Ryan's 57 pickup project

[RyanPartridge]

Originally Posted by nail pounder

Nice looking truck! Did you have any bump steer with the drop axle and posies? I had read that you need to bend the steering arm if you install both. Also, what size tires are you running? I really like the stance. Thanks!

Thanks Nail!
There was bump steer before I did the drop axle and Posies. After I did the drop axle, kingpin’s, Posies Springs and Caster shims all the steering issues were gone. The steering arm had to be bent slightly to clear the axle.

The tires are L78-15 Coker Classics.

[nail pounder]

Originally Posted by RyanPartridge

Thanks Nail!
There was bump steer before I did the drop axle and Posies. After I did the drop axle, kingpin’s, Posies Springs and Caster shims all the steering issues were gone. The steering arm had to be bent slightly to clear the axle.

The tires are L78-15 Coker Classics.

Right on, thanks. Keep up the good work!

[Purcell69]

Originally Posted by RyanPartridge

Figured I'd post my work in progress...

I purchased this truck last November on my way home from Arizona. It had been sitting out in the desert hills between Palm Springs and Temecula. The owner was a lady who inherited it from her step father "Mac" a couple years prior. She was recently divorced and just couldn't take care of it on her own. So the wife and I decided to bring home another project!

The only thing she told me was that Mac lived in Nevada and this truck came from there. It was his project he called "8DUNYET". Mac had done most the all the work on it except for the Toyota power steering kit that her ex had installed. She lived a half mile off a bumpy dirt road in an RV...so I wasn't surprised to find the truck had dozens of nuts/bolts shaken loose. So it begins...

That is a beauty and a nice find!

-Joe

[RyanPartridge]

Update...

I removed the cheapo tach and replaced it with an old SW! The light is a little dim, might need a brighter bulb.
Got the light on my license plate bracket wired up finally, bulb is too bright...needs a dimmer bulb.
Got my dome light working again!
Went back to the muffler shop to make some adjustments to get my pipes lined up exactly how I wanted em. I'm a happy camper now. Can't decide if I want to coat em white or have em chromed...I'll figure it out eventually.

Upholstery should be getting started in the next week or so. While the bench is out I may clean up the inside of the cab and paint it white.

Also my birds of paradise are poppin' open...

[MiraclePieCo]

Cool pipes, cool color, cool truck! Just the right level of "truckness." I like those wheels better too.

[dug224]

I'm going to have to agree with Dan in Pasedena when he said ..."...What I SHOULD have done with mine until I go totally carried away..." I kind of feel the same way about mine sometimes. Your post #009 snapped me right back to my High School days in California with the wheel/tire combo & size and the stance. Great project!

[RyanPartridge]

Originally Posted by MiraclePieCo

Cool pipes, cool color, cool truck! Just the right level of "truckness." I like those wheels better too.

Thanks man!

Originally Posted by dug224

I'm going to have to agree with Dan in Pasedena when he said ..."...What I SHOULD have done with mine until I go totally carried away..." I kind of feel the same way about mine sometimes. Your post #009 snapped me right back to my High School days in California with the wheel/tire combo & size and the stance. Great project!

Much appreciated!

[G&R's57GMC]

Nice project .
Love the pipes , I may steel the idea and do it in stainless or powder coat them in white to match the trim on my '57 GMC .

[RyanPartridge]

Originally Posted by G&R's57GMC

Nice project .
Love the pipes , I may steel the idea and do it in stainless or powder coat them in white to match the trim on my '57 GMC .

Looks like you've got a long bed so they might look extra cool on your setup. Yeah I haven't decided yet on white or chrome...white will be more work to keep em clean I figure...

[RyanPartridge]

Been going crazy the last couple weeks...truck has been parked while the bench is getting upholstery. Taking longer than expected, found broken springs and some pieces of the frame needed welding. Hoping to have it back next week.

I did manage to find some vintage pointed dome baby moon caps, so those are on the way.

[71'tahoe]

Wow! I just read through your thread this morning. What a cool way to build and enjoy a truck. Less is more for sure. And it looks so cool! Your mods are very tasteful. Keep up the good work and keep on truckin!

[RyanPartridge]

Originally Posted by 71'tahoe

Wow! I just read through your thread this morning. What a cool way to build and enjoy a truck. Less is more for sure. And it looks so cool! Your mods are very tasteful. Keep up the good work and keep on truckin!

Thanks for the kind words, much appreciated!
The idea was to keep it traditional with basic upgrades someone would've done back in the late 50's/early 60's. Dropped axle, dual pipes, steel pack mufflers, upholstery, SW gauges. Just a basic shop truck with mild upgrades.

[jsprengeler]

Nice work, Ryan. Your build is giving me some inspiration.

[RyanPartridge]

Originally Posted by jsprengeler

Nice work, Ryan. Your build is giving me some inspiration.

Thanks!

[RyanPartridge]

Upholstery is finally finished!
I also found some NOS black Guide tail lights to replace the repops.

[RyanPartridge]

Tonight...out huntin' Christmas trees...

[MBrown]

Truck looks awesome! I like the direction of the build, nice and simple and fun to drive, I bet!

[mongocanfly]

Looking good..!!

[RyanPartridge]

Originally Posted by MBrown

Truck looks awesome! I like the direction of the build, nice and simple and fun to drive, I bet!

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

Looking good..!!

Thanks fellas!

[twinshadows]

hi Ryan

Back in th' day (like around mid 1972 - - in Garland / Richardson, Tx area) I had an old '55 GMC 1/2 ton , with a 60 over 283 (like out too a 292). Man, I liked that truck - - plus, I changed out those GMC front Hood, and 'Fat GMC grill' for the Chevy style. Later on , I bought a T-10 (for a wild $ 100.00 , and made it even more fun). The Most part that I did - not like were the 'stock door latches' . . . I'd go trucking around a corner and my "pass door would fly open . . . and I hated that. That ol' truck would go-on , and treated me pretty good ; but, then I sold it off.
When, I sold that GMC . . . I knew I had another truck on th' way ; a better truck - - "a 53 IH 1/2 that was my Dads truck" (got it after he passed .. in 1975)
THAT '53 International Truck SETS in my yard still today. And , after reading about "joedoh's truck builds ", I just need to bring the 53 IH back too run again.
Ryan, Great job on your truck . . . . thanks for your time posting your pictures & write-ups .

from Chino Valley,Arizona . .. . jim partridge .

(sorry for the 'speech' ) .

[RyanPartridge]

^^^
Thanks Jim! I appreciate it!