55.2-59 57 Fleetside C4 build

[6DoF]

holy crap, that came out amazing ... can i ask what that all cost? see if i want to add it to my eventual to-do list or not lol.

[57FleetsideC4]

It ended up costing $2700 to media blast then aluminum oxide on the rougher areas, D.A. everything and a couple of coats of epoxy primer. Still a LOT of bodywork to do. It seemed a bit high to do it but I trust them, they get it done and the number one thing is I did not have to do it. Now that I am older I will trade cash for the work I don't like doing. Steve

Originally Posted by 6DoF

holy crap, that came out amazing ... can i ask what that all cost? see if i want to add it to my eventual to-do list or not lol.

[Jason 56]

Wow, it’s looking great. Appears to be in good condition after blasting.

[57FleetsideC4]

Originally Posted by Jason 56

Wow, it’s looking great. Appears to be in good condition after blasting.

Thanks.. It does look better all one color but still a lot of body work to do. Still trying to decide how to transition the rear of the cab step to the outer cab corner since the reproduction pieces aren't perfect. 2 of the body lines line up but the last one not so much. Steve

[57FleetsideC4]

Hi, Hope everyone had a great summer. I have been reading all the posts and like all the progress on these trucks. Now that car shows, cruise nights and outdoor activities are pretty much over in western N.Y. it's time to get back on my truck project. I have been putting a couple hours here and there since I had everything epoxied. The cab is ready for more primer so that is next. Here are some picks of the cab. Steve

[57FleetsideC4]

Hi All, Hope everyone had a great Christmas and a Happy New Year!! I have made some progress on the 57 project. I got the first coats of 2K primer on the cab, patched the bottoms of the doors, straightened out the gate and primed. Here are some pics.

[57FleetsideC4]

More pics

[57FleetsideC4]

More Pics. Steve

[Kevin_C]

Great job, its really coming together

[Jason 56]

How did your seam on the door skin come out? I couldn’t keep mine from collapsing in due to the heat of welding. Everything looks like it’s coming together very nice. Awesome progress!

[57FleetsideC4]

Originally Posted by Jason 56

How did your seam on the door skin come out? I couldn’t keep mine from collapsing in due to the heat of welding. Everything looks like it’s coming together very nice. Awesome progress!

Thanks. It stayed pretty flat for the most part. My mig welding isn't the best but it looks ok. Steve

[57FleetsideC4]

Originally Posted by Kevin_C

Great job, its really coming together

Thank You. Steve

[57FleetsideC4]

More progress on the 57 project. It's been really cold so progress is slow right now. I got the left bedside ready for primer. I had welded up the extra holes, cracks in the panel and roughed out the metal work before getting it blasted and primed. I finished straightening the panel out and now ready to prime on a warmer day. These truck were really slapped together at the factory as to make these panels perfect you would have to cut them apart and reassemble them which I am not doing. Her are pics of the panel and starting on the right side now. Steve

[Jason 56]

Originally Posted by 57FleetsideC4

These truck were really slapped together at the factory as to make these panels perfect you would have to cut them apart and reassemble them which I am not doing.

I would agree! They were definitely more function than fit in the fifty’s

[dsraven]

when I weld flat panels, like the door skins, I tack it and hammer on dolly a few times when the weld is still red, that expands the weld so when it cools and shrinks it is the right size again. let it cool before proceeding, like as cool as the rest of the part is at room temp. that will help keep things from warping hopefully. mig welding can end up being a little more brittle than a tig or gas weld so doing too much hammer and dolly work when it cools off can end up with small cracks. the doors look like they turnd out nice so you must have it figured out.they sell a mig wire that is supposed to be softer but I have not used it so I can't comment on that. also, be careful when grinding the weld down as a flap disc, like lots of us use, can also remove metal from the surrounding area and make that whole area thinner. some recommend using the grinding disc to knock the toos off the weld only. I have done both but prefer the flap disc and ensuring to not get carried away and also not allowing the warea to get too hot .

