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Boss I'm not gonna lie, I got lucky on the stock drums. They popped right off. A lot of times, the center of the drum and around the lugs may get frozen with rust. Hit it with some kind of solvent like PB plaster and or some heat to break it loose. There may be a puller kit out there but not to my knowledge. Best of luck.

@DougABirnbaum yeah I got mine off today sprayed pb on them yesterday and they were very tight tolerance it seems since I had to open up the holes a bit but once I hit them with a torch it practically flew off good thing I had the lugs on

@@firewarplane7942 Nice work! A lot of builders I spoke with talked about the Chevy S-10 rear with the disk brakes is a perfect upgrade. If you can find one haha. My next move would be a disk conversion. Glad to hear it worked out!!!

​@DougABirnbaum i don't know if I could source an s10 rear and transmission lol but everything on mine works perfectly so I'll just leave it on

I believe I just did a Google search. But sights like Ecklers Classic Chevy has some, but look for either repair manual or shop technical manual.

​@DougABirnbaum thank you

Dude that's a great question. Honestly I'm not sure. A lot of times builders just install an updated steering column to give them the flexibility. I looked online, Grant wheels have adapters for the horn. That would be a great video showing that build.

Doug I noticed you have a hose clamp holding the turn signal piece what holds that in place. Mines is loose also. Is there something broke. Thanks

@@peteadams9466 yeah, not proud of it but there is a set screw to hold that cap in place but it doesn't work. So the hose clamp is plan B haha.

Honestly I'm not sure... I'll double check the book but mine is really flat. I'll double check

I used a standard shock with through bolt mounts on the top and bottom. With the way the mounting points were put in, I took measurements, and found a standard shock from Autozone. Looking back if you can find a shock with a pivoting ball mount that would have worked better.

I went with a GM 10 Bolt from a 69 Camaro. My only regret is the gears are too high for freeway driving. Look for 3.08 gears or lower, mine is 3.73. I've heard the rear from an S10 4x4 is a good one too.

Thank you.

Roger that! That's what I get using my iPhone haha!

I kept the spring pads at a zero angle. I only put 2" drop blocks in. Another builder told me if I went lower then that, then I'd have to redo them at a proper angle.

@@DougABirnbaum nice to know! I got 3 inch lowering blocks and about to do the tear end swap, thank you sir! Keep up the videos! Love the ride!

I just installed my s10 rear end and I had the same issues with the lowering blocks being a little off, they look just like yours but the wheels are pretty centered to me. At least the best I can get them lol

@@RobertoHernandez-wf8ew yeah boss, I had to raise and lower the rear diff a few times to make sure it was centered in the wheel tub! My only suggestion is raise the rear yoke angle from ZERO to Three degrees or do a fit test with the drive shaft, my angle was a little off.

@@DougABirnbaum what drive shaft did you end up going for and also what ends did you use? Just changed out the u joints to match?

Roberto I used a generic rubber line fuel line covered with nylon and ended with AN fittings. The radiator has the trans cooler built in and just ran them that way. I used stainless flex tube on the inlet and out lines from the water pump. I haven't tested them yet but they state rated for cooling lines lol, stay tuned man!

I came across the same problem with a 17inch flex fan just about to touch the passenger cooler line, with the short water pump! Lol not touching but extremely close

Yeah, had to reinvent the wheel a few times haha!

Marco greetings, honestly it depends on your front suspension set up. I kept mine stock and used Sanderson headers. They are made to go around the stock steering box.

I wish but the 6 was messed up. Had to! Thank you for the props!

Hey Gloria. A fellow builder mentioned to me that not having a heater inside the car can make the engine run hot. Jersey with its wonderful traffic in the summer doesn't help. So I decided to run two just in case. Also a little trial and error too!

Thanks again Robert! yeah now kinda in the same boat. Been very cold up north to work on her.

Umm well that's a new one! I think I'll stick to my 350! Maybe go to an LS one day!

Thank you. I can try to help where I can. What information would you like?

Thank you for the props! Im in the middle of wiring and pushing to get her started by Halloween!

I'm jealous already! Best tip is to read everything you can get you hands on and see how others did theirs too! My most recent video covered my SBC 350 swap. Feel free to hit me up anytime always willing to help! Best of luck

Hey Robert. Its been a labor of love. My only mistake was not test fitting the engine first to see what room I could have. I wish I could have set it further back! I'm doing another follow up video addressing that. Happy building!

