My long term 57 project

[ChuckDriver]

I recently found this forum and have enjoyed reading about your projects. So I thought I would share mine. I bought my 57 Big Window Short Bed in Jan 1993 in Oklahoma City. I was completing pilot training for the Air Force and ran across an ad for it in the auto trader. I drove it back to SC pulling a Jeep CJ-7 with its long block in the bed!

Well, I got stationed in Panama South America for 3 years before getting to Charleston, SC. It sat another 3 years before I got the time to get started on it!

The first thing I did was remove the front sheet metal to get to the 428? Caddy motor and trans. My uncle gave me a Camaro clip and I hauled it down to Lawrenceville, Ga to have Mike Chesser weld it in. From the trucks I've seen clipped he does the best job of making it look like a factory install.

[ChuckDriver]

After getting it home I pulled the motor and trans from my Grandfathers 71 Impala. It was a good runing 350/300HP and 350 trans combo and my Mom gave it to me. My Dad and I made a trans crossmember after one I had seen in a Classis Trucks article. I think we went a little over board, but it sure is strong!

JJ

[ChuckDriver]

I completly rebuilt the front suspension with all new components, poly bushings and powdercoated the A-Frames and springs and spindles.

[ChuckDriver]

The engine was in and out a few times before I did a "Krylon" rebuild. I just planned to use it for fitment and to build around it, but I got carried away and fully dressed it out!

[GRIMSS]

Looks good. You also worked over the cab, any more pics of it.

[1956cameo]

That is a sweet looking truck you are building. That guy really DOES know how to put a camaro clip in and make it look almost factory. That is the best camaro clip job I have ever seen!
You and I must have bought our trucks from the same person. My 56 cameo also has a 429 caddy motor that was installed by one of the previous owners.

[JML55]

Welcome, very nice work.

[ChuckDriver]

Thanks JML55, your work is very impressive!!

JJ

[ChuckDriver]

GRMSS

I have done a lot of work on the cab, I'll put up more pics soon! Thanks, JJ

[OARNGESI]

That looks good but why did you do the front and rear of the frame different colors

[ChuckDriver]

OARNGESI, You've got a sharp eye! It is two different colors. I primed the entire frame using Rustolem that I brushed on, then I painted the rear half and re-installed the rear suspension. It was a few months before I got to the front and I didn't like to color on the rear, to light, so I went a shade darker on the front. I used duplicolor and Plastic Kote spray paint, because I plan to blow it all apart sandblast the frame and paint it one color with a quality epoxy paint or maybe powder coat!

JJ

[ChuckDriver]

Trying to upload more pic's, but they want re-size? Haven't had this problem before, is this an issue with the site?

[OrrieG]

I thought it automatically resized them when you use the "manage attachments" link. If not most editing programs have a resize feature with an "internet" option that sizes them for web pages.

[CAL 58 GMC]

Nice job!!

[nuke1]

Great job on the truck so far, too bad it had to sit for 3 years, imagine what would have been done, it looks like you have the same brackets and pulleys on your engine as i do, from Bills hot rod company, nice stuff.

[ChuckDriver]

Thanks nuke1!

Yes the three years it sat did slow down the process but i'ts been worth it. I really enjoy working on it when I get the time between work and family.

The pulley's actually came from Summit and the brackets are from Alan Grove. The brackets fit perfect!! I need to get going of the AC and I'll be ordering the brackets from him as well.

I've been trying to add more pic's but they want resize for me and I have no idea how to do it myself.

[bitbitn]

Good looking truck!!!!!!!

[ChuckDriver]

Originally Posted by bitbitn

Good looking truck!!!!!!!

Thanks!!

[GRIMSS]

Here is a good site to post pics to and it will let your resize them.

http://photobucket.com/




.

[hotrodsbyray]

The Brothers truck parts web site has a series of tech articles - in the article on replacing cab corners they left off the inner corners

[ChuckDriver]

Yep! That's the one I got the idea from. Here's the link:http://www.brotherstrucks.com/techar...20INSTALLATION

[renegade6]

Thanks. Exactly what I needed.

[ChuckDriver]

I wanted to get the gas tank out of the cab for safety reasons and to eliminate the smell . So I got a universal tank from Tanks and had it powder coated chrome. It comes with the straps, pickup-up tube, cap and a nice trim ring to fit into the bed wood. I did have to fab the upper pieces running across the top of the tank between to frame crossmembers. This gives the straps something to pull up against and insured that the bed cross sills would stiil work without any mods.


http://www.tanksinc.com/index.cfm

[nuke1]

If you have windows xp, go to microsoft and download image resizer, it works great, that is what i do

[discodadee]

You can also re-size using MS Paint, it will be in your start menu under "Accessories". Once you have the pic pulled up in there you can go to "Image" and then "Stretch/Skew" to re-size. You can also check it to see if it small enough by clicking on "Attributes" which is also in the "Image" heading.