Kabwe's aka Bam's build

[Kabwe]

For those that have been following my build thread sorry I deleted it due to me canceling my picture hosting site and all my pics disappeared. I’ve been working over the last couple weeks to put it back up and finally finished it . If I missed something that was there before let me know and I’ll put it back.
Here is what I started with.
1958 Chevy Big Window I only bought it for the cab. The guy I bought it from kept it in a trailer park.

So I’ll start with the frame I installed a Mustang II , 4 link, and c-notched the rear of the frame.





I made a frame rotisserie out of two engine stands to get the frame ready for paint.

[Kabwe]

8.5 Chevy Rearend Narrowed to 58 inches (mounting point to mounting point) with moser housing ends and axles.



4 Link install.


I had to modify the caliper bracket and the axles retainer to install my disc brakes.
Here is what I came up with.


The rearend completed . With the micky mouse ears off the rearend looks
cleaner, and will clear the bed floor.

[Kabwe]

There was extensive rust damage on this cab but I wanted a big window cab and I had to have it.lol I should have waited because I ended up building a cab.lol I had to replace both cab corners, the steps and rockers, floors, and the roof.
Cab corners replaced


Steps replaced



Floor replaced

[Kabwe]

Roof replaced.





Door Repair

[Kabwe]

58 Fender repair



I ended up cutting the front portion out and made a better patch to get a nicer edge. You notice it in the final pic.

[Kabwe]

After all this work I knew what I really wanted was a 55-56 truck. I have a 55 210 and I always wanted twins.lol


I decided to change the front clip to a 55. How it came about was a friend challenged me to fix some terrible 55 fenders and they came out nice so I said why not.
55 Fenders

[Rods57]

Door Repair




[/QUOTE]

Where did you get the repair panels? and would you get them from there again. Did they come with the hinge nuts in them or is that separate? thanks, looking at your build is like having an instruction manual on-line...

[troy54gmc]

Looking good my friend, looking real good.. as allways.

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by Rods57

Door Repair

Where did you get the repair panels? and would you get them from there again. Did they come with the hinge nuts in them or is that separate? thanks, looking at your build is like having an instruction manual on-line...

I got my panels from Brothers trucks. The inner panel was nice but the outer door skin left much to be desired so I ended up must making my own out of 18 gauge metal. The problem with the outer skin was the metal felt too thin and flimsy. The inner panel is a nice piece and when I bought mine the hinge nut panel came separate. I hope this helps and I'm glad you find my build useful. I told you that you would enjoy this site, there are a lot of really nice build going on over here.

Originally Posted by troy54gmc

Looking good my friend, looking real good.. as allways.

Thanks man, and your build is looking great also. I've been following it very closely, everything is looking good.

[Kabwe]

Okay that pretty much up to date other than the custom mods I added which are.
55 Chevy car dash





Shaved parking lights




Shaved drip rails

[Kabwe]

Smooth the vent cover

Shaved gas filler

Shaved firewall


Smooth the rear section of the cab and added a 3rd brake light



Rounded door corners

[57picupnewbie]

Originally Posted by Kabwe

Smooth the vent cover

Shaved gas filler

Shaved firewall


Smooth the rear section of the cab and added a 3rd brake light



Rounded door corners

Bam,

I have a few questions about how you made your cuts on your firewall. I have attached a picture of mine. As you can see, I have been practicing welding the holes up since I was going to cut that portion out for a patch anyway. My question is did you make your cut at seam #2 and then use filler back up to seam #1 to smooth it all out? Or did you make the cut at seam #1 for the patch and then fill? I hope this make sense what I am asking?

[1955GMC]

BAM, Months ago you posted that you bought a Miller Diversion 180 TIG welder. You loved it then....how do you feel now? Would you buy it again?

Leon

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by 1955GMC

BAM, Months ago you posted that you bought a Miller Diversion 180 TIG welder. You loved it then....how do you feel now? Would you buy it again?

Leon

Actually that was more like two years ago.lol I need to finish this truck.lol Anyway for a home and hobby builder its a nice machine. Are there better tigs machine out there? Yes. But for a home builder I love this little easy to setup and start running beads on steel, stainless, or aluminum machine. So the answer to your question is yes I'm still in love with my new girlfriend.lol

[Kabwe]

Rounded front and rear bed corners






Mini tubs





Shaved door hands and bearclaws latches installed in reverse because I want the solenoid in the cab corner instead of at the bottom of the door.

