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

Re: My 54 3100 pickup build
 

Lower inside rear corner

Re: My 54 3100 pickup build
 

Outer cab corner repair

Re: My 54 3100 pickup build
 

Nice work!

Re: My 54 3100 pickup build
 

Lower front corner rust repairs

Re: My 54 3100 pickup build
 

Progress in repairs

Re: My 54 3100 pickup build
 

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

Re: My 54 3100 pickup build
 

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.