Here's my GMC/S10 build

[Lrall]

Originally Posted by playinsafe44

Thanks for the info. I've heard a lot of mixed feedback with wheel spacers. Some say they are rough on wheel bearings, too dangerous to run with dropped spindles, tire/wheel shops won't work on your stuff if it has them, and some say they are just too dangerous all together. I'm stationed over here at Osan AB. I just hit my 4 year mark in the AF as a 2T2 (air trans). So far I've deployed to Kirkuk, Ali Al Salem, and had a TDY to work Katrina relief (2 weeks). I have 2 months left on my tour here at Osan, and then I'm headed back to the wife and kid at Travis AFB. They weren't kidding when they said "the military isnt a job, it's a lifestyle"

If you get hubcentric wheel spacers, which bolt onto the old lugs and have new lugs which the wheel bolts onto. I have never heard of these being dangerous for wheel bearings or drop spindles. As far as i know they are as safe as normal lugs, i think the ones you are thinking of are the ones that are more of a traditional spacer. The 'dangerous' ones are like a big washer i think

[sgtusmc]

playinsafe44- I've heard the same, as far as wheel spacers go. I would never put them on a race car, sports car, or tow rig. As long as you don't drift your truck/car and hit super high speeds you "should" be fine. Once I swap the engine and rear, I'll be able to get the right B/S for the rims and remove them. I do think wheels spacers are safe, however, I would never let my son drive a car with them on. (To protective I guess)


Houston54- Thanks for the ego boost, after seeing the work you do/did on your truck it's a huge compliment. The sunroof is from http://www.inalfasunroofs.com/ It's an electric spoiler type. I'd have to say it's one of the best aftermarket sunroofs I've seen. Comes with very good instructions and template. At one point in my trucks life it had a spot light mounted on the roof. It had a huge rust area about 8"x8". So, after cutting it out my son decided he wanted a sunroof. I'd buy another one from them, I'm that impressed with the quality. I don't remember the size (they have allot). If your interested I'll get the measurement. The door panels from Roddoors are also really good quality. The fit is perfect. Down side to them is they don't have too many styles. There made of ABS so you can use plastic plumbers glue to mount/glue speaker pods or anything. They also sell flat ABS panels that you can mold to fit your door with a heat gun. I think if I had it to do over I'd buy the flat ABS from them or find some and make my own.
Once again I wanna thank you for posting your gauge bucket mod. I used it and am very happy with the results. I would have never thought of doing that. Like I stated before, I owe you a beer. Did you ever get any feedback about the lighting issue with the gauges?

[OrrieG]

Originally Posted by playinsafe44

Thanks for the info. I've heard a lot of mixed feedback with wheel spacers. Some say they are rough on wheel bearings, too dangerous to run with dropped spindles, tire/wheel shops won't work on your stuff if it has them, and some say they are just too dangerous all together. I'm stationed over here at Osan AB. I just hit my 4 year mark in the AF as a 2T2 (air trans). So far I've deployed to Kirkuk, Ali Al Salem, and had a TDY to work Katrina relief (2 weeks). I have 2 months left on my tour here at Osan, and then I'm headed back to the wife and kid at Travis AFB. They weren't kidding when they said "the military isnt a job, it's a lifestyle"

In the early 70's I ran adaptors on my vw van (rear) so I could run chevy ralley wheels for wider offroad tires. I drove it for 7 years on highway (it had an engine that let it cruise at 75), off-road rock and trail climbing for probably 40K miles with no problems. Same pricipal as the spacers that use the stock lugs with additional studs for the wheels. I can see where a slip over with longer studs could be a problem.

[playinsafe44]

Well that makes me feel a lot better. Where should I get my spacers from? I'm looking for the best quality I can get. I was thinking about just getting wheels with a different backspacing, but wouldn't it look kind of funny to have deep dish looking front wheels, and shallow rear wheels? Sgt your going to post some video of this thing right?

[sgtusmc]

I finally got around to tubbing my bed. I used 120mm mortar cans. Now I can fit some wider rims & bigger tires.







Here's a pic of the spacers I'm use'n They are 2.5" in the rear and 2" up front.

[andrewt2]

that looks like it turned out very nicely. diffantely cool to see that you're still incorporating the theme of the truck even for the wheel tubs.

[sgtusmc]

To tell the truth I was just to lazy to build tubs, and since I had no real use for the cans. I thought what the hell.