@@DougABirnbaum It is that! It’s also a series of “Should have” things. My mounts wouldn’t allow for much adjustment, front to rear. I’m going with a short neck water pump, hopefully that will give me the short space I need. Looking forward to your next video!

Hey Robert, I went with Walton Fabrication for my motor mounts and trans cross member. Lesson from me though, def do a fit test of the motor in the bay. I went with the recommended mounting location for the mounts and my motor is too forward to mount my fan. Had to use Plan B. Try and get the engine as far back as possible.

@@DougABirnbaum Yes Sir, that sounds like a better plan. I’ll contact Walton Fab and talk it over with them. If I can set my engine I’ll move back to body and Chrome, something I like better!!!

@@robertmashburn8330 Looking forward to seeing what you have next! Cheers and happy wrench turning!

@@DougABirnbaum just got thru trying to contact Walton Fab. Looks like they got the stuff. Follow up tomorrow with them. Thanks for the referral. Told them you Recommend!

@@DougABirnbaum Got it! Thanks, I will.

Robert hope you're doing well Sir! No I did not use the OG springs. I replace the springs and the company I used, Performance Online. The spring perch under the axle has an offset hole that moves the rear back to center. Another guy on youtube Raybuck Autoparts has a video doing a leaf spring installation and they used Chassis Engineering, I might have to go shopping!

@@DougABirnbaum I have actually got a standard perch that if I butt it up to the original spring pin and drill a hole thru the spring, it positions the axle in the center, front to rear. I’m a little apprehensive about that, but other people have done it that way I hear. Another has reversed the leaf spring and that centers it too. The first option of placing the new perch directly rear of the original pin will position the rear end perfectly as well. Cost of that is just the perch. I like that. Gotta research that some more though.

Reverse the leaf spring

Yeah the more research I've been doing finds those GM rear ends were pretty common and easy to switch around!

Good Morning Pastor Jon! Your find is incredible! Good thing there are a number of sites and resources to keep the old girl bone stock! Cheers and happy Trails Sir!

Robert I just saw this comment sorry I didn't get back sooner. The LS with the 400 is gonna be sweet. Being broke for the project is the story of my life! I'm doing another video shortly on my engine install. Hope I have some info you can use! Cheers Boss

@@DougABirnbaum Hey Doug, as you know things change rapidly. I got my Chrome, its in the trunk wrapped up for now. The Z-28 Rear End is a 373 posi I think, fortunate to get that one. But it’s not about ET’s it’s about a good sounding Cruiser. The LS is out, I also got a 35k mile, 4 Bolt 350 out of an RV, so it may show up with close to 300HP. The Turbo 400 is out too, thought it may be a safer bet to go with that 35K, Turbo Trans too. Pretty much turn key on both. Pulled the 235 and Trans, sold them for $300 just to get them outa here. So my 53 has no drivetrain front to rear. Keeping my original springs, going to move the Perch back a few inch’s and drill it to center the wheels. It’s always a story of “Can’t do this because of that”. Right now I’m looking for the right U Bolts to hook up the rear end. Speaking of that, the rear end is a Disc Brake rear end, so it will have 4 Wheel Disc brakes. I could send a book, but I won’t keep you. Thanks for replying. Take Care, give me an update soon.

@@DougABirnbaum Mr. Doug, are you using an HEI Distributor? If so, how far is it from your firewall? Ready to fit check my New 350 in the 53. Let me know if you would please.. Thanks

@@robertmashburn8330 send me an email at douglas.birnbaum@gmail.com and I'll forward a bunch of pictures and information for you. and yes I am using and HEI distributor from Speedway motors

Hey George, yeah the title and VIN stamp is a 54...

Yeah its a venture that's not for the faint of heart! Depending on the gear ratio you want, a number of guys I've talked with went with a Ford 9" or the Ol' chevy 10 bolt. Thats what I have. I still love the cars that were able to keep the original hard ware but having a number of pieces updated gives me piece of mind!

