'50 5 window.....s10 swap

[bjcaldwe]

The column does look great. Nice work. More good ideas to soak up for when I get to that point.

[rhodog77]

Finally got the pedals mocked up. I need to get another s10 brake pedal assembly/bracket. I cut the other one down way to far. I was thinking about welding in a piece up to the dash to help support it but I called my local junkyard to see what the would charge me to pull another one.....5 bucks, so I think I will be getting another one. Still have to run the linkage to the gas pedal but everything lined up really well. Next up is the wiring kit from EZ Wiring. I am not looking forward to that part at all.

[rhodog77]

Got a little work done this weekend. Mounted the EZ wiring fuse box and started to do some wiring. Not near as bad as I thought. Got the motor side all wired up. The motor is turning over but Im not getting any spark to the plugs. I picked up a new distributor,cap, rotor. I should have it in this weekend. It was great to hear the motor turn over but I cant wait to hear in fire up and run for a second. I also got my steering linkage (lokar aca-1800). It looks like a very straight forward install. Will post some pix of that once I get into it.

[4DSEVEN]

Coming together nicely congrats!

I purchased an EZ Wiring kit also but not at that stage just yet. Good to hear the install is going smoothly.

[rhodog77]

Got the Lokar shifting linkage installed. I highly recommend this kit to anyone who is wanting to retain the column shifter instead of a floor mount setup. The only issue I ran into was the stock shift arm. Once the linkage was hooked up I couldnt clear the firewall. The stock shifting arm came off the column the bent back towards the firewall. I cut it, flipped it around and welded back. ( dont laugh at the rookie welding skills) but it works like a charm. The shifting action is very smooth. It was the best 50.00 bucks Ive spent on the project.

[chevy49]

that does look good just like you said.i did buy that 5 window gmc cab.

[rhodog77]

Hey Jim,

Would love to see the new cab!! Send me some pix of post them up on your build. Im sure others would like to see your new score.

Got some work done over the weekend and today. Got the speaker cover and glove box door cleaned up, painted, polished and put back together. I also got my radiator core support all mocked up with the radiator installed. I still have to sand it down a primer it up but everything came together perfectly. Im on vacation all week so Im hoping to get some things marked off the checklist!!

[jeffs51chevy]

Brian,
That dash looks very good. I might have too get you polishing secretes. Keep up the nice work.
Jeff

[rhodog77]

Hey Jeff,

Nice to hear from you again. I couldnt believe how good the trim shined up. Its literally sparkling. Looks brand new or maybe even better.

Got the radiator core support sanded down and primed up. It came out really good. I left the legs a little long. I think I will end up cutting another 2-3 inches off the bottom. Sorry for all the pix and updates but keeping this thread going seems to help keep my project moving along as well.

[T Hilde]

You only need to apologize for NOT updating.

[nomas54]

I am new here an thank all of yall that post up your AD builds. Keep those pic's coming!

[rhodog77]

Just got back for the Goodguys Show in Columbus OH. There must have been 7000 cars and trucks. I decided to splurge a bit and picked up a new gauge set and a 12volt head light switch. I installed them when I got home. Still have to wire them up but just wanted to see how they fit and looked. Now I have to clean up the steering wheel/column, the nice and shiney gauges makes the column look ratty.

[britnjc]

coming along very nicely. looking good. reminds me of about a year ago

[ozzie50]

I used your steering column set up at the floor board. Total cost 3 dollars thanks for the idea.

[av8tr33337]

Really enjoying all the updates. Going to be doing the same thing to my 51.

[rhodog77]

britnjc,

keeping up with your build. love the new console you made. I think Im going to do something along the same lines. do you have any pix of the finished console installed in the truck?? I didnt see any on your build thread.

Ozzie,
Glad it worked out on the cheap!!!

[BlueJeep]

How did you mount the gauges, did you buy rings or cut up the stock ones?

[britnjc]

no pics as of yet. I got the interior in shambles from working on the AC. Once I get it all back together I will get some pics on the thread..

[rhodog77]

britnjc,
thanks.... look forward to seeing some pix.

Bluejeep,
I splurged and bought the rings. I wish I would have bought the gauges a long time ago. I would have made my own gauge tubs and recessed them into the dash. I already had the dash worked over and mounted so I figured it was best to get the rings and install the gauges. Im glad that I got them though. I had the gauges installed in about 15 minutes. I wired them up today, it took about 45 minutes. Very easy and straight forward. I would recommend them to anyone. Best value that I have found.

[britnjc]

what brand of guages are they?

[rhodog77]

britnjc,
they are from TPI Tech. I was looking at Dolphins gauges but I just didnt like the face of the gauges, mainly the huge picture of a dolphin right in the middle of the gauge face. They were very nice but just not my style. The TPI set came with everything you need, including all new sending units. I had a question about the gauges, spoke with their customer service today, very nice and very helpful.

[britnjc]

I am wishing I went another direction with mine. Plus they dont seem that accurate, and I also think the speedo is broken can't seem to get it to work

[BlueJeep]

Which rings did you get?

I looked at gauges pretty hard at the Des Moines GoodGuys, but didn't like any of them more than I like the New Vintage ones. Just trying to decide whether or not to fork over the $$$ for the custom ones with turn indicators, hi-beam, check engine, etc.

[rhodog77]

Bluejeep,

I got the gauges from a company called luxford autoparts (www.luxfordautoparts.com). I looked at the box that the trim rings came in but there was no info on them at all. The guy I got them from said that the trim rings were designed specifically for the TPI set. The fit is awesome, nice and tight and the install was very easy. The new vintage gauges are sweet but just way out of my budget.

[rhodog77]

Got some work done today. I wasn't happy with the way that I fabbed up the steering linkage so I took another crack at it today. Before I had a ton of slop and play in the linkage, I intended to install a heim end but decided to go a different route. I picked up another stock s10 steering column linkage for 5 bucks!! Here is what I came up with. Its rock solid strong now.



I basically made a DD shaft coupler. Drilled 3/16 holes thru the shaft and the spline and connected them together. Had to leave some travel room for the spline or else I couldnt get it connected to the column or the steering knuckle.





Im really happy how it turned out. I still have to clean it up and throw some paint on it but installed it to see how it worked.