Lost and Forgotten 51

[_Ogre]

tank install looks good.
i'm liking wide white more and more
shop picks look strangely familiar... hood overhead, tailgate on the wall, bed leaned up on the wall and front clip looking very lonely
we've all been there

[PurdueSD]

Thanks ogre!

Got to spend a little bit of time mocking up the steering column and wheel. Need to get the steering shafts and joints finalized. Column is a chrome ididit. Wheel is moon.

Grab the wheel and make vrooom vroom noises, check!

[PurdueSD]

I mocked up my radiator today and quickly found the stock fan isnt gunna make it. Ive got 1.5" between the pully bolts and the radiator.

I am planning on buying a ebay champion brand radiator and have heard they are a little thicker. I really hoped to avoid electric fans for simplicity sake. I hate the sound of em too. But now, Its looking more and more like i am going to have trouble fitting even a puller electric fan.

My transmission is limiting me from going any further back. Ive already trimmer the lower firewall pinchweld substantially. Only way to go any further back is a small tunnel.

What do you guys think? Any suggestions?

[99 to Life]

I would go Efan route with Champ rad, put fan in front between grille and rad and as a pusher. just a few more wires to run. could also kick rad tiny bit more too. a problem you might have with mech fan is how far down on the rad it is. with an efan you can center the fan on your rad for better cooling, jmo.

[PurdueSD]

Hah, just ordered a champion radiator/ fan combo 10 minutes ago!
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[99 to Life]

hard to beat those deals I haven't heard of much problems with them.

[PurdueSD]

Got the booster/ master/ pedal assembly in today. Only had to cut off about a 1/4" or the pedal support. I will need to cut off the pedal arm and reposition so it offsets to the right more, but should be pretty easy. I will loose the ugly modern pedal pad too.

The pedal support braces between the firewall and the dash. I was able to keep the factory dash/firewall support as well. I also cut the reinforcing plate from my donor suburban and used it between the booster and pedal assembly. It should be rock solid!

[CHIZZLER]

mock up is looking good.on my burban i also used a champion radiator and we pushed it forward about 1".wasnt able to use the top shroud that covers the radiator.what is that cab you got stuffed in the corner of your shop?

[99 to Life]

just re-read your thread, I'm loving this truck. Make sure you check your brake pedal travel, with the plunger travel. It took me forever to figure out with my clutch that I was bottoming out the pedal before traveling far enough in the plunger.

and hey if that tbi don't work for ya, snag an intake and a carb. Love the tires too.

[PurdueSD]

Chiz, thats other can is a 54. Just another stalled project.

Thanks 99. Shouldnt be too bad, would be easier if my legs werent as long. I need to get the pedal as close to the floor as possible. Im not sure ive got enough room to keep the stock bench. Sucks because ive got a nice upolstered seat bottom and back i want to use. I'll have to fool around with recessing the seat back as far as i can before throwing in the towel.
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[PurdueSD]

1 step forward and 2 steps back...

Pretty excited though!
Last time blowing her apart.
Time to finish weld and lay some paint on the frame, then its final assembly!






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[PurdueSD]

Spent some odd hours last week and about 5 hours today and i am proud to announce... Everything on my frame is fully welded so i can finally start painting and final assembly.

Stripped everything from the frame, degreased and pressure washed off 63 years of grease, dirt and undercoating. Cut out some boxing plates to add strength to the rear spring hanger and shackle areas. Coated behind a couple spots i wouldn't be able to reach later. I took it a step further and welded on the tic rear spring hangers to strengthen a little more. I also got my IFS fully welded and my rack notches trimmed up and fully welded. It was a long day with a bunch of welding.

Cant wait to move on with final assembly!














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[focusedontheprize]

Looking good. Your rear TCI leaf setup - what is measurement from the ground to the bottom of the fender lip? Looks awesome.
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[PurdueSD]

Im not sure on the mesurement and im a little ways from having the bed back on.

I believe the tci kit advertided 3" drop, which i added 3" blocks to if that helps you at all.
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[99 to Life]

looks awesome, congrats.

[PurdueSD]

Back to roller status!

Got the front end assembled and some parts back together. I threw the rear end back in, because i forgot to weld on the saddle...doh. It sure looks nasty against the fresh frame. I also need to re fab the lower shock mounts. The 3" blocks screwed up the location of the shock mounts on the plates. Unfortunately ill have to get some weight back on the frame before i do either. Then ill pull it out and freshen it all up.

