1954 Chevy / S10

[xpickup]

OrrieG, We do this every once and a while. Our friends aren't for PA so they have no family here and we will trade off, but only for a couple hours. Everybody is soo busy these days, my parents and her parents will not watch all 3 at a time. My kids are good its just too much for them. Did order a pedal , booster an master cyclinder today. I will mount that next week.

[xpickup]

Got the brake pedal assembly today and it was real nice. It was really a good price. Whole thing (pedal, 7" dual booster, master cylinder and residual valves) was $211 shipped! It was from Pirate Jacks. I welded the other side of the tranny mount and started to figure out how to mount the pedal assembly. It was to fit an original frame and not an s10. Nothing a welder and some steel can't fix! Headers should hopefully be coming soon. Here are some pictures.

[nickp51chevy]

Cool build. Do you have any drawn out plans for the bed bed?

[xpickup]

nickp51chevy, No , but let me know what you need. I have both styles that I measured from trucks. My sons is the 48-53 style and the other one is the 54-55 style.

[nickp51chevy]

The splash aprons and running board sections; how did you do those? I think those would be the only real challenge.

[xpickup]

nickp51chevy, The splash aprons were done on slip rolls and then have a 1" 90 degree bend on the bottom of them. That way you can bolt it to the top of the running board. If you don't have a slip roll it can be done on a brake. Mark your sheet metal on both ends every 1/4" were your radius will be and bend a little at each mark till you get the right radius. I made a radius gage to check it as I go.
The running board I have a 1" back bend on the bottom then I think it is 1 3/4" high and then what ever the distance back. The truck I am working on has 3" wider fender in the back so the running board is wider in the back. Next I bent the upright pieces. I have a 1" bend at the top then whatever the distance tto the running board then another 1" bend at the bottom. So it looks like a channel. On the bottom of the channel I unibitted holes every 3" and they are 3/8" to plug weld channel to running board and also stitch welded on back side of the runnig board. The channel isn't all one piece and isn't staight. Under the cab is 1/2" lower than the area where the splash apron is. The running boards were the left over pieces from the making the bed sides. They were longer than they need to be but that was good that way you have room for error for cutting the radius for the fenders. I fit it to the front and back fenders. I then welded in a piece of sheet metal for the ends so that it bolts to the fenders. If you need any pictures let me know and I'll post them.

[xpickup]

Here's some pictures

[nickp51chevy]

Damn dude! Those are nice.

[Fat Mike]

Question about your brake booster? The bracing that you welded in seems like it won't allow you to be able to add fluid. How much room do you have and can you add a reservoir in some other location?

[xpickup]

Fat Mike, It sets down a couple of inches and there will a small removeable panel for filling or there should be enough room to fill /check under the truck. Most times if you fill under the old cars/trucks you have to fill with a hose on brake fluid bottle. It's just setting there to see how to mount it to the frame. You know one thing usually lends to another.

[Fat Mike]

I helped a friend install one yesterday on a 49 and he was very dissappointed because he said there was barely any roon to put fluid. He works at a fab shop and was going to drill a hole and tap it so he could add a reservoir inside the cab right behind the driver door.

[xpickup]

Fat Mike, That is good idea but he should make 3 bongs and weld on. 1 for each side of the master cylinder and 1 to vent both sides also. Don't if it would get air bond.

[Kabwe]

Great work on those running boards. I love the smooth look.

[xpickup]

Kabwe, Thank you

[RootBeer 6117]

Man I'd be willing to trade some free child labor for some metal work like you do.Im impressed

[xpickup]

RootBeer 6117, Thank you. As I said before I do love any kind of metal work. My sprockets came this week so hopefully I be able to power up my bead roller soon. There will be a lot beading on the floor panels and the inner fenders. Tomorrow I will hopefully get the pedal assembly mounted.

[nickp51chevy]

I can't wait to see the beads!


This is gonna be good, I can tell.

[OrrieG]

Originally Posted by Fat Mike

I helped a friend install one yesterday on a 49 and he was very dissappointed because he said there was barely any roon to put fluid. He works at a fab shop and was going to drill a hole and tap it so he could add a reservoir inside the cab right behind the driver door.

My solution:

[xpickup]

OrrieG, That is something like I was thinking.
Posted via Mobile Device

[xpickup]

OK, the brake pedal is in. Remember one thing always measure twice and cut once, but I should listen to my own words. No I'm not changing to a manual trans just a little more welding! I measured a factory floor pan hole and marked/cut it and then realized it had to be over a little more. Naturally after I cut the hole. There is 3" from the floor to the top of the master cylinder cap. There will be door in the floor for filling. So here are the pictures for the night.

[docrock]

OMG wtf...that bed is sick. my kids would never leave home. I got to see if I can make giant one for me and the wife. lol. You have some great ideas and your welds are killing me. DONT look at my welds they are no where near that clean. Keep posting picks. Im building a 42 and 54 trucks and need beds for both. I think you have got that bed building down.

[xpickup]

docrock, Thank you. I have built 4 of them and have it down to science now. I have thoughts of building them for a side business down the road when I finish everyone elses projects and get mine one the road! That my be a while. Can you do me a favor and take a picture of where the hood meets the grill so I can see how it's supposed to fit. There aren't to many 54-55 grills on here. The hood on the one I am building doesn't fit real well. It's going to get some surgery.

[docrock]

my 54 chevy sold and the GMC I am building is different. I know what you mean about the hood grill line up, the GMC is even more jacked up. I will look thru pics and see if I have something

[xpickup]

docrock, Thank you and if you can't no big deal .I can make it line up.

[xpickup]

One of Santa's elves in the brown truck came and brought me some headers. Headers will work great with the steering and the brakes. I'm ordering the Lokar shifter tomorrow so I can soon finish the floor. Mandrel bends and mufflers are also coming. Next will be a steering column. Found a new steel one with tilt for around $240 from Southern Rods. Here is some pictures.