 weekends so maybe I will find some fenders.

Re: todd68chevy
 

Made a trip to MI last weekend and spent some time working on the truck. I had gotten a S10 bed and cut it apart to use the floor. It is 4" short but looks like it is going to work fine. We also swapped out the 2wd S10 rear end for a 4wd S10 rear end to gain 4" of width. With the inner fenders, I should have 10" to 12" of room for tires when done.

Re: todd68chevy
 

The bed looks great. You just going to cut a section and patch in to gain the 4" you're short? I'm needing to get a complete bed for my '41 and this looks like a helluva good start! Tons of those S-10's around I could part out lol.

Re: todd68chevy
 

Thanks, I was thinking that way until I talked to my buddy that is doing the body work. He thinks it will be extremely hard to weld and smooth out all the up and downs of the ribs so I think we are just going to use flat metal and leave the ribs short. I am going to go with a spray in bed liner and I do not think it will look that bad in the front. The rear is mainly filled in by the rear bed brace so it will be flat metal also. If I was not using a S10 frame I probably would have went with a different floor that was long enough. A Dodge Dakota would be long enough or even a full size truck but you would either loose the inner fenders or put something else in. Another option would be to shorten the bed sides by 6 inches and leave the floor alone.

Re: todd68chevy
 

I have gathered somemore parts over the last few weeks and did some sandblasting this weekend. I now have a better pair of bed sides to use and I found some steel rear fenders. The left one is pretty close to rust free and has a few dents to work out and the right one is also pretty rust free but it is bent up and dented pretty good in a couple areas. My buddy has said before that he would rather work with dents than rust so I guess we will find out if that is true. Here are a few pictures. Well, I would post pictures if it would let me do it. It says they are all to big. My camera is already set on the lowest quality and I have no idea how to change the size on the computer.

Re: todd68chevy
 

Great job on the stretch! I've been trying to figure out how to do mine but I know my limitations. My Dad bought me a 46 when I was a baby, I don't think he knew at the time I would be 6'4". Again great job, keep up the good work.

Re: todd68chevy
 

Thanks, I have more pictures but have not got them posted yet. My buddy is doing the hard work. I am just the helper/ parts buyer. The hardest part is going to be the curves in the roof but he has been working on it and I am sure it will work out fine. He has already cut the top of the door jamps apart and reworked them because he was not happy with how they looked. It is going slow because it is just a side project that he works on when he has time but it is working out for me because that is spacing out the money that I have to spend on it. I think it is going to be great when it is done and I know it will be right but it is deffinately a lot of work and talent involved to get there. It would probably have been easier to add onto the back of the cab and just make the cab bigger but I just do not like that look on the oler cabs. Thanks again