1949 Chevy 3100 Build Thread

[Flysocal]

Thanks for the encouragement guys. There is no way this truck will be done this summer. More like September or October. It depends on how long paint will take so it might be sooner but probably late fall. I ordered my bed from mar-k should arrive in 2 weeks or so. In the meantime it's chassis assembly time!!!

[mongocanfly]

That gloss black frame is slick...powder looks like its a inch deep

[Flysocal]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

That gloss black frame is slick...powder looks like its a inch deep

Thanks man, I'm very happy with the gloss black PC. Looks more "custom" than standard GM black.

It's nice to be wrenching again. Rear end has been installed. Motion gear 370 posi third member is in. Went with moser 31 spline axles which will be installed tomorrow. Going to order my driveshaft when I put weight on the rear wheels so I can properly measure. But looks somewhere in he neighborhood of 54". Think I will go with inland empire driveline 3" aluminum up to 500hp. I want to stay local whenever possible.

As for bodywork and paint I'm going to have the pros do it. But it's gonna be expensive! Had a guy come by and look my stuff over on Sunday. Very good body shop does some awesome paint jobs. As of now I'm leaning towards precision red.

[Flysocal]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

That gloss black frame is slick...powder looks like its a inch deep

Thanks man, I'm very happy with the gloss black PC. Looks more "custom" than standard GM black.

It's nice to be wrenching again. Rear end has been installed. Motion gear 370 posi third member is in. Went with moser 31 spline axles which will be installed tomorrow. Going to order my driveshaft when I put weight on the rear wheels so I can properly measure. But looks somewhere in he neighborhood of 54". Think I will go with inland empire driveline 3" aluminum up to 500hp. I want to stay local whenever possible.

As for bodywork and paint I'm going to have the pros do it. But it's gonna be expensive! Had a guy come by and look my stuff over on Sunday. Very good body shop does some awesome paint jobs. As of now I'm leaning towards precision red.

[joedoh]

love the red, looks like a cinnabar I had on a bmw years ago. hell I love anything red.

[SKT]

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Hotdog painting it?

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[Flysocal]

Originally Posted by SKT

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Hotdog painting it?

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I'm probably gonna use the paint shop that neighbors hotdog. He uses their booth to spray. They will do all the body work and spray the main color. I hope to use hotdog for some finishing touches. Although I believe paint to be a huge part of the build my goal is to stay out of painter prison!

As for progress, I got the rear end all bolted up. Driveshaft arrived from inland empire driveline and slipped right into place and bolted perfectly to my 1350 style yoke. For 25 extra I opted for the aluminum version although it wasn't necessary.

Next project is the exhaust so I can put the cab back on the frame and open up a little space in the garage. The hooker headers are set up to run 2-1/4 tube so I had a local muffler shop make some adaptors and intermediate pipe. I'm gonna need to cut to size and weld it up. It's all 2-1/2" tube with a crossover and flow master delta 40 mufflers all from summit. Not sure where I will dump, either out the side before the wheel or under the bed.

[focusedontheprize]

Looks great. It must feel good to get that weight off your shoulders, you'll be turning the tires in that thing in no time.

[Flysocal]

Got the exhaust mostly done. Need to mount running boards and fenders, drop the truck on all 4s before I can finalize the side dump. Here's what it looks like as of now, O2 bungs welded in, added flanges at mufflers. Moving along slowly...

[oldman3]

Looking good...Jim

[84blaze]

Beautiful work.

[mongocanfly]

Looking reeaaalllly good..

[joedoh]

shes a beaut clark, a beaut!

[Rods57]

thats going to be super clean.

[Dan in Pasadena]

I can't remember which wheels those are? Sizes?

[Flysocal]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

I can't remember which wheels those are? Sizes?

Boyd Coddington Junkyard Dog. Rear is 20x8.5 245/40/20 front is 18x8 215/45/18

Cab back on frame and back on all 4s! Nice to have a rolling chassis. Getting it this far is no joke, would have been easier to have Scott's or AME make the chassis but I'm happy with it so far just a ton of work! Experienced hottrodders say double the time and budget and that's about right. Right now it sits on dollies that raise it 2.5". The ground will be 7.5" below the running boards which is pretty much the scrub line. Lots of stuff sits about there (front crossmember, oil pan, driveshaft loop, mufflers. The exit pipe will have just 4" clearance from the ground which I think will be fine. Next task is to assemble my bed and sheet metal so I can secure running boards so I can finish the exhaust. Giant jigsaw puzzle.

[Advanced Design]

Nicely done!

[dug224]

Beautiful work!

[MIKESAD50]

Looking good, Nice work!

[Flysocal]

Thanks for the props.

Got the bed partially assembled. Enough to get my fenders on and check the all important rear wheel fit. I'm happy with how it looks. These trucks look so good with a tight fitting rear wheel! Rim is level with fender lip. It's tight in there but I don't think I will have rubbing problems. 1/2" clearance from bed and about an 3/4" fender clearance at the tightest point. BTW Mar-K has good stuff.

[mongocanfly]

Looks good..I agree with giving mar-k props..I just got my new bedsides..remarkable. .

[iowaboynca]

Looks great. I'm predicting 1st drive about mid-summer!

[Flysocal]

Originally Posted by iowaboynca

Looks great. I'm predicting 1st drive about mid-summer!

Haha I appreciate your optimism. It will be at paint in May. Painter says 4 months so I will be lucky if it's done by the fall.

I gotta say, after dealing with all the Chinese repop junk and old OEM rusted dinged up stuff, this stuff from mar-k is a breath of fresh air! Got the tailgate mocked up and roll pan tacked in place. You can see the drop down battery box in the pic. It's slightly higher than the gas tank. Visible but very accessible.

[mongocanfly]

It'd be greater than fantastic if mar-k would get full bore into repop sheetmetal parts for our trucks..I'd buy everything from them if they did..

[focusedontheprize]

The truck is looking great.