51 chevy 3100 5 window build
 

whats goin on everyone. this is my 3100 5 window build that Im about to start on very soon so I wanted to get my thread started. first off a little back ground on how I ended up with the truck. my grandfather bought it off the original owners family for a 150 bucks. the original owner drove it until 56 the last year it was registered and he apparently had a heart attack and stopped driving it. then a tree fell on it then it wasn't touched again until my grandpa bought it probably 15 years ago. well since hes passed and me having the itch for custom trucks I bought it from my grandma for the same 150 bucks.
so my plans for it are to fix all the cancer on it cab corners, floor, cowl etc. and want to do full air ride and get the running bored flat on the ground as possible. either going to use an s10 front clip and mate it to the stock frame or do a m2 front end depending on the shape of the frame. body wise Im planning on widening the fenders some and getting the back of the rear fender lower to the ground as well. paint im wanting to go with red and black some how not really sure which way I want to go get. wheels will probably be smoothies with baby moons and wide whites.
also planning on doing a full ls swap and a 4l60 trans just for the drivability of it. I want a really clean reliable cruiser. thanks for tagging along and checking out my build im going to name Loretta Lynn

Re: 51 chevy 3100 5 window build
 

Big Moss,

Kewl! Welcome to the post! I too am restoring my Grandfather's truck. Not much of old grand dad's truck left but the cab and hood. I went with the S10 frame, and I am installing an LS1 with a 4L60E transmission.

Anyway, good luck with the build. I'll be keeping tabs!

Re: 51 chevy 3100 5 window build
 

Welcome and good luck!

Re: 51 chevy 3100 5 window build
 

Thanks guys.

Re: 51 chevy 3100 5 window build
 

Welcome aboard and enjoy the build!

Re: 51 chevy 3100 5 window build
 

Welcome, Lots of good info here on the site. Your truck looks very similar to my 53 !

Re: 51 chevy 3100 5 window build
 

thanks guys here a few more pictures I have off my phone the trucks sitting on our property In east texas about 2.5 hours away from where I live in Houston.

Re: 51 chevy 3100 5 window build
 

I hope you don't paint it. It's got a killer patina!

Re: 51 chevy 3100 5 window build
 

Great truck you have there. Worthy of getting back on the road!

Re: 51 chevy 3100 5 window build
 

flysocal the plan is currently to leave it as is. im going to have to fix the roof and the cab corners and probably going to swap out the driver front side fender for one the a little more tarnished.
deantx thanks man yeah its going to be a long road but she will for sure see the road again with a new heart and an altitude adjustment

Re: 51 chevy 3100 5 window build
 

Cool truck. I live south of houston. Hunt in east Texas.

Re: 51 chevy 3100 5 window build
 

etraugott same here man I live in Pasadena and we hunt on our property where the truck is in elkhart

Re: 51 chevy 3100 5 window build
 

Welcome!! Sounds cool. What is the reason for widening the fenders? Wider tires? Just curious. I took 2" off the bottom of my fenders to lower the fender. The back of the rear is 3/4" off the ground.
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Re: 51 chevy 3100 5 window build
 

lower 50 yeah I saw on the bagged forum someone had 15x12 inch baby moons with white walls on and I thought the were sick and he had widened his fenders. so did you just gut the 2inches off and move the fender down on the bedside?

Re: 51 chevy 3100 5 window build
 

10/8/15
alright guys im making moves in the right direction. this weekend im going to buy this 89 s10 single cab long wheel base for 400 bucks. motors junk so gonna sell it for scrap. going to try and flip the cab, front end and bed. my roommate is gonna buy the re-end outta it for 150 for his bagged Dakota build so it put me at 250 for the purchase.

Re: 51 chevy 3100 5 window build
 

That would be a cool look with the wide baby's. I cut 2" off the fenders and bent a lip onto them. My whole body is lower on the frame and my running boards are only about 2" below the cab.

Re: 51 chevy 3100 5 window build
 

nice. yeah im not sure where I can get some 15x12s at but I think they would be sick with the 5.3 or possible 6.0 going in my truck. your build is sick btw lower50

Re: 51 chevy 3100 5 window build
 

Got this 89 s10 picked up and moved to my shop already getting hits on the body that I just posted for sell. Paid 400 for it

Re: 51 chevy 3100 5 window build
 

Made progress on breaking down the s10 getting parts ready to be sold. Tomorrow nihjy gonna try and get the core support pulled break booster and steering column.

Re: 51 chevy 3100 5 window build
 

Good luck. Stripping a vehicle is fun stuff. Cut, snip, yank.

Re: 51 chevy 3100 5 window build
 

made some more progress on getting the s10 parted out my total in parts sold will be 350 after I sell the bed tonight to my friend hes going to make a wall mount out or it for his shop so im 50 buck up after paying 300 for the truck. and still have a lot of stuff to sell. also getting my 2500 fixed this week and got new tires so I should be getting the 51 moved down here In the next couple of weeks

Re: 51 chevy 3100 5 window build
 

nice score on the donor. shop looks comfy! the patina is nice. i'd keep it as long as possible, since it was your grandfathers.

Re: 51 chevy 3100 5 window build
 

thanks 99 yeah the shops comfy for sure. got plenty of room in there. ill post some more pictures of the shop later. and yeah im not 100 % set on keeping the patina on it a part of me wants to and a part of me wants to paint it. and this truck wont ever be for sale its on of the last things I have to hold on to that my grandpa was involved with.

Re: 51 chevy 3100 5 window build
 

could always get it on the road, leave the patina, enjoy it, document it. then blow it apart and paint. that way you get to share both worlds. I'd give both my nuts to have a truck that was my paps! your a lucky man

Re: 51 chevy 3100 5 window build
 

I hear ya about not parting with your grandpa's truck. I'm in the same boat. Mine was my grandpa's hay truck, and it was actually the first vehicle that I ever drove. It holds lots of memories. I figured that I would fix her up with all of the bells and whistles, and drive her till I'm done. Hopefully the kids will have the same desire to keep it in the family.

Anyway, congrats on the finding the S10 at such a good price, and it looks like you are making great progress on tearing it down. Can't wait to see you tear into Loretta.