57 GMC, frame swap, 4wd, 454 big block, 4 speed

[joedoh]

good googly moogly look at that pretty girl

unless you consider its a boy I guess. then he is still pretty, but in a more masculine, handsome way.

[Old57]

Originally Posted by joedoh

good googly moogly look at that pretty girl

unless you consider its a boy I guess. then he is still pretty, but in a more masculine, handsome way.

Haha, thanks Joe. I really don't know what "it" is yet... I haven't had a name come to mind so far. Maybe it'll reveal to me what it is before long.

[mongocanfly]

What's the plan for a color?....

[Old57]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

What's the plan for a color?....

I'm thinking about a gray color for the exterior.

[mongocanfly]

It would look great in gray...when I had mine in gray primer me and my buddy both thought it would look good in gray.....but I already had the red...

[Old57]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

It would look great in gray...when I had mine in gray primer me and my buddy both thought it would look good in gray.....but I already had the red...

I think gray would be a good subtle color. I originally thought about a dark green, but I'm thinking gray now. I guess I have some time to still decide.

[Old57]

I got my door and wing windows to the glass guy today. He is going to cut new glass and install it in the frames. Not much progress to show, been working on paying jobs, but I did put on a 4 1/2" stainless tip on my big single exhaust.

[Black_Sheep]

Originally Posted by Old57

I think gray would be a good subtle color. I originally thought about a dark green, but I'm thinking gray now. I guess I have some time to still decide.

What colors do you really like?

http://paintref.com/paintref/index.shtml

[Black_Sheep]

Gray would look great with the white grille and wheels, maybe do the 2 tone just around the windows to pull the inside and outside together

[Old57]

Originally Posted by Black_Sheep

Gray would look great with the white grille and wheels, maybe do the 2 tone just around the windows to pull the inside and outside together

That's just what I was thinking. I think the gray will go good with the cream white grill, wheels and interior. The bumpers will also be powder coated the same cream white color. I know nothing that I'm doing with my truck is factory by any means, but I want it to look like it could've came from the factory when it's done, but lifted. I was looking at some gray colors from the 50's and 60's to get an idea. Here is a couple pictures that kind of caught my interest. I posted these pics a few pages back in the build thread, but it's worth another look. I like your 2-tone idea too.

[Old57]

I ordered a pleated black vinyl upholstery kit of my 88-98 Chevy truck bench seat. I'll see how that turns out when I get it on the seat. It's a custom order, so takes 2-4 weeks. I'll put in on the seat, and I'm sure it'll look better than the blue cloth on it now. If it doesn't turn out decent, I'll cough up the $600 to have the upholstery shop recover it at a later time.

What are some ideas for cup holders with a bench seat in these trucks? I have the transmission and transfer case shifters on the floor in front of the seat, so I don't know how one that sits on the floor will work out. I've seen the ones that sit on the bench seat, but I don't think I'd want that. I might have to try to make a clean and simple one that mounts to the bottom of the dash or something.

[vintovka]

I chose one of these. Comfortable, Right height, Works well, has adjustable cup holders . Unbuckles from center seat belt. Storage ok but set up for something called "CDs". From Amazon for under $30.

[mongocanfly]

I had given thought to those pop/flip out cup holders..they ain't cheap but went not In use they're completely out of the way...

[Black_Sheep]

I got one of these for my 58 after I scrapped the idea of a floor console

https://www.cupholdersplus.com/bench...r-console.html

[vintovka]

You may have more room in yours for a floor console. Mine is so tight. Seems like the steering wheel has gotten 5" closer to my gut since 1967.

Seen some fantastic floor consoles with GPS, Stereo,Speakers, Cup holders, room for Ipad and even place for second fusebox and a fire extinguisher. Issue with them and Bench Seats is they may prevent a third rider and no place to rest your arm.

[Old57]

Thanks for the ideas guys. I don't have room on the floor due to the transfer case shifter. I was thinking that I wouldn't like one that fits on the seat, but after seeing those pictures, that might just work out ok. The flip out ones were something I thought about, but not sure. Black Sheep, where did you find yours? I'll check out that one on Amazon too.