This project is kinda fun again!

[vht]

I've got a champion in my chevelle with dual 14in fans. Friend of mine put 1 in his 41 Plymouth truck and both are doing good. When I get to that point on my 51 chev truck, I'm putting 1 in it. Very nice build, keep the pics and info coming.

[Truck Guy99]

Sweet build! Nice to see somebody that isn't destroying a nice unmolested bed and cab. I'm a 4x4 guy at heart, but I love what you've done so far. Has a descent motor and tranny that's basic but cool. I like that the stance has some attitude going on but isn't dragging everywhere. Keep at it. I think all I would add is dual exhaust and seat belts. For exhaust, I would go with cherry bomb, magnaflow, or heart throb exhaust systems. All have a distinct and aggressive note. Check out seatbeltsplus.com. Get some lap belts tucked in the seat. Discreet, safe, and badass. Nice ride!
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[99 to Life]

looks great, nice to see it all back together. what brand are those whites, they look so proper.

[solidaxel]

Originally Posted by PurdueSD

Thanks!

Big news today! Front end is finally settled, although my budget it on life support.

Looking at this pix and the one on my extended cab why is there so much difference on the angle of the steering rack?
Well I still can not send pix!!!

























i

[PurdueSD]

Originally Posted by vht

I've got a champion in my chevelle with dual 14in fans. Friend of mine put 1 in his 41 Plymouth truck and both are doing good. When I get to that point on my 51 chev truck, I'm putting 1 in it. Very nice build, keep the pics and info coming.

Yeah, it seems like a really nice piece. Time will tell... Thanks!

Originally Posted by Truck Guy99

Sweet build! Nice to see somebody that isn't destroying a nice unmolested bed and cab. I'm a 4x4 guy at heart, but I love what you've done so far. Has a descent motor and tranny that's basic but cool. I like that the stance has some attitude going on but isn't dragging everywhere. Keep at it. I think all I would add is dual exhaust and seat belts. For exhaust, I would go with cherry bomb, magnaflow, or heart throb exhaust systems. All have a distinct and aggressive note. Check out seatbeltsplus.com. Get some lap belts tucked in the seat. Discreet, safe, and badass. Nice ride!
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The cab isnt as solid as it appears in pics. It'll do though. Id love to have somebody metal work it and lay a satin on it... maybe down the road after i get sick of driving it the way it is.

Originally Posted by 99 to Life

looks great, nice to see it all back together. what brand are those whites, they look so proper.

They are firestone deluxe champions (coker). Love the pie crust!

Originally Posted by solidaxel

Looking at this pix and the one on my extended cab why is there so much difference on the angle of the steering rack?
Well I still can not send pix!!!

That pic was just a stock pic I stole off the website... If you look at it closely its not even the right crossmember for this year truck. It mounts inside the frame rails. That rack on the other hand looks like the one i got. I was told it was a t-bird rack and wouldn't need the pressure reducer when running a gm steering pump.
























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[solidaxel]

His racks will work fine with the GM pump.
I was just comparing this (your pix) pix with one I took on our 53, but I can not load them, and the angle of the rack is different, as compared with the lower A arm

[99 to Life]

looks like that "stock" unweighted pic of the IFS maybe has so much angle on the rack because there is no weight on it.

[PurdueSD]

Thanks for the glass tip LB!

I had really been struggling with getting comfortable in the cab/ I'm 6'2" and leg room was tight and i was looking out of the top of the windshield with the stock seat. I had really hoped to retain the stock seat but it just wasnt working. Picked up a late 80s chevy bench of local craigslist and with the help of tech week article from the hamb. went to town...

Narrowed the seat frame 4 inches and made the require spacers to bolt the seat back to the narrow frame.



Bolted the tracks back on the seat and shortened the slide position release




I am in love! This thing is so much more freaking comfortable. I now look out of the center of the windshield and have probably gained 6" of leg room. Ill get it recovered in some black vinyl at some point down the road. Best part of instaling the seat this way is the stock seat riser is retained. More to come on that, I've got a little "lightbulb" moment to show you next.
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[Truck Guy99]

Nice fab work! Swap looks nice and clean. That would look great with the black vinyl and should be easier to clean. Now tell us your new light bulb idea!
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