Project '54 5W Chevy HELP PLEASE!!

[Daniel U]

Originally Posted by Daniel U

OUCH! And I thought $30K was a good price budget for my truck. I better add up my reciepts before I go over!

$24.5K into my project with out paint, interior, or stereo installed. Still need speakers, amps, and the leather wrapped around the seat, door panels and headliner. Oh, and probably some carpet. I haven't bought my glass or P/W P/L either. I better start doing more O.T.$$$$ Maybe $35K is more reasonable? Can you buy a new regular cab 2WD Silverado for $35K?

[CAL 58 GMC]

Originally Posted by Daniel U

$24.5K into my project with out paint, interior, or stereo installed. Still need speakers, amps, and the leather wrapped around the seat, door panels and headliner. Oh, and probably some carpet. I haven't bought my glass or P/W P/L either. I better start doing more O.T.$$$$ Maybe $35K is more reasonable? Can you buy a new regular cab 2WD Silverado for $35K?

I know what you mean. I started out with a $20k budget, then $25k, then $30k and $35k, now who know were it's at! To answer you in reguards to a new Silverado question. You could buy a fully loaded Z-71 crewcab for $35k.

[dwcsr]

Budget?

[55ChevyPU]

My truck is only up to about 15k *Including the 5k my brother bought it for and all the useless crap he had for it as well*, pays when you have friends in high places and do all the work yourself! I figure 800$ for paint for the bed, $1000 for the 4-link $1000 for fat tires and rims and who knows how much for interior crap. Can I just leave the interior how it is now and get blacked out windows ?

[caino59]

Originally Posted by 55ChevyPU

My truck is only up to about 15k *Including the 5k my brother bought it for and all the useless crap he had for it as well*, pays when you have friends in high places and do all the work yourself! I figure 800$ for paint for the bed, $1000 for the 4-link $1000 for fat tires and rims and who knows how much for interior crap. Can I just leave the interior how it is now and get blacked out windows ?

i hear you on that one...i dont even want to know what it would cost to have a body shop do all the work that's gone into my truck...not that the guy is getting screwed on the deal - he's got a gmpp 502/502 (well, its the same thing as the 502, but built part by part since he needed lower comp. ratio to run an 8-71 blower on it...buut thats a whole 'nother story)

and then getting the sub-frame-donor car for 75 bucks - which donated the sub-frame, trans and rear end.

and it helps when you and your dad work at a GM dealer and can get stuff at reasonable prices (you know GM still makes the bedsides and tailgates for 55-8? stepsides)

I'm damn glad i know the people i know (and that my dad knows) or else my project would never be as involved as it is...

and paid only 2500 for the truck - which when we got it had a 74 vette motor in it and was pretty solid - only needed cab corners, 1 rocker, and the bottom of the driver's door needed some attention..

bah, sorry, im rambling, didnt mean to hijack the thread....but i've been stoked now that i'm finally settled into my new house and job so i can concetrate on getting this thing done!

[Daniel U]

I had originally planned on doing this '54 project myself. Unfortunately, the O.T. and the time spent in the garage didn't lend it self well to my family life. And having my family as priority over my '54, not to mention my 1st son being born, I decided to send the truck to someone I could trust. He's done beautiful restoration work on 5 different '47-'57 Chevy trucks. A real "stand up" guy that is a self proclaimed "metal artist". He has an eye for things Chevrolet should have done. Subtle things that make the trucks lines flow better. When she's(the '54) done I think you will understand what I mean. I've used to never be a fan of body mods, however, my tastes have changed some over the past 15 years. I had originally planned on restoring the truck as an original 3/4 ton long bed. Since then I decided looks, practicallity, drivability, and now (being a father)saftey are more important. So far the antenea(for looks), pass. side vent(for lack of purpose), fuel fill(for fuel cell relocation), cowl vent(for leaks), were shaved and an updated drivetrain/suspension/brakes were added. I had older doors installed to eliminate the wind wing and to have the older style crank handle (as oppossed to the push button '54 style.) I understand/respect that everyone has thier own talents, priorities, likes/dislikes, etc. That's what makes life interesting. That being said, my next project(after the wifes gets her bigger house) will be a 30's Chevy "Rat Rod" topless pick-up down low with the doors welded shut. It won't ever see a paint booth and most important, I want to do it all myself! It will be something to do with the kiddo.

[Daniel U]

BTW, the seat came in today from Glide engineering. I'll post up picks tommoro.

[Daniel U]

Here's a pic of the seat...It's a 50/50 split and the bottom lifts for access to the floor. I'm gonna have it wrapped in a tan leather and mimmic the design of the stock vinyl pattern. Same with the headliner & door panels. Any suggestions for carpet. Black is always easiest.

