1948 Chev extended cab with attitude

[alaska gasser]

Well it's been awhile as I haven't had time to work on the truck for about 4 months.

I don't like looking at the heater motor sticking through the firewall, so I looked around and found the old oil filter can was the perfect size to cover the hole.



I cut the botom off, flipped it over and welded it back on.





I wanted to do something different than smooth out the entire firewall. Lots of people leave this upper valley.



I smoothed it...



Bought a pair of beat up valve covers...



And shortened one up a bit...



About 1 1/2 yeras ago, I bought a Heidts M2 front end for a good price. It had free shipping anywhere in the lower '48, but $700+ to ship to Alaska. I had it sent to a buddies in Colorado that I was going to go visit last summer. Once there, I packed 125 pounds of small parts in 4 flat rate US Post Office boxes and shipped them home. I then packed the rest up and checked them in as luggage to fly home. You should have seen the Customs agents freak out with that much steel being checked in.

Removed the remains of the old suspension.





Finally dropped the motor in to build mounts.



These are the stock '59 mounts. I cut off the bottom edges and then built new boxes.



Once I pull the motor and trans out, I will finish welding everything up and clean it all up.



I used the stock '59 tranny mount and made new mounting flanges.

[alaska gasser]

Moved the S10 rearend above the springs.



[IMG][/IMG]

C'ed the frame.



This is the first time it has rolled in over 30 years.

[youngrodder]

Very nice. It is always nice to get them out into the day light.

Marc

[slydogg76]

Like seeing the different mod.s, nice work!

[Bishops Trucks]

Very nice work. Love both of your other rides. I was working on a friends '58 Popular when I lived in England.

[sparkydog]

Great build! I'm in.

[Angryman117]

I must say your build looks BAD ASS! Keep up the good work!

[alaska gasser]

Thanks everyone.

youngrodder: It was a great feeling being able to walk all the way around it, at a distance and finally be able to eyeball the chop etc. to confirm the dimensions were right.

Bishops Trucks: The Thames is going to have to go to help finance this build and I used to like how small it is, but the lack of leg room isn't as much fun as it used to be.

[mrolds88]

Neat build Alaska!! Had a neat thought. If it would work, do you think you could keep the stock door handles, in the stock location and still open the suicide doors?? That would be cool!!

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by mrolds88

Neat build Alaska!! Had a neat thought. If it would work, do you think you could keep the stock door handles, in the stock location and still open the suicide doors?? That would be cool!!

I have seen this done before....The only thing is nornally you use the door handle to leverage the door open. In this case you would not be able to. It still could be done though.

Thanks
Marc

[skymangs]

This is a killer build! Love all the unique mods, especially the valve cover in the firewall. Stretched, chopped, and a 348 W motor? This truck puts an extra "o" in smoooth! You have skills beyond my comprehension!

[alaska gasser]

mrolds88: I'm going to shave the door handles and use a keyless entry.

skymangs: Thanks for the compliment. Your builds are looking good also.

[Task Force Era]

Wow!! Chopped extended cab! That's crazy! Awesome fab work man

[akdg87]

looks great! spendy to ship up the tailgate? i need to acquire one myself, i can probably figure about 15% of the cost of the parts i buy goes to shipping.

My parents winter in california, so ive been shipping them the heavier stuff (coil springs, shocks and a radiator) that i bought at summit and take advantage of the "club 49" from alaska airlines to get shipped up for nothing as checked baggage.

[alaska gasser]

Originally Posted by akdg87

looks great! spendy to ship up the tailgate? i need to acquire one myself, i can probably figure about 15% of the cost of the parts i buy goes to shipping.

I take advantage of the "club 49" from alaska airlines to get shipped up for nothing as checked baggage.

I bought my tailgate from Classic Parts along with a bunch of other stuff and the shipping wasn't that bad. They ship with the Post Office to help out. I've been very happy with the parts I've gotten and their service.

Everytime someone in the family flys down south and back, we bring parts back with "49" also. My fuel cell and Mustang 2 front end came home that way.

[alaska gasser]

I decided to eliminate the two support rods from the firewall to the the fenders. I dug through my misc. bucket and came up with two rubber mounts I think came off the S10 we stripped out and made 2 additional front end mounts.





They bolt through the rad support.



I found a junked '94 suburban and talked the owner out of the seats. I was hoping to find a bench seat, but really liked the seats in our '98 suburban, so I went for it.



I pie cut the bases to lower the seats and make them more comfortable due to sitting so close to the floor.



I used the brake pedal bracket from the S10 and tweaked it to fit the new dash.





I've been helping a friend put a small block in his truck as well lately and will post some photos soon.

[sqrlnts]

Great work. I am digging your re-purposing, probably a very handy trait to have in Alaska. Those seats are going to be laid back comfy as well.

[sparks54]

Wow Alaska Gasser... I love all the mods you have done so far. Looks really great. I have subscribed to your thread so I can follow all of your progress. Keep your post and pictures coming.

[alaska gasser]

Last February, a friend of mine pulled the 6 out of his '50 and put in a SBC and added power steering. He then brought it to my place for the metal work. It already had the straight axle with disc brake conversion and late model rear end.





He raised the motor, so we adjusted the firewall.



Made a new trans cover as the old one was butchered and rusted out. We had to raise the shifter surround to clear his Lokar shifter. Can you tell what the round section used to be part of?


A few years back, I cut the center sections out of two rims to bolt a couple tires on my 3/4 ton frame to roll it into the shop. One of those sections was the perfect height.

Made a new master cylinder cover.



Patched the lower pan where it was chopped up by a previous owner.




Both front fenders were rusted and cracked at the cowl and had been "repaired" with bondo.



Pieces were cut out of a mangled set of fenders out back and patched in.



Starting to come together.





It was fun standing back and comparing our two trucks.

[sqrlnts]

Awesome pics and work, thanks for sharing gasser

[Baldeagle SR]

Very nice work. It is nice to see something different. Rich

[youngrodder]

Good to see your getting some work done....
Marc

[Advanced Design]

Interesting comparison, like them both and love your work! You are a true artist.

[dantimdad]

I can't wait to see this thing finished! My son (13) is begging for something in that body style.

Steven

[alaska gasser]

Got a few more things done. Mocked up the steering column...and built the mounts.









The brake bracket's installed.



The vent mechanism attached to the dash.





Finally got the passenger inner and outer door halves welded together, the rust replaced and the window frame put together. Determined this method of suiciding a door IS NOT THE WAY TO DO IT!!! Should have just bought a kit and done it that way instead!



This is how the inside was looking...(Just imagine this is the passenger side.)



Cut the corner off the dash and welded it on the door. Created the new inner window trim and installed. It will have to drop down into the new dash end to be able to remove it.











Capped the end of the dash...



Finished.