[dsraven]

sorry, a few typos in there. fat fingers.

[57FleetsideC4]

Originally Posted by dsraven

when I weld flat panels, like the door skins, I tack it and hammer on dolly a few times when the weld is still red, that expands the weld so when it cools and shrinks it is the right size again. let it cool before proceeding, like as cool as the rest of the part is at room temp. that will help keep things from warping hopefully. mig welding can end up being a little more brittle than a tig or gas weld so doing too much hammer and dolly work when it cools off can end up with small cracks. the doors look like they turnd out nice so you must have it figured out.they sell a mig wire that is supposed to be softer but I have not used it so I can't comment on that. also, be careful when grinding the weld down as a flap disc, like lots of us use, can also remove metal from the surrounding area and make that whole area thinner. some recommend using the grinding disc to knock the toos off the weld only. I have done both but prefer the flap disc and ensuring to not get carried away and also not allowing the warea to get too hot .

Thanks for the advise and comments. It is coming out decent and will be a nice truck when finished. Still a long ways off and may turn into a 3 year instead of a 2 year project like initially planned.

I also found the video from the dyno run on my engine. It is a 6.0 ls. what is everyone's opinion on this dyno. It is a chassis dyno sort of just don't know how true the numbers are. Here is a link to it on youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4m-ljgT-co . Steve

[6DoF]

i am super jealous of the body rotisserie, that looks amazing. solid work too

[Jason 56]

I would agree with the video. The numbers may not be 100% accurate, but remember the dyno is to help tune. It tells you when you’ve reached the optimum fuel ratio make the most hp. If you put an engine on 3 different dynos you’ll likely get different numbers, but should all be in a similar ballpark. 400 hp on a tuned 6.0 with a cam and proper airflow it definitely obtainable.

[57FleetsideC4]

Originally Posted by 6DoF

i am super jealous of the body rotisserie, that looks amazing. solid work too

Thanks you. The rotisserie makes it a lot easier to work on. I have done a half dozen 67-73 Oldsmobile 442's on it. With the truck I only needed one 10' section of the 20' I normally use for a car. It makes moving it around a lot easier. Steve

[57FleetsideC4]

Originally Posted by Jason 56

I would agree with the video. The numbers may not be 100% accurate, but remember the dyno is to help tune. It tells you when you’ve reached the optimum fuel ratio make the most hp. If you put an engine on 3 different dynos you’ll likely get different numbers, but should all be in a similar ballpark. 400 hp on a tuned 6.0 with a cam and proper airflow it definitely obtainable.

I think it will move this truck pretty good and get decent fuel mileage as I plan on driving it a lot when done. I did ask about accuracy and they said they compared it with another dyno in there area and it was close and as you say these ls motors can make some power with the right components. Also for the price it was worth it. For the engine, rebuilt 4L80E, ECM programmed for my truck and stand alone harness tagged and instruction on hookup for $4500 delivered I don't know how you could go wrong. Steve

[Jason 56]

$4500 complete engine and transmission… just plug it in! Killer deal.

[OKGMC4]

Do you know the cam specs? My 6.0 running flat tops and a 224r TSP cam on 112 lsa got 360 rwhp but I could only get 11mpg. I think the 112 lsa and the 3200 stall converter killed the mileage. My 5.3 got 18mpg in town with stock stall and stock LS1 cam. Small part of the reason I’m going back to the 5.3, adding a turbo, and switching to a 4l80. Hoping to get the power AND the mileage. Also, loved the cam lope but didn’t like the truck shaking at every stoplight.

[dsraven]

kinda too bad you have that rotisserie, you are missing out on the true experience. you know, eye flushing the sand out of your eyes, laying on your back working overhead till your hands fall alseep from no blood flow, dropping stuff in your face.........jealous......
nice job, keep the pics and progress reports coming.

[57FleetsideC4]

Originally Posted by Jason 56

$4500 complete engine and transmission… just plug it in! Killer deal.

I thought so too. They have a scrap yard and do this also. Steve