My 1955 Chevy 3100 build

[55 Chevy Dave]

Onto the inner fenders.

I filled the unnecessary holes and cut strips of 18 gauge sheet metal to fill in the indentations. More inspiration from this forum!

Ground everything smooth and reinstalled.

[55 Chevy Dave]

Did the same to the driver's side inner fender.

[55 Chevy Dave]

I didn't like the area of the inner fender that is offset outside of the frame. I cut it out, made a patch panel and welded it in.

I also added some sheet metal to the end of the panel so that it would meet my new firewall.

[55 Chevy Dave]

I then did the same to the driver's side fender.

[55 Chevy Dave]

I just completed my order for more parts. It should be a busy Memorial Day weekend in my garage!

[Advanced Design]

Wow, you have been busy. Nice work! The changes look good and cleans up the truck. Cool mod's.

[Kim57]

Very nice mods.
Kim

[ptc]

Dave that is looking really sweet!!!! coming along very nicely!

[Valarius_Starchaser]

Nice work Dave I love that smooth look wish I had the patience and time to do that!

Thank you for all the good pictures of your firewall/wheelbarrow mod it helped me a ton when installing my own on my truck

[ChuckDriver]

Nice!

[II_Slow]

Can't wait to see those inner fenders after prep and paint. One of those things that a lot of people won't even notice. Great job - you can come do mine now!

[RockinKees]

Nice mod!
Never seen that before.... at least that I remember

[55 Chevy Dave]

Time to see if I can get this exhaust to fit. Wish me luck!

[Kim57]

That's real nice.
Kim

[Advanced Design]

I have no doubt you will do a spectacular job. Nice looking parts. Is a kit or did you piece it out?

[ptc]

Dave the truck is really looking great and coming along quickly! Good Job!

[55 Chevy Dave]

Thanks for all the compliments! You have no idea how much information I haven't gotten from the members on this forum. I might actually be able to get this truck done someday!

Onto the exhaust. I mocked up the exhaust system on the ground under the truck. I carefully trimmed down the header reducers and the pipes behind the cross-pipe as well as a straight section of the 90-degree bend pipes. I then added a section of pipe from the cut scraps to the pipes in front of the cross-pipe so that the forward pipes would meet up with the reducers already bolted to the headers.

After adding the extensions, I found that I still needed to remove about 1-1/2" of pipe from each side to keep the exhaust tips under the rear fender steps, so I decided to trim the inlet and outlet pipes of each of the mufflers.

By the way, I know the hose clamps don't belong there, they are just temporary! I couldn't fit another band clamp in that position because the other band clamp was in the way.

[55 Chevy Dave]

Everything seemed to fit nicely. I still need to add an extension just before each of the exhaust tips, but I didn't have any more butt joint band clamps. I haven't decided if I want the tips to exit out of rectangular cuts in the steps of the fender or if I just want to leave them hang just underneath. Any thoughts?

I still haven't decided how I am going to hang everything. Once I get that figured out, I will take everything to get welded. I haven't invested in a TIG welder yet (although I have been told multiple times I should). I played with the MIG welder and some stainless wire, but it didn't come out right and these parts are too expensive to experiment on.

Again, any thoughts on the hangers would be much appreciated!

[55 Chevy Dave]

I was also able to get the shifter hole relocated from the stock location to the new location.

[55 Chevy Dave]

Originally Posted by Valarius_Starchaser

Nice work Dave I love that smooth look wish I had the patience and time to do that!

Thank you for all the good pictures of your firewall/wheelbarrow mod it helped me a ton when installing my own on my truck

Val,
Thank you for the compliment. I got the idea from another member on the forum. After checking out your thread, it looks like yours came out great!

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

I have no doubt you will do a spectacular job. Nice looking parts. Is a kit or did you piece it out?

Doug,
Thank you for the compliment as well. Unfortunately, I could not find a kit for my application, so I ordered the parts to make my own. Aside from ordering the wrong SS flexible pipe couplings and not ordering a pair of butt-joint band clamps, everything went together nicely.

[BIGglaSS]

Originally Posted by 55 Chevy Dave

Again, any thoughts on the hangers would be much appreciated!

I don't think the bungee cords will last too long....

I'm not too far behind you. Hopefully someone else will have some suggestions. I was thinking of making some custom hangars with these
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/stw-exgro/overview/

[Kim57]

Looks real good.
Nice job on the exhaust.
Kim

[ptc]

Dave, I would (and am) go this route for a nice finished look rather than the "plumbers tape" style adjustable hangers. These are welded at points long the way on your frame and tubes (you need to figure out) and then the whole system easily attaches up under the vehicle with either poly or rubber hangers of your choosing. Should be avail at any muff shop nowadays.

[ptc]

Dave also check Stepside Jims build page I think he did what you want



starts on page 2 of his build thread

[55 Chevy Dave]

Thanks for the information, ptc. I definitely do not spend enough time doing research on this forum. Lots of information to be had if you are willing to spend the time. Unfortunately, most of the time, I would prefer to be out in the garage making progress on my project.

Thanks again.