Kodiaks 53 / S10 Build

[Kodiaks53]

Looks like I will have to "repair" my previous photos since I messed around with my pictures in Photobucket :>(

[Kodiaks53]

Well I got the picture links repaired on this thread!
Working on getting the engine finished up and in the truck. Need to do some fitting of the radiator and it should start looking better.

[Kodiaks53]

Well its been a couple of months since my last post. Like some others here family obligations always come first. My Dad is 86 and has his ups and downs and I spend as much time with him as possible as a result the build is going slow.
I did get some items taken care of...... the 53 now has new shoes all the way around, the engine I was going to use I sold and picked up a very good running small block at a good price. It has been cleaned up and is almost ready to be installed. But before that I need to clean up the frame and do final welding on the motor mounts, cab mounts and tranny mounts. The mockup went well and everything fits nicely. The cab is now on a dolly in the shop and ready to begin repairs (the usual) Here are a couple of photos......

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The cab now sits on a dolly I fabbed this afternoon awaiting repairs....[IMG][/IMG]

I did receive my door hinge rebuild kits from the Filling Station. Didn't realize how bad the hinges were until I looked at the You-Tube video on rebuilding them

[pokerpossum]

Looks Great!!!!

I know about life getting in the way of your build, mine is going slow as well....

Possum

[Kodiaks53]

Made some serious progress the last couple of weeks, got the engine finished up , the brackets all final welded in place and this past weekend I got the engine in the chassis. I plan on getting the transmission cross-member in place this week and I'll be ready to start figuring the drive shaft out. Pictures to come shortly!!

[Kodiaks53]

Here are couple of updated pictures from this past week and weekend.....






Here's a shot of the cab dolly
The cab needs floor pans badly so I guess that's just after the drive line phasing and getting the shaft cut down just a little.

[Kodiaks53]

Got the studs out of the exhaust manifolds, cleaned the manifolds up and painted them. Will get studs as soon as I can make it to the parts store.

Measured my drive shaft, now its off to get it shortened !

Also finished up my Little Red Rat Wagon! Well its not really red its rusty (natural patina) I will get a picture up here as soon as I get them uploaded to photo-bucket.

[Kodiaks53]

Here's my Rat Wagon......

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Exhaust manifolds.....

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[Kodiaks53]

Took the drive shaft to the shop for the work. Needs new U joints and a carrier pad. Plus cutting out about 5 inches or so (forget the exact measurement) They tell me it should be ready Monday evening. Not bad for a holiday weekend. And the price was right too.

[T-P Auto]

Kodiaks 53;

Like the rat rod wagon!!

Nice horn exhaust manifolds

T-P Auto
Tim

[pokerpossum]

When you bolt the manifolds onto the Rat Rod Wagon, won't that cover up the greyhound???? LOL

[Kodiaks53]

Tim, Thanks, it was a side project with my Grandson while working on the truck.

Pokerpossum, I guess it would so I better keep them for the truck. I did consider putting a oil pan I have on it! Found the wagon on CL a few months ago. and did a few mods to it.

[pokerpossum]

The knockoffs are cool.

[Kodiaks53]

Those are Sumitt air cleaner wing nuts, the chevy ones were expensive so I opted for the cheaper ones. Just drill and tap a 1/4 x 20 hole in the axle and your good to go , won't even need a cotter pin to hold the wheels on anymore!

[Kodiaks53]

Well I got my drive shaft back and installed. Now to get the transmission mount secured in place.
[IMG][/IMG]
Also found the rams horn exhaust manifolds will have to go there is no clearance to the A frame, so I picked up a pair of 95 burb manifolds that exit the rear of the manifold. Time to clean them up and get them in place. The running boards in place tell me the wheel\tire combo will fill out the fender as I wanted but they look to be about 2" too high. Looks like lowering blocks and drop spindles are in my future.

[pokerpossum]

Hey Kodiak,
I've got the driveshaft shortening coming up pretty soon, too.

I moved the rear axle forward 1 7/8" (to center it in the wheelwell) and I moved the engine/trans rearward about 4" (to clear the radiator). In order to keep the driveshaft and carrier pad in place, I will have to have both shafts shortened. Is this what you did?

[Kodiaks53]

I didn't move the rear-end forward but I did move the engine back about 4" to clear the radiator. I only shortened the short front shaft. My drive shaft guy told me he could do a one piece but would have to beef it up with a internal thicker shaft because of the length. He suggested staying with the original one due to cost. The front shaft is now only about 10" long, he says that is about the limit his machine will accommodate. Works for me!

[pokerpossum]

Yeah, since my build is a Suburban, I had to move my rear axle. Since yours is a pickup, you can "cheat" and move your rear fenders to center the wheel in the wheelwell.

When I moved the rear axle, I built some 2" lowering blocks and offset the mounting holes for the blocks 1 7/8" forward. That way the blocks did 2 jobs- lowered the body and moved the wheel to the center of the wheelwell.

Keep up the good work!

[Kodiaks53]

Not much progress this weekend, Grandson's Birthday so time was consumed with him ! I did manage to get started on getting the old studs out of the 95 burb manifolds, still got a ways to go. Did a little practice welding with my wire welder so I can start on the cab soon. Welded some 81ga sheet metal back together. Didn't turn out half bad.

[Kodiaks53]

Got the transmission cross member bolted in place this afternoon. Only had one small setback. If you notice on the previous picture the green nylon sling holding up the transmission tail-shaft, you will notice it is a endless nylon sling clipped to my overhead hoist. I forgot to remove it before bolting everything in place Will have to take something loose to get it off.

[Kodiaks53]

Spent yesterday and today working on the truck. Got the burb exhaust manifolds on the engine and managed to get most of the casting marking off them, they do look pretty good just need to get some high temp paint to keep them from rusting. Also go started on the cab floor...... man what a mess! I got almost all of the old stuff out still a little more to do. I cut out my main floor board and did a test fit just before calling it a day. Here are some photos and one of my mini welding cart I made for the wire welder!

[IMG][/IMG]
[IMG][/IMG]
I had a couple of these 18ga panels which were great for making a one piece floor. But I did order the cab corners and inner corners. Don't think I'm up to bending those !

Here's my welding cart.
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Sorry about the sideways picture, having trouble with Photo Bucket.

Here's what I found in the cab corner on the drivers side when I cleaned out all the crud. This was wrapped in a rag and had fallen to the bottom of the corner. Its a .32 auto with the hammer back! Really bad rusted. I tried to hit it with the wire wheel to see if a manufacturer or S/N were visible....... nothing just pitted rusted metal.

[IMG][/IMG]

[pokerpossum]

Kodiak-
Just drill and tap the gun and use for your shift knob......

[47 Fasttoys]

Last person to see that gun was Jimmy Hoffa.
Rob

[Kodiaks53]

Pokerpossum If I were running a floor stick shift that would be a great idea! but I'm doing a column shifter. Anyone need a shifter "knob" ?

47 Fasttoys, you know your probably right.

[Kodiaks53]

The Big Brown truck came by yesterday and again today So I can get started on my exhaust system this weekend.

[IMG][/IMG]

I also changed out the rams horn manifolds for these rear exit ones so I don't have clearance issues anymore.

[IMG][/IMG]

I did a little grinding to get rid of most of the casing bosses and stuff on the manifolds. I think they look pretty good.