47-55.1 Starting a 52 Chevy 3100 Project.

[MARTINSR]

Joe, why is this so hard to understand? First off, I drive every single day, EVERY-SINGLE-DAY a 1959 Rambler with a flathead motor, tiny drum brakes that don't even have self adjusters (that was an option) a three speed without sycros and the most archaic IFS ever. And yes my truck is going to once again be a daily driver and I will do so without changing the frame.

I toss out this question when ever someone talks about the S-10. I toss it out there and leave it at that. Some new guy comes in and asks about the S-10 frame and I toss out this simple question, "What are your expectations" and I am some how evil?

I know that I had listened to people and did a Camaro frame clip on my truck. One day I drove a guys dropped I beam axle truck at work and I was blown away at how nice it drove, that day I put my clipped frame up for sale and got a stocker.

Back 10 years ago I was driving a stone stock 65 Skylark and THOUGHT I needed all the modern amenities and sold it when I bought a Ford SHO. I drove that for a few years and found it wasn't fun and got the Rambler. I made a few mistakes thinking I HAD TO have that modern car, and I was mistaken.

I just toss this out there for guys. I don't say YOU ARE WRONG, I don't say that and I don't think that, I simply toss this out so guys can see another way to look at it and I am evil?

Yep, I am not a talker, I live it, I drive that 1959 Rambler EVERY-SINGLE-DAY in the SF bay area.

Brian

[joedoh]

what does a rambler have to do with a pickup? what does the mild climate of SF Bay have to do with literally anywhere else in the world?

[MARTINSR]

Joeeeeeeeeeeee, and that's why I ask the question "What are your expectations?" Why is this so hard to accept, that I can ask that simple question?

Would it help if I was driving a 59 Chevy pickup every day instead of the Rambler? The point is the same, I drive EVERY SINGLE DAY a vintage car with tiny drum brakes, oh, and ALL THE HORRORS a single reservoir master cyl.

Oh, and Joe, I am moving to Boise Idaho in a few years and my truck will be my daily driver! And if it's not done by then, my Rambler will be my daily driver. This really isn't a big mystery, I mean 60 years ago in Boise Idaho they didn't have S-10s to drive. LOLOL

Brian

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by MARTINSR

Joeeeeeeeeeeee, and that's why I ask the question "What are your expectations?" Why is this so hard to accept, that I can ask that simple question?

Would it help if I was driving a 59 Chevy pickup every day instead of the Rambler? The point is the same, I drive EVERY SINGLE DAY a vintage car with tiny drum brakes, oh, and ALL THE HORRORS a single reservoir master cyl.

Oh, and Joe, I am moving to Boise Idaho in a few years and my truck will be my daily driver! And if it's not done by then, my Rambler will be my daily driver. This really isn't a big mystery, I mean 60 years ago in Boise Idaho they didn't have S-10s to drive. LOLOL

Brian

what are you even talking about? nobody said anything about drum brakes or you being evil?

I said you talk about yourself a lot. thanks for making that case for me. I said you suggest to other people how to build their truck while yours is incomplete for the last 30 years.

I hope driving an original rambler in the mircocosmos of the bay area (good roads, fine weather) translates to boise idaho, but it still doesnt translate to finishing a project AD truck. you havent done that yet, no one has ever built a reputation on what they are "gonna" do.

[MARTINSR]

Originally Posted by joedoh

what are you even talking about? nobody said anything about drum brakes or you being evil?

I said you talk about yourself a lot. thanks for making that case for me. I said you suggest to other people how to build their truck while yours is incomplete for the last 30 years.

I hope driving an original rambler in the mircocosmos of the bay area (good roads, fine weather) translates to boise idaho, but it still doesnt translate to finishing a project AD truck. you havent done that yet, no one has ever built a reputation on what they are "gonna" do.

So I drove it for many years and it's been apart for many years. LOL Glad you like to talk about me too so then I can talk about myself without feeling you don't want to hear it. LOL

Brian

[greg_h]

Originally Posted by MARTINSR

So I drove it for many years and it's been apart for many years. LOL Glad you like to talk about me too so then I can talk about myself without feeling you don't want to hear it. LOL

Brian

Those wheels look like the E-T torque thrust style wheels I ran when my truck was together. Same center spinners and all...well, the top was broken off of one spinner.

[JDarby]

Now thats one fine looking ride!!!

[28TudorAZ]

Originally Posted by JDarby

Now thats one fine looking ride!!!

Thanks.

[MARTINSR]

Guess I'll go out and work on my truck, I don't want to offend anyone.

Brian

[MARTINSR]

28tudorAZ, I am sorry about this crap, I will not post again here. Hope to see your project as it comes along.

