Put one of the finishing touches on the truck today. New radio! Had this thing on order since mid November!!! Finally showed up today. I will say im pretty happy with it. Does exactly what I wanted it to do with the stock look im goin for. I use Bluetooth to my iphone 95% of the time in my cars and this one works perfectly. Took a call on the test drive and it sounded perfect on both ends of the call. Yes i paid about 2X the price of my complete engine but......... i wanted it so i bought it🤙
That really sets off the stock look you were after, very nice. Any 411 on the supplier? Do they have other units for the Task Force series?
~ Craig 1958 Viking 4400 "The Book of Thor" Read the story in the DITY 1960 Chevrolet C10 "A Family Heirloom" Follow the story in the DITY Gallery '59 Apache 31, 327 V8 (0.030 over), Muncie M20 4 Speed, GM 10 Bolt Rear... long term project (30 years and counting)
Come Bleed or Blister, something has got to give!!! | Living life in the SLOW lane
That is too Cool, yeah there is a price but like you said "It's what you wanted". I put it on my wish list for the 59"
~ Craig 1958 Viking 4400 "The Book of Thor" Read the story in the DITY 1960 Chevrolet C10 "A Family Heirloom" Follow the story in the DITY Gallery '59 Apache 31, 327 V8 (0.030 over), Muncie M20 4 Speed, GM 10 Bolt Rear... long term project (30 years and counting)
Come Bleed or Blister, something has got to give!!! | Living life in the SLOW lane
1970 Chevrolet C10 Grandpa's -- My first truck -- In progress to shiny Follow the build in the Project Journal 1950 Chevrolet 1-Ton Dually "Ole Red Girl" In the Stovebolt Gallery More pictures here 1951 GMC 9430 1 ton dually--Shiny! | 1972 Chevrolet C20- Rusty- the puzzle box lid for the C10 | 1962 AMC Rambler American- my wife's Parts trucks- 1951 GMC 9300 | 1951-GMC 9430 | 1951- Chevrolet 1300
Fox- i just noticed your quote under your name. That makes perfect sense. I remember hearing another quote that has been something that stuck with me when dealing with mechanical things. Since i dabble in a lot of different things and like to know the inner workings of all things that i own and work on.
“The more you know, the more you know that you dont know”
If you’re not learning, you’re likely dead. Right?! 😉
1970 Chevrolet C10 Grandpa's -- My first truck -- In progress to shiny Follow the build in the Project Journal 1950 Chevrolet 1-Ton Dually "Ole Red Girl" In the Stovebolt Gallery More pictures here 1951 GMC 9430 1 ton dually--Shiny! | 1972 Chevrolet C20- Rusty- the puzzle box lid for the C10 | 1962 AMC Rambler American- my wife's Parts trucks- 1951 GMC 9300 | 1951-GMC 9430 | 1951- Chevrolet 1300
Note to self***** Dont use cheapo chineese AC hose and fittings on the next build. Ever since I built the kit I have seen traces of dye at most of the crimps and even seen a few specks where the hoses had mold marks. I knew the only fix was to just buy a new PARKER brand USA hose and fitting kit and re-crimp all new hoses. Got that all made, installed, and held vacuum overnight so I charged it and it seems perfect. Then wired up the AC request idle bump up on it. Had to add 2 wires to the ecu plug and then re-flash the ecu with some editing of the idle tables. Now whenever the AC clutch engages it bumps up 225rpm which is perfect to keep it smooth and also make it cool better at idle. The truck idles perfect at like 550rpms but the compressor isn’t very efficient pumping at low a speed. Should be a nice improvement when its 100deg this summer.
Do you mind answering a few questions for me about the swap? I tried to PM you but I can’t because I’m a new account.
Trying to do a very similar truck but with a 4.8 and 4L80e from a work van into a 53 3100. I want to keep it straight axle and stock looking otherwise. I’d love to hook up the foot starter too. Such a cool feature and I had tried to think about how to do it before seeing this post. Seeing it made me need it!
