How to build a 57 in 1000 easy steps

[bobinbc]

So about 2000 I got tired of sitting around and decided to find a nice truck to play with. Was looking for a 63 when I came across a 57 longbox, all stock sitting under a tree for about the last 10 or so years. I cut the box and frame down, put a monte front clip under it, painted and flamed it. Went with a bench out of a 91 Silverado with a mexican blanket, upholstered door panels and a ratchet shifter with a big, long handle. I built a mild 350 and TH400 with a shift kit, polished up some mags I had since the 80's(with new tires) and put a Nova rear in with a PowerTrax locker and traction bars that I built myself. I was pretty happy wth how it turned out and drove it lots including beating on it repeatedly at the local dragstrip most Friday nights. Here it is just after I did the flames>


And here pretty much finished.



I always wanted more under the hood so I built this



But then someone offered me stupid money for it so I let it go, the engine never made it into the truck but went into a 48 Anglia(!) instead.

Fast forward a couple years and a few toys later and I'm really missing my truck. Looked around and tried to find one to replace it for about what I sold mine for and guess what, rust buckets, bondo buggies, ugly paint, scary chassis mods! I guess maybe the guy who bought mine was crazy like a fox! So I decide I'll just have to build another and I bought a truck over the internet from Reno, Nevada. It's a runner with a rust free body and the guy says it could drive home to Canada no problem (about 1200 miles) Wow, sounds really good. But I get it shipped, just in case ya know.