Roadkill's 58 Chevy Stepside

[Roadkill58]

I found the 58 in Fairfield CA in November of 2008.

It had been stored in a chicken coop / shed for the last 10 years.

Someone swapped the 6 cylinder for a V8, but kept the three on the tree.
They also added airconditioning.
The wheels are 6 lug, and the brakes are stock drum.

The engine has a four barrel holley, and headers.

[Roadkill58]

11-03-2008

I cleaned it up today. What a mess!

The brake pedal goes all the way to the floor.
Looks like I need new brake hoses from wheel cylinders to the steel lines.
I will probably need a new master cylinder also.

[Kabwe]

That truck looks to be in great shape. Keep us posted.

[Roadkill58]

Originally Posted by Kabwe

That truck looks to be in great shape. Keep us posted.

Kabwe,

I meant the clean up was a mess. Looks can be deceiving.
Waxed the places that have paint, but the oils in the paint is long gone.
It looks like it did when I first brought it home only not as much dirt.

[OrrieG]

brakes might just need adjusted and bleed. If its got the original brake hoses I'd replace them anyway.

[Roadkill58]

Originally Posted by OrrieG

brakes might just need adjusted and bleed. If its got the original brake hoses I'd replace them anyway.

Thanks OrrieG! You were correct in your diagnosis!

Stayed tuned as I am posting pics from 08, 09, 10, 11 to present to bring the build up to date.

[Roadkill58]

11-18-2008

Not much progress other than removing air-conditioning compressor, and taking a look at the engine numbers. Nothing to get excited about. Working in Fallon NV. I can't work on the 58, so I check out parts on the internet (and Craig’s list) after work. Ordered a new power-master cylinder for drum/disk, and some new brake lines.
When these out of town jobs are finished I should be able to make some progress.

01-27-2009

I found a 58 GMC on craigslist. The 58 GMC has a 70's chevelle front clip, and a Buick Riviera tilt column. engine and trans is mocked up with rear trans mount installed. Also came with a 400 SBC bare block, and a 350 chevy long block two grills a roll pan, and 2" drop spindles (not installed).

I won't start on this one until the Chevy is finished.

[_Ogre]

roadkill
glad you got a build thread going.
my truk is put up for the winter (salt) season, but i'll try to get a picture of the track bar install.
how are you going to mount shocks on your axle?

[Roadkill58]

OrrieG, Ogre,

I got the sway bar on today. Finally got a break from the rain.
Still need to make a way to attach it to the frame.

I was thinking of using the stock shock mounts.
What length shock are you using?

Still need to do the c-notch.

[_Ogre]

Originally Posted by Roadkill58

I was thinking of using the stock shock mounts.
What length shock are you using?

monroe-matic 33086, i have a pair with a 1000 miles on them, yours for shipping cost.
i didn't do enough notch, had to go with air shocks.

how ever... if you want to use the stock shock mount, you will have to flip your u-bolts.
the stock mount bolts on the bottom of the u-bolts.

i recall my flip kit cost me $29: 2 flat plates and 2 spring pads from the trailer supply and 4 u-bolts is all i have for it.

[Roadkill58]

I slid the shock mount on the u-bolt first then spring pad then up through the
axel pad.

The bolts twisted off the lower shock mount bolt when I removed the shocks.

Are those available aftermarket?

Sounds good on the shocks.

[greystoke]

Great job on this Roadkill, I'm anxious to see how the bed looks on it. How much of the frame did you cut out?

[Kim57]

Looking good.
Kim

[Roadkill58]

Originally Posted by Kim57

Looking good.
Kim

Thanks Kim57!

Congrats on the LS2!

I have a friend that has one in a 55 chevy convertible. Youre going to love it.

[_Ogre]

doh! yes i see the shock mounts now.
there is just a bolt in the mount, nothing special that i could see.
one of mine broke, one didn't, bought a new bolt at home depot.

been playing with photoshop? your avatar looks a tad bit strange

[Roadkill58]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

doh! yes i see the shock mounts now.
there is just a bolt in the mount, nothing special that i could see.
one of mine broke, one didn't, bought a new bolt at home depot.

been playing with photoshop? your avatar looks a tad bit strange

Paintshop Pro. It has a lot of effects that you can apply to a photo.

Its been raining for two days.

Do you have a pic of how you mounted the swaybar end to the frame?

[_Ogre]

Originally Posted by Roadkill58

Do you have a pic of how you mounted the swaybar end to the frame?

no, i don't have a picture of the actual mount, but here's what i did:
the trans am sway bar hit my stock springs, i had to heat and bend each side in ~3/4''.
murrys auto parts had some short, 3'' or 4'' links on the shelf and i just fabbed a bracket on the frame.
the bracket is U shaped, cut out of some 1/4'' wall 1.5'' square tubing.
i used a similar bracket to mount bump stops above the c-notch on the side of the frame.

[Maximus]

YOU HAVE TO USE THESE TAILLIGHTS!!!


hah but seriously, cool truck, nice bike, great donor cars and try not to spend all of your time and money on your boat like I began to last summer!! hah. Keep making progress and you will get there!

[Roadkill58]

Originally Posted by Maximus

YOU HAVE TO USE THESE TAILLIGHTS!!!


hah but seriously, cool truck, nice bike, great donor cars and try not to spend all of your time and money on your boat like I began to last summer!! hah. Keep making progress and you will get there!

You don't like my custom taillights?

I thought about taking those lights off the fenders, but then I thought it might keep someone from stealing them.

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by Roadkill58

I thought about taking those lights off the fenders, but then I thought it might keep someone from stealing them.

LOL. Now that was funny.lol

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by Roadkill58

well, uh, I, er, They were on there when I bought the bed!

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Hah, well I am glad, for your sake, that thats the story

just kidding... hah. On a serious note, I like the spare tire carrier. It doesn't look good on all trucks but its a cool option to have the pieces to if you decide to use it

[_Ogre]

don't laugh, but....


i thought about molding a pair of these into the rear fenders.
i think the shape would fit well, but every one i saw on ebay was mucho dinero

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

don't laugh, but....
i thought about molding a pair of these into the rear fenders.
i think the shape would fit well, but every one i saw on ebay was mucho dinero

Would certainly be a one-off, but probably better left on the Mini....

then again, well-done mods usually make you forget how they looked on the original vehicle and you probably could have pulled it off well...

Hey Roadkill58, what part of Northern 'Kali' are u in? Im in Sonoma County

[Roadkill58]

Ogre,

Hard to tell until it's on the fender. It would look better than the one on my fender


Maximus,

I'm just north of Sacramento. Out in the country.

I'm off to Harbor Freight for some cheap brushes for POR-15, and some gloves.

Then it's time to start the c-notch.

[Tri5Nerd]

Originally Posted by Roadkill58

Ogre,

Hard to tell until it's on the fender. It would look better than the one on my fender


Maximus,

I'm just north of Sacramento. Out in the country.

I'm off to Harbor Freight for some cheap brushes for POR-15, and some gloves.

Then it's time to start the c-notch.

I found that if you use the sponge brushes from HF to apply POR-15, it will flow pretty good.

Tri5