Jesses' 48 PU
 

Hello everyone, first and foremost, congratulations to all of you out there with your finished projects. Ive been working on mine for almost a year and im still a long ways from finishing, but as you all know, we are never done, and its the process that makes it worth while.
So here are some pictures of my progress and a little summary of when, where and why.
Obviously its been a dream of mine to own a truck such as this 48 Chevy, so last year I saw it posted on Craigslist in Tyler, TX. I quickly called and shot up to Tyler to pick up what I thought was a diamond in the rough, and boy was it rough. But I could see the finished product and I can see myself cruising on a nice Saturday evening. Obvioulsy my wife thought I was crazy for paying 600.00 for it. But I told her she would not be allowed in it after I was done. (year right).
So being that my dad is an OLD SCHOOL body guy, I took it down to Laredo to have him work the body for me, he too looked at me as if asking " are you serious" but being the good sport that he is, he agreed to make this his last project and give it back to me in better conditions.
I brought the chassis back to Houston so I could work on it. So here are some pictures of where we are at with it... still a ways to go.
By the way, I want to thank all of you out there who has shared your opinions and advise, but especially to BAM, your knowledge and advise has helped me out a great deal. I appreciate the late evening call to guide me towards the right direction. Also I was inspired by "LOWBUCKS Project" great info in that tread as well

Re: Jesses' 48 PU
 

Here is some pics from my dads house, we were able to take the body off the frame, i did away with the engine as it was seized.. it was a long 12 hours.

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More tear down pics

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more tear down

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Ok, now for some progress,

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more progress, my dad does great work, im not that good with body work, which is why I asked him to help me with it. Besides, he needs something to keep him entertained, if not, ill end up with a little brother if you know what i mean!!

Re: Jesses' 48 PU
 

now for some chassis pics... initially I bought a 1973 Camaro clip, but once I mocked it up, I didnt like the way it sat, so I pulled if off, and decided to go with a 1997 S-10 front clip, its narrow and I feel I will get the look and stance Im shooting for. And here is where BAM was a great help.

Re: Jesses' 48 PU
 

bare chassis

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my best buddy giving me a hand.

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moved it around... took off the rear end.

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mocked up the 73 Camaro clip and decided that BAM was right, it runs a bit wide, so decided to get rid of it

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replaced the clip with a 1997 S-10 IFS. I welded a support jig on it, that way I could set it in place and it not move. I measured about 100 times to ensure it was centered.

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welded support pieces inside and out before boxing in the frame

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started boxing in the frame, figured out I wasnt strong enough to bend the 1/4 inch steel with my punny arms and my vice, so had to buy a shop press. Made a tool with angle iron and a piece of 1/4 inch scrap metal and waaalaaa... i was able to manipulate the braces to do as I wanted...
hmmm wonder if it will work with my wife too???

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so after a long day of cutting, bending and welding.. well this is the result...

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here is a bed I scored from a guy in San Antonio (Craigslist) for 150.00 bucks, picked it up on the way to Laredo. Also a wiring harness I scored off Craigslist, guy wanted 180.00, talked him down to 125.00 not sure if it is complete but im sure I can make it work. I also bought a LS1 Engine with a 700R transmission for 500.00 from Craigslist.

Re: Jesses' 48 PU
 

Looking good man. It seems you also ran into a great deal on your engine and trans combo. Your pops is doing a great job on the rust repair. Yeah keep him busy your son does not need an uncle that is younger than him.lol

When you finish welding and blending in the clip, snap some more pics with close up shots. I'm really interested in the look of the finished product.

Once again great job so far buddy.

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+1 on wanting to see close up shots of the clip job when you get it done.

It looks like your dad is doing a great job on the cab.

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Thanks for the thumbs up, I should be finished with the front clip this weekend, ill post some pics as soon as im done.
Is anyone running 15 x 10 wheels in the rear? since i dont have the body im worried about my rear end, if its too wide. its a 99 Ford Mustang 8.8. I beleive its 93" from inside of the rotor.

Re: Jesses' 48 PU
 

I just joined because I have a 48 also. This was the first post I read. Looks like it is going to be a nice truck and you seem to be moving along rather quickly. Kudos to your Dad. It is great to have someone willing to help. Keep up the posts as I would like to see the progress.

Re: Jesses' 48 PU
 

Thanks 4544speed, yeah my dad is a great bodyman, he retired from HB ZACHARY,many years ago, heck I was 14 yrs old, im 43 now. So when he retired, he opened up a bodyshop in Laredo, he taught me alot...i know there is great bodymen out there, but I couldnt trust anyone else. He is a perfectionist, and wont slow down. I asked him to take it slow, but he has one speed..... Fast, he is rushing me on the chassis. He sold the shop a long time ago, but built a nice shed in his back yard. He only does small projects for friends and family. He is my hero and a heck of a guy......
By the way, i see your in league city, if your working on your truck and need help, feel free to ask. Right around the corner.
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That was a mean trick you played on the boy. Having him clean up the front frame and cross member then cutting it off and replacing it after he had done all that hard work. :lol:

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Lol....no man....that is the reason i didnt clean it, but he grabbed the scraper and told me he was going tohelp me and went at it. I didnt stop him as i want him to be part of it, and anytime someone offers to help, well im not turning them down.
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Re: Jesses' 48 PU
 

Can I just say I hate you a little for getting an LS1 for that cheap? Around here it would be about 2-3.5k.

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This right here are words no man can do better than. The praise of an adult son with a son of his own. Cherish him, man! Cherish them both!

Question on the frame graft: Did you do one side to completion and then the other side?

Cause it seems like the more plate you add/weld, the greater the liklihood the heat/shrinkage would "pull" one side. So I'm thinking (I'm NOT a fabricator here - obviously! lol) that the "right way" is to add one piece to each side as you go along. Or at least re-measure after every weld....is this correct or am I overthinking it and it's not necessary once everything is tacked?