My 1958 Fleetside project

[fabguy]

Originally Posted by OrrieG

Nice job, makes my welded muffler U bolt look like dog breath.

Thank you OrrieG

[lowrodderchev]

digging your bag mounting job on the rear springs. i was going to run mine over the axle but i like your set up better. if you dont mind me asking how did you get it to stay over the leaves? it doesnt slide around?

[fabguy]

Originally Posted by lowrodderchev

digging your bag mounting job on the rear springs. i was going to run mine over the axle but i like your set up better. if you dont mind me asking how did you get it to stay over the leaves? it doesnt slide around?

in post# 6 (3rd Photo) it shows the bracket I made to fit under the axle, then in post# 7 it shows how they get welded to the bottom side of the axle, the top plate is the same plate used to marriage the axle brackets.
I might have an extra set laying around if you need a set. I am not completely sure though if there are any left but I will check if like.

I am actually going to rip those out and change the brackets and bags to larger bags. Those are small bags and I am worried about a very stiff ride and not to mention that when I jack up the frame those bags don't allow the frame to extend down enough to remove the wheel & tire, and while I am at it, I am going to cut out the top spring perches.

[lowrodderchev]

sure please do my trucks low only issue is when im going into driveways be nice to raise the rear to clear the bumper

[Kim57]

Nice work on the column drop.
Kim

[fabguy]

Originally Posted by Kim57

Nice work on the column drop.
Kim

thank you Kim

[dubie]

VERY nice work!!! I'm looking forward to seeing more from this build

[fabguy]

Originally Posted by lowrodderchev

sure please do my trucks low only issue is when im going into driveways be nice to raise the rear to clear the bumper

I found and extra 3 side brackets( axle mount type), you'll have to fabricate the 1 bracket & plate portion that the bag mounts too though. PM me an address and I will ship these out to you.

Originally Posted by dubie

VERY nice work!!! I'm looking forward to seeing more from this build

Thank You Dubie, and I will keep posting more info as I work on it.

[lowrodderchev]

[QUOTE=fabguy;5999607]I found and extra 3 side brackets( axle mount type), you'll have to fabricate the 1 bracket & plate portion that the bag mounts too though. PM me an address and I will ship these out to you.

thank you for looking but im going to doule check if it will work im running a step notch plus lowering blocks but will let you know thank you again

[fabguy]

Well, a while back I found out that the engine I had installed was siezed, I am putting a 327 in it today witth the help of a few friends. We should have the engine installed, and the the bed on the frame by the end of the day. With 3 other people we should be able to knock out alot and be closer to getting on the road soon.
so far I have plumbed the rear section of my my bags, fuel filter installed and plumbed, new sending unit in fuel tank, assembled my dash cluster and set into place. Hopefully this week I can get the driveshaft measured and off to the driveline shop, exhaust completely installed, and front fenders on. Still need to fix radiator support though and paint it. Hopefully I can get this beast home soon to do all the finish work from my garage, as it will make my wife happier to have me work on it at home.
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[fabguy]

Ok, so yesterday myself and a few friends were able to get the 327 switched out and installed. We color sanded and buffed the firewall, back of the cab, switched out the front bed panel, mocked up the bed to the frame, resealed the tranny, and a few more air line clamps installed also.
We are ready to align the bed and start bolting it down although I am having alignment issues with the bed and its been so long I can't remember where the bed cross sills mount too/where. If anyone has pics of the inside of there bed without the wood I would really appreciate it.
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[Rude Dude]

http://www.customclassictrucks.com/t.../photo_02.html

Originally Posted by fabguy

Ok, so yesterday myself and a few friends were able to get the 327 switched out and installed. We color sanded and buffed the firewall, back of the cab, switched out the front bed panel, mocked up the bed to the frame, resealed the tranny, and a few more air line clamps installed also.
We are ready to align the bed and start bolting it down although I am having alignment issues with the bed and its been so long I can't remember where the bed cross sills mount too/where. If anyone has pics of the inside of there bed without the wood I would really appreciate it.
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[fabguy]

Well, I have mocked up my bags and left them inflated for 24 hrs to check for leakage and the rears dropped 12 lbs. So I need find that leak if possible. The fronts only leaked 4 lbs so that is going be a little tricky to find.
I installed my intake and carb, temp and fan sending units. I mocked up my headers again so I can start my exhaust install and I painted my water pump. Today I will hopefully install my water pump and start bending up my exhaust. My new chrome alternator brackets finally arrived from summit.
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[fabguy]

I went to a friend who is a furniture maker and bought 12 planks that were cut at the sawmill of "red gumm eucalyptus". These 3/4" planks look beautiful with the wood grains and tones and only cost me $50.00.
Which means I saved about $339.00 so far on the bed wood. Not sure if I should go with the polished stainless steel strips, or get the plain strips and have them powder coated to match my beige 2 tone.
Took to a buddy who does cabinets and he is going to cut down to size and cut the small side grooves into them. Then it's up to me to finish them. I am excited as this means I am that much closer to getting this Pick up back on the road.
I also got my fat mat sound deadener, chrome water pump pulley, oil primer, pulley shim, and glass pack mufflers. Gonna be a busy weekend again. I also repaired my radiator support and fitted the radiator into the truck, also bent and welded up my exhaust pipes. Will post some pics soon of what is complete.

