It finally starts... another S10 swap...

[Thadious]

So, after having been lurking and researching on these and other forums for the last 9 months, the time has finally come to start the posts for, yes, my S10 Swap... I’ve had the opportunity to purchase 3 AD trucks last summer and since I was unable to get started on the body work and such… I had to start up with the frame work. The starting trucks… well here they are!

A 1947 Chevy 5 window 1/2 ton pickup


A 1952 GMC 3 Window pickup


A 1952 GMC 5 Window pickup


The intention is to take these 3 trucks and amalgamate all of the best sheet metal to create one 5 window pickup with a Chevy front end (I like them the best). The remaining parts will be put together for a second truck with spare parts and sold off to help pay for the costs. I've bought all 3 of these so far and the following 1991 GMC Sonoma S-15 for the drivetrain and chassis to put the finished truck on for a more "modern" day driving experience.



9 Jan 09

So far, I've broken down the S-15 to drivetrain components and started the rebuild/modifications/painting of the parts. All new suspension bushings, seals, brakes, brakelines are going in as I go.













I’m going to be using the 4.3 ltr (262) throttle body fuel injection system with a TH700R4 auto trans w/overdrive and 3.42 gears in the rear on a chevy 10 bolt . The intended rims are 15x8 Torque thrusts.

[Thadious]

6 Feb 09

So this has been what I've accomplished so far... don't you just love the wintertime in Victoria BC ?

It's tough building a truck in an igloo, ever tried?

Seriously tho...

Here's the frame, needlegunned, wire wheeled, painted and reassembled! The entire IFS on the front end was stripped down and repainted with Zerorust, and new Energy Suspension polyurethane bushings installed. New balljoint boots, new armored brakelines, new performance cross drilled rotors, pads and calipers installed. New pinion and axle seals in the rear end. New brake shoes, brake cylinders, springs and hardware also installed in the rear. To top it all of, brand new shocks for a smooth ride.









8 Mar 09

Well... a bit more time has passed and last week I decided that the compression in the cylinders was great (min 180, max 192 psi (10% deviation is deemed acceptable, so 5% was great) so it was definitely worthwhile to rebuild to replace the valve seals (which leaked) and a rebore and ring job wasn't necessary.

Well... I couldn't leave it in the mess of crap that it was.... now could I?



Hell no! So... after tearing it down, ultrasonic bathing the heads and intake, some sandblasting, laquer thinner bathing and much needed primer an paint... this is what I ended up with...



But... yet again... we can't leave it on the stand forever... So... I mounted the beam clamp overhead inside my garage, pulled out the 2 ton chain lift and remounted the engine (the board in the back of the block is to prevent the engine from rolling backwards until I get the transmission back in (that's next on the chopping block)).



So... next is the shift kit and trans rebuild...

18 Apr 09

Well, everything that can be done in preperation, has been done. After all the work of rewiring and reinstalling everything, here's where it sits....



Next, the trip to go pick up the body!

A couple of buddies and myself will be heading up on friday to start the swapping of parts and finally pulling the product about 600 miles to the coast for it's placement on the "new" frame.

**crosses fingers for great weather**

Cheers,
Ted.

[jeffs51chevy]

Ted,
It looks like you are putting in the work to make the swap as quick as possible. Good luck with the next nine days. I'll cross my fingers and hope for sunshine.
Jeff

[c10addict]

Very Nice start!! Frame and engine look great... I too have just started a swap... I am being told by some you have to move the engine back roughly 7"??? Have you heard this?? It looks as if yours is in the stock location...

[iokua80]

Originally Posted by c10addict

Very Nice start!! Frame and engine look great... I too have just started a swap... I am being told by some you have to move the engine back roughly 7"??? Have you heard this?? It looks as if yours is in the stock location...

I don't believe i moved mine back 7". I believe it is more around 3 or so but I'm not one hundred percent sure. I basically put the engine in close to where I wanted it made sure everything else was cool then mounted the 3/8 flat stock. I think it turned out pretty good.

Josh

[Thadious]

From the understanding that I have by SgtUSMC is that the 4.3 can stay where it is due to the loss in 2 cylinders, and if you use an electric fan... (If memory serves)... otherwise, yep, 3/8" plate and a shift to the rear... not really a big deal... just time.

Cheers,
Ted.

[Thadious]

Well, a couple of good buddies and I travelled up to the parent's place to finally pick and choose the parts that is to be my truck. We spent 7 glorious days up drinking beer, eating fantastic food, having some great laughs and somewhere in there we got to get some work done on the trucks.

The first day ended up with all of the trucks at the same place for the first time and ready for the next day's teardown!



After a week, we had 2 partial trucks and 1 full one... which was bound for my place... 600 miles away.



So, ready to roll, we were off at a god forsaken hour of 5am... gah!



Eventually the sun decided to make an appearance and we couldn't resist the pic... was also an opportunity to check the straps and chain hauldowns before the first town (good thing we did, one had slipped off!)



By mid morning we were well on our way and the scenery was excellent... time for a morning watering break and strap check!



So, with everything finally home safe and sound... the time had come to finally put a body on the frame and engine that I'd been prepping for so long.

Well, after two days (didn't take any the first day) here's where I sit... the front has been trimmed to fit and the cap is in place... the two bolted together, but not mounted to the frame as of yet.





Now, clearing out the box and running boards and getting ready to fit them as well and then get them all fittin properly. I'd like to extend a great thanks so far to Jeffs51chevy for his measurement and assistance so far... making the trimming of the sheetmetal soooooo much easier!

Cheers,
Ted.

PS Yes I know it's a GMC hood and Chev grill... the chevy hood is in the shop atm getting worked on... just wanted to keep the dust and rain outta the engine bay.

[jeffs51chevy]

Ted,
Great looking first day of sheet metal hanging. I wish it went that fast for me. You will be driving it in no time. Keep up the great work.
I'm glad I could help. Let me know if you need anything else.
Jeff

[iokua80]

Looking real good. Love the scenery pics too! You've got a good start on it all.
Later
Josh

[BlueJeep]

Are you planning on shortening the ext. cab frame to long bed specs, or using a longer bed on the truck?

Thanks!

[Thadious]

Actually, I cut 5" out of the frame to 117" as this sets the wheelbase almost perfect. These frame are relatively easy to shorten, just make sure you make lots of alignment marks! I laid out the cuts with a scriber, but I also made measurements on taped lines to make sure the end result was well within 1/32". Also made front tape marks for straightness of the frame (up and down) and diagonal reference marks as well. All in all, it came out pretty damn square and level!

Cheers,
Ted.

[hotrodjoe1952]

Originally Posted by Thadious

Well, a couple of good buddies and I travelled up to the parent's place to finally pick and choose the parts that is to be my truck. We spent 7 glorious days up drinking beer, eating fantastic food, having some great laughs and somewhere in there we got to get some work done on the trucks.

The first day ended up with all of the trucks at the same place for the first time and ready for the next day's teardown!



After a week, we had 2 partial trucks and 1 full one... which was bound for my place... 600 miles away.



So, ready to roll, we were off at a god forsaken hour of 5am... gah!



Eventually the sun decided to make an appearance and we couldn't resist the pic... was also an opportunity to check the straps and chain hauldowns before the first town (good thing we did, one had slipped off!)



By mid morning we were well on our way and the scenery was excellent... time for a morning watering break and strap check!



So, with everything finally home safe and sound... the time had come to finally put a body on the frame and engine that I'd been prepping for so long.

Well, after two days (didn't take any the first day) here's where I sit... the front has been trimmed to fit and the cap is in place... the two bolted together, but not mounted to the frame as of yet.





Now, clearing out the box and running boards and getting ready to fit them as well and then get them all fittin properly. I'd like to extend a great thanks so far to Jeffs51chevy for his measurement and assistance so far... making the trimming of the sheetmetal soooooo much easier!

Cheers,
Ted.

PS Yes I know it's a GMC hood and Chev grill... the chevy hood is in the shop atm getting worked on... just wanted to keep the dust and rain outta the engine bay.

Thadious, In this picture did you have wheel spacers on the front or is that just how well the swap turned out?

[Thadious]

Sigh... I wish... I had 2 1/2" wheel spacers on there... now I'm trying to figure out how to get it back there without them. I've moved my offset on the tires from 4 1/4" to 2 1/2" but still have a ways to go... (about 3/4" but it makes a difference.)

Looking at full size chevy control arms and see where that leads me...

Tubular are going to be a b*tch to jig up and weld.

Ted.

[hotrodjoe1952]

Originally Posted by Thadious

Sigh... I wish... I had 2 1/2" wheel spacers on there... now I'm trying to figure out how to get it back there without them. I've moved my offset on the tires from 4 1/4" to 2 1/2" but still have a ways to go... (about 3/4" but it makes a difference.)

Looking at full size chevy control arms and see where that leads me...

Tubular are going to be a b*tch to jig up and weld.

Ted.

Was hoping you would say you didn't have any lol...Oh well, I have a 52 and I am so stressed about which way to go so I think I will just keep it a 3/4 ton for now and maybe when I retire I will attempt this build....thanks for the reply

Joey

[Thadious]

Gimme time... I figure I will find a way for a swap that will work. I'm not fond of having to build suspension parts... so if I can find a swap that will work, trust me, I'll post it!

