My 54 3100 pickup build
 

Howdy all. Thought it was about time to sign on and share my project with you all. Its a complete frame off resto mod, installing a 2004 pontiac GTO (VZ Monaro 265kw) LS1 and 6 speed tremec, circle track 9" with Mark Williams 411 true trac 31 spline centre. TCI IFS with 68 camaro drum brake hubs, VE HSV 365mm front rotors, 350mm rear. 2010 Camaro Brembo's all round. 20" American Racing black Daytona rims.

here is day one, my truck picked up and ready to deliver, had the owner remove the 235, and noted that although it has a 54 vin, original 235 with manual trans and original diff, it also had an open drive shaft, which would make it very late 54. Sweet

Re: My 54 3100 pickup build
 

So Here is my truck with a little photo shop edit. Wanted to have something to inspire me over the next couple years of chop and grind.

Re: My 54 3100 pickup build
 

Goint to skip the strip and tear down stage, and get straight to business.
First off send the chassis off to get the bow from a previous hit in the side removed. Make a dolley for the cab and get it blasted clean,
Lower front floor was rusted out, from the vent drain tude rotting away. So I machined up a bead roll profile and made the first floor repair. Made a tool to aid in the filling of the 50 odd holes on the firewall.

Re: My 54 3100 pickup build
 

There is a huge pile of small and large pieces that needed fabrication and welding in place so heres a few of them

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Lower inside rear corner

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Outer cab corner repair

Re: My 54 3100 pickup build
 

Nice work!

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Lower front corner rust repairs

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Progress in repairs

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Nearly there

Re: My 54 3100 pickup build
 

Welcome to the group, you are doing some great repair work. Rally like the photoshop pic, keep us posted...Jim

Re: My 54 3100 pickup build
 

Well looking at the next 10 rust repairs is gunna get very boring, so lets get to more interesting metal mania. also, to put my work into context, this is my first ever resto, repair, construction, or build of the 4 wheel kind.
My day Job is owner of a small custom Harley workshop, where i get plenty of practice bashing metal, wrenching, etc etc.
I thought it was time to aply my skill set to something I had been dreaming of for many years.

So here is 68? Pontiac column support I scored for free. A little cut an shut will fit my needs real good

Re: My 54 3100 pickup build
 

Thanks Jim, got a bunch of cool stuff to share

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Column support all done,

Re: My 54 3100 pickup build
 

I decided to eliminate the cowl vent water trap and try out my new electric bead roller from METAL MAN TOOL here in Oz. so make a template, do a test roll, taper the roll to a peak at centre and back down at the end, that was fun.

Re: My 54 3100 pickup build
 

Yep, thats where its going. Right in the hole

Re: My 54 3100 pickup build
 

Love my Kempi TIG welder. So much I decided to update my MIG to a Kempi as well, so a quick sell off of some unwanted parts help fund the welder upgrade.

Re: My 54 3100 pickup build
 

Metal man tools electric bead roller. Aussie made mate.

Re: My 54 3100 pickup build
 

Just found a shot of the tear down, this is the part where you start asking ...What the hell an I doing.

Re: My 54 3100 pickup build
 

Fitting the Vintage Air AC required the firewall hump to be reduced, allowing the AC unit to sit mid firewall for better air distribution.

Re: My 54 3100 pickup build
 

Moving on to the new Floor. It needs to be flat, and I will be fitting a 3 seat set from a mini van, strengthening the floor bracing, and removing the swing hangers, fitting modified front braces to the rear.
First job is to make a NEW bead roll in the same profile as the factory rib.

Re: My 54 3100 pickup build
 

First job was to cut the sheets to size, mark out where the new ribs will run.

Re: My 54 3100 pickup build
 

Then pre run all the marked lines thru the english wheel, this should help stretch the are a little, and minimise distortion. Im no expert, but it seemed to help.

Re: My 54 3100 pickup build
 

Here ya go, and I managed not to stuff it up first time around. Sweet.

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And the rear shot

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Under floor bracing, will be mounting seat belts to the RHS at the rear, (LS1 conversion engineering requirement)

Re: My 54 3100 pickup build
 

Trim and bend up some sheet, and run the tipping die over the edge.

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Bell housing hump done.

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Time to cut up some plate, to make the brake and clutch levers, decided for a drilled sword theme. Will match the shift lever later on,

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Both done, bend the brake arm around the column, weld on some early camaro pads. And make up some bush tubes.

Re: My 54 3100 pickup build
 

Mounted to the modified pontiac column support.

Re: My 54 3100 pickup build
 

Time for some chassis mods now, going to raise the rear rail humps, and use the top and bottom of the original rail to keep it looking more factory. . Cut two plates the same, angle cut the ends to spread out the stress. Cut the top rail on the forward side of the hump. and shape to the new plates, tack in place, cut the bottom rail at the rear side of the hump, weld in place, both rails require extending at the cut points. Fab up some thicker plate to weld inside the rails, overlapping the new joins.

Re: My 54 3100 pickup build
 

Looking good so far

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Nice work!

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Have you fitted the cab to the chassis yet? Does the T56 fit under the flat floor-pans you've made? (nice looking work, BTW)

Putting a LS motor in my '49 but fitting a T5 till I can afford a TKO or T56, and it looks like you'll get there way before me.

Watching with interest how the T56 fits - hopefully I can learn something that will help me plan.

What do you plan to do for shifter location? Moving it forward?

Thanks for posting -

Phil

Re: My 54 3100 pickup build
 

Very interested in your seatbelt installation.

It seems like anything goes here in the states - here in Arizona there's no inspection required to put my truck back on the road with several times the horsepower it had when new.

In Australia, however, my understanding is that a state-approved engineer has to review and approve significant vehicle changes before allowed back on the road. I've even seen documents suggesting "best practice" for different types of modifications.

Is there anything related to 'best practice' for seat belts in Australia? Any photos that show your approach to meeting requirements would be appreciated.

I've always thought defensive driving and a mature attitude with old cars/trucks on the street was the best way to prevent accidents. But some knowledge about the best way to install safety equipment wouldn't hurt either.

Thanks and regards,

Re: My 54 3100 pickup build
 

Beautiful work you've done. Awesome details.

Thank you.
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Hi Phil, yes cab has been fitted, but not the trans and motor, that should be in the next few weeks. My brother built a 52 for a guy and its slammed on air ride still has flat floor. I measured up and the math says it is ok. But I have left the space in the floor in case I am wrong. There was so many things to do before engine and trans mounting.
@e015475
The rules here vary from state to state, in cars they now have a formula for cubic inch to vehicle weight to limit the size of your motor, and blower. But as trucks are commercial, there is no restriction. In my state, if you are fitting an LS you must have colapsable column, padded dash pad. Seat belts, and cats on the exhaust. I could do a manifold change and some mods to make the motor look older, and it would slide
Through. As for the belts, Going to make a mini roll bar that wraps around the rear of the seats and anchors at 4 points through the floor. And the new chassis cab mounts, and the RHS. All the retractable and belt mounts will be on the frame.
@FarmerSid
Thank you.
T56 shifter location mods coming up.
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