1957 Chevy truck re-rebuild

[Stepside Jim]

Thanks everybody for the compliments and this concrete virus is one that I will try to help grow vs finding an antidote for it.

I'm still slowly moving forward, there has been one situation that I have noticed has been slowly changing, the front end height. It seems the front springs were ok for a few months, then I noticed more of the top of the front tires slowly disappearing.

I've struggled for the last month or so deciding what to do, finally I kicked out all the ideas of using spring spacers and I found a Moog site that showed all the spring rates. I took a chance on another set that showed an extra 170 pound capability and ordered them.

I absolutly hate dealing with front springs, perhaps that's why it took me so long to get a new set. I put the new ones in on Thursday and as of today the front is holding well. Only time will tell if I chose the right set.



I know the idea for many is lower, lower, lower, I like the lower as long as it is like resting on the ground such as air bads, but as for static stance, I like the front fender opening just above the top of the tire. Then the rear tire slightly covered, yet the truck still having a slight forward rake to it.

If I left the weaker spring in the front I would have had to lower the rear because the rake was getting to extreme for my liking. Since I still have the over the axle spring set up, I'm about as low as I can go without major surgery.

Anyway, the pictures are of the truck on uneven gravel but wait, this means I got to actually drive the truck under it's own power, shifting, and braking. for some reason, the exhaust keeps getting switched to the open mode vs muffler mode, hmmmm, how can this be...?

Tonight I made a list of all the odds and ends yet to be buttoned up. Jim

[lowrodderchev]

Trucks looks great Jim love the 57 grill

[Kim57]

Looks great.
Kim

[bowt1ed]

Looks great Jim!

[tune_1]

Have you figured out what is causing the exhaust mode to switch? Acceleration, slowing down or totally random? Have you noticed the effect that it has on the driver. Does his face light up and a big grin appear when it happens?

Truck is looking great
Dwight

[Stepside Jim]

Originally Posted by tune_1

Have you figured out what is causing the exhaust mode to switch? Acceleration, slowing down or totally random? Have you noticed the effect that it has on the driver. Does his face light up and a big grin appear when it happens?

Truck is looking great
Dwight

The exhaust mode switching to open exhaust is totally a owner issue.
I tend to let it run for a while before I move it around, certainly I want to have it well warmed up before moving it.

Sometimes we have to step backwards in order to move forwards, in this case I had to remove the bed, disassemble and start priming and sanding the bed.


The process is pretty much the same as when I did the front, sand, clean, seal, then red for the pin stripes.


After taping off the red I sprayed silver, then taped it off for the black.


Along with the fenders the bed and steps and front panel are getting painted also.



I've started the cutting and buffing, then I just had to see how the chrome pieces look against the black.


I've got many hours to go til the buffing is done, but what a great finish when done.

It's been about 8 months since the front has been painted, the truck's in the shop, to see how the finish is holding up I took a quick picture. Still looking good.


Getting the bed done and back on the truck is going to be a huge step towards completion, I'm getting a little excited. Jim

[oldman3]

Jim, truck is looking good, nice job on the paint, etc.....Jim

[Kim57]

Looks great.
Kim

[RockinKees]

Still looking good???

Jim, this is a Masterpiece!!

[Stepside Jim]

Thanks all, with any luck I can get this bed assembled this week.

I can honestly say I'm loosing sleep I'm so excited. I've committed most every free hour of time over the last 3 years to this project.

I figure it is every hour for 3 years, or, not so many hours and stretch the completion time to 4 or 5 years.

Being extremely 1 track minded, long projects seem to be what I do.

Thanks again, Jim

[Stepside Jim]

More pics of progress.

Gotta thank Gary, another car enthusiast from town, who came out and made difficult situation much easier, installing the bed.

One question nobody has asked is how I'm going to run the two tone from the cab to the bed. The issue being the 3 or 4 inches drop from the cab line to the rear fender line.

Here's the end result.


Side view.


Doing a lot of measuring before dis-assembly I figured where I wanted the line to be from the cab to the bed.


After all the block sanding was done I sealed the parts, sprayed the areas where the red will be. After the red dried I painstakingly assembled the steps and the fenders to lay out the tape for the red pinstripes, then disassembled for the rest of the paint.

Once done I'm very happy how the stripes matched up when finished.


A huge move forward this weekend so far. I have many odds and ends to finish and install but hopefully I'm past the main nerve racking areas.

Next is get the tail lights working and get this truck to inspection, yup, fingers crossed. The title has issues with Dad passing away, I've checked with the license bureau, I hope I have all the proper paperwork. Jim

[The Haberdasher]

Absolutely Gorgeous...

[RockinKees]

Great solution how you did the linework from cab to bed, I like it!
And good luck with the title, that should be easy when they see the truck in person

[_Ogre]

wow... haven't checked your thread in a bit
IT LOOKS AWESOME

[Advanced Design]

Outstanding Jim! Color and lines flow perfectly.

[iowaboynca]

looking sharp!

[ChuckDriver]

Beautiful, great work!!

[Kim57]

Looks great.
Kim

[apache200]

Congrats. Looks killer

[oldman3]

Just a super looking ride...Jim

[Kodiaks53]

Awesome looking truck!!! Congratulations on a job well done!

[tune_1]

The truck is looking great.

Dwight

[63chevyll]

Looks great. Love what you did with the taillights

[RockinKees]

Masterpiece!!

[greystoke]

I love how you did the stripes, looks awesome. Great job Jim!!!