56 project

[jjjmm56]

Heres some pics of what i've been working on.

[jjjmm56]

and some of the inside

[jjjmm56]

a few more

[Kabwe]

good job, I like the mods your doing.

[dennis57]

Man! I really like what you have done.

[Kim57]

Very nice. Where did you get the handles?
Kim

[guy51usa]

Lookin' good

[jjjmm56]

Originally Posted by Kim57

Very nice. Where did you get the handles?
Kim

From a Mitsubitshi something or other. I at first used the sheetmetal from the doner yrs ago, but the metal was nowear near as thick as the 56 so I had to use a lot of filler due to warping. I made replacement handle patches out of 16 ga which turned out much nicer. Again I cant say I enough I have learned better and faster ways of doing things not to mention all the ideas from this site and you guys.

[Wrightbrothers]

That's gonna be a neat truck. I like the story, too. I used to sell cars off for any number reasons til I got married. My wife is pretty adamant that we keep what we have and work on what we want. Like you indicated, it doesn't cost anything to let it sit.

Rich

[jjjmm56]

Thanks guys it really means alot with seeing all the work you've done to your trucks. A little history I bought it 21 yrs ago for 600$, after moving to FL. I sold my 49 back in Wisc and used the money for down payment on a house. I started tearing it apart fixing things as I went,then we had a kid so things were put on hold with the truck. As years went by jobs came and went so alot of things for the truck were barterd, front clip, motor and trans, bed. At one time I had it ready for paint, then the hurracanes hit. Had to rebuild the house. I kept telling my wife I'm selling the 56, she was the one that made me keep it. She said it didn't cost us anything to leave it sit. So I finished the house after a complete remodel that we did all ourself. My wife said now is the time for you to get the truck done, take all the time you need and BUY not barter the parts needed to finish. Then I ran across this site and it gave me the encourgment I needed to get were I am today. From Dec of 08 till now I've stripped all the bodywork and hammered and dollied the dents welded new metal. The front end and doors are ready for paint I'll finish the little work I have left on the cab. So now I'm looking at a sept finish date.

[my67chevytruck]

sweet, my favorite year. Truck is Bad ASS, keep up the great work.

[57ToyBox]

Nice project truck... I like what you've got done. Firewall is cool
Great story.
Ummmm does your wife have a sister?? LOL

[TK56]

looking good ! im also looking to round the door corner and how did you attach the stainless firewall?

[jjjmm56]

Originally Posted by TK56

looking good ! im also looking to round the door corner and how did you attach the stainless firewall?

The stainless is glued on with some 2 part aerospace epoxy. And no the gaps were nowere close to what they are now. I did alot of welding and grinding, and on the larger gaps I welded in some steel bar stock then ground the rod down till I got the gap how I wanted it.

[TK56]

Originally Posted by jjjmm56

The stainless is glued on with some 2 part aerospace epoxy. And no the gaps were nowere close to what they are now. I did alot of welding and grinding, and on the larger gaps I welded in some steel bar stock then ground the rod down till I got the gap how I wanted it.

yea rounding that corner just makes sense with the overall design of these trucks ! nice work !!

[56hotrodred]

There is some real nice work there with lots of good ideas. Those door gaps are great. Where they close to start with or how many hours do you have into getting that door just right?

I also have a 56 short box, step side sitting on a 1980 frame and have just finished completely striping it all down to bare metal and have cut out the rust. Just starting to dream and do a little fabrication. I have just put it all back together for the first time.

I think I have talked myself into doing the few patch panels needed.

I will try to get some pictures up before I pull it apart.

56hotrodred

[jjjmm56]

Allright I'm having a hard time with picking a color.I'm getting ready to shoot some paint. My 1st idea was to be red with platimum pearl ghost flames overlayed with candy red ghost flames. Then I saw cal58 color and fell in love, but would change it up with maybe gold pearl flames. Today I've been searching out car show pics and I'm really diggin the satin black with some wide whites. Dammit man I want to do them all ! The only problem with the internet is you can come up with too many ideas. I need to have a beer and cool my overheated brain.

[bensimmons_05]

Awesome is an understatement. I like the rounded doors a lot. Do you have any pictures on the door gap process you meantioned earlier. I'm trying to get it lined up in my head, could you kind of highlight the process, becuase you obviously are a master at it... the gaps on this model truck are always horrible.

[jjjmm56]

believe me I'm no expert. I did what workes best for me, 1st I found something that would hold the door in place, to align it I used a portable motorcycle lift, this way if you need to lift it just put some pressure on it loosen the hinges and adj. I centered the window in the cab and checked the body lines and adj. I then used bar stock to fill in the larger gaps and welded yhe amaller ones

[jjjmm56]

sorry for the bad pics.

[frmula505]

Nice work, I love the rounded edge on the door. Great Idea, Sorry but might have to copy it.

[bensimmons_05]

thats awesome.... and yea I'm gonna bust a steal on the rounded corner... now that I have seen it I have seen a bunch of show trucks doing the same rounded corner. Thanks a bunch for the info!

[jjjmm56]

If you need more info on the rounded corners I can post up some pics of the process. It only took about 1hr per door.

[mdstitt]

Originally Posted by jjjmm56

If you need more info on the rounded corners I can post up some pics of the process. It only took about 1hr per door.

Please post these pictures with some descriptions.

I consider myself to be a fairly decent fabricator, but I cannot figure this out. I have spent hours just looking it over and considering how to do it with no progress.

How did you make the piece to fit the cab with the complex shape?

Please, Please, Please post some pictures or send them to me with a description of how you did it.

[jjjmm56]

I consider myself to be a fairly decent fabricator, but I cannot figure this out I have spent hours just looking it over and considering how to do it with no progress.

How did you make the piece to fit the cab with the complex shape?

Please, Please, Please post some pictures or send them to me with a description of how you did it.[/QUOTE]
1st off don't think so hard! With your door closed take a marker and draw the curve you want in the door then CUT IT OFF. Take the cut off part and transfer it to a peice of 16 ga steel then CUT IT OFF. Bent it to follow the body curve of the cowel then tack it in place. Cut a small strip about 1/2" X3"long bend it to follow the curve of your filler peice,this will cover the opening at the bottom, then weld it all up. Add a little filler and that part is done. then weld the door ends back together and grind to fit