[Old57]

Blacksheep, I just noticed you had the link posted of where you got the console. I didn't see that when I looked on my phone before. I ordered their free color samples in black. I'll see which one matches my seat upholstery when I get it here.

I'm waiting for the upholstery to get here, and my door glass to get cut. I ordered shifter boots for the transmission and transfer case, and a horn. I'm working on a lot of little things that need finished right now. I installed the tail lights, headlights, and wiper arms and tested them out. I need to get the hood hinges blasted and painted, install the hood and doors, etc. I think I might make a simple rear bumper, then I'll take both bumpers to get powder coated the same color as the grill and wheels. I probably should think about getting the tag and insurance on the truck now...

[Black_Sheep]

At the pace you're moving it won't be long

[Old57]

I got a few small things done, but I haven't had much time to work on the truck lately. I got my door glass from the glass guy yesterday. He cut new glass, installed it in the frames, and assembled the wing windows with my new seals and handles. I need to sand and mask the doors so they're ready to paint the interior sides of them. I put in the shifter boots for my transfer case and transmission levers, installed a marine trumpet horn on the inner fender, installed a nice center cap on the steering wheel, made and painted block off plates for the inner kick panel vents and put those in, and started making a rear bumper. I'm looking around to find some lights that won't look out of place for reverse lights. I thought about fitting a pair of front signal lights with clear lenses on the rear bumper, but those might be a little too big. I'll see what I can come up with for that. I need to blast the hood and door hinges, paint them, paint the under side of the hood, etc. Maybe I can get some more stuff done over the Thanksgiving weekend.

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by Old57

I'm looking around to find some lights that won't look out of place for reverse lights.

the old minitrucker trick was a single fog light under the bed just barely peeking, and pointing at the ground! it was like backing up in broad daylight.

[Old57]

Originally Posted by joedoh

the old minitrucker trick was a single fog light under the bed just barely peeking, and pointing at the ground! it was like backing up in broad daylight.

That's a good idea... I didn't think about a fog light. They have a wide beam, and pointed at the ground would light up a pretty big area.

[mongocanfly]

Im gonna try to use some led lights similar to these...gonna hide em under the bumper...i dont think theyll be very visible..im hoping...

[Old57]

I bet those are bright! I normally wouldn't worry about back up lights, but I have the wiring already there in the harness, and it is nice to see where I'm backing up at night. I found some 2" diameter lights that I might get to mount behind the bumper when I finish that. I'm hoping to get the inner sides of the doors ready and painted over the Thanksgiving weekend though.

[Old57]

I got to spend some time on the truck the last couple of days... installed the front bump stops from Offroad Design, shifter boots in and transmission cover in, horn mounted and wired up, wiper arms on and tested (Newport Engineering motor), and a little more steel cut out for my rear bumper. I sanded, prepped and masked the inner sides of the doors, side window moldings, lower windshield trim, door hinges and hood hinges. I painted those and ran taps through all the threaded holes to make sure everything was ready to bolt together. I mounted the hood hinges, painted the under side of the hood, etc. I noticed that my odometer display in my speedometer had a "blob" on the last number, so I emailed pictures and a short note of what was wrong to the manufacturer (Marshall Gauges) on Friday afternoon. They replied literally within 10 minutes, and said to send it to them and they'll fix or replace it. Great customer service there! I got it pulled out of the dash and will send it out tomorrow morning. Looking close, I think it's just a smear or something on the inner lens of the LCD odometer. I took advantage of a Black Friday sale I saw, and ordered a JBL Extreme Bluetooth wireless speaker. I'm not installing any kind of a radio in this truck, so I'm going to pair this portable speaker with my smart phone. They have pretty big sound in a small package. Anyway, here's a few pics of some of the progress. I'm going to try to get the doors and hood on and adjusted next... hopefully that goes good

[Old57]

A few more pics...