[apache200]

Originally Posted by Kabwe

Rounded front and rear bed corners






Mini tubs





Shaved door hands and bearclaws latches installed in reverse because I want the solenoid in the cab corner instead of at the bottom of the door.

what did you use to make the rounded part on the bedsides? this is a very cool mod.

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by apache200

what did you use to make the rounded part on the bedsides? this is a very cool mod.

Its really easy to answer this question because someone asked me to do a how to on another forum so I can just copy and paste it here. I've seen this mod done many ways but this is how I did it I don't like getting into debates of what is better and all that crap so for those who done it differently more power to you. This is all my feeble mind could come up with.

Sorry but I had to go there because I've seen people trying to start debates that think only one way to do things. The cool thing about this stuff is get 10 of us in a room and at least 5 of us will do things differently. I find that cool, some people do not.lol IMO there is no right and wrong with metal working just the end results. I'm still working on those end results.Thank god metal is forgiving or I'd be in trouble.lol

1. I bought a 16 gauge 1 /58 u-bend exhaust pipe from jegs. One pipe will do
both rear corners. Just cut them in half to make them j-bends.lol

2. I used the pipe to see what material on the bed needed to be removed.
3. I cut the pipe in half and played with the fitment of the pipe until I achieved
the desired fit and I tacked it in place.


4. I used a piece of cardboard to make a template of the filler piece and
transferred that to 16 gauge sheetmetal and welded it in.

5. Grind the welds and its done

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by Kabwe

Its really easy to answer this question because someone asked me to do a how to on another forum so I can just copy and paste it here. I've seen this mod done many ways but this is how I did it I don't like getting into debates of what is better and all that crap so for those who done it differently more power to you. This is all my feeble mind could come up with.

Sorry but I had to go there because I've seen people trying to start debates that think only one way to do things. The cool thing about this stuff is get 10 of us in a room and at least 5 of us will do things differently. I find that cool, some people do not.lol IMO there is no right and wrong with metal working just the end results. I'm still working on those end results.Thank god metal is forgiving or I'd be in trouble.lol

1. I bought a 16 gauge 1 /58 u-bend exhaust pipe from jegs. One pipe will do
both rear corners. Just cut them in half to make them j-bends.lol

2. I used the pipe to see what material on the bed needed to be removed.
3. I cut the pipe in half and played with the fitment of the pipe until I achieved
the desired fit and I tacked it in place.


4. I used a piece of cardboard to make a template of the filler piece and
transferred that to 16 gauge sheetmetal and welded it in.

5. Grind the welds and its done

You know how you can tell when someone is a friggin TALENTED, damn near genius? Well, at least at some things,

When they can come up with a way to do a complex job relatively cheaply, make it look incredibly simple (when its definitely not) and it makes you say, "Why didn't I think of that?!"

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

You know how you can tell when someone is a friggin TALENTED, damn near genius? Well, at least at some things,

When they can come up with a way to do a complex job relatively cheaply, make it look incredibly simple (when its definitely not) and it makes you say, "Why didn't I think of that?!"

I don't know about all that Dan, but I thank you.

[robozride]

Originally Posted by Kabwe

Rounded front and rear bed corners






Mini tubs





Shaved door hands and bearclaws latches installed in reverse because I want the solenoid in the cab corner instead of at the bottom of the door.

After looking at the pix of your bed.. are you installing wood? and if you are... are you installing it under the angle strips you have welded on, or laying it on top?

[Kabwe]

47-55 1st Series Chevy Truck Battery access door.

Pancaked the hood. I took an inch out.







A couple of mock up pics.

[52 Rat]

Twins are hot; your truck and car are nice too! Nice build project. Keep the pics. coming.

[Pop's C-10]

i was wondering where this build went...glad to see it back up

[Kim57]

I'm still amazed at the amount of work you've done to your truck.
Kim

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by 52 Rat

Twins are hot; your truck and car are nice too! Nice build project. Keep the pics. coming.

Not going there, but my mind did for a second. TWINS are hot.lol Thanks for the compliment.

Originally Posted by Pop's C-10

i was wondering where this build went...glad to see it back up

Sorry man, but there has not been much to update anyway other than I installed the seats. Other than that I've been working on panel alignment issues.

Originally Posted by Kim57

I'm still amazed at the amount of work you've done to your truck.
Kim

You got nerve.lol You've done a lot of work also and you've done a great job I might add.