Re: 1957 Chevy truck re-rebuild
 

Thanks longbike, I knew it wasn't going to be easy, but it was worth the effort.

tune_1, it's almost like going to school, I only wish school was this fun.:lol:..... fun, what am I talking about, this can be boring as can be at times, we just have to believe the effort will pay off in the long run. Thanks for checking.

I've got the whole dash sanded and buffed. I did the glove box door by itself. My second dog was jealous that she didn't get into the picture last time so once I finished sanding and buffing it I got her picture also.
http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/...ps00f8a3db.jpg

Just a little on my order of progress.... I could have painted the firewall and dash both at the same time but I'm dealing with time issues.

Plan ahead.... I know it's gonna take hours to "cut and buff". I want to cut and buff 24 hours after painting. In 24 hours the sanding cooperates great, I can use 2000 grit paper. The buffing will remove the sand scratches quickly. As the paint hardens, the sand scratches are still buffable, it just takes more effort to remove them. Now, with working around all the edges, I sometimes have to finish buffing by hand, the softer paint is easier to work with.

Plus I have to deal with working around my work schedule, that blocks huge chunks of the day that the clear is drying and I can't sand and buff.

So by doing this in sections I don't feel the urgency to rush, I have time to fully finish an area before moving to the next area.

Re: 1957 Chevy truck re-rebuild
 

Nice and shiny.
Kim

Re: 1957 Chevy truck re-rebuild
 

Well I was hoping to skip the cut and buff on the dash, ha, who am I foolin', I'm gonna cut and buff, it's the ultimate finish. Was it easy? no, patience, patience. I really had to be careful around all the edges, then the same with the buffing.

I'm getting excited to get all the chrome knobs and radio installed but for now I can enjoy the dash as is.

I view of the top of the dash.
http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/...ps82c2ae13.jpg

I've gone back and looked at the pictures from a year ago with the maroon, what a difference.
http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/...k/102_2789.jpg

Another showing the welding of the radio face plate, covering the ash tray, heater plate and putting in a spot for another switch on the far side.
http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4101dc65.jpg

With the black color I'm getting a serious attitude in the cab, I'm also looking forward to getting all the vinyl, chrome and stainless steel.

I did install the lighter to get an idea of the reflection that the chrome knobs will create.
http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/...psd078f06d.jpg

Before and after pics can sure be a boost in motivation.

Re: 1957 Chevy truck re-rebuild
 

for all of us L:D:DKING good

Re: 1957 Chevy truck re-rebuild
 

ahhh, a double smiley face, thans _Ogre.

Looking at the last picture the glove box looks like it has a terrible sag/runs coming down from the red stripe. I am having a heck of a time trying to get pictures that will show the finish without pulling in a reflection that gives a false impression, such as the phantom sag/runs.

This is another angle of the glove box yet, it itself is trying to pull in the reflection of the drivers side gray door jam and once again, distorting the image, but no sags/runs.
http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/...ps6f4f5ae8.jpg

Ok, I feel better... ;)

Re: 1957 Chevy truck re-rebuild
 

Looks great.
Kim

Re: 1957 Chevy truck re-rebuild
 

Last year I cleaned and primed the hood. Once the primer dried I went to block sanding.

The first thing I noticed was the metal in the center off the hood flexing, some call it oil canning. I've read others having the same issue. With the hood being about the last main part to be blocked I have to deal with it.

I don't know if there is a fix available but I have to do something.

I started with a drawing for size and dimension.
http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/...ps6cf5e4c0.jpg

I don't follow every line I draw but it gives me a good idea of where I want to go with the final design.
http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/...psaa05fbec.jpg

The front mounting holes were all ready there, in the back I had to drill two holes and insert these expanding nuts.
http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/...ps9e7c8ea0.jpg

My goal was to have the brace hover about a 1/4" above the hood after I bend and shaped the brace.
http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0c337054.jpg
http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/...ps78a0a6fe.jpg

I cut some rubber spacers and slid them between the brace and the hood.
http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/...ps8a84733d.jpg

Later I'll paint the brace and glue the rubber spacers in place but for now I'm able to get back to block sanding the hood without it trying to change shape as I'm working on it.

Re: 1957 Chevy truck re-rebuild
 

an excellent way to solve the problem. There was a post about a similar situation in the body and paint section which turned to using a shrinking disc to alleviate the stretched area.

Re: 1957 Chevy truck re-rebuild
 

Pretty slick fix.
Kim

Re: 1957 Chevy truck re-rebuild
 

Very nice!

Re: 1957 Chevy truck re-rebuild
 

Nice fix on the hood. Those expanding nuts look like they came in handy. Do you recall where you got them? Are they pretty good about not spinning in the hole as you tighten the bolt?

Re: 1957 Chevy truck re-rebuild
 

Yes they were very cooperative. I did put just a touch of anti-seize on the bolt to be remove some possibility of it spinning, but otherwise, worked great. In this situation there is only a downward pull on it verses a twisting movement, I feel confident in this situation. If it did have a twisting movement against it I would perhaps be concerned.

The part number is NAPA, 665-1059, small bag of 4 on the rack of small body clips and such.

A couple of posts back I sand blasted and painted the door hinges, now to assemble with new bushings and pins from Classic parts.

Surprisingly the original bushings were plastic, I never would have guessed they would have used plastic. Hmmm.

One worn bushing.
http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5dda5774.jpg

New parts, old parts.
http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/...psf53f30f0.jpg

I used the vise and a socket to assemble.
http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/...pse8baf3eb.jpg

All done. I did all 4 with no problems. The pin probably fits other vehicles and uses the E clip slot, the pin slightly pressed into place, not needing a clip to hold it in.
http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/...pse0c7dc45.jpg

Re: 1957 Chevy truck re-rebuild
 

Hinges look real nice.
Kim

Re: 1957 Chevy truck re-rebuild
 

Nice design on the hood brace. May have to steal the design. Just tried to reuse my hood cross brace. It hits the 5.3 which I expected. Yours would easily clear.

