Lurker OrrieG Progress Pics

[munice]

Love the cinder block bed holder! keep up the good work!

[OrrieG]

Originally Posted by munice

Love the cinder block bed holder! keep up the good work!

They were handy. I am so glad I decided to install the cross sills outside. I originally had them loose bolted to the frame and was going to drop the sheet metal on the sills. With all the work I had to do to square it up and pull the one side in working around the rear end, drive line and mufflers would have been a head ache.

[OrrieG]

Looked around for all the small parts to paint and this is all I came up with. Must be getting close?? I did remember I need to get the bed strips out and paint them.

[Rude Dude]

Orrie always good work , enjoy your build!

[C.shows]

Looking good!
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[oldman3]

Parts look good.....Jim

[mknittle]

nice work Orrie!

[sgtusmc]

Great work, your getting close. Once your done can you finish mine. I'll pay shipping...haha

[OrrieG]

Wire wheeled most of the bed strips today, tedious. Thanks for the support guys, biggest hurdle is $ for the bed material, rubber, bed bolt kit, and misc. for the AC.

[Coupeguy2001]

Orrie,
Isn't amazing how much money you wouldn't spend in the first place, but how much money you end up spending? My wife said the other night, you know you spent $2000?
That's just looking at the bank statement that shows what we had in the bank at the beginning of summer and what we had last week. Well, the front frame stub was $1300, so if I can get this far on $700, selling old parts and buying new ones, I'm ahead!
I think it is closer to $3000 though.
I don't think she was including tires either, that was $500 all by itself.

My comment to her was "well, look what we would spend if we bought a good used truck, maybe $10,000."
Her reply was, "it would have air conditioning right off the bat and not have that ugly exhaust smell."
I guess if I fix those things, she might be more tolerant.

[OrrieG]

My wife and I have had the same discussion fix vs. buy new for 30 years.
Over the years, including this build so far, I am into my truck about $7,000 not counting routine maintenance costs. I bought it in 1976 have changed drive trains twice. Bottom line is even if the 35 year total goes to 15K (big variable is the final paint cost) I still have something I can now drive for 20 more years with a little maintenance along the way and will have gotten 55 years use out of it ($275 per year plus operating costs). And it should keep its value.

[G&R's57GMC]

I've been reading this complete thread this week, Great build !

Someone mentioned it would be cool to have a 4x4 version and a 2x4 version of the same truck. Well I do but the shiny one is a Napco and the pitina one is a 2x4.

The '57 GMC Napco is in the process of becoming a 2x4 on air with a 5.3L auto and full emissions hot rod/tow vehicle. So when I'm done the Napco stuff will be for sale.

Because of this thread I thinking about making the '56 Chevy a 4x4 along the lines of yours except keeping the patina.

Here's a couple of pic's of them.

[Barney Rubble]

another outstanding build thread on this wonderful forum. I really appreciate you taking the time update us.

[1959 Apache 3600]

Excellent build and a joy to follow...

[OrrieG]

Thanks guys. GR, the comment was mine, I have a local guy that keeps trying to sell me on a 59 slammed GMC as a future project. But I need to get the 64 Chevelle taken care of then I'll decide. Leaning toward a 50ish Willys Wagon with a woody theme. First car I really drove a lot with my Grandmother on fishing and camping trips. I was driving very early (like sixth grade) on back roads, turned out it was my Dad's idea so that if my Grandmother had a heart attack out in the boonies I could get her, or at least myself, back to town ok. My wife has a picture of her mother or aunt driving a grain truck in the Kansas fields about the same age (in the late 1930's). They would put it in granny gear and use the hand throttle to match the speed of the harvester.

[OrrieG]

Welded up the bed notch and tailgate rectangular hole that was used for the chains.

[OrrieG]

Also installed the CP hidden latches. They are designed for a step side, I will need to fab an extension inside the bed upright for the latch. It will be easy the old chain bracket holes are still there, piece of flat stock and some shims and I will be good. Glad I did not weld them up, I was just going to put in some bolts anyway.

[beanyard]

Originally Posted by OrrieG

Also installed the CP hidden latches. They are designed for a step side, I will need to fab an extension inside the bed upright for the latch. It will be easy the old chain bracket holes are still there, piece of flat stock and some shims and I will be good. Glad I did not weld them up, I was just going to put in some bolts anyway.

I sent you a PM

[lt155ruck]

Originally Posted by OrrieG

Also installed the CP hidden latches. They are designed for a step side, I will need to fab an extension inside the bed upright for the latch. It will be easy the old chain bracket holes are still there, piece of flat stock and some shims and I will be good. Glad I did not weld them up, I was just going to put in some bolts anyway.

I noticed on the "what did you do on your truck today thread" you had picked up some tailgate cables. Did you ever get that sorted out and installed?

[sgtusmc]

Looks good. Let me know if you need help welding the tailgate shut. I'll send my wife over...haha

[OrrieG]

Originally Posted by sgtusmc

Looks good. Let me know if you need help welding the tailgate shut. I'll send my wife over...haha

I'm too old to jump over it if it's welded shut. By the time I get it done I might need a drop down step like the really old people use on their RV's!

[Kim57]

That came out real nice.
Kim

[bajabob]

Orrieg
Looks like things are coming along nicely.... Any idea on ETC ???

[bajabob]

double posting..... wth ???

Orrieg
Looks like things are coming along nicely.... Any idea on ETC ???

[Berg]

I was on the Offroad Design website and noticedthey have a twin stick kit for the NP203. I don't know what your current configuration is but I saw on the beginning of your build that you were using this case so I figured I'd share the info just in case you were interested in either getting a kit or duplicating it on your rig. The following is taken from the www.offroaddesign.com website:

NP203 twin stick shifters: $185

That's right, we can twin stick the 203! You get rid of the trouble prone and typically worn out factory shifter box and replace it with 2 levers for much more positive gear selection. One lever will shift the case through Hi-N-Lo and the other will control the differential lock, or on cases converted to part time, the other lever will control 2WD-4WD. This shifter can also be converted to a Doubler shifter with a simple linkage change. Available for GM, Ford and Dodge.

Here is a photo of the GM203 twin: