First truck build '49 3100

[joedoh]

tire looks exactly right!

[Brads49]

wow I haven't been on in a month....... I haven't had time to work on the truck as I have 2 boys in baseball right now so that has been taking up 4-6 days/week and then usual chores take up the rest of the time for the moment. I am hoping to get back on the build here in the next few weeks once baseball ends.

[Brads49]

I started working on the truck again finally!!!. I got the front suspension installed, or at least mocked up. She's standing on her own feet for the first time in a year since I took her apart! Even though it's not the "final install" it's still a milestone that feels pretty good. I think I need to hang the fenders on temporarily to make sure the front tires and wheels are in the right place before I finalize the front suspension. I had some wheels and tires to throw on for "rollers" so at least I am able to move the truck around now. I still have alot of work to do on the frame, with the fuel tank / fuel lines / brake lines etc..... But it feels good to get working on her again.

[Tempest67]

looks really good,.......... keep at it

[NorCalGal]

Glad you’re back on it, we see too many people disappear.

[Brads49]

Last weekend I got my fenders and hood down off the shelf so I could mock up the front sheet metal. I think my front suspension ended up right where it was supposed to be so I am pretty happy about that. Now of course I have to take all of the sheet metal off again to continue on with the frame to run fuel lines, brake lines etc.... It did feel great to see it looking like a truck though!
Does anyone have any ideas for stripping the primer off of the hood and doors? The guy I bought it from had them primed about 30 years ago because he was going to have the truck all re-painted. He said that he doesn't think that it was stripped to bare metal so ideally I would like to get the primer off to see what's underneath since I don't plan on painting the truck. I sanded a small part of the hood just to see if I could expose what's underneath but I was wondering if there was a faster way.

[Tempest67]

looks really good.

You may want to try a razor blade for stripping the paint. It may sound crazy, but once you get it going, it can remove it quite easily. (no noise, no dust mask, and not that tiring)

[Brads49]

Originally Posted by Tempest67

looks really good.

You may want to try a razor blade for stripping the paint. It may sound crazy, but once you get it going, it can remove it quite easily. (no noise, no dust mask, and not that tiring)

Thanks for the tip! I will try that and see how it goes.

[Troy Sr]

I don't recognize that engine, what is it?

[joedoh]

I firmly believe rallies are the perfect wheels on these trucks.

looks beautiful!

[oldman3]

Originally Posted by Troy Sr

I don't recognize that engine, what is it?

It's a 4 layer, with 2 duces with 30 yr garentee (Sorry couldn't help myself)...Jim

[Brads49]

Originally Posted by oldman3

It's a 4 layer, with 2 duces with 30 yr garentee (Sorry couldn't help myself)...Jim

hahahaha....... that's pretty good.
I had to get some weight on the front end and had about 400lbs of left over roofing from building my shop, and 2 wheel weights from my old Bolens tractor.
The wheels and tires are some I just had laying around from racing so they are currently just on there as "rollers".... My plan is still to go with a 17" Artillery wheel on this. I do like the stance that it has right now though, down quite a bit from stock but still plenty of ground clearance.

[Brads49]

I've got a question for you guys.... When installing motor mounts and transmission crossmember. Is there a particular measurement to shoot for? I purchased a transmission crossmember and motor mounts online but like most things....there are no instructions for installation. Since the mounts are weld in I would really like to get it right. I have the stock frame and I'm going with a small block 350 and TH350 trans. Thanks in advance

[joedoh]

small block? I use 4.3 V6 which has the same mounting as small blocks. I use anchor 2142 standard engine side V8 motor mounts and a jig I built with the holes 16.25" apart to set where the steel frame side mounts should go. I use the original mounts location to base where the new mounts should be height wise (and where the trans mount should be moved to), so that wont really help you, but getting that measurement right is the critical one. just bolt the new mounts to the jig and get the height/fore aft set, trimming to fit as you go.

[Brads49]

Originally Posted by joedoh

small block? I use 4.3 V6 which has the same mounting as small blocks. I use anchor 2142 standard engine side V8 motor mounts and a jig I built with the holes 16.25" apart to set where the steel frame side mounts should go. I use the original mounts location to base where the new mounts should be height wise (and where the trans mount should be moved to), so that wont really help you, but getting that measurement right is the critical one. just bolt the new mounts to the jig and get the height/fore aft set, trimming to fit as you go.

Thanks for the suggestion. I will make a jig tonight for mine, that will be a whole lot easier than trying to hover the engine in place and get it right.

[Tempest67]

There is a set of motor mount plates you can buy, that allow you to put a SBC in an S10. However, one side fits fine, and the other needs to be 'tweaked' to get it to fit. (see pics)

Once you have the motor on these mounts, you can then position the trans crossmember in the correct location.

[gigamanx]

Originally Posted by Brads49

I started working on the truck again finally!!!. I got the front suspension installed, or at least mocked up. She's standing on her own feet for the first time in a year since I took her apart! Even though it's not the "final install" it's still a milestone that feels pretty good. I think I need to hang the fenders on temporarily to make sure the front tires and wheels are in the right place before I finalize the front suspension. I had some wheels and tires to throw on for "rollers" so at least I am able to move the truck around now. I still have alot of work to do on the frame, with the fuel tank / fuel lines / brake lines etc..... But it feels good to get working on her again.

This is how I should have done mine. Very nice frame up build going! Love the wood flooring engine. ECO friendly?

[Brads49]

I got the motor mounts and transmission mount located and in this weekend. I had to cut down the motor mounts a bit to get them to fit where I had boxed the frame but I got that magic 16-1/4" measurement I was needing. The engine and trans is being held up by the mounts now. So now I have to finish welding the mounts in and then paint everything. Planning on ordering the fuel tank and brake pedal/booster/master cylinder assembly this week so that I can keep moving.

[joedoh]

excellent!

[Brads49]

Originally Posted by joedoh

excellent!

Thank you for the info on motor mounts that you offered. It was alot easier using magnets on the mounts and checking the measurement before tacking everything in.

[Old Jimmy]

Brad,
Looks like you're moving right along and doing a nice job.
Jeff

[Brads49]

Well guys it's been awhile since I've worked on the truck. 2020 has definitely been a roller coaster but I started working on it again. I ended up buying a different engine for the truck. It's a 350 crate engine that I bought from an acquaintance who was swapping it out for a big block. So I have to do a little bit of clearancing for the cab to sit down on the frame over the trans. I cut a little bit more of the floor/firewall so then I had to build a transmission tunnel. I don't really like the kits that are out there so I searched around to see what others had done and decided to try my hand at some fabrication.

[6DoF]

great stance and nice tunnel. the firewall / tunnel work is probably what i'm least looking fwd too ...

[Tempest67]

nice work on the tunnel, looks good

[gigamanx]

Looking great except for the clean garage. Are you sure you're working on an AD truck? I don't see random parts laying around, rusty dirt covering the floor, power cables from tools that are asking to be tripped over, broken off bolts, none of the things I had haha.