53 3100 - complete rebuild and upgrade . . . .

[slammed57]

doin it right!. I'll be watching

[big_dan]

Originally Posted by slammed57

doin it right!. I'll be watching

Thanks! Somehow got roped into an 8.8 rear rebuild for a buddy and a side project for momma, but the 53 will be front and center again in a week or so.

Thanks for looking -

Dan

[MNchevy]

Awesome build so far. Looking forward to more!

[big_dan]

Well, finally caught back up on side work a bit and back on the chassis. Working on the step notch currently, hope to have the chassis finished enough to start mocking up the body soon. More later-

Thanks for looking,

Dan

[big_dan]

A little more chassis work. Tying in the rear of the frame so building my own frame section with the plasma and the brake.

And for those wondering, the bottom of the notch is 6" above the axle at ride height.

More later -

Dan

[big_dan]

Step notch done, started mocking up shock mount crossmember, and sway bar. Still a long way to go . . .

Dan

[Gregski]

I don't usually build trucks, but when I do, I like to build me a shop first, ha ha, this is going to be an epic thread, can't wait to follow all the progress

dumb question on the shop, is your floor flat or does it have a slant for water run off, some day I want to build me a shop but I am tired of all my work benches along the side walls being 3" crooked, ha ha

[big_dan]

Originally Posted by Gregski

I don't usually build trucks, but when I do, I like to build me a shop first, ha ha, this is going to be an epic thread, can't wait to follow all the progress

dumb question on the shop, is your floor flat or does it have a slant for water run off, some day I want to build me a shop but I am tired of all my work benches along the side walls being 3" crooked, ha ha

Gregski -

Shop floor is flat. Really messy stuff gets done outside in the gravel. Thanks for looking -

Dan

[84blaze]

You are moving right along and it is looking incredible. Keep it up!

[big_dan]

A little progress. The fall of the year is hunting time, so I dont get as much done. Started disassembling the truck and checking fit of the cab for a final idea of ride height.

More later -

Dan

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by big_dan

A little progress. The fall of the year is hunting time, so I dont get as much done. Started disassembling the truck and checking fit of the cab for a final idea of ride height.

More later -

Dan

Looking good...I don't hunt but my kids fall sports tend to take my time.

Marc

[mongocanfly]

Cab looks right at home on new frame Dan.....stupid deer are slowing my progress as well....

[big_dan]

Thanks for following, fellas. Continuing along, my next step is to verify if ride height is where I want it. I'll be running an 18x8 with a 245/40 up front and a 20x10 with a 275/40 in the rear. So, I snipped out a set of mockup "wheels" to see where we're at. I'll ponder on it a bit, but it looks like I'll end up going about 2" lower. There's a few ways to get there, but right now I'm leaning towards dropping the cab and core support to get there. Yes, the front looks like ride height is higher, but it's even. But, pic's or it didn't happen, so .......

Thanks for looking -

Dan

[joedoh]

you have something going on with your running boards that I just noticed..



if you look at your before picture, the running board is tucked up against the rocker. this shouldnt be, there should be a 1-1.5" gap that is filled by a running board seal. in fact, if you compare how the running board attaches to the bottom of the rear fender but in the front has a 1-1.5 piece of the front fender hanging down, you can see what I mean. it looks like the whole bed/apron/running board got moved up to close that gap that usually has the running board seal in it.


what I cant figure out, is you have a stock cab on a stock frame with stock running boards mounts, and the gap is still gone.



so I am a little confused. in any event, if you lower the running boards that 1-1.5" for the seal, you will be closer to your 2" lowering goal right away.


gorgeous work too!

[big_dan]

joedoh -

The truck had some panel alignment issues originally, mainly the cab was nosed down a bit which threw the hood and nose off. As for the running boards, they're fiberglass re-pops that I just have sitting on the brackets with a block under them right now, so that's what you're probably seeing. I'll get it dialed in a bit more later -

Thanks for looking -

Dan

[big_dan]

Here you go, joedoh, - this should straighten it out. Leveled the cab dead nut, set the running board on and leveled it as well. All that being said, that sets the bottom of the running board exactly 7" off the ground - WAY too high for my plans, so it'll have to go lower. My goal is 4"-5" running board to ground.

Thanks for looking -

Dan

[mongocanfly]

Looks good...whose sway bar are you using?

[big_dan]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

Looks good...whose sway bar are you using?

It's a Scott's "torsion bar" setup. The same style will be in the front as well.

Thanks for looking -

Dan

[joedoh]

ahhh I get it now!

I will have to measure mine, I was thinking I set at 6" front of the running boards and 7" rear of the boards. I found that going lower than that LOOKED AMAZING but with the rake, the bottom of the front bumper would scrape the crown of some of the older asphalt roads around here haha.

here is a vid of my 47 gmc, set at 4.5" front 5.5" rear, click the pic to play

IMG_4809 by Joe Doh, on Flickr

[big_dan]

Well, a busy morning trying to get this body mockup complete. Went a little slow since I was solo this morning, but I think it's mocked up enough to get an idea. After studying on it a bit, I'm leaning towards leaving it where it is for height. This will have the top of the cab around 68" and the bed rail roughly 38", with around 6" from the running board to the ground. Since I drive my stuff HARD, much lower might be an issue. Plus, I might have driveshaft room this way - much lower it'll be tunnel time.

More later - headed to the woods -

Dan.

[MiraclePieCo]

Originally Posted by joedoh

I was thinking I set at 6" front of the running boards and 7" rear of the boards. I found that going lower than that LOOKED AMAZING but with the rake, the bottom of the front bumper would scrape the crown of some of the older asphalt roads around here haha.

here is a vid of my 47 gmc, set at 4.5" front 5.5" rear, click the pic to play

I had mine at those same measurements (4.5/5.5). I had to drive super cautiously - learned you can destroy fender bottoms real fast. But the front bumper was the worst issue. I raised it to 6" front, 7" rear. Now I can jump speed bumps like Luke Duke.

Here I am stuck in my own driveway:

[mongocanfly]

Good luck in the woods..!!....nice mock up...
is it camera angle or is the rear fake tire a little forward of centered in the wheel well?

[big_dan]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

Good luck in the woods..!!....nice mock up...
is it camera angle or is the rear fake tire a little forward of centered in the wheel well?

Mongo - It is a little forward; I thought so too. Keep in mind the bed isn't mounted permanently yet, and the 4- link has an easy 1" of adjustment also.

Dan

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by big_dan

Mongo - It is a little forward; I thought so too. Keep in mind the bed isn't mounted permanently yet, and the 4- link has an easy 1" of adjustment also.

Dan

there are two rivets on the fender, that is roughly center. when I center it and take a picture from anywhere but straight on the wheel, it looks too far forward, so I think your flat wheel is playing tricks a little.

looks great!

[MiraclePieCo]

Originally Posted by joedoh

there are two rivets on the fender, that is roughly center. when I center it and take a picture from anywhere but straight on the wheel, it looks too far forward, so I think your flat wheel is playing tricks a little.

looks great!

Hey Joe, it seems like the factory originally had the rear axle forward of center, maybe for a swooshy streamlined look? I know it's a personal choice but do you think the rear wheels should actually be centered, or leave them where the factory had them?