Re: My 56 build
 

Box is coming along. I rounded the bottom of the stake boxes and the bed rail. Tedious work, but is looking good. I managed to get the box mocked up on the garage floor today. Just have to finish welding everything up. Slowly making progress! :metal:

Re: My 56 build
 

you're doing very nice work. Looking good

Re: My 56 build
 

another great metal fabricator..........you guys amaze me.

Thanks for the pics, I find your work so impressive.

Re: My 56 build
 

one heck of a job you're doin bud. very very nice! love it!

Re: My 56 build
 

Thanks everyone for the compliments. The inspiration for the modifications come from the other builds I see on this site. Bam slammed57 and Kim in particular. It’s definitely a labor of love! I’m going to keep cutting til I like it

Re: My 56 build
 

Spent some more time on the box sides today. I’m going for a clean look with no seams or bolts. I decided to weld studs in for the gate hinges. Then cut a plate to cover everything on the exterior side. Then welders the plates together on the end. That made the termination of the box side that’s next to the tailgate about 1/4” thick. It looks good

Re: My 56 build
 

Few more pictures. Just some more welding to finish them up. You can see in the 3rd picture where I welded in that plate. Turned out really clean! Now I have to back track some and straighten out one of the curved ends. I didn’t have it lined up very well. One of these days I will learn not weld everything solid UNTIL I step back and double check. Oh well, live n learn!

Re: My 56 build
 

Nice work.
Sometimes I find taking a few pics, pouring a coffee and then checking the pics with zoom etc, I find small things I didn't notice when working in the heat of the moment.

Re: My 56 build
 

Really nice workmanship!

Re: My 56 build
 

Good call. Sometimes I just need to take a step back

Re: My 56 build
 

Thanks! I’m planning on using the same rear logo you have on your tailgate. I think it looks great on your truck.

Re: My 56 build
 

Spent some more time on the box today. Finished welding and grinding the box sides, then mocked it up to lay out the mini tubs. Only fender I was happy with is galvanized. I’ve had zinc poisoning in the past welding galvanized metal. I’m going to grind off the coating near the areas to be welded. Well see:lol:

Re: My 56 build
 

The bed looks great

Re: My 56 build
 

Looks good...Jim

Re: My 56 build
 

Nice job! You bed is going to look killer! I’m doing all similar mods to my bed also right now.

Re: My 56 build
 

That bed looks awesome! Nice work!

Re: My 56 build
 

I agree. I saw your build the other day n thought we were consulting each other on ideas. Yours is also looking killer. I also have the same hidden latches to install! That’s the great thing about this forum, you get good ideas! Bad thing is my build keeps getting more complicated :lol:

Re: My 56 build
 

Thanks for the compliments everyone!

Re: My 56 build
 

Thanks for the compliment! I agree I see something then I start working in that direction. My build is on its second year because of the custom touches.

Re: My 56 build
 

Managed to get my mini tubs and hidden latches done today. Just have some rust repair to do on the front part of the fenders. Then the box should only need minor things addressed!

Re: My 56 build
 

Re: My 56 build
 

I just read through your whole build. You are doing a great job! That's some serious rust repair you did but it turned out great! How do you install your tailgate with the bung mounted to both box sides? I'm planning to get those same tailgate latches. Keep posting, I'll be following your build

Re: My 56 build
 

On the TF there is a rear sill panel that the box sides bolt to. I welded nuts to the sill because it’s tough to get to the inside now that I’ve rounded the bottom of the stake boxes. In hind sight I may go the other way and weld the sill to the box sides and go back to a bolt for the hinges. 1 bolt vs 3. I’m shooting for the cleanest look I can get. We’ll see

Re: My 56 build
 

Worked on the rear fenders today. I’m hoping this is going to be my last rust repair on the truck. Turned out well so far. I have to finish the left side yet. Probably this weekend.

Re: My 56 build
 

I forgot to post these pictures earlier. I removed the drip rail in late December.

Re: My 56 build
 

looks really good,

thanks for sharing

Re: My 56 build
 

came out nice!!!!!!

Re: My 56 build
 

Looks great. Nice work!!

Re: My 56 build
 

Thanks for the compliments everyone!

Spent some time in the garage today. Box is getting really close. Finished my rust repair. Frenched in my 50 Pontiac taillights. Thanks to barnfind62, that’s where I got the idea to use them! Have to fix the right side step, it tin cans because it got too hot welding. So I’ll cut 2 sides and try it again. Then onto front inner fenders, maybe tomorrow :metal:

Re: My 56 build
 

Thanks to jesse49chevy for the idea to make a jig/tool for cutting perfect circles with a plasma cutter. I used a scrap piece of 1/8 and an old beat up center punch. All you have to do is drill a fender hole and cut away! Perfect circles!

Re: My 56 build
 

Nice job! They came out great.

Re: My 56 build
 

Started on the inner fenders today. You can see my metal bending jig consisting of 4x4’s and my driveshaft:lol: works ok! I reused the top and front of the old inner fender.

Re: My 56 build
 

Few more pictures. Still have some more bending to do to get it to fit right

Re: My 56 build
 

Make sure to run the suspension through a full stroke to make sure nothing hits.
Looks good. Use what you got for tools.

Re: My 56 build
 

Spent a few more hours in the garage today. Made metal brackets that mount on the firewall to hold the inner fender. Finished the left side and started on the right. Think I must of installed and removed that fender 20 times to get it right!

Re: My 56 build
 

Finished the right side inner fender today. Came out nice! Was more work than I expected, but most everything I do is like that:lol: lots of putting them on and taking them back off! Going to finish rounding the area of the cab where I rounded the doors. Then onto the hood. Haven’t had that out of the basement since I started. Plan on pancaking it. Taking about an inch out of the front. Also spent some time to make some tire blocking so I can work on the lower half! I saw them on a couple different motortrend shows.

Re: My 56 build
 

nice work.... it is amazing to see this done with 'old school' equipment.

Thanks for sharing

Re: My 56 build
 

Thanks, I just use what I have to work with! Normally comes out pretty nice!

Re: My 56 build
 

Got the truck pushed outside for the first time since last fall. Supposed to get a big snowstorm tomorrow :whine: oh well. Got the hood stripped. First time I’ve had it out of the basement in nearly two years. Only one small rust repair to be done. And I thought I was done with that :lol: Hopefully I’ll get time tomorrow to start pancaking the hood!

Re: My 56 build
 

The truck is looking good! I like the tail lights!!