Project No Time '49

[99 to Life]

NOtime, hey progress is progress man, every little thing adds up. Not sure if it is the pics but it looks like you got quite a bit of room in the engine compartment. I also see the engine being able to come back a little more toward the firewall, most everyone's distributor is about 2" from the firewall, from what I usually see.

As for your engine mounts, what I'd do is put your mounts on the engine, then bolt a plate of thick steel to your mounts. Level it up or put 3 degrees tilt to the engine(seems like a lot of debate on that), When you get then engine in place, tack the steel plate down, then make sure everything is kosher and you can weld it up. Depending on your mounts, when you bolt the rubber mount to the steel plate you will have to drill some holes through the frame. When I did it, I had to notch out the frame to get to the two bolts on each mount. Hard to explain, but the front two bolts on each mount, went through the steel plate and hung forward over the frame enough to bolt onto the steel plate (remember steel plate will welded to frame) So to get to the back two bolts of your rubber mount that is mounted to the steel plate, that is the tricky part and why I had to cut into the front of my frame to get back in there to bolt them down. I'll see if I can dig up a pick for you.

[cleanshaven84]

That's exactly what I have from the distributor to the firewall, 2" on the dot. I'm liking your idea on the cab mounts. I was thinking something very similar with using some 1/4" thick steel plate. If I get time this week to work on it, I'll take some pics. If you run across some pics, feel free to post them.
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[99 to Life]

Ok, here are the style of mounts I used. The top bracket bolts to engine, then bolt the rubber mount to a square piece of thick steel, then put your motor mount bolt through the rubber mount (with steel mount bolted to it) Now you have all your engine mounts together and when you place it on the frame you can tack your square piece of metal. but as I was saying, I personally had the back two bolts that bolted the rubber mount to the steel plate (they were hitting the frame) So I had to drill through the frame for those bolts to allow the engine to sit flush on the s-10 frame. To get to those two bolts I had to cut into the frame.

[cleanshaven84]

Mine are a different style than that but same concept. I'm thinking one day later down the road about replacing the 4.3 with a 350. What I may do instead of welding the plate to the crossmember, just bolt it down to the crossmember using the original bolt holes and use some grade 8 bolts to hold it in place. I may weld in a gusset or two on the back of the plate just for added strength. This way if I ever do throw in a 350, I can unbolt it and just cut the gussets. I was searching on another forum and found where a guy had done the same thing and said even after 3 years of driving, he hasn't had any problems with it.

[BlueJeep]

Here's how I did mine. I used the stock 4.3 rubber mounts which it sounds like you're trying to do as well.





Worked really well to take it from this:


To this:

[cleanshaven84]

Bluejeep, how far back did you move your motor? That would be a much simplier way to mount the motor. Do you have any measurements on that mount? That's if you don't mind me stealing it for my build.

[99 to Life]

oh ok, I'm an idiot and overlooked you have a v6, explains the extra room I seen. So yeah different mounts but same concept. You'll get there, good progress.

[cleanshaven84]

Yeah, sorry 99. I thought I had mentioned I was using the 4.3L from the s-10.

[BlueJeep]

Info is in my build thread, but I think it was about 7" back. I kept the original frame mounts bolted to the crossmember, cut those tubes and used some round bar stock through the holes of the original mounts to make sure they were lined up right where they needed to be. Then I cut out the plate to connect those to the frame, and lastly made the gussets. It was pretty simple, and using the rods made sure everything lined up like factory, just back further. Then I made a transmission crossmember out of 1.75" square tube, easy!

[cleanshaven84]

No work done today but I did make some money to put into it. Had a guy come by today to buy the chassis, motor, tranny, and a set of doors. He also bought the old radiator out of the '49 and what was left of the cab I had. All for $550! And I didn't have to do a thing to the motor! Now its time to buy a few more pieces to the puzzle and get back to work on her. Thinking about getting all my patch panel pieces for the cab so I can get it knocked out when I get past the mock up stage.

Cleaning out the backyard junkyard, lol.

[gregw98]

Man, I hear ya'. Last week I sold my '54 rolling chassis with a cracked block engine and no tranny for $250. Then sold the S10 bed, and good running 2.8 and tranny for $650. Onlly paid $550 for the S10. Like you, I have been ordering panels and parts. Getting the big stuff out of the way.
Feels pretty good, huh.

[cleanshaven84]

You bet. It feels good to finally have a good chunk of money to put back into it. I think I could have got another $50-100 but I figured I'd pay it forward. I had a guy a few months ago really help me out on the 4x4 rearend I got and felt like I should. I just got my paperwork in today to get my bonded title so some of that will cover that but then it's off to ordering parts. I'm hoping I'll have enough left over after the title to buy everthing I need to fix the cab.

[cleanshaven84]

Today was one of those days where you put some longs hours in, smash a few fingers, bump your head a few times, and manage to snag your jeans on the frame only to fall flat on your butt and at the end of the day, it looks like you haven't done a thing. Oh well. I got my motor mounts moved back and also got my tranny crossmember semi installed. All thats left there is welding in some gussets. I'm still having some aligment issues with my motor and tranny. After measuring a million times and making sure all my holes were perfect in my plates I built, for some reason my drivers side is still about half an inch off. I even double checked my cab to make sure it was square to the frame and it is. I'll mess with it more next time I'm out there. For now though, at least I don't need a jack and an engine hoist to hold the motor and tranny in. Next step is to start on the running board mounts and then I'll start putting the bed floor in so I can get it mocked up and get some bed mounts made. What did ya'll do for running board mounts on these S-10 swaps? I didn't get a pic of the plate I built for the motor mounts but heres a pic of how the motor and tranny sit now with the crossmember in.

