Ben Jammin's 1955 Chevy/GMC Project

[bensimmons_05]

I know this does not have anything to do with the '55 but I wanted to show some of you guys the paint jobs I have done in the past. The most recent is my dad's truck. And when I say " I painted" That means I preped, layed out the flames by hand, and sprayed.

[bensimmons_05]

I am not actually planning on doing any flames on the '55 but I have considered it

[pgf545]

Ok Ben you have been holding out on us. I thought you were some poor college kid that was just trying to cobble a truck together but you have some skills and a way to get what you want!!!! Keep up the good work and you will have that thing running in no time.

Bernie

[orgalmeister]

Ben, you got some serious talent hidden in you. Keep up the good work.

As to the truck rear end. Check the width, hub to hub, and the wheel set up you hope to use. I started with a later model truck rear and it was just over 63" I think and would not fit under the fenders. Stock width is like 61" and it gets tight with 8" rims with a 4" back space and 235/70's.

Steve

[bensimmons_05]

Thanks for that info steve. I originally wanted a rear end out of a 90's model pickup and then the width issue was brought to my attention. I know te 70's model rear end is more narrow, but I don't know how much. I will definitely break out the tape measure.

And thanks Bernie. The only money I ever made off of painting though was that motorcycle... I got the shaft on it too (I was workin for a guy) I'm too busy trying to get a career started working through the college as an engineer to do it for others.

[Kabwe]

Nice project, and very nice paint work man. Good luck

[Igotachevyor2]

great looking start

nice flames too

[bensimmons_05]

I have the opportunity to get this hunk of metal for 100 smackeroos delivered. I can use a couple things off of it but the major benifit would be that I could have a rolling chassis of a 58-59 model truck to sell (with an extra front clip)... or maybe even build later, after I put my old axles on it and what not.... What do you guys think I should do????

[pugs]

hell im moving down your way you seem to find lots of old projects sitting in the woods. id snag it up parts is parts man.

[northern 85]

Scoop it up!

[bensimmons_05]

Originally Posted by pugs

hell im moving down your way you seem to find lots of old projects sitting in the woods. id snag it up parts is parts man.

hahaha, well my search methods are dangerous in more than a couple ways
The most dangerous being:

1. I look on the side of the road as I'm driving, especially down country roads.

2. I knock on random peoples doors.

3. I once found 2 '47-'53 pickups in very restorable condition down a driveway I didnt really know was a driveway, needless to say when I enquired about them "No Trespassing" signs went up the next day. I didn't go back up there to see if he had an anwer for me.

4. I have to use a chainsaw to get vehicles out.

5. The half of the truck I bought required taking a cadillac of the top of 2 other cars and balancing it on a pole (literally) to reposition the forklift... crazy.

Anyway to tell you the truth the trucks I have or might get are the only ones I have seen around here at all In the exception of this truck... which I could not talk the guy out of... I think he said it has a pontiac 455 in it.

[Funeral]

Money is hard, I saved up to buy my truck and sold my 4 wheeler for everything else its all about priorities, for example, part I need or cable bill... I wouldn't be here for awhile. But me and new parts... dont exactly click I would rather have the old on there 85% of the time. Keep up the good work man.

[joeys66pickup]

BUY IT!!!!.......... then let me buy the Cab mounts from you

[bensimmons_05]

Well I picked up some good info today.
PUGS provided me with a measurement from just inside the rear fender to the opposite side fender to be 74"

I measured my rear end with the 8" wide truck steel rims and the total with tires was 72" - 72.5" So this looks like there will be no problem with the rear end.

If I have to I'll make sure the seal from the bedsides to the fenders are extra thick!

I also found a thread by some guy that swapped his rear with an '84 4X4 rear end.

Click here for thread

Of course I have already stripped my mounts and will be using the right size

[bensimmons_05]

I feel guilty because its so close to christmas but we get a little more than extra off at the zone for christmas... and the price on this went down already so I scooped it up. All I can say is that with th billet adapter and the steering wheel I didnt even reach a 3 digit price. It was close though...

[Kim57]

Nice wheel.
Kim

[bensimmons_05]

Well I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!!!! Remember the reason for the season.

Well Santa clause was good to me, and so was my girlfriend's Grandad.

Santa brought me a pair of rocker panels and Amy's Grandad got me a power steering gear out of an '83 chevy truck (for use with CPP's kit)



The spirit of giving got to me and I ended up giving the steering wheel to my dad. He just got the interior redone for the truck that was painted recently (above) and the steering wheel was the finishing touch!!! Look at the excitement on his face!!!

[bensimmons_05]

Well I called a guy to tow the camaro over to my dad's shop so I can pull the engine, transmission, wiring harness, and all that other good stuff out. He came over and proceeded to sink his truck in my yard. He called another of his tow truck buddies and they pulled him out, so 2 or so hours with a tow truck at the house and the camaro never budged.

Over the next couple weeks I could never get him back over, and he FINALLY came and got it the other day.



So the camaro is being gutted at the moment.

So far I have disconnected the engine harness and removed the radiator and other little stuff.

[bensimmons_05]

As I mentioned I got a power steering gear from my girl's grandad.



I also got the conversion kit in from CPP.

[bensimmons_05]

I had to redo the remote start system on my trans am today so I didnt get anything done on the truck. Not to mention is was COOOOLLLD outside.

I almost feel bad for not working on the truck with it in the 20's.... I see you other guys sandblasting in the snow and what not. I just despise cold weather I guess.

I want you guys to know I have to do a project for a class I am taking and what I am going to do is make a fan shroud for the radiator of the '55 out of fiberglass.
It will be made for 2 -10" electric fans. Ill post the process on here so youll see more later.

Other than that stuff the parts just keep piling up....

[JML55]

What is in the Camaro for motor?

[bensimmons_05]

The motor is a TBI 305..... I know its no 350 but I dont mind. I got a really good deal on the whole car. Ill be using the computer and everything with the motor and keeping the throttle body. Ill probably upgrade the ignition system stuff and other small things for a little bit of performance. Maybe a chip and a light cam. We'll have to see.

[bensimmons_05]

I got the engine and transmission out the other day and put them both on stands.





I ordered the throttle body kit the other day and Ill probably clean it up and rebuild it today. The weather has been awesome so I hope to get much more done!

[nuke1]

That is great ben, glad you are making progress, and size of the motor does not matter, it is the way you can drive it, hehe

[bensimmons_05]

Well the throttle body is back together. I ended up breaking the idle air control valve off in it!! luckily I could thread it out by hand, and I got a new one.