My version of the s10 swap

[BlueJeep]

Well I've managed to get a few more things done over the past couple of weeks. I got the motor mounts gusseted and painted, and the engine has been installed for good. I also modified the transmission crossmember. I thought I'd have to re-mount it farther back on the frame, but was able to just make a new mount for it and notch the crossmember.

[BlueJeep]

Originally Posted by bk2life

what is a clean and strip disc?

Sorry for not responding sooner, this is a clean and strip disc:



http://www.amazon.com/Norton-Non-Woven-Depressed-C...

[Chevette]

Originally Posted by BlueJeep

Sorry for not responding sooner, this is a clean and strip disc:



http://www.amazon.com/Norton-Non-Wov...and+strip+disc

How are those wheels lasting for you? I bought three "Gator" brand wheels and they wear out way too fast for me. To make matters worse, I paid $19.49 per each for them. Would like to find one that gets a bit of stripping done before it's ready for the garbage pail. Maybe the ones you're using will last better?

[Wheelie]

I like that narrowing fixture you got there. I always cringe when I see someone try to narrow a housing without one. Your project is coming along real nice!

[BlueJeep]

Originally Posted by Wheelie

I like that narrowing fixture you got there. I always cringe when I see someone try to narrow a housing without one. Your project is coming along real nice!

I've been using the jig for many years, and have built countless axles with it (mostly semi-float dana 60's). It's the only way you can ensure the housing ends are aligned with the carrier bearings. Last week I got some new pieces to make it easier than using a "dummy" 3rd member.

[_Ogre]

fender brace clearance: remember your motor will rock back and forth under acceleration
you should have at least an inch clearance to anything fixed to the body

i used to work for dana heavy axle division, the machine that swedges the axle tube down is a pretty amazing machine
the ford superduty axle tubes had a 9/16 wall tube that got swedged down 1/2 inch

[cleanshaven84]

Looking good Blue!

[oldman3]

Nice job....Jim

[Chevette]

Great job on the sheet metal! Nice looking slip roll. How big is the throat? Your truck is coming along very nicely.

[panelrodder81]

@BlueJeep - interested in your motor mounts. I'm doing 5.3 swap on my '53 from the 5.7 that was in there before. The position of your motor looks great, not to deep or tall like some get.

Any info or pics?

-Panelrodder

[BlueJeep]

Originally Posted by Chevette

Great job on the sheet metal! Nice looking slip roll. How big is the throat? Your truck is coming along very nicely.

It's the 24" (beginners) model.

Originally Posted by panelrodder81

@BlueJeep - interested in your motor mounts. I'm doing 5.3 swap on my '53 from the 5.7 that was in there before. The position of your motor looks great, not to deep or tall like some get.

Any info or pics?

-Panelrodder

Let me know what you need/want. It's really easy to get anything at this point.

[panelrodder81]

Originally Posted by BlueJeep

Let me know what you need/want. It's really easy to get anything at this point.

Well a couple pics would be the most basic request I guess. Are you using the stock ls mounts or something custom or something you purchased somewhere?

My motor came with some stock mounts and my first thought was to lower the motor in place and just see if they would even work. I've looked at aftermarket mounts and they are crazy expensive for just some metal plates so I'd like to see if I can use what I've got or modify them before dropping coin on new ones.

-Panelrodder

PS: Your build is inspirational man and I'm gonna jack your batter mount in the fender well idea I think.

[BlueJeep]

Originally Posted by panelrodder81

Well a couple pics would be the most basic request I guess. Are you using the stock ls mounts or something custom or something you purchased somewhere?

My motor came with some stock mounts and my first thought was to lower the motor in place and just see if they would even work. I've looked at aftermarket mounts and they are crazy expensive for just some metal plates so I'd like to see if I can use what I've got or modify them before dropping coin on new ones.

-Panelrodder

PS: Your build is inspirational man and I'm gonna jack your batter mount in the fender well idea I think.

Thanks! I used motor mounts from Carshop.com. I'd likely build my own if I did it again, mainly because since they came all welded up I had to cut them apart to start fitting then to my frame, which was more work than I wanted. If you go back in the build thread a page or two you'll see lots of great pictures of the motor mounts and how it sits in the frame. I have a couple sets of stock ones too, but I think it would take too much to be able to re-use them as they're bulky and not flat.

