47-55.1 Starting a 52 Chevy 3100 Project.

[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.

[28TudorAZ]

Originally Posted by 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.

Thanks to both of you. My next step is to get the front put all together and attached. I am then going to mock up the motor. I will not do the final welding of the body mounts till everything is mocked up then pull it apart for a final welding.

[28TudorAZ]

Have the front all bolted together and set the height.

What do you guys think about the center of the wheels? Will it move back when I put the motor in?

[gigamanx]

Originally Posted by 28TudorAZ

Have the front all bolted together and set the height.

What do you guys think about the center of the wheels? Will it move back when I put the motor in?

You probably want to sit the engine in there before making anything permanent. Pretty much the whole truck is built around the front fender placement, so that has to be spot on. Glad to see the hood is on, that was a mistake I made by setting everything up including the core support and not checking my hood gaps first.

I was a bit crazy with mine. Looked at it over multiple days.





I'd say looking at the same picture of yours, it looks like the wheel is slightly forward. Putting the engine in may bring that wheel perfectly centered though.

[28TudorAZ]

Originally Posted by gigamanx

I'd say looking at the same picture of yours, it looks like the wheel is slightly forward. Putting the engine in may bring that wheel perfectly centered though.

I hope so. I really don't want to redo the mounts. I did just tack them in there but I hate redoing things. I measured it 2" inches in front of that oblong holes on the frame like others had suggested. When you jack up your front end does the wheels come forward?

[gigamanx]

Originally Posted by 28TudorAZ

I hope so. I really don't want to redo the mounts. I did just tack them in there but I hate redoing things. I measured it 2" inches in front of that oblong holes on the frame like others had suggested. When you jack up your front end does the wheels come forward?

SO much easier to redo them now though if they are tacked on. I redid mine twice. First, to move it forward 1/2". The second time because I made the rear mounts too short and had to add an inch. Keep in mind my first comment, every part of the truck is determined by the front fender and core support placement. The rake of the cab, the position of the rear bed, if the cab is centered on the truck, taking out the S10 "lean" to one side....all done with those front fenders and those four mounts

I should add....going up and down is much easier. You can build little spacers between the cab and the rubber mounts, but you can't make a spacer that puts the cab further forward or backward. I ended up having to put a spacer in my core support to push the front fender up a little. Thankfully, the design of the core support mount allowed for a little movement.

[28TudorAZ]

Originally Posted by gigamanx

SO much easier to redo them now though if they are tacked on. I redid mine twice. First, to move it forward 1/2". The second time because I made the rear mounts too short and had to add an inch. Keep in mind my first comment, every part of the truck is determined by the front fender and core support placement. The rake of the cab, the position of the rear bed, if the cab is centered on the truck, taking out the S10 "lean" to one side....all done with those front fenders and those four mounts

I should add....going up and down is much easier. You can build little spacers between the cab and the rubber mounts, but you can't make a spacer that puts the cab further forward or backward. I ended up having to put a spacer in my core support to push the front fender up a little. Thankfully, the design of the core support mount allowed for a little movement.

I followed Hussey's design of placement of the mounts but his motor was already in so hopefully when I drop the motor in they move back just a little. I think I am going to try and at least set the motor on the frame this weekend.