Re: 1957 Chevy truck re-rebuild
 

dug224, I looked at the X brace for a solution also for some time, just in my head I couldn't see it looking proper.

Working some over time at work and just trying to get through all the odds and ends, progress is slow but moving forward.

I choose to keep the original tank location, yet I didn't want to trust the original tank so I ordered a new one. Then just to be on the safe side I treated the inside with tank sealant as an insurance for non leakage.

Then scuffing the outside and priming then satin black.
http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/...psd7920e8d.jpg

I forgot to take a picture of it painted in the shop, but here it is sitting in place
in the truck.
http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3b13a7d6.jpg

I'm looking forward to getting the drive train back in place but the transmission needs the longer tail shaft to match the longer adapter for the Gear Vendors over drive that I had to get to accommodate the "X" pipe exhaust system. Yes, there's a song here.... One thing, one thing, leads to another.

One Turbo 350 ready for a new tail shaft.
http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5a9c52a8.jpg

One Turbo 350 with a tail shaft sticking out the rear about 3'' extra, just what I needed. The tail shaft housing will be removed as the adapter will be replacing it later.
http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/...ps8e96a5ed.jpg

Putt, putt, surely but slowly I really want to see this thing rolling down the road before winter.

Re: 1957 Chevy truck re-rebuild
 

Coming along nicely.
Kim

Re: 1957 Chevy truck re-rebuild
 

As with many others this project is one large project consisting of a whole bunch of small ones. Tonight I'm focusing on an area that I've many others ponder what to do with the exposed wires and steering column mounting clamp when using a GM column.

I had an idea of what I wanted but couldn't picture in my head a good design so I built, then modified.

My original idea, something that went covered the area.
http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/...psa953b0ee.jpg
http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/...pse0335b68.jpg

From the pics above I smoothed the edges and rounded the bottom. I made a upper plate that will go above the column to cover the top half up to the dash of the truck.
http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/...ps19b91888.jpg

Finally satisfied with the design I sand blasted then used a thin layer of glazing putty to smooth the surface, after the putty came epoxy primer and high build primer. Then a final block sanding and ready for paint.
http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/...ps6d1df982.jpg

Same process for painting, clearing and cut and buffing.
http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/...psb2b24b40.jpg

I'm still piecing the dash parts together to confirm everything is still gonna fit after painting. Without a cover under the column, exposed wires and holding clamp.
http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/...ps996b00ec.jpg

Cover now in place, no clamp, no wires.
http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/...ps12f18150.jpg

A look from the other side.
http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/...ps038366b7.jpg

I've found these flat stainless washers that have a thin layer of rubber on one side, I really like them, I can tight up against the painted surfaces and not damage the paint.

This is where the build thread and all the pictures come together, it's gonna be fun taking pictures from the last couple of years and combine them for a before and after story.

Re: 1957 Chevy truck re-rebuild
 

Really like that column cover. That is Slick

Re: 1957 Chevy truck re-rebuild
 

Thanks for posting. I like the attention to detail and how you solved a problem. Like the work.

Dwight

Re: 1957 Chevy truck re-rebuild
 

That looks sweet, where is it attached at?

Re: 1957 Chevy truck re-rebuild
 

That's real nice.
I may have to copy it when I get there on mine.
Kim

Re: 1957 Chevy truck re-rebuild
 

Good job on the steering column cover. Nice touch

Re: 1957 Chevy truck re-rebuild
 

First, thanks everybody, like I mentioned, it seems these exposed wires and clamp is an eye sore for everyone, I knew somehow I was going to get them taken care of, I just had to keep trimming and reshaping my original piece.

As for mounting it I simply welded a web/gusset on the main column clamp, then drilled 2 holes and used rubber well nuts that have a regular metal nut with in them. Once tightened they hold well, when loose, they allow a little wiggle room.
http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/...ps12f2633b.jpg

Ok, for the attaching nut on the lower side you have to realize the main clamp in the picture above has slotted mounting holes, what I found was, each time I removed and re-tightened the main clamp, the distance changed from the clamp mounting holes to the lower mounting holes, grrrrrrr, then I had to force the bolts in place. And no, loosening the main clamp and attaching the cover first was not an option, once the cover is in place, I can't get to the main clamp bolts to tighten them after the cover is on..

Notice the lower mounting holes, I made drop brackets holding the nuts. Now if the distance changes, I can simply bend the bracket slightly to move the nut where I need to so the holes in the cover match the lower mounting nuts.
http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/...ps8b8b81f3.jpg
http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/...ps43721a61.jpg

Yes, I know, sometimes I tend to complicate things, on the other hand, I'd rather foresee an issue during mock-up, than fight something after painting.

Re: 1957 Chevy truck re-rebuild
 

I'm surprised no one has yet offered (as far as I know) a cover like this commercially given all the trucks like ours with aftermarket modern steering columns.

PS: What's the third switch hole on the left side of the column for?

Re: 1957 Chevy truck re-rebuild
 

Hi Dan, it seemed like quite a distance between the two switch holes that were there visually. Then I had the left over holes from the aftermarket radio panel so I had the perfect piece to weld in there.

The far left hole is for the headlight switch, the far right hole is for a manual choke cable and the new center hole is for a master switch for switches I will have in the front of the center counsel between the seats. There will be the individual switches for the exhaust cut outs, line lock and nitrous.

By having a master switch for these items I don't have to worry about anybody messing around without my permission.