Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

I think it would look good painted, but chrome is nice...Jim

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

Nice!
I think chrome would be great!

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

Thanks Kim
Depending on the price of the chrome job, it just may be painted.lol

Thanks man

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

I vote for chrome. Now do whatever blows your skirt up of course.

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

Looking awesome.
Any details on build of the electric brake system ,,, be interested in that.
Parts etc. Any complications.

nice.

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

Parts are Lokar ebrake cables, 2" stroke 225 pounds of force actuator, and a parking brake switch and light I found on ebay.

When setting up your actuator just make sure the brake are engaged at the same time the actuator power automatically turns off so its not continually pulling.

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

Well I was finally able to get her back on all 4's since I painted the cab and the front clip.
https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4866/3...c23768ec_c.jpg
https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7891/3...8eec9d1c_c.jpg
https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7836/3...30bb66d0_c.jpg

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

Man, that’s nice!!
Did you shorten the Fleetside? I see a different color backside...

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

Thanks man,

No I did not shorten the fleetside, its a shortbed fleetside. That is just primer because I filled the seams which exposed bare metal.

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

Ok, that makes sence.
Are you also fill up the seam above the spear?

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

all seams that can be seen are filled. The seam above the spear can't really be seen its looks more like a indentation (at least on the aftermarket panels), primer and blocking will take care of that

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

Bam, looks good, also nice to see them on the ground with tires and wheels...Jim

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

Going to be one sweet looking truck when it's all done Bam.
Kim

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

Thanks guys,

Yeah its finally starting to look like something resembling a truck. Its time to finish blocking those doors and get them painted and installed. I've been procrastinating on blocking lately its such a dirty and undesirable chore, but its the most necessary for a decent paint job.

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

Bam, I really like that Green you put on your Truck. I highly doubt that you will lose it in a Crowd! Keep up the good work

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

Well thats the point isn't it.lol Thats the green after the clear has been cut with 1000 grit so its dull, wait until I bring back the shine it really will be hard to miss me.lol

Thanks buddy

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

Wow, I just finished reading all 88 pages of your build in a couple of days and you are amazing and your work is truly inspiring.

I just bought a 59 that has a 55 front clip already installed (I would actually prefer the original, but what can you do). I am not doing anywhere near the amount of work you have done, as this 'isn't a project' (as my 'project' is my 68 Camaro), but I may steal ideas here and there.

I'm in Thousand Oaks, but I commute to Culver City, so maybe I will see you around.

Again, amazing work, and thank you very much for taking the time to post all of this. I have been saving pictures and copying bits of the instructions/tips you have posted for future reference.

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

Thanks for the compliments man. I took a look at your truck and it seems to be ahead of the game. Keep posting picks.

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

Thanks! I actually have a question about your old rear fenders. For the bolts you welded to the box with the washers. Did the washers create any kind of gap between the box side and fender?

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

No it did not, well at least there was no noticeable gap. Remember the rear fenders also have a weather strip that runs between the fender and the bed. I don't run them but I was planing on running rubber washers for anti squeak on each bolt before I switched to a fleetside bed.

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

Awesome, thank you for replying. I didn't realize their was weatherstripping, that makes sense.

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

No problem, I always try to reply to questions directed towards me. Yeah a lot of people don't run the weatherstripping I wasn't going to if I kept the stepside.

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

hey Bam, are you getting any progress on your truck? would love to see a pic. maybe get me inspired to work on mine. you're always coming up with something cool and innovative.

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

Hey man thanks for asking. I've been taking care of all the small stuff lately. I wish I could have gotten some painting done, but its been cold and raining in Cali lately so that set me back. I finally made my driveshaft and got it balanced, and playing with the tune of the LS engine, another big change thats coming is I order some more wheels.lol

When I switched to the fleetside bed I no longer liked the 18x10 in the rear (did not fill up the wheel well enough) so I ordered some 20x12's. I'm just waiting on them to be made. I'm so glad that when I setup my rearend and tubs it was setup to run inch wide wheels 14's. No mods needed to run the 12s. I needed wheels for my 55 210 so the 18x10 will go on the car so it all works out.

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

nice forward thinking when those tubs were built. it's great when a plan works out, eh? (Canadian, lol)

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

Well once again I could not leave well enough alone. The more I looked at the truck the more 20x12 in the rear kept on calling me. So I decided on new shoes for the project. I thought 20's in the rear would look better with the Fleetside bed. So I went with 18x7 front, and 20x12's rear.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7807/...396264102e.jpg
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7866/...80331c99bc.jpg
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7870/...a82f1f0a19.jpg
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7885/...c735b2ca49.jpg

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

wow, you were right! that's shiny.
looking good overall. do you get time to work on it enough so you may be driving it this summer? I try, don't think it's gonna happen, again.

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

Love the look of the large tires/wheels. Man, I've been gone from this stuff too long. I did not even know you converted to a Fleetside! Looks great.

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

Very nice!!
I like it :c2:

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

Actually, the only thing stopping me from driving it now is finishing the paint and of course glass. The doors are pretty much ready for paint I want to do one more primer and blocking session. The rain we had here lately has slowed me down a lot.

All the mechanical are a go. The engine, trans, wiring, and the hydroboost brakes are all working properly. Man let me tell you the hydroboost is great if you are not doing it you should consider it. I got my hydroboost out of a Chevy Astro Van in the junk yard. I barely have to touch my brakes and it stops on a dime. I drove it down the alley with no doors. It was fun.lol

As for the summer I'm shooting for it. I hopefully will be driving it with only interior work to be done.

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

Thanks man, I just had to have that 7 inch lip on the rear, it was calling me. The only set back for me was tire choices for a 20x12 wheel. Not may choices, I wanted more meat (sidewall), I got the biggest I could afford at this time. The better choice and only other choice would have been Mickey Thompson Sportsman 29.15.20 but at $414.00 a tire after the price of the wheels I could not justify it. But I will be getting them later on down the road.

Thanks

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

Looking very nice...keep it up.

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

Thanks buddy.

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

love it!!!

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

Wheeeeew! nice bam.. excellent choice. as for the side wall that you mentioned, i personally think it looks good the way it is unless you wanted more of that side wall for a pro street look which is a killer look as well.... either way look good.

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

Thanks Buddy

Thanks man, no pro street look but another 1 inch of side wall would be nice. The wheel diameter with the 335/30/20 right now is 27.9 the Mickey Thompsons Sportsman 29.15/20 would put me at 29 inch diameter that would fill up the wheel well really nice. Well you have Mickey Thompsons so you know.

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

Looking Good Bam! Nice choice of wheels and tires, I normally don't care for Big Wheels but your sidewalls really Help.

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

20's are not consider big anymore.lol 22's are becoming common now.lol
I normally would not go any bigger than 18's but for the look I'm going for the length of the fleetside bed calls for it.

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

I know us Fat OL Boy's that grew up on 14/15's think anything other than that is Big! LOL Still yours looks GOOD, I would drive the Wheels off of your Truck if it was Mine with a Huge Smile the whole time.

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

Thanks man, and I hope to turn this frown to a smile soon by driven this thing.