Re: Starting a 52 Chevy 3100 Project.
 

I like the later radio idea! truck is looking great

Re: Starting a 52 Chevy 3100 Project.
 

I like lower mounted radio too.
You know, a radio was an after thought back in the day.
Same for a heater and horn too.

I knew the original owner of my 49 3100. According to the paperwork when he bought it, he opted for the dealer add-on horn and by pass oil filter but not the heater and radio.
His son told me he added the heater that 1st winter (got the Arvin heater kit from the dealer) but didn't think a radio was necessary for a farm truck.

Sorry for the side bar.
Enjoying your build.

Re: Starting a 52 Chevy 3100 Project.
 

Very cool to know. I would have guessed most people didn't care about a radio at that time so Chevy just said lets not redesign everything since know we are changing in 55 and just add an extra step of punching a hole at the top. I have to pick up some round vents at socal tomorrow so hopefully I can finish the dash. This truck is going to be a driver so it has to have A/C in AZ.

Re: Starting a 52 Chevy 3100 Project.
 

Great thinking on the radio, should turn out nice.
I second the AC in AZ.

Re: Starting a 52 Chevy 3100 Project.
 

Almost done with the dash. Just need to finish the body filler.

Re: Starting a 52 Chevy 3100 Project.
 

Set the bed on there so I could get the running boards lined up.

Re: Starting a 52 Chevy 3100 Project.
 

ya, umm. your engine is missing! is that why the hole in the floor? flintstones foot power?...
kidding
looks good. coming along nicely. do you plan on spacers for the front wheels or you have the look you like?

Re: Starting a 52 Chevy 3100 Project.
 

Picked up some craigslist wheels. I am thinking 3" spaces all around.

Re: Starting a 52 Chevy 3100 Project.
 

More progress. I got the running boards mounted, the bed mounts welded in place and everything lined up. I also ordered the front end rebuild kit, transmission tunnel, wheels spacers, drops spindles, and lug nuts. Next step is to rebuild the front end, take the cab off, finish welding the cab mounts, and transmission mounts. The exhaust ended up coming out in the right place. I can't wait to bolt stuff on for the final time.

Re: Starting a 52 Chevy 3100 Project.
 

looking super great man

Re: Starting a 52 Chevy 3100 Project.
 

Thanks. I plan on hitting some junkyards tomorrow. I really want to keep moving on this thing. I did get the transmission tunnel today. Wow summit fast shipping.

Re: Starting a 52 Chevy 3100 Project.
 

Built the transmission mount today.

Re: Starting a 52 Chevy 3100 Project.
 

Finished welding up all the cab mounts and transmission mount and painted the frame. Next is the front end rebuild and 2 "dropped spindles. Also still need to weld up some holes in the cab before I put it back on.

Re: Starting a 52 Chevy 3100 Project.
 

Man you are making time. Good work.

Re: Starting a 52 Chevy 3100 Project.
 

I'm trying. :metal: Finished one side of the rebuilding the front end. I forgot how much of a pain in the @ss they could be. That thing fought me the whole way. I am hoping the other side doesn't put up such a good fight.

Re: Starting a 52 Chevy 3100 Project.
 

HA yes, sometimes replacing suspension can be a super pain, I had to cut the lowers out of mine :lol:

looking great!

Re: Starting a 52 Chevy 3100 Project.
 

be careful with spacers that long, it will add additional stress to the wheel bearings.

Re: Starting a 52 Chevy 3100 Project.
 

Are you speaking from experience?

Re: Starting a 52 Chevy 3100 Project.
 

I've heard that before too, but I've run spacers on various vehicles since the 1970s and never had a problem. They still make me concerned. Has anyone had a bearing failure they could prove was attributed to spacers?

Re: Starting a 52 Chevy 3100 Project.
 

Exactly. Everyone has heard. I researched it quite a bit and never found anyone who actually had the issue. Did find a video explaining why it changes the gravity a little but said it was not enough to actually cause any issues. My guess would be guys with big trucks with big heavy tires have problems with spacers and bearings. There are arguments that go both ways. I really didn't want to spend $1000 for some custom A-arms. Maybe down the road if I have issues but I suspect I will not.

