My 1959 Fleetside Build

[pbeguy]

I have messed around buying parts and gotten nowhere. Decided to take the plunge and get a complete truck this time. I am going to complete this one and sell all my other parts.

This is an Ebay purchase. 1959 Big Window. 6cyl 4-speed. Bought pretty much sight unseen. Put a battery, a ground cable, fuel filter and gas and started it up. It runs and drives.

I am most likely going to leave the exterior alone and concentrate on the running gear.

[Kim57]

Looks like a great start.
Kim

[sgtusmc]

My hat's off to you. That's a beautiful truck. The patina looks perfect, and it's got those hard to find bed spears. Once again, great looking truck!

[pbeguy]

Thanks both of you. Sarge, I read your whole thread. Great info.
I am fighting the urge to tear this one apart and re-do the whole thing. My (understanding) wife has suggested that I just drive it and fix only what needs fixing.
I placed a nice little order with Classic for all new rubber and lighting. I took it to a local meet Saturday as was surprised by the nice comments it received.
The truth is, I do have a few unfinished builds that can donate parts to end up with a decent driver. It will HAVE to be lower. Period.

[Kabwe]

Very nice looking truck.

[pbeguy]

Thank you King Kabwe. I will be overjoyed if mine is 30% as good as yours when finished. You never fail to impress me.
Posted via Mobile Device

[mknittle]

A Great start,

[OrrieG]

Nice, that is what my trucks original color scheme was too, it was an appliance service truck. Second owner painted it dark blue. I'm third. You do not need that fleetside trim, take it off and send it to me....

I'm with you wife, drive it, get a feel for what you want to upgrade and do it in phases. thats what I did for 25 years, then tore it apart and 11 years later am still trying to get it back together!!

[Wheelie]

I agree with the wife. Get it road worthy and drive it. Dont make the mistake I did and tear it down. It comes apart WAAAAAY faster then putting it back together.

[Maximus]

Looks like a great truck! looks like your gamble really paid off

[pbeguy]

My other truck that I am going to rob all the good parts off of. It sits on a bagged S10 frame. The motor is a roller block 5.7 with ZZ4 stuff inside. The 700r4 is ready also.

[Rods57]

Great start, but be careful hanging around here gets you thinking and the next thing you know your cutting and slicing...

[pbeguy]

I got my 59 frame today from Houston54. I also picked up 2 full sheets of 16ga and 1 sheet of 10ga to box the frame and do some other body mods.

[pbeguy]

Got the frame squared up and ready for surgery.
I took 20 measurements and logged them.

[ZR2RICK]

What a great project,I love the fleets, I'll be watchin this one.

[pbeguy]

I have an idea but I do not see it a lot here. I know that my cab sits about 3.5" below my frame. In the standard clip install, most people weld it to the bottom of the frame. I am going to recess it so it sits level at the bottom. Doing this will require me to trim the body mounts. It will require more cutting and welding, but it will sit lower on air bags.

[pbeguy]

Got in a few hours work today.
I went ahead with my plan and I like how it turned out. For me, it solves some issues with the Camaro clip process. It will allow me to lay the truck out flat, like I want.

[Rude Dude]

Will moving the frame up cause tranny bell housing to Cab floor issues, or do you have a lot of room with that clip set up?

[pbeguy]

I will trim it to fit. The motor sits low on this clip anyway. If I need to, I will put a full tunnel in it. I am going to run a two-piece driveshaft so I don't have to notch the back of the cab.
Posted via Mobile Device

[ZR2RICK]

Very interesting, I have my nova clip tacked in place and I find the crossmember to be the lowest point when it is aired out completely. but i can see this would get the cab a couple more inches closer to the ground. I currently do have the trans right up close to the tunnel so you would need extremely close fitting motor mounts and maybe still have to cut the tunnel area a bit?

[Wheelie]

I thought about doing the same thing but I went ahead and welded it to the bottom. Based on my measurements with it layed out, the subframe was the only thing to keep me from dragging the cab. I definitely see how much cleaner this will be, and lower after you do all the cab mount fab. I look forward to seeing the progress!

[pbeguy]

Wheelie,
I just wanted to start as low as possible and then adjust from there. When it is welded to the bottom (in my opinion) it puts a small natural rake on the frame. Through trial and error on other projects, I have found it is MUCH easier to add height than to cut it out. Once the LCA's touch the frame, that is all you got without major surgery,

[mknittle]

[pbeguy]

Got a lot accomplished today. I trimmed the frame and clip for a precise fit. I got the wheelbase exactly where I wanted it (115-1/4"). It is square and level within a 1/16" front to back and side to side. I tacked and welded it up and will be boxing it in over the next couple of days.

[pbeguy]

Got my front frame sections trimmed up and tacked on. I have found the glaring difference in my attempt at being very low. The front rails will take some special boxing and bracing. The good news is that they snug up to the bottom of the Camaro rails. The bad news is it that I will need to extend the frame down to connect it all together.