56 chevy 3100 build thread

I was asked by a few members to start a thread on my build, and besides I always enjoy looking at what everyone else is building so here it goes. First off this will be a slow build while funds and time allow.

The truck was given to me in trade for some car work for my neighbor. 1956 chevy 3100 shortbed stepside 2wd. 3sp column, orig 235 straight 6 engine. the engine was locked up so I pulled it to tear it down, the plan was to refresh the engine and put it back in the truck for a short time so I could drive and enjoy the truck some, but plans have changed. I was power washing the block yesterday to remove the 58 yrs of grime and saw a 12" crack along the drivers side of the block. I have always wanted this body style truck to DD and icing on the cake would be to have a 4BT in it backed by a 5speed, so that is the direction it is going now. I wont need to find an engine just yet but if a deal comes along I will jump on it. so if anyone has or knows where a 4bt is let me know, don't care if it needs rebuilt or is just a long or short block.

The truck has been sitting since 1985 in my neighbors yard on a slight slant towards the drivers side so that is where most of the rust is. the frame is solid, the passenger side is in good shape other than the cab corner and rocker panel. My plan for the body is to remove a piece at a time and cut out the rust and weld in new metal, strip the paint and prime it then store it so I can move on to the next. drivers fender was the worst so naturally that is where I started. next in line is the drivers door, then passenger fender, then door. Once the front clip is complete I will move onto the cab, then remove the cab once complete and start on the bed and chassis.

Since I am never planning to get rid of the truck and I am by no means an experienced body man, I am going to get the body as straight as I can, with the full intentions that I may remove and rework parts in the future.

My end goal is to have an original truck in appearance but have comforts of newer vehicles, power steering, disc brakes, bucket seats with belts, tilt column.... etc. below are a few pics and some of the progress I have made which isn't too much. Once my busy season at work stops I will work on it more.

few more

worked some more on the front fender last night.

Nice. Can't wait to see more of this!

Love the Apache trucks!

Oh I'm digging this.....

picked up a 4bt over the weekend from a fellow member (thanks chris!). engine is in great shape, just got it unloaded last night and ready to go on the engine stand to have new bearings put in and resealed. to my knowledge the engine came out of a piece of construction equipment, from some research looks like this 4bt was made by cummins for the case company for equipment, actual number on the case is pictured below. it is missing a few parts so I am searching for what I need.

-rear sump oil pan
-fuel filter housing
-timing case front cover only
-trans adapter for nv4500
-flywheel
-starter

It looks to be non intercooled, not sure if I should intercool it or not. maybe someone that knows or Weston can chime in and tell me based on the number on the piston. going to keep it stock or very close to it.

Also attached is a pic of the VE pump id tag. if anyone can give me info on it I would appreciate it. I just want to know everything about this motor that I can. thanks

The 4bt should be like the 6bt in that the oil pan swaps end for end with a different pick up tube and the front covers should be common between the two. look on e-bay I've seen a lot of adapters for sale on there just need one for a dodge pickup. the fuel filter housing would depend on year and model of the equipment it came from. My family has two Skytrac forklifts with 4bts one has filter on the head like a first gen Dodge and the other is on the frame behind the engine.

Your not going to paint it are you?

I love the way it looks now.

I like it as well, I will have to see how it looks once I get all the rust repaired.

jkretzer said:

picked up a 4bt over the weekend from a fellow member (thanks chris!). engine is in great shape, just got it unloaded last night and ready to go on the engine stand to have new bearings put in and resealed. to my knowledge the engine came out of a piece of construction equipment, from some research looks like this 4bt was made by cummins for the case company for equipment, actual number on the case is pictured below. it is missing a few parts so I am searching for what I need.

-rear sump oil pan
-fuel filter housing
-timing case front cover only
-trans adapter for nv4500
-flywheel
-starter

It looks to be non intercooled, not sure if I should intercool it or not. maybe someone that knows or Weston can chime in and tell me based on the number on the piston. going to keep it stock or very close to it.

Also attached is a pic of the VE pump id tag. if anyone can give me info on it I would appreciate it. I just want to know everything about this motor that I can. thanks

Click to expand...

Your welcome glad it went to a good home!
Now make some progress!

getting a little work done. drivers fender is close to complete and ready to be stripped and primed. The lower front corner is rusted and I will need to make a compound angle for it so I have sidelined it until I get the pass fender off and compare the angles so I know what to make. moved to the drivers door, measured for reference and marked cut lines for the inner and outer panels, started removing paint and rust.

took a break from the door and decided to strip the hood, found a decent amount of bondo on the pass side front of the hood. I took it all down to bare metal, treated the rust, sanded smooth and primed it for filler work in the near future. 2 small spots of rust on the rear sides that will need cut out and repaired. with all the rust repair and previous bondo work I have to strip the entire truck and repaint. I like the original look of the truck but it wont look right with all the new metal going on.

Got all the parts ordered for the 4bt, new bearings (rod and main) and other little odds and ends, smokem has the injectors, picked up a 90k mile nv4500 complete with bell housing, starter, flywheel, clutch, hydros, trans, shifter for a steal last week. starting to paint parts of the engine as I get time.

Looks great. Would it be easier/faster and maybe not too much more money to buy some doors that need minimal work? Or are the doors expensive?

doors can be expensive, new replacement doors from what I have read have a lot of fitment issues and most have spent more time modding the new doors to fit than cutting out the rust and welding in new metal. one thing is I am not looking for a showroom finish, I am not body man but I figure by the time I am finished with this project I should at least have some decent experience. I want to fix the major rust/problems with the body and spend most of the time on the frame cleaning and protecting it and then get it on the road so I can enjoy it.

I sad you have to paint it. Understand though.

me to, I liked the 58 yr old history the paint showed. just couldn't save it. I did find out the original color was a dark green, then yellow, then dark blue, then the light blue you can see.

Facebook has a few pages dedicated to these trucks, as well as some just for buying/selling parts....if you get chrome dash knobs I want all your black ones!

scott, I can get original black ones from a 57 3600 if you want them. a friend has a rusted out 57 3600 tha the said I could snag any parts I could use off of it.

finished welding and replacing rusty metal on the pass front fender and drivers door this week. the eyebrow on the fender was rusted out and there were multiple holes below the turn signal that needed repaired.

pass door next, then the hood. I did remove the hood as well. soon I will be mocking up the 4bt and nv4500 so I can make the mounts before I remove the cab.

Very cool project!!! I love those trucks!!!