Cheers,
Ted.

[IL boy]

anything to update? im just starting my swap and curious how everybody else is coming along. my progress is slow, actually sloth like, but i was checking to see everybody elses

[Thadious]

Currently working on a multitude of different aspects of the (re)build. As of late I've been spending alot of time de-rusting everything that I can via electrolysis. I've spent a fair bit of time trying to find phosphoric acid around this town so I can get inside the doors to get them prepped for coatings and hopefully get the conversion of '52 doors to '47 door and install power windows (I'm working on a way to use the ones from a '93 Grand Cherokee, since they are dirt simple and look like they will match up easily with minor mods).

I managed to score a "new" set of front fenders and a hood that some PO had sandblasted and ended up sending them to a wrecking yard... $150 for the works. They are apparantely straight and clean with minor surface rust to cleam up... and about 600 miles away... Hopefully I'll see them by the end of the month if all goes well. Waiting on those to get the final front end alignment done.

As well, my box sides were trashed so I've opted to refab a new set myself with a sheet of 16 guage cold rolled steel and 1 5/8" x 1/16" tubing. The only thing I have to buy repro is stake pockets ($50 per) for the rear since mine were royally trashed, but the fronts are good, so I'll be reusing them. One of the things I'd like to do is to trim the lower pockets so they curve in nicely at the bottom... not completely just enough to get a wrench in and not alot more.

Anyone got a straight set of front stake pockets they wanna part with?

Other than that... a whole lot of everything and a little of nothing... but progressing none the less!

Cheers,
Ted.

[Thadious]

Well...it's been awhile since I posted the updates... so here goes...

Had to wait about a month n a half to get the new fenders and hood so I could carry on with the front end. In the meantime I redesigned and fabb'd up a new radiator core support and designed the new front bumper brackets to weld to the frame... a quick rebuild and spray bomb job on the grill and we were ready to finish mocking up the front end...



I had to cut off the front cab brackets and reweld them (wasn't quite happy) and redo the front bumper brackets 3 times to get them just right!



Well... next week I start on the box and building new sides from scratch! Wish me luck...

Cheers,
Ted.

[63 & 64 Bowties]

Wow, that looks great Ted. Really nice work you're doing there.

[IL boy]

that looks good

[pgf545]

Looking great Ted!!! I totally missed when you started posting. It is amazing how much better things look with a little elbow grease. Your frame and motor look great. Good luck and I will make it a point to check out your progress every once in a while.

Bernie

[Thadious]

Suspension stays exactly where it is... I swapped for the 4x4 rearend and did mockup with 2 1/2" front spaces (going to mockup and fab new control arms in the future) and the remaining distance makeup for fenders will come from offset on the rims.


Headers and exhaust manifold are all stock from the 4.3 tbi and nothing had to be changed. I did lengthen the intermediate shaft of the steering for distance (about 8 1/2" added), but I ground the weld points for a full root pass and a good cap on both so I had full penetration on the welds and then machined them back to diameter with the base metal. After a coat of boxliner paint, you'd think they came that way from Chev.

Right now, I still have the blazer tank, but one of the other things I'm toying with is the thought of putting it further forward on the frame, right behind the cab and above the driveshaft... I've got about 2" of clearance and if I pull the spotwelds on the pump/sender lock, I can spin it 180 degrees so the lines head to the drivers side and the fill neck is almost exactly where they belong on the '47... coming out the forward lower end of the box. That way I've still got a nice chunk of space for the spare... (Now I have to figure out how to run the exhaust... sigh.

Cheers,
Ted.

PS Last fall I redid the entire suspension with Energy Suspension bushings in black... well worth it for the handling IMO.

[53GMC]

Ted.....it is amazing to me how extremely similar the first picture of your truck and the second picture of my truck on my page look as far as the position it has sitting against the woods and brush line!! when i look at your thread i keep thinkin im looking at mine!! haha

[Thadious]

Well... it's been quite awhile since I did a little update and quite frankly since I've had the time to get some work done!

So... after this long... I finally got to the point where it was time to get some sandblasting to raw sheetmetal and some priming done so I can actually get moving forward.

Here's the hood itself in progress... the rust is pretty much washed off and notice the amount of sand in the background (it's actually crushed glass btw)



This is what my inside shop looked like after 3 days of cleaning up parts... huge difference from what they looked like on the truck!



Now, this also included the cab getting done and a ton of cleaning up afterwards... so, next to prime and seal it all up to prevent rust and allow me to do the bodywork at my leasure, then reprime it all again prior to painting...







And yes... that's me on the business end of a paint gun!

Well... that's it for now.. more to come in the future!

Cheers,
Ted.

[50adrod]

nice progress, I see you are painting with your shop light, been there and its not getting any better.