Here's a good picture showing how low the motor sits in the frame:

[oldman3]

Trans hump looks great, I agree those repop panels can be a bear to make work...Jim

[BlueJeep]

Tonight I spent a few more hours working on the cab. I have the cowl panel on for good and the driver's side cab corner. Just a few more things to wrap up before I call that side done.



Here's how much I had to spread the cowl to get it to somewhat line up with the door.


I'll have to do the same thing with the bottom of the cowl too, but I don't have good access to it right now so that might wait until I pull the cab back off.

The cab corner turned out pretty nice, some finish grinding still required.


And here's where I'm at with the profile of the door and the profile of the back of the cab. I'm not looking for perfection here, but I am going to get it better than this:

[oldman3]

Going to spread back of cab to match door, like the front???Jim

[BlueJeep]

Originally Posted by oldman3

Going to spread back of cab to match door, like the front???Jim

Yes, that's exactly what I'll be doing.

[Atommik]

It's always a challenge to get everything fitting how you want it. I spent alot of time on the door/cab gaps too.

Looking great!!

[BlueJeep]

Chipping away at it a little more. An inside task I could do was to figure out what the hole needed to look like for my suburban gas filler grommet. I had previously used the truck one, but didn't like the mis-match of angles of the filler neck and the grommet. My solution was to order a suburban one. Since I don't have a suburban, I had to figure out the hole for it. Paper pattern to the rescue:



Then again on some scrap to check the fit:


Yep, that'll work:

[BlueJeep]

Since I had help here this weekend, I did some work on the bed. First I had to fix one of the captured nuts on the bottom that had broken loose. Then, I was able to set the bed back on the frame and build new mounts for the front of it. Last time it was together, I just kept the front box mounts...but never liked how big and bulky they were with the integrated cab mount. I cut those off when I blasted the frame and was now able to build new ones. I also needed to support the front of the bed floor, which had been spliced on from another s10 bed. I came up with a simple solution using 1x2 rectangle tubing that would meet the need and be clean.

Bed back on the frame:




New mounts:


Checking the fit with some spare parts:


And lastly, my helpers seeing if the tailgate works....it did.

[48ChevBagged]

Originally Posted by BlueJeep

Yes, that's exactly what I'll be doing.

Have you ever ordered your radiator yet. Wasnt sure what you ended up going with. Most of the ones I have seen have an angled lower snout. I would like to find one that comes off straight.

[xpickup]

BlueJeep, Looking good. It is alway good having little helpers. Mine has not been able to come out lately because of too much welding and grinding. I love the s10 bed floor. Keep up the great work.

Shannon

[BlueJeep]

Originally Posted by oldman3

Looking good...Jim

Thanks!

Originally Posted by Indian113

You sure have some quality helpers working on your truck with you. Your not only building a old truck but making memories for a lifetime! Keep up the good work.

Yep, and I'm pretty sure they're the only ones in their preschool class who know what clecos are and how to use them.

Originally Posted by 48ChevBagged

Have you ever ordered your radiator yet. Wasnt sure what you ended up going with. Most of the ones I have seen have an angled lower snout. I would like to find one that comes off straight.

Haven't figured out a radiator yet. I keep looking for one with the proper 1 1/4" upper and 1 1/2" lower fittings with a steam port. No luck yet.

Originally Posted by xpickup

BlueJeep, Looking good. It is alway good having little helpers. Mine has not been able to come out lately because of too much welding and grinding. I love the s10 bed floor. Keep up the great work.

Shannon

Mine have safety goggles and earmuffs, but have to go inside when I get to major grinding or welding too.

[trucktech]

What kind of spacing did you have when you made your trans tunnel?

[BlueJeep]

Originally Posted by trucktech

What kind of spacing did you have when you made your trans tunnel?

I made it pretty tight. Probably around 1/2". Also pay attention to where your tranny cooler lines hook up. I had to make an extra little tunnel for the top one on mine. I guess that helps illustrate how tight I made it!