Brian

[joedoh]

I just get tired of guys that have never done it, and dont plan on doing it, telling other people what a bad idea it is. "I want to use an S10 frame" "DO YOU REALLY want an S10 frame because I heard it slaps your dad and makes you infertile"

brian, will you stand with the guy who takes your advice? Ask any of the hundreds of PMs I have answered, emails I have answered, advice and even hands and welding I have donated, if I stand with my advice. I do. I get texts from guys who buy the trucks telling me its still comfortable and great thousands of miles later. I can give the advice because I have done it, I speak with my actions, not my best intentions.

you are going to finish your truck, then stop talking about it and finish it. dont say its about money if you are telling other guys not to worry about the extra cost. dont tell anyone its about having the time if you are telling guys that extra time isnt important to the result. live the way you talk instead of contradicting your advice with your own project. Truth be told, if I lived in the bay area I would be at your house hounding and even helping you, no matter what your project goals are, because I live the way I talk.

[28TudorAZ]

Progress made today.

[joedoh]

does the AC still work? fun fact, you can pull it off the motor charged, remove that inner fender and you can get to the blower housing (the black box) bolts, there is one bolt inside where the fan resistor is, then you can pull the bolts for the compressor, and the little brackets that hold the condenser in the core support and the whole thing comes out. you might have to disconnect one wire from the alternator that runs between the lines. saves you from discharging it and lets you sell it as a working and charged system.

[28TudorAZ]

Originally Posted by joedoh

does the AC still work? fun fact, you can pull it off the motor charged, remove that inner fender and you can get to the blower housing (the black box) bolts, there is one bolt inside where the fan resistor is, then you can pull the bolts for the compressor, and the little brackets that hold the condenser in the core support and the whole thing comes out. you might have to disconnect one wire from the alternator that runs between the lines. saves you from discharging it and lets you sell it as a working and charged system.

We plan on putting AC in it. So we will probably use the compressor. Its AZ where it is 99 degrees today.

[28TudorAZ]

Selling the spare parts hasn't really worked out. There is like 10 s10s being parted out on craigslist right now. Started throwing most of it away to make room. My dad cut up the cab and bed so far. Here is the progress so far.

[joedoh]

looks good! I have seen a lot of trucks start exactly that way haha

I seem to sell the front clip, tailgate, rear bumper, and some random interior and switches and then chop up the cab and bed and scrap the rest. cant even sell loaded doors at $20 ea any more! get lots of calls for motor and trans, but I use em. the 03 I am starting tomorrow has already paid me $200, but to be fair I got a great deal because it was broken (not running) when I looked at it and it was just a 6 dollar fix.

[28TudorAZ]

Yeah we sold the motor/trans for $300 and some misc parts all for around $500. So we are in the s10 frame for $800 as of now and after we sell the original frame for $500 we should be into it at $300. Not too bad considering all the money we would have spent modernizing the old frame. So we have a tow bar mounted to the front of it now and magnet taillights. Next step it to cut off all the brackets and diesel fuel the whole frame to strip any wax off of it and power wash it. Then drag it to my house. I bought the metal yesterday to start building the mounts for the cab.

[solidaxel]

When you get the cab mounted, work on the front sheetmetal and mount the hood,
keep us posted!

[solidaxel]

Originally Posted by solidaxel

When you get the cab mounted, work on the front sheetmetal and mount the hood,
keep us posted!

Just a reminder at this point of your mock up
Try fitting the hood to cowl and fenders

[focusedontheprize]

Truck is looking great, you guys are making great time on it. Subscribed.

[28TudorAZ]

Originally Posted by focusedontheprize

Truck is looking great, you guys are making great time on it. Subscribed.

Thanks. I would really like to see this at least running in the next few months. Spotted everything on and ready for a test fit of the cab.

[28TudorAZ]

Going to set the cab on the frame tomorrow. Hopefully the height is correct.

[28TudorAZ]

Got the cab sitting on the frame with the bolts in it. What do you guys think of that wheel placement? I thought I read somewhere it will move back a little when it has a motor in it. Does anyone know? Thanks!!!!

[joedoh]

do you have the grille in? its important to have the grille in because it will push the bottoms of the fenders out.

the s10 front suspension will pull back in the wheel arch as you lower it. so approximate the weight by sitting on it, or having a few people sit on it. if you plan on using drop springs it will move back about an inch, which is why people consider s10 long bed trucks to be 117" wheelbase even though they are 118" on most specs.

[gigamanx]

Originally Posted by 28TudorAZ

Going to set the cab on the frame tomorrow. Hopefully the height is correct.

Good looking cab mounts!