My 56 3100 3.5 year build lots of pictures.

[Bangkok Dean]

Now with the truck a right hand drive the original left side mirror was not visible and the talented metal guy made a new stand to match the other side perfectly.

[Bangkok Dean]

Now on to the inside of the truck. I had purchased billet arm rests and had a machine shop mill out holes in the backing plate to hold the power window switches.

[Bangkok Dean]

With all the window and door seals replaced with new rubber from LMC it was time for upholstery.
For the rear of the cab I covered the fuel tank to provide a storage compartment for the jack, tools and fire extinguisher. The sided pieces were to house the shoulder belt retractors and speakers.

[Bangkok Dean]

The kick panels were made of wood to house the speakers and tweeters.

[Bangkok Dean]

The head liner, visors and door panels.

[Bangkok Dean]

Now that the carpet was in I designed a mirror finished stainless steel laser cut plate and stainless steel strips for the steps.


The step plate was power coated black and the center painted body color.

[Bangkok Dean]

The wiring of two computers, one for the LPG injection and one for the petrol system along with the unit to control the shift lever and Dakota digital gauges too months. Plus not wanting to see any wires under the hood was very time consuming.

[Bangkok Dean]

For the exhaust I imported stainless steel headers and stainless steel 3 inch mufflers from Summit racing. Then had a local shop make up a 32 inch stainless steel exhaust threw to the rear with a bolt in H pipes. I had stainless steel flanges laser cut for all connections.

[Bangkok Dean]

The LPG converter was placed under the new battery box so you don’t even see it.

[Bangkok Dean]

The wheels became a problem trying to lower the front. It seems the 83 frame was wider than the 56 body so I needed to get the front wheels tucked in. So the solution was to take the 17inch American TT2 wheels off my corvette and put new 18 inch chrome wheels on the vette. The rears fit the truck just fine but the fronts needed some mods. So off the machine shop to turn out the centers and re-weld the centers closer to the outside edge to provide fender clearance, plus put a smaller profile performance tire on the fronds. While the wheels were off I had them polished.
17 inch wheels from the corvette.

The corvette with the new 18 inch wheels.

[Bangkok Dean]

Now after 3.5 years it is finished. Many thanks to Rangboon auto and especially Hong service for their fine work

[Kim57]

Was a shame the truck wasn't what it was supposed to be in the beginning.
It turned out great in the end though.
Kim

[_Ogre]

wow. nice build, nice truck

i'm always intrigued by these right hand drive conversion, looks like you had skilled craftsmen working on your truck
odd (to me) to see the ac and alt switched under the hood and trying to fit a vintage air into the opposite side
gas/lpg dual fuel is interesting, as is the whole project

[Nev68]

very nice!
What headers did you use?

Do you have a heater or only AC? I know there might not be much use for a heater in your part of the world.

[Bangkok Dean]

Originally Posted by Nev68

very nice!
What headers did you use?

Do you have a heater or only AC? I know there might not be much use for a heater in your part of the world.

The headers came from Summit racing along with most all parts for the engine,trans and cooling system.Body assories and seals came from LMC.

As for a heater over here it never goes below 70*F.

But A/C is a must.

[CharlieSheen]

Very impressive build.Dean,did you buy the truck unseen?This is why so many folks (like us) basically just want to start from scratch.So many vehicles out there just lipstick on pigs.I would imagines that the duty on the truck must have been a killer,would it have been much better to have just shipped over all the pieces in a container and start from there?Where are you from originally,Dean?

I had to smile a little bit seeing that there is a body shop in Thailand with a big vintage ESSO sign and what looks like some U.S. Navy artifacts inside.And filled with tired old Mercedes and Jags and your truck in the middle.Are most vehicles diesel there?

[_Ogre]

i'd hate to see bangkok's shipping bill
i squeal when a vendor wants $9.95 to ship a part

[Bangkok Dean]

Originally Posted by CharlieSheen

Very impressive build.Dean,did you buy the truck unseen?This is why so many folks (like us) basically just want to start from scratch.So many vehicles out there just lipstick on pigs.I would imagines that the duty on the truck must have been a killer,would it have been much better to have just shipped over all the pieces in a container and start from there?Where are you from originally,Dean?

I had to smile a little bit seeing that there is a body shop in Thailand with a big vintage ESSO sign and what looks like some U.S. Navy artifacts inside.And filled with tired old Mercedes and Jags and your truck in the middle.Are most vehicles diesel there?

Hi, I bought it from a dealer near San Jose off the net, In the pictures it looks good and when I received it I was very disappointed. In hind sight I should have flown over to the states myself and bought something else. I agree it would have been much cheaper to buy a truck as a basket case, that would have saved me $50,000. I have lived here for 29 years and had been into drag racing in the 60s and street rods for many years. Clubs I was in were The Eliminators of RI, SNTA, Yankee hot rod counsel, NHRA, South Florida street rods,ISCA, Cincy street rods, The Hard Time car club in the LA area,KKOA and the West Coast customs.

The body shop is owned by a friend and he does complete rebuilds of antique and classic cars from all over Asia and Europe.

Originally Posted by _Ogre

i'd hate to see Bangkok's shipping bill
i squeal when a vendor wants $9.95 to ship a part

You have that correct.......lol

[Hampshire]

Superb job - one would be hard pressed to find better craftsmanship.....

[Dan in Pasadena]

Nice truck. Sounds like cubic dollars had to be spent. I assume(?) the manhours in it are numerous but the labor is cheaper there than here? Just imagine if it had been done here! Of course it probably COULDN'T have been built the same way here. It always amazes me how guys with little or no tools but loads of know how can make literally anything. Incredible.

[Nev68]

Originally Posted by Bangkok Dean

The headers came from Summit racing along with most all parts for the engine,trans and cooling system.Body assories and seals came from LMC.

As for a heater over here it never goes below 70*F.

But A/C is a must.

Were the Summit headers Full length or shorty style?
I tried some block huggers with mine with Jag IFS but the header outlet dumps rights on top of the steering rack shaft. Looking for other options for RH drive.

[Bangkok Dean]

Originally Posted by Nev68

Were the Summit headers Full length or shorty style?
I tried some block huggers with mine with Jag IFS but the header outlet dumps rights on top of the steering rack shaft. Looking for other options for RH drive.

The polished stainless steel headers were full length with 3 inch collectors.I don't remember the part number as I bought them 2 years ago.

[CharlieSheen]

Dean,what was the idea behind the LPG?

Sounds like you have been around to a few places and seen a few things.

[Bangkok Dean]

Originally Posted by CharlieSheen

Dean,what was the idea behind the LPG?

Sounds like you have been around to a few places and seen a few things.

Over here gas is very costly and LPG is 1/3 the cost plus there are LPG stations all over. Lately I see many gas stations closing and being replaced with LPG or CNG stations, so many have converted including big trucks, Taxi's and buses.

[hopped up]

Sa wa dee kap! Wow that's a great transformation ! Inter string to see Classic Chevys in Thailand