My 9-year Project…revisited

[BDSchindler]

About 9 years ago, I was thumbing through a Street/Sport Truck magazine and fell in love with a truck customized by a Canadian custom shop. The truck was a 52 Chevy 3100 that they nicknamed “Vicarious”.

So I picked up a 3100 kit and went to work.

The body is complete as shown below…

The bed is from a 99 Silverado that I removed the center 1/2” and “welded the 2 halves together then used the 3100’s rear fenders.

Bumpers were removed and the nose was reworked.

A bit of airbrushing to the grill after a lot of taping off…

I scratch built the frame, the suspension came from a 96 corvette, I think (can’t remember…9 years ago!).

Wheels and tires came from the rear of 2 1/32 scale "Muscle Machines Big Time Muscle" mustangs

 

And that’s where it stalled…until last week.

I kept thinking to myself that I need to finish this. I had nearly a year invested in this build so off the shelf and on the workbench once again!

I finished the dash…

and the interior complete with a heavily modified console from an unknown donor kit. Seats are from from the 99 Silverado. Tan embossing powder over flat black paint makes up the carpeting. I used duplicolor tan interior paint for the seats, console and interior door panels…pardon the sanding dust,  To be removed!

The floor of the bed I never liked so I decided that rather than tear it apart, I’d just cover it with a scratch built tonneau cover that fits tightly but can be removed

The original engine I planned to use I’m on the fence about now. I picked an LS1 from TX3DCustoms but not sure which direction to go.

And that’s all for now. I’ll post more as I get done but I am determined to finish this more than ever now

 

Edited January 13, 2024 by BDSchindler

[cifenet]

The color looks great and nice job on the bed cover!

[Zippi]

I'm really diggin this build Brian because I love trucks and have a 49 Chevy pickup Restomod 1:1 (Ruby) setting in the garage.  Love these old AD truck.  That orange looks Super kewl and the wheels & tires are looking the part man.   

[NOBLNG]

That is looking great Brian!?

[espo]

I can understand why that drawing could get someone started on a build. You seem to have followed it well. The one-piece windshield reminds me of the series 1 1955 Chevy pickups. 

[BDSchindler]

Thanks for the comments guys...I always appreciate feedback, good or bad.

Getting back to this build made me realize how much I have grown in my abilities.  Now if I can just find all the parts I planned on using but I cannot remember where I put all of them!   AAAARRRGGGHHH!!!!!!  I thought I had them all together but apparently not.

More work on this to come this week.  I did find the wood rimmed steering wheel (yes, real wood!) but there is a lot of poo-poo I gotta figure out before I get to that point...like the friggin' engine that is going in this!!!!

More to come!  Stay tuned,

[dragstk]

This is a very cool project. Yes, you need to finish it. Nice job, so far

[BDSchindler]

Well, it still doesn’t have an engine, exhaust or steering wheel yet but enough for a mock-up.  The lighting sucks...really dark but these are 2 quick pics.

Still need to do a lot like detailing the wheels and all under hood work but it’ll give you an idea of what I’m shooting for.

When I started this 9 years ago, I don’t remember the rear wheels/tires being so far inboard of the wheel wells. I may have to see about moving them out a bit more.

 

Edited January 19, 2024 by BDSchindler

[espo]

Great looking color. The narrow rear end may give you an opportunity to use wider rear wheels and tires. 

[BDSchindler]

51 minutes ago, espo said:

Great looking color. The narrow rear end may give you an opportunity to use wider rear wheels and tires. 

That was what I was thinking, more or less

[BDSchindler]

Small update…TX3DCustoms LS1 painted and assembled. Still need to do the belt and heater/radiator hoses and install it

 

[BDSchindler]

Well, rear wheels moved out to the wheel wells and interior completed and installed (with a REAL wood steering wheel).

Engine is done but not installed yet and the inner fender wells, firewall, driveshaft and exhaust still need to be fabricated and/or installed.

[TransAmMike]

That's looking great Brian.   That TX3D engine looks so real!!       

[BDSchindler]

11 minutes ago, TransAmMike said:

That's looking great Brian.   That TX3D engine looks so real!!       

Thanks!

[TarheelRick]

Oh yeah, that is starting to look like a custom truck. Very nice work. I have several 'net photos of vehicles that I want to build, glad to see you have accomplished yours.

[BDSchindler]

20 minutes ago, TarheelRick said:

Oh yeah, that is starting to look like a custom truck. Very nice work. I have several 'net photos of vehicles that I want to build, glad to see you have accomplished yours.

Thanks…still have more to go before it’s complete but it is getting there!

[BDSchindler]

Almost done now…

Exhaust done (not too happy with it), drive shaft fabbed and installed, engine installed and plumbed as is the radiator but I still need to install the brake master cylinder and gas tank.

Edited February 9, 2024 by BDSchindler

[ModelcarJR]

Looks good, Brian! You almost have this one whipped! A nice looking custom truck!??

[BDSchindler]

DONE! Under Glass!