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I installed the cab temporarily to check clearances and found that I needed ot modify the transmission clearance for the bell housing (NV3500) area. With the modifications made the cab sitting in the correct location as defined by the front cab mounting bolts there is good distributor clearance to the firewall.

Need to get the cab exterior repairs completed so that I can get the cab installed.

Continuing to work on cab cleaning/priming prior to installation on the frame.

Recieved and attempted to install front disk brake conversion kit. The kit is listed for 55-59 but is suppose to work on '50 spindles with slight enlargement of the bracket mounting holes. However, the bracket notch is not wide enough to seat properly onto the machined surface of the spindle. Given that I will need to machine the spindle to clear in addition to enlarging the bolt holes I plan to remove the spindles, have them machined as required and reinstall. I will take advantage of the opportunity to inspect the king pins and related bushings (they seem good).

Installed the front disk brake conversion lit. The interference problem previously mentioned was resolved with the spacers included in the kit that secure the bracket away from the spindle surface. Unfortunately the kit does not include any instructions but with the spacers installed the bracket mounting surface for the caliper is parrallel to the rotor surface. The spindles needed to have the upper mounting holes enlarged from 7/16 to 1/2" which doesn't sound like much except the spindles are hardened so they can not be drilled.

I did remove the king pins and the pins and bushings all look good, but now I need to find a source for the caps that go into the axle above and below the pin to prevent the grease from leaking out and letting dirt in.

Installed the cab on to the frame and removed the temporary braces from the door openings. The cab mounts are redone with new rubber bushings in the rear and isolator pads in the front.

I still have a lot of work to do on the cab but this is a giant step in the project.

Looking great! It is a milestone!

I have been working on the adaption of the S10 brake booster/master and related pedal backet for both the clutch and brake (see HighPro forum for details) utilizing a C1500/2500 clutch master cylinder. All the fluid addition related access points will now be under the hood and easily accessable.

I basically have the system worked out and while I need to make a few tweaks I think I have the system basics in place.

With those details sorted out I can get back to finishing up the cab interior body work and get the underside of the dash and floor area painted.

I am also making progress on the 14-bolt rear axle swap but need to get spring perches and U-bolts before I go much further. In the mean time the original Eaton H052 axle is in place to keep the chassis mobile.

Taking a road trip so no progress expected for the next couple of weeks but generally I am trying to work on some aspect of the project every day to keep things moving forward.

I have what I believe is the final version of the pedal bracket ready for paint.

Back to working on the interior of the cab to finish the patch panel areas and prep for priming/painting.

The radio knob holes have been butchered over the years and I am not planning to install a radio so I am considering plutting in a patch panel that will fix the mounting holes and close the larger opening. However I may just repair the knob holes to preserve the radio opening for a potential future installation.

I decided to go with Rams Horn exhaust manifolds, they look pretty good as far as frame clearance goes. I will need to do some work on spark plug wire routing. Next up is determining the steering - move the original out to clear the exhaust or convert to a newer power steering gear box.

I painted the underside of the dash and the interior firewall area. Not pretty but it will eventually be covered with sound adsorbing material so not a concern.

Installed the pedal assembly with the brake booster/master cylinder and the clutch master cylinder.

I need to keep working on the cab to get any painting/priming work done before cold weather sets in.

Ordered the parts for the 14-bolt axle conversion also.

I am hoping to have the cab primed, steering resolved, and rear axle swap completed before I relocate the chassis to the unheated back shed for the winter.

I am in process of relocating the standard steering gear outward to clear the exhaust manifolds and fabricating a new drag link to be mounted inboard of the pitman arm to provide something close to the original steering geometry.

I have the 14-bolt rear axle in place and it is clear now why I needed to relocate the brake backing plates outward and use shallower brake drums as the U-bolt to frame clearance is still pretty close. I am still working on the lower shock mounting brackets to finish the 14-bolt installation.

I cleaned and primed the cab door openings and rocker panels and treated the interior cab with POR-15.

I am working on a revised transmission cover to deal with the NV3500 transmission shifter location and the firewall/floor modificatoins required for transmission clearance.

I transferred the lower shock mounting brackets from the original HO axle to the 14-bolt axle.

I installed the fuel tank, although I need to replace the hardware before it is complete. The filler tube will be sorted out when I get the bed supports and sides ready to be installed (a ways off) with the filler expected to be in the rear fender.