[fabguy]

As of tonight the engine is ready for oil and start up. The bed wood has been cut, grooved, sanded and 1st clear coat of "man o war" is applied. I have shimmed my master cylinder to align with the original brake pedal hole. Installed the new horn button, and started the layout for my battery box under the floor. After that is cut and done, I will start to install the sound deadener.
Have had to go back on the truck and double check all hardware as I found a couple loose bolts.
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[fabguy]

Well, gonna try to start her up today, wish me luck. Yesterday i primed the engine with oil, andwent through every bolt & nut on the front 1/2 of the truck. Received my compressor & tank yesterday so at some point I need to make some brackets to mount on frame next too the drivers step under the cab and also do one for my battery on opposite side. Again I promise I will post pics soon.

[Kim57]

Good luck.
Looking forward to pics.
Kim

[fabguy]

Ok, I promised pics and here are quite a few pics of what I have done so far.
In this pic I have mocked up my gauge cluster for a pic and too see how it blended with the rest of the dash. I still need to wet/ color sand the top of the dash and then buff and polish it before I have the windshield installed and install all of my dash components.





Here is a pic of how it looks with white walls from my suburban as I got tired of just having rollers on it. I took the pic before I let the air out of the rear bags. I am not quite sure how I feel about the whitewalls yet as to me it almost looks like it needs some nice aluminum wheels. what do you all think?

I also have the delux cab stainless steel kit to install after all the buffing and polishing is done. anyone have a pattern or where I should mount the holes for the clips?







here is a picture of the repair I did on my radiator support. I used a spare support I had acquired several years ago. Since the pic I have finished the repair job and painted it black so you cant see the flaws very well when it is installed.

[fabguy]

In these pics the engine was installed and then removed after start up due to a bad front seal below the timing chain cover that puked oil alot. I desided to install all new seals since the engine was rebuilt 8 yrs ago and I was worried it would leak after running for a bit. After start up we found out this engine is a 336 strocker? originally a 327 sbc. I bought it from my little brother years ago after he aquired it in a car purchase as part of the deal. He knew I needed an engine and helped me out by selling it at a cheap price to me. It has a pretty good size cam, dome pistons, alot of head work done and after start up it sounds wicked. He is trying to find the build sheet for the engine he got from the guy who had it built by Blairs in pasadena.




Today my wife is supposed to color fill the bow tie's on the valve covers with blue to match the plug wires.

[fabguy]

Here is the bed wood I got from a buddy who builds furniture, it is red gum eucalyptus he got that he cant use. It was cut by a local saw mill and cured before he got it. It took alot of boards to get what we got to use.
I took it to another buddy who builds cabinets and he helped me select, cut, and groove the sides out, he even lent me his belt sander and all to get them finished up.
What do you think? I love the grain look on these. My wife volunteered to finish them for me and she has since gotten 2 more coats on the backside. All that is left is the sanding of the 1st coat on the fronts and another few coats. I am excited as she offered to finish these for me so I can focus on finishing the truck. I am SO lucky










here is a test piece to practice on



I will post more pics when they are finished i am only into the bed wood for $137.68 so far and it includes the clear, mineral spirits, brushes, and sandpaper.

[broey]

that wood looks great, as does the rest of the build!!

[Russell Ashley]

The truck looks great. I like the color combo. Here's a pic of a door with the factory holes. I don't have any thing showing the holes in the cab but don't think the location of those would be too critical.

[Chevette]

Originally Posted by Russell Ashley

The truck looks great. I like the color combo. Here's a pic of a door with the factory holes. I don't have any thing showing the holes in the cab but don't think the location of those would be too critical.

Russell: My eyes popped out. Where did you get the pic of that door? I don't remember posting it and it's definitely my door in my storage room.

[fabguy]

Originally Posted by Russell Ashley

The truck looks great. I like the color combo. Here's a pic of a door with the factory holes. I don't have any thing showing the holes in the cab but don't think the location of those would be too critical.

Thank you VERY much Russel Ashley. Do you happen to know the diameter?

I'm Sorry to be such a pain
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[Kim57]

Every thing is looking real nice.
Kim