Were the fbody exhaust manifolds a must or just what you had? I have truck manifolds currently.
What did you do for your original alt bracket? That looks perfect as I plan to do crank water pump and alt only as well. No PS or AC.
What did you use for your engine mounting? This truck has an SBC currently so I’m hoping some adapter plates will get me where I need to be but a plan B wouldn’t hurt.
How did you tackle the fuel system? I found inline pumps and a corvette filter that’s also a 58psi regulator that sounds promising.
Awesome truck man. Very cool to see. I wish mine was in as good of shape as that one but hopefully I can make what I have work!
Yea truck manifolds sould never clear. I had to chop the passanger camaro one and move the flange to even make that fit but it fits now.
You can run stock alternator bracket and just leave the PS pump off and run the shorter belt.
I used universal weld in mounts with a single bolt that slides in from front but if you have it set up for sbc they make adapters to bolt a LS right into sbc mounts so that should be easy.
For fuel system its a stock tank behind the seat with gravity fed 255 walbro pump mounted on frame with a return bulkhead goin into top of tank. I just use the stock regulator on the rails of the older return style LS truck. Vette filter will work in a returnless system but i prefer return style.
Barnfind49, I'm also running the Walbro fuel pump mounted to the inside of my frame below the cab close to the tank in the cab. My fuel pump is a little noisey. It's mounted on rubber pads but between the electric engine fan and the fuel pump it's a little noisey. How about yours?
"If you can't fix it with duct tape it's an electrical problem" 1949 5 Window 3100 In the Gallery Forum Veteran of the USAF My Website
Yes i can hear mine running but only because my truck is almost silent. I have a huge muffler from a duramax van on my truck and if the truck stalled at a light you wouldn’t know it until you went to let the clutch out and it didn’t move. Its that quiet. I have very good hearing too. Im very used to hearing fuel pumps though so its nothing odd to me. Im used to driving around in fast cars with fuel pumps that sound like 3 blenders running full tilt. In tank pumps are always quieter but this truck was built for zero performance and the external pump was just too EASY I couldn’t not do it. 🤣
Finally did the new kingpins in the truck. Just drove it and its all good. The drivers side had basically no play in it but the passenger side definitely had some noticeable slop but not terrible. Its all fresh now though. Used a old set of pins/bushings/bearings that I scored on ebay and even the correct factory service tool to ream them true and to size. Im very happy with the end results. Not bad for my first ever set of kingpins. Im very close to being 100% done with everything on this project. I know it will always require some attention but my to-do list right now is basically 3 very minor things to take care of.
I invite you to read our latest Journal which has been moved into the Completed Journals forum.
The featured build is "Barnfind49's" 1949 GMC 150, a remarkable truck that perfectly balances classic aesthetics with modern performance.
This GMC maintains its bone-stock exterior appearance while harboring a potent 5.3 LS engine under the hood. The powertrain is cleverly matched to a 3-speed transmission complemented by a BW overdrive unit. What makes this build particularly special is that it serves as a daily driver, equipped with modern amenities such as air conditioning and an updated radio system, while being capable of comfortable highway cruising at 70 MPH.
The beauty of this build lies in its subtlety - with the hood closed, there's no indication of the modern heart beating within. It's a testament to tasteful modification that respects the truck's original character while enhancing its functionality for today's driving demands.
I encourage you all to check out the complete build thread in the Completed Journals section.
“Barnfind49” is still active on this site, so questions and atta+boys are welcome and encouraged!
Best regards, Phil
Last edited by Phak1; 04/04/20257:05 PM.
Phil Moderator, The Engine Shop, Interiors and Project Journals
1952 Chevrolet 3100, Three on the Tree, 4:11 torque tube Updated to: ‘59 235 w/hydraulic lifters, 12v w/alternator, HEI, PCV and Power front Disc Brakes Project Journals Stovebolt Gallery Forum