Project 58 blast from my past

[Madd Doc]

Thanks Ogre, bed has some dents and dings and a little rust but all and all in good shape, the pic is kind of small, started using a different server for photos, still working at it. I may try and re size it a little larger.

[Madd Doc]

Finally getting some work done on the truck, cut the frame, shortened and test fit the short, fleet side bed. It went good and the bolts even line up. Now I need to tackle that drive line and brakes.

[Kim57]

That looks like a truck now.
Kim

[Madd Doc]

Thanks Kim and your right it does finally look like a truck again and its still just for mock up. What do ya think about a short bed with 3/4 ton axles? Maybe 1/2 ton springs and 8 lug axles? They do make some nice 8 lug wheels now days, also that rear end will handle more power. ummmm just a thought.

[Rednek13x]

seeing you fixing the rust above the windshield gives me confidence that i can do that too on mine.

[Madd Doc]

It wasn't to bad of a job I just went slow and made sure every section fit just right before welding it in.

[Madd Doc]

Got some more work done today, since I shortened the wheel base I needed to shorten the drive shaft, so I just went for it. Cut the weld holding the end on and knocked it off with a hammer. (I did make an index mark before removal), using a hose clamp I marked off the 9" I was removing and cut it with the sawzall. Re insert the end and make sure the index mark was lined up, weld it up and dress it with a sanding disc. came out nice now I have to clean up the rest of it and paint it.

[Rude Dude]

Good job after you get welded don't forget to it balanced at a driveline shop, I would run it first if you don't get a vibration over 75 then it won't need it.

Originally Posted by Madd Doc

Got some more work done today, since I shortened the wheel base I needed to shorten the drive shaft, so I just went for it. Cut the weld holding the end on and knocked it off with a hammer. (I did make an index mark before removal), using a hose clamp I marked off the 9" I was removing and cut it with the sawzall. Re insert the end and make sure the index mark was lined up, weld it up and dress it with a sanding disc. came out nice now I have to clean up the rest of it and paint it.

[Madd Doc]

Thanks, that was my plan, I made sure it was aligned and welded in straight so if I do get a vibration I will have it balanced, as a side note there was some heavy cardboard tubes inside the drive line when I opened it so when I put it back in I wrote my name and the date on it, a sort of time capsule if any one ever cuts it open again. who knows maybe in a hundred years or so.

[OrrieG]

I tried modifying a drive line once. It failed and after it beat the beans out of the bottom of my 57 210 I have figured the money spent at the driveline shop good insurance for peace of mind. Saw one break at the front and pogo stick a car onto its side at the drags once too, pretty entertaining.

[Madd Doc]

OrrieG this is my first attempt but I am a pretty decent welder and it was the rear end of the shaft so hopefully no pogo'ing, think I will put a loop on the front just in case. I always wanted to try a drive line shortening and figured this was as good a time as any.

Did get some more work done today, shortened and re attached the brake line, next is the E-brake cables. progress is progress.

[Madd Doc]

Does any one know if 1/2 ton disc brake spindles will fit on my stock 3/4 ton front axle? I have a 1/2 ton rear already and wanted to just remove some springs on the front axle and swap a 1/2 ton disc brake conversion on the stock spindles.

[Madd Doc]

Got to spend some quality time with the truck and the sand blaster yesterday, back half of the frame is nice and clean, primed and almost ready for some paint.

[Madd Doc]

Making progress, got the frame painted, windshield temporarily mounted, bed on, brake lights working, all just so I can drive it down to get weight. Darn California and there rules. Any one out there have a stock 1/2 ton front axle assembly they are willing to part with?

[Kim57]

I had to weigh mine also. It wasn't running so I had to push it on and off a trailer at the weigh center.
Kim

[hp1957]

Madd Doc, Removing my 58 GMC 1/2 ton front stock suspension. Send pm with your ph. #

Harvey

1957 Chevy Stepside
1958 GMC Fleetside C-4 build tread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...65#post5510465

[Madd Doc]

PM sent, thanks

[Maximus]

Yup - I got a weight certificate from a local salvage yard - most gravel yards and recycle/dumps have scales and have DMV Certificates - my truck weighed in at like 3060lbs (no bed wood, seat and other goodies) helped on my yearly tags due to low weight lol!

[Madd Doc]

DVM is such a pain, spent 45 minutes down there today, only 2 people working and seems like every 15 minutes one of them goes on break for 15 minutes. After all the waiting I was at the counter a total of 30 seconds, just long enough to get a permit to move so I can get the truck to the weight station.

[Madd Doc]

Nothing like new "looking" parts, 1/2 ton springs cleaned and painted and the brackets fresh from the powder coating oven, now to get them installed.

[OrrieG]

Originally Posted by Maximus

my truck weighed in at like 3060lbs (no bed wood, seat and other goodies)!

Mine weighs about 4450 with two people and half a tank of gas according to the garbage dump scales. The most I ever rolled across the scale was a total just over 6000 mostly concrete and sod from a house project. Had the air shocks compressed and springs near flat. License fees here for 1/2 and 3/4 ton are based on age not weight.

[Chevette]

Madd Doc: I don't know if you're aware of this but several of us are over the age of 50. I was wondering if you could post larger pictures so us older fellows can actually see what you're truck looks like without holding a magnifying glass up to the screen. Did you powder coat the parts yourself? If so, what make and model of machine did you use? Good luck with your build, it's lookin' good.

[Madd Doc]

I know the feeling, I'm 51 myself. I started using photobucket and am still trying to figure out what size I should be using, sometimes they seem way to big and other times to small, If the last photo of the springs are a good size I may try to go back and re-size the others. As far the powder coating, yes I do my own, I have a caswell gun and industrial oven. Sure is nice to just coat then install parts and the finish is so much more durable than paint and no drying time.

[Madd Doc]

Apparently I can't do anything about the small pictures on previous posts so if any one wants a better look at a bigger pic just let me know which one and I will re-post it in a larger format.

The powder coated parts came out great, I have the ability to do fairly large items, my big oven is 25'" X 18" x 76". My gun is a caswill variable output, up to 50K volts so re-coating is no problem. I do a lot of stuff for friends and since I work out of my garage there is no overhead, I usually end up just doing some sort of trade, my father in-law is restoring a 65 jeep and he frequently sends me flat rate boxes full of parts and I coat them and send them back, even with the shipping he says it a lot cheaper than taking them to a shop. Some times those boxes must weigh 50 pounds, Its a lot of fun taking an old grungy looking part and making it look better than new.

[OrrieG]

Or you guys could use the button in the lower right hand corner and increase the font and picture size. I had to upgrade to 125% this year!