1951 PROJECT... to swap or not to swap!
 

I just got a 1951 3600 p/u that is in need of a " second chance" it is very solid for being almost 60 years old. I want to use it as a daily driver when it is done..it is a long bed that i will be cutting down to a short bed. my question is... do i go with the 1951 frame and shorten it up,along with mII set up in the front, and 4 link in the back? or.. go the s10 route, 4 link in the rear. i would like to "bag it" but i'm not sure the money will be there for it,and i am trying to be realistic about my build...so please feel free to give your advise and or opinions... thanks Greg

Re: 1951 PROJECT... to swap or not to swap!
 

If money is an issue, Try and find a great running long bed standard cab s10 with a 4.3 and A/C. They can be had for pretty cheap. With the purchase of the s10 you don't really need to buy anything major. You get it all gas tank, engine, tranny A/C, IFS and all. You will have to buy some metal for brackets or flip the S10 mounts. The other option is great also, just more costly and work. Just my two pennies. Either way you go...good luck in your build and welcome aboard.
I did the swap, and would do it again.

Re: 1951 PROJECT... to swap or not to swap!
 

thanks SGTUSMC .. your build thread was excellent..so your 2 cents is welcomed..and appreciated..i found a long bed reg. cab at a local "bone yard" $200 for the frame only..not bad price I think but no motor/trans or rear end. my friend has a rear end out of a 4x4 s10 blazer that i can have for FREE...I THINK i will look a little more for a more complete truck tho. anyway thanks again for the reply.. Greg

Re: 1951 PROJECT... to swap or not to swap!
 

i am going to figure out this whole pic posting thing... (at some point)

Re: 1951 PROJECT... to swap or not to swap!
 

http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/a...evyside2-1.jpg
this is my 51 as I just got it

Re: 1951 PROJECT... to swap or not to swap!
 

Your very welcome sir. If it were me I'd pass on the frame. By the time you add all the parts, money wise and time locating parts you might be spending more money in the end than buy'n a complete running truck. Remember you can use a extended cab if the deal is great. It will just take more time fabbing it up to fit. If you have the time a deal will show itself. The way I post my pic's is via www.photobucket.com.

Re: 1951 PROJECT... to swap or not to swap!
 

As I was...looks like you figured it out.

Re: 1951 PROJECT... to swap or not to swap!
 

sgtusmc.. my 2 brothers are USMC...so I had to send them pics of your truck. they are also out in Cali. I am hoping to spend x-mas out there (oceanside) so I will keep an eye out for ya on the streets.....

Re: 1951 PROJECT... to swap or not to swap!
 

well cab has been taken off frame and put on the table so iI can start doing the sheet metalwork. it looks like at some point the driver door was over extended, and put a long crease in the side cowl. I think I am going to just order the replacement cowl rather than weld up all the dent puller holes..


http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/a...CIMG0107-1.jpg

Re: 1951 PROJECT... to swap or not to swap!
 

On that door...the one I am working on had the same problem. Watch the area where the hinges mount mine was bent forward also and I had to straighten it out. I did the inner cowl also but only because it was rusty. I think I have some pictures on my build thread if not let me know and I will see what I have here.

Bernie

Re: 1951 PROJECT... to swap or not to swap!
 

THANKS Bernie, I will check to see if mine is bent tonight. Also I noticed that the pass side cowl on mine .....the vent fins have been bent up for some strange reason. whoever did it, did a good job because they are consistantly BENT! at first I thought it was factory but after seeing some other pics it's not,so I guess I will be ordering both sides and replacing theem. I will post a pic tonight so you guys can see what I am talking about. question: to drill out all the spot welds what works best? just a drill bit or a spot weld cutter? I have never used a spot weld cutter so i'm not sure. thanks
Greg

Re: 1951 PROJECT... to swap or not to swap!
 

here is a pic of cowl vent on the pass side that has been bent. do I cut the vent out and just patch the hole....or replace cowl panel?

http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/a...d/bentvent.jpg

Re: 1951 PROJECT... to swap or not to swap!
 

............. Cut it our and fill it, not needed.

Re: 1951 PROJECT... to swap or not to swap!
 

ok I know its kinda early in my build, but I am thinking about what seat to use. I saw a truck on here somewhere that used a 3rd row seat from a chevy tahoe, but now i can't find it....i guess i will just start drilling out the 100 or so spot welds that hold the factory seat pan tothe floor. If anyone has seen the truck with the 3rd row seat on here would ya let me konw where to find it. thanks Greg

Re: 1951 PROJECT... to swap or not to swap!
 

well to 'SWAP" it is! got my donor s10 this week, I almost feel bad having to rip off the body( not really) LOL.. just want to keep moving forward on my 51.I got the bent vent cut out and also the old seat mount was removed(thanks to my 14yr old) so if all goes well I can fill vent hole with new metal in the a.m. and then start on s10 tear down. the s10 has a ZZ4 350 with a 5 speed,HOLY COW is it fast. I see a 4 link in the rear of it ASAP! So stay tuned for more updates and pics...........Greg

Re: 1951 PROJECT... to swap or not to swap!
 

http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/a...ld/ventout.jpg

vent out

Re: 1951 PROJECT... to swap or not to swap!
 

are my pics way to big? If so, can someone tell me how to shrink them? thanks Greg

Re: 1951 PROJECT... to swap or not to swap!
 

http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/a...uild/donor.jpg

"the donor"

Re: 1951 PROJECT... to swap or not to swap!
 

http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/a...akecutting.jpg

my helper!!

