Project Orange Crush (57 3100)

[Valarius_Starchaser]

So I have been around for a few months now looking through others build threads and discussions gathering a wealth of knowledge that I never expected to find on here guess I was to "smart" for my own good

Anyhow I decided it was time to start my own build thread to hopefully help others and keep myself motivated to keep the project going not sure how many will actually follow along but this thread should help me stay sane

I got this truck in August of 2015 as a trade for my 1965 impala fast back that I got as a graduation gift from high school in 2012 long story short I got bored with the long heavy sled so I shoved full speed to get the 454 that came in the boat out and replaced it with a 350 did a brake job and gave it a single stage shot of flat black to get it looking half decent and got a trade offer for this truck which was EXACTLY what I was looking for other than a 69 Camaro but with the value of them I decided it wasn't worth my life savings to go that route

What I want to do with it:

- 454 big block
- 4L80E
- Chop top
- Suicide Doors
- Raised bed floor
- 1974 Nova front clip
- Ford Explorer limited slip 8.8 rear axle
- Obvious rust repair and chop top/doors fix cut up from PO
- Drag truck

My background in auto body is rather extensive I have been doing it from age 16 in one way or another working in several body shops as an Axalta paint mixer and service tech and have been operating my own small bushiness since 18 for on the side jobs but am now stuck at a GMC dealership selling parts atleast I'm still in the field

Now to the pictures:


The Impala I traded off



Day one shots

The 454 all pretty

PO welded the top portion of the door to the cab so no door windows?

[Valarius_Starchaser]

Upper window channel I ground out



Nova sub-frame install pics

A truck out at my local Ewe-pull-it that I got a wiper trans and interior panels/switchs from

How she is sitting right now

[ptc]

Looks like a good starting point. The chop top is interesting.... I never liked the ones I saw before but yours has some interesting lines to work with. Keep it going.

I see the door window frame top going away too... make it like a roadster door glass (frameless and single piece, no wing) especially if you are doing suicide type door openers, opening from the front.

The front windshield is going to be your biggest accomplishment and probably most costly part of the cab. Thats going to have to be cut special from laminated DOT glass, then baked and bent into shape to fit your cab. BUT at the same time you should make it a 'smooth fit' windshield with no rubber around it. Make it a glue in type. It will look great! Less likely to BREAK IT TOO!!!

Looks like a cool project! Stick with it...

Your parts went out yesterday - I hope you werent looking for show quality stuff, because it isnt, its original '57 - even the ignition keys! they ARE ORIGINAL 1957 keys that came from my truck. Also sent you the gas cap key but there wasnt a gas cap to go with it.

[Valarius_Starchaser]

Thanks ptc sorry if I seemed a bit gunho on knowing about them but I have had a personal package gone through at work and I don't trust it sitting at home on the stoop for long never know these days.

I'm taking cues from your truck looking for that pro touring rod truck look hopefully I don't mess it up and make some frankentruck monstrosity although some board members might be saying "to late"

and on the glass I have gotten a quote from my local glass shop I have worked with in the past and they said depending on the amount of windshields they break anywhere from 1-3 grand never thought of flush no seal I will need to look into that maybe use butyl tape?

never know I may find a cheap cab but all things considered this ones about as rust free as they get for the area

[ptc]

You truck is different, thats hard to find these days with SO MANY of these trucks still around. Its really hard to be different because EVERYTHING has been done to them. - stick with what you got started, I think it will be really cool...

I got some ideas for possibly something REALLY different... but dont want to discuss them as somebody with a huge budget and body shop will be all over it for their next SEMA presentation....

[Advanced Design]

Cool project! Do you work at Billion?

[Valarius_Starchaser]

Sure do AD should I be worried now?

[Advanced Design]

Goodness no. I just know a lot of GM dealers and use to work across IA and SD. Cool area.

