LS swapped 1954 Chevy 3100. Intro to a cool project. ep1.

This truck belongs to a great customer of mine.
It's been in the family for decades and I'm tasked with bringing this truck into the present.
Its running an LS and a 4L60E and a ford 9" out back.
It's bagged and will soon be tagged and hitting the streets again for the first time in many years.
This truck has been here for almost a year so we've got some catching up to do.
As always I would appreciate it if you would hit the like button and maybe drop a comment down below. Oh and subscribe if you want to see more.
I appreciate every one of you !!!!!!!!!!!!
Brandon

[@johnny535is]

Lots of really useful tips. Thank you

[@BrokenWrenches]

thank you very much. new video on this truck coming out soon enough.

[@davegreen4681]

Great workmanship.

[@BrokenWrenches]

thanks. will be doing another video on it before long

[@edwardsnowden1380]

I just picked up a 54 winter project, thank for sharing your experience…

[@BrokenWrenches]

welcome. another video of this truck is coming soon.

[@rattlehead7544]

Great video mate loving the variety and your attention to detail,cheers from Australia 🇦🇺👌🏽

[@BrokenWrenches]

Thanks man. Appreciate your loyalty

[@darrencatenacci2737]

Love the quality of those factory door openings. Always amazes me how much detail you put into reassembly. An interesting distraction to say the least.

[@BrokenWrenches]

Yea, i overdue it sometimes!!

[@darrencatenacci2737]

@@BrokenWrenches Yes I guess some folks would say that. But I think in your line of work that attention to detail. And always trying to make it nicer or better is a plus. I myself would love a job better than expected over a gee that’s nice bare minimum job. The attention to every detail makes it look so much better.

[@michaelmarquart4706]

Love that body style and year of truck. Keep us posted on the progress!

[@tonymartinez15949]

Great job my friend. God bless you and your family!!!

[@BrokenWrenches]

I appreciate it. Same to you.

[@stance_is_everything]

I 100% oblonged one of my hinges drilling all the way through without a press. Wish I saw your methods before haha. I ended up buying another used hinge.

[@BrokenWrenches]

i have to in the past my friend!!! live and learn right ?

[@ashleyjessee5953]

Such a cool truck. Definitely enjoyed seeing it.

[@BrokenWrenches]

Thanks. I like it myself

[@turboflush]

Put a zirc fitting on the hints to lube the center pin. For driving the pin and not crushing.. I would cut a piece of pipe to fit, then slot it to fit within the hinge bracket.

[@BrokenWrenches]

pretty good idea. thanks for watching

[@kenthomann8047]

Great work so far. Hope to see more on this build!👍

[@BrokenWrenches]

Thanks so much, you sure will pretty soon. Thanks for watching

[@garyjones2582]

You do some fine work..

[@BrokenWrenches]

Thank you very much

[@tonymartinez15949]

I have the same thoughts I don’t like flat firewalls I think factory looks cool

[@dougcompton6207]

If you heat that pin up red and dunk it in water it will blow the rust out around the pin

[@shelbyadams9955]

Started on my 50 Chevy today 12 may 23

[@BrokenWrenches]

Good luck man !!!

[@Mike-qp3jz]

Would it not be more efficient to just buy a aftermarket hinge instead of wasting the time it takes to restore the old hinge? Are the original hinges really built that much better that it’s worth saving them?

[@BrokenWrenches]

that is correct. reproduction hinges are terrible quality and there isn’t really any way to adjust or tweak them to make them work. generally the stock ones are far superior to the reproduction stuff. door fit on these trucks is terrible anyways so if the hinges aren’t poorly built its virtually impossible to get the doors to fit. same also applies to the reproduction doors.

[@pappabob29]

An old (now passed) body guy showed me that 1/8" hole alignment trick many years ago and I have been using it ever since. Works great on hood and trunk hinges also !!! I found that a 1/8" allen wrench actually works better than the drill bit since the short leg acts more like a handle. You may need to drill the 1/8" hole a very tiny bit bigger. Lots of guys these days use a S-10 chassis for these. What's your thinking on that versus using the stock frame while modifying the suspension ???

[@BrokenWrenches]

yep. the older guys have already done it all. many times younger guys like me reinvent the wheel. my opinion is to modify the stock chassis. it’s already built for the body parts, the metal is thicker and of higher quality than the newer chassis. also the s10 frame was designed for a lighter weight rating, IE, not overbuilt. It’s an option but not one i like.

[@onearm5827]

nice build also is that a short wheel base chevy van on the lift if so could i maybe buy it

[@BrokenWrenches]

she’s not a shorty but pretty close. its one of my daily drivers, also LS swapped

[@poingy4142]

Have you ever tried removing the center of the pin then tried to press the pin out?