[99 to Life]

you'll get there man, there are tons of days where it will seem like nothing got done. As for the running boards. I made the mistake of finalizing my mounts way late. I got some 2" wide c channel at tractor supply, def would get it from somewhere else. I ended up just bolting that to the frame as my mounts. I'd def weld up a better set up and will be doing so on all my other builds. But at the time, my frame was painted and I just bolted almost everything on. I also bolted the ends of the running boards to the front and back fender. It would be cool to weld the mounts to the running boards and have them slide into some tabs that are on the frame, that way you don't have mounts sticking out of the frame during the rest of the build, they are quite annoying lol.

[cleanshaven84]

More progress today but not by working on the '49. I received all my paperwork yesterday for me to finally get a bonded title. It only took 4 months to get everything together, lol. I got everything lined out today after work and hopefully in a few weeks I will have an official title. I should be able to get back to it Friday night and hopefully get some running boards mounted this weekend.

[99 to Life]

congrats on the title. those seem to be as hard as getting the truck half the time.

[cleanshaven84]

Originally Posted by 99 to Life

congrats on the title. those seem to be as hard as getting the truck half the time.

I know that's right. I didn't think I would ever get my paperwork. What took the longest was getting the state police out to run the VIN number. 2 months!!! After that, I had to send in my paper work to the state finanace and administration. After I sent in my first round of paperwork, they sent me another letter saying that they didn't ask for all of my info and needed it too. It's definitely been a roller coaster. Now I can focus on getting this thing on the road.

[cleanshaven84]

Got a question for you guys. How did y'all know how much to cut off the bottom of the radiator support? I need to trim mine down so I can build brackets and get my front sheet metal hung. I plan to use a 19x22 radiator but don't have it yet. Any help is appreciated .
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[BlueJeep]

Originally Posted by cleanshaven84

Got a question for you guys. How did y'all know how much to cut off the bottom of the radiator support? I need to trim mine down so I can build brackets and get my front sheet metal hung. I plan to use a 19x22 radiator but don't have it yet. Any help is appreciated .
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Keep cutting it until it doesn't hit the frame anymore! You'll have to have your sheetmetal all hung on the front and your gaps somewhat adjusted before you'll know where you are. I welded a temporary brace on mine and then started cutting.

[cleanshaven84]

I have my inner fenders trimmed some so that I could get the fenders bolted to the firewall. The front where I trimmed the inner fenders for the frame horns are kinda just sitting there on top of the frame for now. Did you completely bolt the fenders on before you cut anything on the radiator support? Did you have your radiator installed for mock up? I guess I could throw the hood on too and line those gaps up so. Maybe jack the front end up some until my gaps look good then see how far down the support needs to go. I'll tinker with it more tomorrow. I'm messing with the running boards now anyways. What did you do for your rear running board mount? Looks like I'll have to build a heck of a bracket to get it down and over far enough to mount the running board too. The front two are simple and come straight out from the bottom of the frame.

[gregw98]

I haven't posted much, been working late on the '54. But I am at about the same stage as you, Cleanshaven84. Chipping away, day by day.

[BlueJeep]

Originally Posted by cleanshaven84

I have my inner fenders trimmed some so that I could get the fenders bolted to the firewall. The front where I trimmed the inner fenders for the frame horns are kinda just sitting there on top of the frame for now. Did you completely bolt the fenders on before you cut anything on the radiator support? Did you have your radiator installed for mock up? I guess I could throw the hood on too and line those gaps up so. Maybe jack the front end up some until my gaps look good then see how far down the support needs to go. I'll tinker with it more tomorrow. I'm messing with the running boards now anyways. What did you do for your rear running board mount? Looks like I'll have to build a heck of a bracket to get it down and over far enough to mount the running board too. The front two are simple and come straight out from the bottom of the frame.

Yes, you'll need to have the entire clip together and bolted tight. You'll need the hood on to see if you're getting close on adjustment with the fenders, it's an all or nothing deal on the AD's. I chopped off the bottom of the radiator support and I think I took the steering box off the frame just to give me extra room.

As for running board brackets, I only reattached the front 2, I don't have the rears on mine. I'll probably put them back on, but drove it for a summer w/o them with no issues.

[cleanshaven84]

Alright, that's what I'll do then. I haven't broke down the front clip yet because it's easier when trying to fit it all. I had to raise the front of my cab up an inch last night because of some mis-measurning I did when I built my mounts so now the front cap is sitting better on the front. Couldn't understand why it looked like everything was sloping to the front.

As for the running boards, I'm thinking about doing the same thing with just the front two mounts. I have some 3/4"x1 3/4" rectangular tubing I plan to use for my bracing with some gussets. I hope to have both sides mounted today. Have to replace the old mounting points on the running boards too. Thanks for the help Blue

[cleanshaven84]

Originally Posted by gregw98

I haven't posted much, been working late on the '54. But I am at about the same stage as you, Cleanshaven84. Chipping away, day by day.

That's the way to do it man. It doesn't seem like you get much done that way but then you look back at where you were 6 months ago and then you really see how far along you've gone.

[Atommik]

Yeah, you'll definately want to have the hood on also, it really helps to set the height of the radiator support. It's amazing how much the hood gap will change along the back edge by the cowl and along the back edge on the sides of the cowl just by moving the rad support up or down a little!!


On a side note, my nephew lives in Conway. He used to work at UCA as an assistant baseball coach/groundskeeper, but now works at a small private Christian college in the area.