[andrewt2]

Originally Posted by sgtusmc

To tell the truth I was just to lazy to build tubs, and since I had no real use for the cans. I thought what the hell.

haha thats funny they still turned out lookin great.

[nickp51chevy]

The ammo boxes look awesome. I think that it looks good for not having the time.

[OrrieG]

Another cool addition...!

[Daniel U]

I can't wait to see this in person! Very cool man, very cool!

[Houston54]

Originally Posted by sgtusmc

The sunroof is from http://www.inalfasunroofs.com/ I don't remember the size (they have allot). If your interested I'll get the measurement.

If you come across the information please PM it to me

Once again I wanna thank you for posting your gauge bucket mod. I used it and am very happy with the results. I would have never thought of doing that. Like I stated before, I owe you a beer. Did you ever get any feedback about the lighting issue with the gauges?

Glad if worked on the 48-53 gauge buckets. Was not sure it would work for those years. It seems Dolphin is still working on the lighting issue. I hope they get a fix soon.


As for wheel spacers I would caution against using such wide ones. The spacers I have seen do not use grade 8 hardware which on the studs would be an issue if you have significant power going to the rear wheels. You might want to work the backspacing out so you can eliminate them since you are working the tubs at this time. If you need help figuring out the proper BS I can give you my $0.02.

Again, Nice Truck - enjoy it.

[sgtusmc]

Originally Posted by Daniel U

Did I miss a front end shot with the new/different bumper mounted? Looks good from there.

Here you go.

[jeffs51chevy]

Dude, that is extremely cool. Slap yourself on the back. You are one awsome father.

[eventytoo]

Awsome looking truck !

[MrTucker]

Originally Posted by sgtusmc

wow...that is the coolest pic I've seen in a long time. TIME magazine type of stuff.

Well done sir!

[Daniel U]

Your boy has a few things to be proud of. I sweet truck and a cool dad who built it for/with him. That thing is sweet! I'm sure he's learned so much by building this with you. He'll appreciate it so much more because of that. Very nice!

[sgtusmc]

Hey guy's I have a question. There's a local car show and my son wants to enter his truck. Question is, I don't know what category to enter it in. Their entries are for 47-55 but sub categories for original classic,custom,ratrod and under construction. It's not original, custom means I'll be parked next to high $ trucks, and ratrod...well there's no real rust and my interior is done. I'm pretty much done with it so I don't think I'm under constuction. What would you consider our truck? Sorry if this is a stupid question, I've never entered anything in a car show.

[GRIMSS]

I think more to rat rods with the worn paint look. Not all rat rods are rusty. On custom they look for stuff that shines.

I have my "NOBACK" that I ran around to a lot of VW shows before the primer thing was every where and all I got was "what color you going to paint it?" Now that I don't take it out any more the shows all have a volksrod class.

[nickp51chevy]

Sgt,
Your truck looks great. BZ. I'll bet your son is very proud of you and his truck.

[sgtusmc]

GRIMSS- I'll take your advice and enter it as a ratrod. I can't wait to hear all the sh!t there gonna give me for the faux patina, flaming river and Lokar parts inside. I have a feeling it's gonna be a long day.

Daniel U & nickp51chevy, Thanks guy's, he's proud of his truck. It's to bad that I get zero credit for the build. He tells family and friends he did all the work. It's funny to see their faces when tells the story about mounting the cab and bed all by himself.... the lil bastard! To his credit, he did paint more that half the truck.

[2ndGenRR]

Sgt - I don't post a lot, but I felt the need to comment on your question about what class to enter your truck. Your truck is not a rat rod (however that term is described)...it is a custom built at home on a budget. It's no less worthy than the guys spending cubic dollars. In my mind it's more what a hot rod should be because you built it yourself with little dough and a lot of imagination. Enter it in the custom class and give the big bucks guys something to talk about.

[sgtusmc]

I got a crazy deal on a set of BMW Z3 rims with brand new tire for $200. They are 17X9's. I just could'nt pass on them. I think they look a little small. I'm gonna keep searching for bigger and wider rims. Till then I guess I'll just roll on thses till I find the ones I really want.

[mobileortho]

Looking good!

[stodd16]

be carful with those bmw wheels. the bolt pattern is not 100 percent the same. there 5x120 and s10s are 5x120.65. I had a set of m3 rims fall off on me one day. and besides the other rims looked SO much better