Cleaning up my Engine Bay. Reviewed your video several times looking to see where to cut the supports. On both sides there’s an additional plate bradded to the frame. Planning to grind the brads down and remove them also. Then Paint! Hoping I can make only one pass at setting the motor and Trans. (No help). Got the Mounts, close to doing the last major obstacle. Just wanted to say “Thanks” again for your tutorial. 👍🏻

Raul thanks, I did some digging through the inner webs and there are a number that are the correct size. I was looking for an S-10 pickup 4x4. The rear was wide and had disk brakes but here in the North east all the ones I found were rusted out. This one is a Chevy 10 Bolt from a '69 Camaro with a 3.08 gears.

Thank you.

Dude that's funny, my first attempt at a build was a 67 Rustang! Cowl was swiss cheese floors gone! Always looking forward to seeing other builders works! Cheers and all the best!

Fingers crossed in the near future (couple of years) I'll be shooting it in the original color pattern! Thanks.

Its the best when I tell people what I'm working on and now everyone wants to see it! Back to the work bench LOL! Thanks Antonio!

The car must have been in-between production years. Yeah the grill and rear lights are 53 but she's stamped as a 54! Believe me, I tried doing less work to the car but the more I worked, the more issues I uncovered. Besides upgrading the drive train also allowed more parts to be available.

You know I thought of using the power glide, but when you open things up, well there is the fun in that. It didn't have a lick of fluid in the pan, barely any in the cooling lines. So one problem lead to another and went full bore replacing the entire drive line! Many mistakes made, even more lessons learned! Cheers!

Funny thing, floor pans is on my next to-do!

Robert, I found a group on Facebook, 1949-1954 Chevy cars. I looked at what people were building and started to ask questions. Finding parts was easy, i.e. aftermarket trans cross members, engine mounts. I'm still learning new stuff. Thanks

@@DougABirnbaum yeah, right today I’m just looking at it close, trying to consider all the pitfalls before I leap. Also, I can’t seem to find body emblems, chrome, etc. The 53 headlight bezels are difficult to find, so are the hood and trunk emblems. Hood ornaments seem to be available. All leads are welcomed! Lol Also, I have a “do it now mentality”. Problem is my budget is complaining. Not too bad, but some. Thanks Again!

@@robertmashburn8330 Look into Ecklers Early Chevy and Chevy of the 40's for items like that. The budget is always growing but thats the fun of it! Cheers boss

Robert, thanks for the email! I would have loved for an LS maybe on the next one! The wire harness is my biggest challenge after the engine! The OG one is junk! Cheers on the build would love to see some video of it too! Cheers

@@DougABirnbaum Hey Doug, thanks for the reply. Looking at your car, it’s a much better builder than mine. I think everything on mine needs touching. Surface rust under Chrome and so on. But it is a straight car. I’m buried now in removing the rear quarter and window chrome. Good days and bad. Lol. I’m 71 so the twisting and turning is a little more difficult, but I’ll get there. I’d love to send you a video, not sure I know how. Mine is the same color, 2Dr HT BelAir. Yours looks to be in very good shape! Rethinking the V8 since I don’t have the tooling to do much more than nuts and bolts. Still a labor of love though. Keep me up on your progress, like to follow you through your build. Take care.

@@DougABirnbaum Following your build, I’ve since reconsidered the LS, don’t want to do a tank Fuel pump, so it’s a 350/Turbo 350 Trans. But that’s after floor and gas tank. Right now it’s getting surface rust off. The Guy I got mine from has a set of Skirts for a 53 if you need some let me know. I’m envious of the condition of yours, it looks really good! Can’t wait to see the 350 in it.

@@DougABirnbaum Hey Doug, here’s my Email, I’ll send some pics if your interested. robertmashburn45@gmail.com

@@DougABirnbaum I’ll see if I get schooled on the video process and how to upload it to you. Got my pans from Summit, about $340 for all four, give or take a few. My toe boards also have problems, floor pan itself doesn’t cover that. Got some Metal to fix that. Still hit and miss on its completion. Got bumpers, grill, and emblems off my 53. Everything headed to Chrome Wizard in Tennessee, that’s a $2K problem, Lol Best price I could find, seem like good people. So that’s about a 2 month project. Lot of work for me, the grill itself is about 15 pieces. Gotta be broken down to pieces. They promise some beautiful work. Gotta say I’m envious of the overall condition of yours! Paint, chrome and emblems! Very Nice! Same color as mine. I’ll get the video done, send it soon. Thanks

Its a great and simple car to learn A LOT on! Hope you get one soon!

Jose Cuevas thanks boss! Mine has the 54 taillights also!