55.2-59 1957 3100 ElNegro AKA "The Black"

[1957 Chief]

Wanted to introduce myself to you folks over here in the 47-59 forums. I am usually hanging out over in the 73-87 forums, but I am finally gonna finish up my 1957 truck and would like to share it with you all.

Anyways my real name is Bubba and I am blessed to be able to work on these old Chevy trucks. Started out wrenching on them at a young age with my grand father's 1949 3100 (which I now own). In high school I drove a 1953 3100 and had to work on it just about every day to keep it runnin. In 1991 I joined the USAF and all I wanted to do was work on airplanes, and I got my wish.

I was first stationed in Georgia where I met my wife of 31 years and where her dad found a 1957 3100 for me. In 1996 I made the deal for $50 bucks and the rest is history. At that stage in life we were young and I was on the move alot, so all I did in GA was acquire parts for the truck. I wanted a fleet side bed, because there weren't many getting built, and I wanted shaved door handles & emblems and no drip rail, cause that was "cool."

In 1998 We moved to Arkansas and I brought the truck with me. This is where I was able to put patch panels in it, fix the rust in the truck and primer it all black (hence the name ElNegro). I was also able to graft a 1981 Camaro clip onto the frame. I later put an LT4 fuel injected motor from a 96 corvette in the truck. Then my son was born in 2001 and soon after 9/11 hit, and everything got put on the back burner. For the next 10 years or so, the truck sat in various states of completion/repair.

In 2006 we moved up to NJ (my daughter was born there as well) and I went overseas several times. We all moved back to Arkansas in 2011 and thanksgiving of that year I took the truck to a good friends shop and we were fired up to work on it. I decided to put an LS in it with a 6-speed manual, a hoop bar and some big brakes. Well that morphed into a full roll cage, supercharged LS, air ride, narrowed/stretched chassis and a host of other things. When I left to go back overseas in 2014 told my buddy to finish it while I was gone and handed him a CC. I got back in 2015 and it wasn't finished so I jus loaded the truck up, and took it home. My brother later convinced me to get back on it and we were able to paint it in early 2016. We also added the door handles back

In 2016 I retired after 25 years in the USAF and I was working on the truck to finish it, but I started a business with a buddy and had to put the truck back into storage. In 2020 I built a shop with intentions of having a place to store and work on my stuff. Well then all my friends started showing up and needing stuff done on their rides, so again the truck got pushed back in the corner and under a cover. Ive had lots of folks ask to buy it, and thought about it several times, but I just couldn't do it. Not many 57's out there....

So to wrap all this up, in June/July of this year, 4 of my best friends showed up and FORCEFULLY told me to stop working on everyone else's stuff and finish ElNegro. So I finished up what was in the shop and have turned down a bunch of work to finally finish this truck. Life sure does get in the way of workin on these trucks, and I hope to finish it next year so i can enjoy it. I wont bore you with 30 years of details, but here are a few pics of the truck along the way. Ill add some more posts soon on what state the truck is in now and what is in store.

Thanks for the opportunity to tell the story of this truck. I know we all get discouraged from time to time, either from things that keep breaking, being overwhelmed with what needs to be done, finding more rust, running out of money, getting the short end of the stick from friends, and just life getting in the way, but its always good to see others push through and get these trucks done.

I know reading threads has motivated and helped me in the past, so its time to help someone else...and I hope Im able to do so.

Bubba

[Blackie]

That's a mean looking truck mate, we need more photos

[Rickysnickers]

Very nice!

[B52bobardier1]

From a guy that also has a fleetside, yours looks awesome. Nice color combination.

Rick

[1957 Chief]

Thanks for all the compliments fellas.

So another reason I was hesitant to work on the truck was because I had bad vibes and I was mad at it. The chassis that was under it wasnt really what I wanted to do with the truck. I want to drive the heck out of it, road trip it and occasionally thrash it. The chassis under it really wasnt for what I wanted to do. The fella that built it, is in my opinion, the best fabricator/chassis builder in the state of Arkansas. I have known him for a long time and we were great friends. But the truck went the wrong direction. Thats all Ill say about that.

Never in a million years did I think I would be spending the amount of money on this truck as I am. For what i paid for it back in 1996, and what is currently sitting in it (minus labor) is just astronomical. Since COVID prices have went insane. I joke around saying that I could have finished the truck for 1/3 the amount back then.

Back in May I ordered a No Limit pro-touring chassis and the cab is currently sitting on that getting mocked up. I have become good friends with Rob and Tina MacGregor and im really impressed with their chassis design, after all I have some of their equipment on some other trucks of mine. I also met another friend, Bill Holt. He has some awesome c10's out on the pro-touring circuit and he is just a solid guy. Funny how throughout the life of a build, friends come and go.

Anyways, updated pics....

Bubba

[1957 Chief]

So the plan now is to not stop till its finished. Already cleared that through the wife (First National Bank of Beason )

Stuff already acquired/hustled/purchased:
416LS with a Whipple supercharger (made 965hp prior, currently getting freshened up at Kuntz engines)
Smooth boost controller
Wegner Blower drive
4L80 with a 3000 stall
9 inch 3.25 rear gear with 27-28 inch tire
Wilwood brakes all around
Holley Dominator with Leash electronics
Vintage air
Tons of Motion Raceworks stuff


Contemplating massaging seats from an explorer/F150/250????

Really doing my best to not scratch or mess up the paint, but at this point I dont care. Truck will be driven and its bound to get nicked up. Will still use the 1957 GMC hood for the air intake on the blower as well.

And along the way Im sure there will be things that will nickel and dime me to death, but at this point, it is what it is.

I still have a ton of fab work to do on the new chassis: mount heat exchanger/reservoir and lines, oil/trans coolers and lines, battery mount/wiring shutoff switch, adapt the side exit exhaust and more.

Also have no idea what type of wheel will be ran. I do have the 18x13's that were on the back. I might jus get a set of 18x9 or 10's for the front. I dunno yet. And no idea on interior.

Bubba

[dsraven]

the air intake looks good, i assume it won't be driven in the rain?

[Chopped53]

Looks awesome! Love the pics.

[1957 Chief]

Originally Posted by dsraven

the air intake looks good, i assume it won't be driven in the rain?

I don’t plan on driving it in the rain, but if that happens I have a trusty little panel that fits over it and allows air to be pulled in from the engine compartment. But will avoid rain at all costs.

Bubba

[dsraven]

i have a 57 GMC project myself, with the hole in the hood. not sure if ui will use that air intake option as there is no guarantee, daily, on the weather here in Calgary. they say "if you don't like the weather just wait 5 minutes". it's true. haha
I have thought about a cable or linear actuater operated slide like a "roll top desk" that would close that air intake during inclement weather or a car wash etc. I plan to use my project truck for a daily driver, so it will be parked here and there unattended. no use having that cool looking air filter stolen from the hood hole.

[Hart_Rod]

Sometimes doing it "right" takes time and mistakes . Git-R-Done Bubba!

[Advanced Design]

Great history on the truck, and excellent plans / components for the build! I will be tagging along.