[@BrokenWrenches]

yea, that’s usually my first attempt, lots of time it works. just hard to get set up square in the press.

[@carlosmontenegro8542]

Were i can get the door latch please let me know thans

[@ronaldlowe6471]

Cool truck, looking good. This is a lot like mine. What headers did you use?

[@BrokenWrenches]

Thanks. Its blown apart currently for media blasting. These headers came with the TCI mustang 2 front suspension kit, along with the motor/trans mount stands.

[@Tauraco00]

Greetings over there, I have a Chevrolet Cab that was built in SA - South Africa round about 1954 - split window bull nose - - - what does your cab vin plate look like? how does the vin numbering work? There is a G number also in the Vin plate I have

[@DependableAutoTruck]

what brand is the A/C unit. i have a 1994 Ram 2500 like all other 2nd gen dodges the dash is ruined i plan on building a new dash and use some sorta aftermarket heat and A/C and build aluminum dash

[@BrokenWrenches]

its from classic auto air. they have build your own kits as well

[@brianesquivel7002]

What length steering column did you use

[@StanleyMcCoy-yc2lo]

Did you have to add clearance for the trans at the hump area in the floorboard?

[@BrokenWrenches]

i sure did. only the top of the trans was hitting the lower firewall. the sides were fine.

[@AndresGarcia-ys3dr]

What engine mounts did you use on the stock frame

[@AndresGarcia-ys3dr]

Also what headers

[@BrokenWrenches]

With this truck we ordered a set that included the headers, motor mounts and i think the trans mounts. They came from TCI, who also supplied the front and rear suspension kit.

[@larryssnova76]

Is their anyway you can tell me what headers you used ?

[@chaunceysurry4026]

I’m getting ready to drop a ls into my 1950 3100 can you tell me what headers you use in the 54

[@BrokenWrenches]

these ones came with the Total Cost Involved LS installation kit. it should have part number on their website

[@NicoTNV]

Have a link for that 4 link?

[@BrokenWrenches]

I will look. It’s a standard TCI unit. Axle is from another place

[@rolandopimentel8165]

What part number are the headers for that truck model, I am looking for similar ones for me Chevy Truck

[@BrokenWrenches]

They came with the TCI LS bracket set. Look at the total costs involved website

[@ronbunker5778]

I like these old trucks also. I restored a 1954 back in 1973 and I wish I had changed the drive train, but they didn't have all the accessories they do now, and unfortunately, they rode terrible with the straight front axle and the gearing was way too low for highway use. Looks good, I like what you are doing!

[@cconnon1912]

The alignment holes on the door hinges are a great idea. 😅

[@glassblastcollision]

Drill a hole in the hinge bar and thread a grease fitting in it! I' ve been a bodyman for 35 years and when I do frozen pins I heat them up "RED!" hot and quench them in water 2 or 3 times if need be.By then the rust between the broken pin wall and the barrel of the hinge gets pulverized and washes out with a little penatrating fluid then the pin will tap out. I have an old 1954 GMC. I Subscribed! Putting a 1982 6.2 Detroit Diesel with 50,000 miles on it. Should pull my trailer well.

[@BrokenWrenches]

thank you so much for watching and commenting and for the information!!! appreciate the tips from guys who have done this for years. i learn something new every week.

[@davee6100]

Very helpful video. Really appreciated. Your narrative is extremely well done, better than most. I subscribed, hoping to see more.

[@BrokenWrenches]

thanks so much. appreciate your nice comments!!

[@charlesstouffer6046]

I wish I had known that “pin” door trick about 12 months ago. Took mine off to put the weatherstrip on and never was able to get them back the same.

[@BrokenWrenches]

Yep, its a really big pain. Especially on a finished vehicle, almost impossible to avoid scratching paint without using the drill/pin system. Thanks for watching!

[@justanoldman697]

I usually drill out pins with a smaller diameter drill bit than the pin and then press it out. The pressure on the pin will gradually cause it to oil can and fall out.

[@BrokenWrenches]

yea, usually they dont put up to much of a fight. these sure did. thanks for watching

[@FrisellFan01]

I found your channel today.....by accident .. but might I say sure glad I did looking forward to all the cool things you do on your channel LS swap here and there I can't get enough of that ... and wishing you the best!

[@BrokenWrenches]

Thanks so much for watching and joining up. You might like the van LS swap. Appreciate ya.

[@chaunceysurry4026]

What headers did you use?

[@1boatsailor]

Nice work I have a 55-1 LS swap original frame only way to go

[@BrokenWrenches]

Thanks. Thats true. Built pretty tough

[@turboflush]

Nice work my dude. Earned a sub.

[@BrokenWrenches]

thanks so much !!!

[@rustedjunkgarage3316]

Great video, 🫵🏼💯🆒

[@BrokenWrenches]

Thanks 💯