[Daniel U]

So here's a pic of what the back end of my bed will look like without the chrome rear bumper. I took this at a show I went to this last weekend here in Paso. I will be using the rear bumper, stock tailgate and taillights as well. Notice the finished bed ends! The roll pan will be used in conjuction with the chrome bumper (with the dip) to hide the new fuel cell from view. I'm not nuts about the way roll pan looks, but hate the idea of seeing the gas tank and can't decide where else to put the liscence plate anyways. I like subtle mods that you might miss. Stuff Chevrolet would have thought of if they were thinking about style and not farm equipment. Also the rear bumper brackets will be filled and powder coated.

[Daniel U]

Here's my bed now...

[Daniel U]

BTW, the steak holes in the top of the bed rail will be functional.

[pgf545]

Daniel, What did you use for a roll pan? Or did you build it yourself? I think it will look good with the bumper and can't wait to see the pictures. I am not that far yet on dad's truck but it never hurts to have ideas floating in your head.....I think????

Bernie

[Daniel U]

I used a company called Mar-K http://www.mar-k.com/ for the tailgate and rear bed piece seen in the pic.

[Daniel U]

I just ordered the power window set up for the older style door I'm running on my truck through a company called www.nu-relics.com
This will allow the look of the stock roll up handle but be P/W. The handle will pivot about 15 degrees up and down for control of the P/W. It's amazing how much $ I'm spending to look factory.

[55ChevyPU]

I think im going to steal your idea on finishing the bed rolls. I had been thinking about getting plugs but I think that looks much better.

Hope you dont mind

[84 400]

wow great start to what should be a great project!!!!!

[Daniel U]

All body modification credit goes to Paul Smeltzer from Paul's Mobile Art here in Paso. He's a great bodyman/fabricator! This mod is one he came up with when he did the white Chevy seen above. He also put a power rear window in it with the bowtie rear tail lights. Good work, just too radical for me. I do love the way the bed ends look finished though! Just like GM should've done. He also talked me into welding my cowl vent shut, but not shaving the lines. This way it looks functional, but doesn't leak. As I mentioned before, the antenea is gone and a power antenea will be hidden somewhere in/on/or behind the bed, the '54 doors were switched to the older '47-'50 to loose the wind wing, the chains for the tailgate are gone and fold up hinges will be welded into the tailgate like the factory did in the late 70's+, and some brackets will be welded to the bed and tailgate for latching them together. Other body mods include: shaved 3600 emblem(sense it's not a 3/4 ton anymore), shaved vent on pass. side cowl, and rear end treatment seen above.

[Daniel U]

Here's the cowl vent after welding...

[Daniel U]

I'm going to take some more pics tomorro. I'll post them when I get a chance.

[Daniel U]

More pics as promised....the 1st is of the removed antenea/pass. side vent. The rest show the filled bumper brackets and new hinges for the stock tailgate. Just like GM should've done.

[Daniel U]

We measured today and the new rear gas tank will not hang lower than the rear bumper! I can't wait to get them both in and see what it looks like. Brothers said my bumper got sent off today UPS ground. Maybe Mon. or Tues. I'll have more pics. Enjoy!

[PBFAB.COM]

That's a good idea on the filled bumper brackets... haven't seen that one done before!

[Daniel U]

I'll tell Paul you like his brackets. Gives them a finished look.

[Daniel U]

So here's the new running boards and the new rear bumper. The running boards are being ground down as the would have scraped the rear fender(This was the case from the factory as well). The roll pan is off in the 2nd shot, but when it's on, it ends behind the bumper. This shot gives you an idea of what it would have looked like from the factory. I think the roll pan will accent the rear well and give it the "finished" look. It also covers the gap between the bumper and bed where you would be able to see the new fuel tank. I'm very happy with the fit and finish of the Brother's chrome rear bumper. They kept their word and replaced the 1st on they sent. Apparently they were having trouble with their distributor. This one looks great!

[Daniel U]

Well no new picks for you, but a small update. I recently found out that the shortbed Chevy truck frame/chassis that I bought for $750 from my autobdy/fab guy Paul, was clipped with an AMC Pacer front end. The short bed Chevy chassis was left in his yard for 2 years and so he needed it gone. Needless to say when he sold it to me he had no idea he would have to deal with it again. When he sold me it, he told me he wasn't sure what front end it was, but that it would house a 350/350 combo. When we found out it was a Pacer, we weren't happy. Being a good buisness man and going far beyond his requirements, he agreed to remove the current front clip for free. Then sell me a TCI front end at his cost, minus the $750 I paid him for the 1st chassis. Then weld up the new front end for free. So that's a no brainer. I'll keep you posted on the progress with pics. I also got my PW actuator that will function with the stock window cranks.