55' Cameo Build!!!

[BC Toy chest]

Kool truck keep the pictures coming.

[55Cameo]

Originally Posted by BC Toy chest

Kool truck keep the pictures coming.

Thanks man. Like your build and truck as well!!

So got a lil done on the truck today. Only spent a lil bit there had to help a friend out today. The wife went with me to help out and take some pics as well. Just cleaned up some and started on removing the wiring mess from my this cab to transfer over to the big window going in








And just a couple random shots she took while i was working











And the pile of parts that are gonna be staying on the truck. I'm gonna need to get some boxes and clean these up for storage. Gonna get cramped very fast

[_Ogre]

that looks scary, but if you wired it originally you probably know where every wire goes
under my console is a cluster**** of wires, but when i get in there, i know every wire by name

[55Cameo]

LOL yeah its def scary under there. But parts of the reason to redo it all. I have big plans for the wiring. Gonna clean it up really nice and make each section of the truck be able to come apart from the rest with big harness conn. Will make assemble/disassemble and maint easier for later

[ChuckDriver]

Nice truck! Gotta find me a Cameo bed one day!

[55Cameo]

Originally Posted by ChuckDriver

Nice truck! Gotta find me a Cameo bed one day!

Thank you sir!! Yeah I got very lucky. I can't wait to have the complete bed on the truck


So I spent a lil time on the truck today before I went to get the lil ome from school. Got all the wiring pulled, removed the fuel lined and fuel pump and unbolted the fuel cell and removed the battery, cut off switch and all the cables. Just picking at the truck as much as possible. Got this Fri off so hope to accomplish alot then

[Scottshotrods]

Very cool truck if we can help you out with anything let us know.We make a ton of parts for these trucks and have great service.You can check us out here www.scottshotrods.com or you can call us or e-mail us

justin@scottshotrods.com
805 485-0382

[55Cameo]

Thank you. I will def keep you guys in mind when I get to that part of the build.

I remember watching the episode of you guys building Heavy Metal on Rides. Very nice truck with lots of cool mods

[55Cameo]

Got alot done on the truck today. Basically stripped it all down today. Cab is stripped of all the pieces I need for the new cab, and got the Cameo bedsides off and the bed unbolted from the frame.

This sunday i will be taking the bed off and storing it and get the small window cab off and sold and get the big window cab on the frame to get them ready to be taken to the sandblasters. I'm excited to finally make some big progress on the truck but a little worried about how the cab will come out after sandblasting. I took a look at it today. Seems solid still in a lot of places and doesn't need a lot of patching done. Just hope it doesn't get warped from the blasting















And the keep pile growing bigger. Gotta clean up and recondition all these parts and make them look pretty LOL!!



Decided I'm gonna go with the Auto meter Carbon Fiber gauges. So I need to sell this tach and get me a new tach and speedo.



Couple of cameo pieces I've already acquired. Fiberglass tail light housings and one retainer, cable guides and cable ends for the tailgate



And the pile of brand new parts that are waiting to be installed.

[Kim57]

Looks like you're making good progress.
New parts are always cool.
Kim

[oldman3]

Moving along, nice parts....Jim

[_Ogre]

looking good
looks like good steel to start with

my doors were the same (more rust though) with enough holes to mount 30 different mirrors on them

[55Cameo]

Thanks for the support guys. I've waited along time to get to this point

LOL!!! yeah when I 1st got the truck the doors had SO many holes its like the kept switching, awww these look good, no these loo better, no wait maybe these haha!!

I'm happy to finally get my new to me doors on it and clean the body up some

[55Cameo]

Another day off and was able to get alot off work done and had some help this weekend. Picked up my big window cab from my mom's house and swapped cabs and picked up all my extra parts I had laying around at my dad's. The frame and cab are now ready to be taking for sandblast, but I must sell my old cab and parts to get the funds needed to move to the next stages of my build.

I couldn't believe what I had left over from the years lol. I had an extra hood, front bumper, both doors, pass fender, clean orig gas tank, stock brake masters cylinder, all kinds of goodies LOL!!

I'll be putting them up and hopefully won't take long to get the funds

On with the pics, Its great to have such great friend for help when needed











Old cab coming off and some shots of the bare frame. Very happy to get here so I can clean this frame all up and get a nice coat of paint on it.

[55Cameo]

So now with the big window cab in my possession and on the frame I had the chance to finally really check it out and access all the damage from sitting over the past 10 years uncovered in the elements. It will need the usual patch panels, door pockets, rocker panels, and cab corners, but also a couple others. Some spots on the fire wall, floor piece near the driver front mount, small spot above the windshield on the roof and some others. It seemed pretty solid when we were moving it around and didn't flex a lot so all in all seems to not be to bad.

Once I get it back from the blast I'll put some primer on it and then do a little patching before putting it back together.

















And my pile of parts I need to start selling and get rid of

[_Ogre]

lots of rust but it looks solid
i think this fender is a little beyond use though

[55Cameo]

HAHA!!! aahhh come on I think I can save that and pound it back into shape. It's not THAT bad LMAO!!

Yeah man I only saved it for some patching on other panels and I stole the fender mount off it too LOL!!