Re: Starting a 52 Chevy 3100 Project.
 

have you done a "tire on and suspension at full compression" turning test to ensure the rubber doesn't tear a fender off when turned all the way and the suspension bottoms? with the spacers the tires do more of a sweep during a turn so they may get closer to the wheel openings than you may realize. it would suck to find that out too late.
I am sure you have done the research and found the video on scrub radius, tire size and wheel offset issues and steering included angle etc. your truck, do it like you want. as long as it is safe to drive on the same roads as the rest of us and our kids.

Re: Starting a 52 Chevy 3100 Project.
 

Considering I just put them on there 3 days ago and the cab and front end are still off what do you think? I guess I will see when it actually runs and drives and adjust accordingly.

Re: Starting a 52 Chevy 3100 Project.
 

oh hey, sorry man.
bye bye

Re: Starting a 52 Chevy 3100 Project.
 

Awesome, lol - opinions are plentiful, experience is rare!

Re: Starting a 52 Chevy 3100 Project.
 

Crazy the stuff people make up. Porsche used wheel spacers from the factory on the 928 and it would run 170MPH. I think if used correctly you will have no issues. Correctly being the key word.

I remember 10 years ago I was telling people how an electric fan was better than a mechanical fan. You would think I was taking ways peoples kids, they would tell me how wrong I was and it was a phase. Now look. Most people speak hear say and not facts.

Keep up the good work, enjoying you build

Re: Starting a 52 Chevy 3100 Project.
 

Their opinions are typically given with dire warnings about you killing busloads of orphans and not being on the same highway with their family, lol!

Enough digression: back to the build thread please!

Re: Starting a 52 Chevy 3100 Project.
 

Well I actually work for Porsche as a tech, 10-15mm spacers are nothing to bump out a wheel for fitment. But when you increase that to 3+inches, you are changing the geometry of the front end.

Re: Starting a 52 Chevy 3100 Project.
 

So I got the cab back on over the weekend and welded up the firewall holes and bolted it up. Also today I had the day off and put the 2" lowering blocks on the back axle and welded up a bunch of holes on the inside and old fuel filler hole. I also ordered a steering column, steering shaft, steering joints, transmission cooler, a 16 inch fan and a pedal assembly today. This should keep me busy for a while. Not that I don't have anything to do but I like to skip around so I don't get frustrated or bored. Plus I can't put the front end back on till all of this is on there.

Re: Starting a 52 Chevy 3100 Project.
 

Finally got the dash ready for paint.

Re: Starting a 52 Chevy 3100 Project.
 

looks great!

Re: Starting a 52 Chevy 3100 Project.
 

Built the brackets for the radiator support, fan brackets and mounted the transmission cooler today.

Re: Starting a 52 Chevy 3100 Project.
 

Your doing some excellent work! Keep it up!

Re: Starting a 52 Chevy 3100 Project.
 

Thanks. Got the steering column mount made up.

Re: Starting a 52 Chevy 3100 Project.
 

Nice looking dash, good work on the vents.

I got the same steering column installed with my buddy in the 48.

Re: Starting a 52 Chevy 3100 Project.
 

Got the power booster and pedal assembly put in. If you don't use the s10 pedal setup you can cut the end of the brake rod and tap it to use with aftermarket pedal assembly.

Re: Starting a 52 Chevy 3100 Project.
 

That's looking great! Keep it up

Re: Starting a 52 Chevy 3100 Project.
 

Thanks. Got the brake lines cut and took them to a shop last night and got them crimped. Bolted them on late last night. Put some fluid in and we have a pedal. Still need to properly bleed. Probably the first time in 25 years the truck had working brakes.

Re: Starting a 52 Chevy 3100 Project.
 

working brakes are a good thing! great progress!

Re: Starting a 52 Chevy 3100 Project.
 

Very nice, hope you make it down to Tucson in that rig. I would love to have a look once it's running.

Re: Starting a 52 Chevy 3100 Project.
 

Ok picked this up at a junkyard. I think I need another inch. Any thoughts? The yoke seems pretty short.