55 project thread

[bcubed]

Wow, very nice ... so many nice 55-59s here too. I can't wait till I can get mine to this stage.

[CAL 58 GMC]

Hey 55ChevyPu,

We havn't heard from you in a long time. I hope all is going well and hope to see more progress pic's coming from you!

[55ChevyPU]

Im still here lurking in the background ive been busy with other things so the truck has to sit on the sidelines for a while.

[CAL 58 GMC]

Glade to see all is well. I hope you get things cought back up and you can get started back up on your 55.

[Jebb1978]

Wow, he is crazy! That is going to be awsome!!!

Have you guys seen this?
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=190727

[Igotachevyor2]

sick

[Jebb1978]

Hey were did your Dad's car go? I thought it was really cool!

[55ChevyPU]

he got mad at me for posting pictures of his "Top secret project"

[Jebb1978]

Oppsy, that can happen.

[55ChevyPU]

so I finish both inner fenders ill primer and see if i cant get them rdy to paint and actually put some color on them, they are going to be the same orange as the rest of the body.

[CAL 58 GMC]

They look great! Are you going to fill the holes in also?

[55ChevyPU]

nope

[Jebb1978]

Very nice indeed! Glad to see you back in action buddy

[bronx]

Awesome work u have done on your truck.

[dwcsr]

were those the ones you welded in strips of sheet to smooth them out?

they look nice

[55ChevyPU]

yup they are, on a bit of a different note I reattached the bed





as it stands now I hate how the truck sits. Both the front and rear need to be dropped so I plan on getting new leafs for the back with the d removed, that or just oem leafs with a flip kit and the front im thinking of getting some drop spindles im not sure what options I have as far as the front goes.

[Decypher]

Hey guys, I'm new to the thread, this being my first post. I have a 1957 Chevy short bed step side.

I notice that a lot of folks were asking about the fuel tank. The one that's in there is really nice, but I got mine from CPP. It fits in there like a glove and it looks really nice. 19 gal all aluminum. It comes with the hardware to mount it into the frame; bolts, and a flange with nuts welded on. You might as well throw the nut flange away, cause it's worthless. Then when you mount it in, you can only get six out of the eight bolts in, big deal, those last two bolts won't do much good for you. The sending unit is sold separately, but made to match the tank. It's a pretty good package and I don't think it was any more than 400 for both.

I do have a novice question about your '55. The dash; did you cut out the panel where the radio, heater, and glove box are or did you just weld over it. This may seem like a dumb question but I have no experience period in sheet metal work.

It's a good looking truck though. About the suspension, I put a monoleaf on the front and it dropped it a couple of inches but it rides like a 19th century suspensionless horse carriage. To get a good ride while slamming it, your best bet is going to be an IFS preferably with air bags, not cheap, but probably worth it. That's going to be my next major expense on my '57 after the engine. Anyway, that's my two cents.

[Jebb1978]

Hey 55 I used Hotchkis 2" drop coils in mine and it sits pretty low. I will update you when I get the motor in and I know where she is going to be. The axle flip shot my rear about 3 inches lower to the front with 2 inch blocks. I am going to replace the the leafs with new stock ones in the rear and put the motor in before I take the blocks out. I will keep you updated.

[Frizzle Fry]

I like the smoothed inner fenders. Are you painting in your garage?

[dwcsr]

So do I. I was going to make some for my 58 but I just might do it like that now.

[55ChevyPU]

Originally Posted by Decypher

Hey guys, I'm new to the thread, this being my first post. I have a 1957 Chevy short bed step side.

I notice that a lot of folks were asking about the fuel tank. The one that's in there is really nice, but I got mine from CPP. It fits in there like a glove and it looks really nice. 19 gal all aluminum. It comes with the hardware to mount it into the frame; bolts, and a flange with nuts welded on. You might as well throw the nut flange away, cause it's worthless. Then when you mount it in, you can only get six out of the eight bolts in, big deal, those last two bolts won't do much good for you. The sending unit is sold separately, but made to match the tank. It's a pretty good package and I don't think it was any more than 400 for both.

I do have a novice question about your '55. The dash; did you cut out the panel where the radio, heater, and glove box are or did you just weld over it. This may seem like a dumb question but I have no experience period in sheet metal work.

It's a good looking truck though. About the suspension, I put a monoleaf on the front and it dropped it a couple of inches but it rides like a 19th century suspensionless horse carriage. To get a good ride while slamming it, your best bet is going to be an IFS preferably with air bags, not cheap, but probably worth it. That's going to be my next major expense on my '57 after the engine. Anyway, that's my two cents.

as far as the dash goes yes You can opt to cut it out but I figured WHY the only section you see that it was welded over was right above where the column mounts and who the heck looks there ???

but as far as front suspension goes I already have a front clip with a coilover suspension guess you didnt see the pic, you can see my lovely clip in this pic

[Decypher]

Nice, is that a Camaro front clip? I actually talked to a guy that I work with right after I posted that, and he said the best thing to do if you want a really nice ride is weld in a Camaro front clip, so I'm going to look into it. I guess I should've noticed that IFS in the previous pictures, duh .

I'm actually surprised that you just welded a piece over the front of the dash, it looks really nice, I thought for sure that you cut the old dash out and put that piece in its place.

[55ChevyPU]

yea as far as the dash goes here is a couple pictures of that





and you have seen the painted product.


Jebb- The only thing I really am concerned about with going with lowered coils is you lower the travel and if you lower the travel to much after driving a lot of tension is put on the upper control arms and I wouldn't want to break them.

what ive decided to do is get a pair of drop spindles for the front and for the rear ill get some rearched springs and see if I cant move the perches up. I dont want the truck to sit an inch from the ground and a flip kit I think would do just that.

Its ironic that I actually want the rear exactly where it sits right but those springs were mickey moused and would be dangerous to drive on. The way the original owner lowered the rear suspension he just removed like 3 or 4 leafs out of the 6 or 7 that are there originally. Then one side has an extended shackle and one doesnt, I really hate that original owner.

[55ChevyPU]

Originally Posted by Frizzle Fry

I like the smoothed inner fenders. Are you painting in your garage?

HUZZAH





the first pic is just the base the 2nd is with the candy w/pearl. It was starting to get windy so I didnt clear it till the next day. Once that clear goes on its oh so pretty though. On a side not I recommend everyone that paints a candy to do it while the truck is all together. I was lucky and you cant really see a difference in the color but you can easily spray to little or to much candy on one piece and have it look completely off. I pray I dont mess up and the doors look way off.

[Jebb1978]

Originally Posted by 55ChevyPU

I dont want the truck to sit an inch from the ground and a flip kit I think would do just that.

Its ironic that I actually want the rear exactly where it sits right but those springs were mickey moused and would be dangerous to drive on. The way the original owner lowered the rear suspension he just removed like 3 or 4 leafs out of the 6 or 7 that are there originally. Then one side has an extended shackle and one doesnt, I really hate that original owner.

You got that right, the flip kit will really put it on the ground! And as far as the leafs on my truck go,that is the exact same reason I am replacing mine! I am down to like half the leafs. I am going for the low look though. Keep up the good fight, those inner fenders look killer!