My long term 57 project

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thanks JJ for the PM. I will definitely give him a call.

OK I've got to ask: What prompted you to send your seat all the way from South Carolina to Southern California? I've seen the results; the guy is really good....but 3000 miles good?

[ChuckDriver]

Dan, I was flying in and out of Burbank on a regular basis to hang out with Delmo at his shop and I saw several interiors that Sean had done. So I boxed up my seat a carried it with me, free shipping!!!

[Dan in Pasadena]

Ah, ok got it.

Hanging out with automotive celebrities, huh? It's very cool that you know him.

I know Delmo's shop is somewhere near me but I don't know where. I've seen some interior shots of it in HotRod and Classic Trucks - always wanted to go over and gawk at whatever he happened to be working on or has in there but I figured it wouldnt be appreciated so I never have. Maybe one day. Maybe after my truck is done, though it isn't being done in typical Delmo style.

[Az. Hank]

That seat is beautiful!! I have to ask, where did you get that speaker grille? Or is it a repop?

[ChuckDriver]

Got lucky, found it on eBay!

[jcramsey]

Looking good JJ... Gonna be a great driver with that new engine and trans combo!

[daveshilling]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Ah, ok got it.

Hanging out with automotive celebrities, huh? It's very cool that you know him.

I know Delmo's shop is somewhere near me but I don't know where. I've seen some interior shots of it in HotRod and Classic Trucks - always wanted to go over and gawk at whatever he happened to be working on or has in there but I figured it wouldnt be appreciated so I never have. Maybe one day. Maybe after my truck is done, though it isn't being done in typical Delmo style.

Well you missed your chance, sadly. He was over on E.Palm in Burbank, but he made the move out to Arizona a lil while back. I used to love stopping by his place when I was in L.A.! Old Crow Speedshop is still there though, which had much more character and much less space than the one he moved into a few doors down before the exodus.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thanks for the info, Dave. I knew he was around me somewhere local. I think I knew he was in the Old Crow Shop too from some article I read in the automotive press but I never knew he moved from it much less now having moved to AZ.

I suppose the lesser state taxes motivated him. Either that or the lack of LA traffic, lol.

[Hardly Davidson]

That is some beautiful workmanship!

[Dan in Pasadena]

JJ,
You're slacking! It's been over a month since you last posted about your truck. What's happening?

[ChuckDriver]

Thanks Dan for calling me out! I do owe you guys an update, just been a little busy with spring cleaning and waiting for a awesome shipment of more parts to arrive!

Nate at PorterBulit Fab offered me a killer deal on the latest version of his Dropmember suspension for the TF trucks that I couldn't pass up.

So now I have 2 complete suspension kits that I need to put together!

I plan to put the newest under my 57 and either sale the first one in parts or as a roller or possibly build another complete truck and sell it as a driver!!

It's a little crowded in my 2 car garage, but I think I will be able to pull it off.

Here are the latest pics for your viewing pleasure!!

[hotrod1]

Nice!

[oldman3]

Yes JJ, you have been holding out on us. Very nice looking stuff, you will have one hell of a chassis...Jim

[Dan in Pasadena]

Whew! NICEass parts.

If there were any way you could build a second truck to
sell as a driver and use the cash to offset the build of your keeper truck I'd go that way.

I'm going to LOVE my truck but I kinda wish I'd done all the mechanical & suspension work and just epoxy primed the body after rust repair. It would have saved me a ton of money.

[RockinKees]

Man!!!
Do you have an awesome garage!!!!
Very nice Parts everywhere!!!!

What is the difference between the two, besides one is the latest version?
Stronger, better??

[solidaxel]

If it were mine I would make it a roller with tabs for a SBC and a LS engine mounts and tab the crossmember to slide for either transmission with a 9" ford with axles and no center section. it will be gone in a blink !!

[Rods57]

Love it! Its art under a truck is what it is....

[Flysocal]

Originally Posted by Rods57

Love it! Its art under a truck is what it is....

Exactly right. It would be a shame to cover the frame with sheet metal! I would just assemble the chassis and leave it in the garage.

[hotrod1]

Is this just an add 2x6 tube and you are ready to go (yeah, I know it's not that easy)?

[ChuckDriver]

Thanks guys!

The biggest difference between the two frames is the second version has better clearance for headers and the rear notch is a bolt in. I am considering welding everything in solid once its all squared up.

I think making the first frame a roller and selling is the best option, but still might build a driver.

[RockinKees]

Thanks for the explanation JJ.
Never seen a PB frame up close in real life, don't think there is one overhere in the NL.
Maybe you should make a driver and just keep it too

[ptc]

This looks like a really nice setup you got there Chuck....

I guess this is a question more for Nate at PB --- but since he has gone to all the efforts of making every part to bolt onto just about 4-5 feet of stock frame rails from a 60 year old truck.... why not just make the whole thing new????

I guess the end user could buy new rail material too but why not just make it all a welder-up kit and sell the whole thing???

It would be cool to have that center section reinforced too so that there was no side rails and you could see all the mechanical stuff underneath from the sides....

Nice!!!

[ChuckDriver]

Yeah, I think one day Nate may have a full frame kit, but for now he's extremely busy with the current product line!

Just meet today with the guy who made my last set of rails, should have another set in 2 weeks! These will be 3/16 and slightly wider for the redesigned rear notch.

[Dan in Pasadena]

JJ,
What's your ultimate goal for the truck? Is it to lay frame? To be a "G Machine?" - Is that even an expression used anymore?

Also, will it be a full on show truck or be driven regularly?

Seems like a lot of changes have been made. From Chevy to GMC, from clipped stock frame to two different frame/suspension setups, from SBC to LS, from stepside to Cameo.

I'm certainly NOT the one who should mention this observation but isn't this redundancy costing you an arm and a leg?

[ChuckDriver]

Dan,

The goal is to make it ride, handle and stop better and it will be driven more for sure.

Not building a show truck, but want it to be as nice as I can make it.

Hope to make some money back selling the other frames and SBC or building a driver and selling it.

Thanks!