[BC Toy chest]

Awesome photos looks like tons of fun.

[55Cameo]

Originally Posted by BC Toy chest

Awesome photos looks like tons of fun.

Thanks, Its def be alot of fun to be working on the truck again. Its needed some loving for ALONG time now!

Well not much to report back as far as progress goes. I'm still working on selling my spare parts and the small window cab to build funds to continue on. I have a couple small things sold and am now searching for my rear suspension pieces to do the whole install all at once

[OKGMC4]

Almost looks like you should cut the small window cab up for patch panels instead of selling it. Actually factory stuff fits better. I only had to replace one step on mine and it was hard using the chinese part. I patched my rear fender with another used rear fender and it went easier. Can't wait to see it shape up. It'll be one heck of a resurrection.

[55Cameo]

Originally Posted by OKGMC4

Almost looks like you should cut the small window cab up for patch panels instead of selling it. Actually factory stuff fits better. I only had to replace one step on mine and it was hard using the chinese part. I patched my rear fender with another used rear fender and it went easier. Can't wait to see it shape up. It'll be one heck of a resurrection.

I thought about that too, but the serious parts rusted on each cabs are in the same spots. So nothing left to save. All the other spots on the big window I will have to make small patches. Thanks, a good idea though

[55Cameo]

Originally Posted by 55Cameo

So on to my current plans and ideas for the truck. It will be a pro touring build, so a great handling/braking truck, I can drive daily and get in and go anywhere/anytime. I'd rather be driving a classic more then a new car.

Things that will for sure get done by the end of this year:
-Mustang II IFS w/ manual steering
-LS/4L60
-Install my big window cab
-Acquire missing Cameo parts and install
-Redo brake lines for cleaner install
-Detail frame
-A/C
-Self custom made headlights
-Finish gauges
-Tires

And if money time permits:
-New rear suspension(prob 3 link)
-Big brakes and rear disc
-Roll cage
-Nitrous
-Alarm w/remote start and stereo
-Racing seats and harness
-Engine mods

So since I started working on the truck again, and being on the boards here, has helped me to make good and better decisions on what n how to work on the truck. I decided to make a little change in plans for the build and get some things done in a different order. Since I already have a great running motor/trans combo, I will hold off on my motor swap as an extra and get the whole frame/suspension/ brakes done.

I think it makes more sense for me to get the whole under carriage complete and not have to come back to it later for big change like changing the suspension again.

The updated plans for the year are now:
Things that will for sure get done by the end of this year:
-Mustang II IFS w/ manual steering and sway bar
-Truck trailing arm rear suspension w/sway bar
-Tubular X-Member
-Install my big window cab
-Acquire missing Cameo parts and install
-Redo brake lines for cleaner install
-Paint and Detail frame
-A/C
-Self custom made headlights
-Finish gauges
-Tires

And if money time permits:
-LS/4L60
-Big brakes and rear disc
-Roll cage
-Nitrous
-Alarm w/remote start and stereo
-Racing seats and harness
-Engine mods

I will have the truck back on the road by the end of the year and want it to be very reliable and comfortable for me to drive.

Yesterday I was able to acquire some of my rear suspension pieces and went down and visited PorterBuilt Street Rod and talked to them about some of their products and ideas for my truck. Great friendly guys and took time out of their day to show me around and just plain chat.

On with the pics:






Loved this truck they had there. I saw the build thread here





And some pics of the shop and their products I'm interested in

[55Cameo]

So it has been a VERY VERY long time since I have logged in or even been on the site. A lot has happened to me in the past year that has caused a major pause to the build and I'm not sure where to begin LOL!!

So unfortunately I did not make my goal and the Cameo still sits as seen in the last couple posts. The biggest reason for the pause, mister johnny law caught up with me and I had to pay some big fines. In short I got some tickets a couple years back that I did not take care of and forgotten about which caused my license to be suspended. It took time to save up and had to use tax returns but $2500 later i got it back.

I had plans to use tax returns for the build but yet again the government saw fit to take away from past debt and just like that all of our return was gone.

The other big change for us was we moved out of the apartment and finally am now renting a house with a two car garage! I finally have a garage all to me onesies and have a great place to work on the Cameo. So that took time and money as well. We have currently been here for roughly 2 months now and once deposits are paid up and we get caught up on bills i can continue. I need to fix and do some repairs and maint on our DD cars but once that's done I have the full green light to make a lot of head way on the Cameo. The wife is even helping making me a budget fund just for the Cameo to make my goal once again to have it running driving by the end of the year.

Being without internet for a while has made updates very hard and now that I have it here at the house this thread should see some progress soon. I will try and pick at little things here and there spending my main time on the DD cars but hoping within a month or so i will hit hard on the Cameo.

Here are a couple small pics of the gang and I getting the Cameo home and set up in the garage. Now I cam catch up on your guys builds and get going again.

[sqrlnts]

Build is going great, tough in this heat huh? Keep it up

[55Cameo]

Oh man it definitely is. That's why I have two fans in my garage now LOL!! Thanks I plan to hit it strong soon. I really miss driving around in it.