[Kim57]

Very cool project.
Kim

[Valarius_Starchaser]

Going out to the local yard Saturday to pick up a rear axle out of a 98 ford explorer found one out there that should have a 4.10 limited slip axle and they inventory so it's for sure there hopefully the 40 degree weather sticks around so then I can have four wheel disc brakes and run my 33x12.5R15 tires that I want after I shorten the axle up

[Valarius_Starchaser]

Removal of the beast

We managed to shoe horn it in the back of the trusty Subaru wagon my friend was kind enough to help me haul it home

One last picture home safe

Then my Sunday was spent working on my daily driver far less fun but it had to be done.

[Valarius_Starchaser]

And one of the 4L80E I picked up two weekends ago now


I for life of me cannot figure out why these images keep flipping is it a phone picture thing should I take them all in landscape?

[Advanced Design]

Nice parts finds. Many phone pics flip sideways for some reason. Mine don't and I take pictures in landscape on an Android.

[Kim57]

Nice parts.
Can't imagine laying on frozen ground to pull parts.
Kim

[Valarius_Starchaser]

Originally Posted by Kim57

Nice parts.
Can't imagine laying on frozen ground to pull parts.
Kim

Well the price was right for 4.10 gears and posi but in all honesty it was 40 and I was sweating with my coveralls on

If I let snow stop me I wouldn't ever get anything done!

[Valarius_Starchaser]

Got some interior handles,window cranks,exterior handles,ignition switch with keys and a front hood script from ptc today in the mail thanks buddy!

[lower50's]

This will be a cool truck.

[ptc]

Originally Posted by Valarius_Starchaser

Got some interior handles,window cranks,exterior handles,ignition switch with keys and a front hood script from ptc today in the mail thanks buddy!

I hope its what you needed. That is an all original ignition sw with the original keys! The owner who I got the truck from was the original buyer of the truck in Apr 1957 and said they never bought any new keys when he handed them over to me. Well at least they will be in another '57!!!!

[FarmerSid]

Snow doesn't bother me a bit. Cold is nicer to work in than the heat. At least you can take stuff off when you get too hot. Can't do that in the summer heat.

[Valarius_Starchaser]

Originally Posted by FarmerSid

Snow doesn't bother me a bit. Cold is nicer to work in than the heat. At least you can take stuff off when you get too hot. Can't do that in the summer heat.

I've been saying the same thing for years it starts to get illegal after awhile when you take things off from the heat

[Valarius_Starchaser]

I worked on rebuilding the ignition cylinder ptc sent me came apart pretty hard and broke the cover will need to find a new one in the bins at work shouldn't be an issue then getting a new key cut and new cylinders/grease in and she will work like new!


Fully disassembled

tools involved (cant forget helper cat)

The broken cover

Gummed up the cylinder a bit on the one side getting the end out but it will be no problem with its function.

[ptc]

Send me the originals (keys) back if you dont want them! I'll give them back to the Original Owner.... as a keepesake

WHen he sold me the truck, he said all he wanted was "a ride" in the new one when Im done..... (well and cash money!)

[Valarius_Starchaser]

Originally Posted by ptc

Send me the originals (keys) back if you dont want them! I'll give them back to the Original Owner.... as a keepesake

WHen he sold me the truck, he said all he wanted was "a ride" in the new one when Im done..... (well and cash money!)

Welllll I have plans to use it still just getting some spares and freshing things up really I'm just dying to work on the truck with how cold it is I'm doing anything I can no matter how pointless it might seem at this point

[Valarius_Starchaser]

Ignition cylinder didn't go "as well" as I had hoped all the aftermarket keys I am finding stop short in the cylinder not finding anything in the back of it just baffles me oh well just don't lose this one key I suppose at least it got fresh grease and new springs/tumblers.

In other news I got engaged last Thursday and luckily she wants to take some photos with the truck for the wedding that just gave me a free pass to kick this into overdrive to meet that deadline she plans the day I build a truck everybody's happy!

[Kim57]

Congrats on the engagement.
Kim