Re: 1951 PROJECT... to swap or not to swap!
 

http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/a...ld/seatmnt.jpg

seat mount cut out

Re: 1951 PROJECT... to swap or not to swap!
 

http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/a...havedgas-1.jpg

filled the old gas filler hole, now I need to drill out all the spot welds on the side cowl to replace the panel....is it a pain in the a@@ to replace these? any advice before i get started would be helpful. thanks Greg

Re: 1951 PROJECT... to swap or not to swap!
 

Just follow the seam below the hood hinge, locate and drill out the spots.
When you have the new aftermarket panel in place make sure the rounded edge of the hood fits the same contoure as the new panel, before it is in paint !!!

Re: 1951 PROJECT... to swap or not to swap!
 

That's a really nice donor. You should be able to sell most of it. Any pic's of the engine?

Re: 1951 PROJECT... to swap or not to swap!
 

spent a few hours yesterday working on the 51, I was able to remove the pass side cowl after drilling out what seemed like hundreds of spot welds! I am going to order the replacement panel today.


No pics of thr motor yet SGT. but I will take some and post them up.

Re: 1951 PROJECT... to swap or not to swap!
 

Re: 1951 PROJECT... to swap or not to swap!
 

well for anyone how may be following this build, I think I should QUIT my day job and work on my 51 till it is finished!( I just need to figure out how to tell the wife at 38 years old I am going to retire and just work on my truck) O.K. not going to happen so I guess I will just wait for " GOODMARK IND." to ship me all the replacement sheet metal I ordered yesterday. I got my mig welder tank filled today so when my new parts show up I am ready to go...so for now I will continue to remove my motor from my donor s10, and mabey list whats left on craigslist so I can continue to fund this project.
Greg

Re: 1951 PROJECT... to swap or not to swap!
 

That donor truck looks pretty decent.
I know what you mean about the time issue. The weekend comes, then it's gone and not much gets accomplished, lol.
I look forward to seeing the progress on this.

Re: 1951 PROJECT... to swap or not to swap!
 

well after "honey do! " list was complete and birthday party attended..that left me enough time to fit and install one of my new panels...was able to get it almost all welded on, so home for late lunch and back to the shop to finish welding. then do the same to the drivers side..

http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/a...d/newcowl1.jpg

Re: 1951 PROJECT... to swap or not to swap!
 

finished welding on pass side cowl, now onto the cab corner...got it cut off where i wanted to replace it,but not sure about the fit of the new (made in CHINA) one! looks like i will need to rework it a little.
http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/a...nishedcowl.jpg

Re: 1951 PROJECT... to swap or not to swap!
 

http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/a...vedccorner.jpg
http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/a...uild/newcc.jpg

Re: 1951 PROJECT... to swap or not to swap!
 

well i got the cab corner on and checked the door gaps and (fingers crossed) it all looks to be pretty well in line. so onto the driver side cowl panel and a little floor work..then off to be blasted! oh wait.....need to make a few dash repairs also. the steerng column must have beeen loose and kinda ripped the dash a little. nothing a "BFH" AND A LITTLE WELDING CAN'T FIX!!!! i just wish this whole thing was going a little faster...I would like to be driving by next spring.sometimes i think ....why did i not just buy one alll DONE!
http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/a...build/cab2.jpg

Re: 1951 PROJECT... to swap or not to swap!
 

A lot of them are boogered at the column mount, mine is really bad.
The reason you don't buy already done is, you end up tearing into it to fix the crap you don't like.

Re: 1951 PROJECT... to swap or not to swap!
 

so after 2 long weeks of waiting for my cab and doors to come back from sandblasting, i got the call yesterday saying they were all done....I went right over and picked them up so that I could get them in primer. I was really pleased to see the cab all nice and clean...rust and paint free. the sandblasting did expose a few minor areas that will need to be fixed but all in all I am SUPER excited..

http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/a...e/CIMG0162.jpg

Re: 1951 PROJECT... to swap or not to swap!
 

Re: 1951 PROJECT... to swap or not to swap!
 

Re: 1951 PROJECT... to swap or not to swap!
 

Masshole, your cab looks great.

Re: 1951 PROJECT... to swap or not to swap!
 

well now that my cab is nice and clean,I need to decide if I am going to use my s-10 frame or shorten my 3600 frame to a 3100. I do like the thought of keeping the og frame and i do like the mII set up.Can some of you guys give me some measurements on a stock 3100 frame? over all length...what else might i need to change on my 3600 frame to a 3100? thanks again
Masshole

Re: 1951 PROJECT... to swap or not to swap!
 

I think this link might help with some specs, unfortunately the most important one (lengths) are not on here. I do have another diagram I need to find, that gave all the measurements from the actual truck.

http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/shop/1954truck/54ctsm0202.html

let me know if it works or not

I was so convinced that the s-10 route was the best. But the more I see OG
frames the more I like them. BUT, you can literally buy one of these trucks for the cost of an MII setup. If I were you, had the money I would try the MII set up first, since you already have a frame. Definitely need to box it in, in some areas for sure. All this IF your frame seems structurally strong enough.