My '57 Truck Build "Rosa"

[57picupnewbie]

I went by the high school today and my buddy (the auto shop teacher) had pulled his C10/57 frame out. It is just about done. Here are picures of it that the kids helped him do. They are working on mine now.

[57picupnewbie]

Here is my frame being stripped down. I already have the ploy bushings, drop shackle, drop hangers here. Waiting on new calipers, 12" x-drilled rotors, bearings, tie rod ends, pitman arm, drop spindles and uper and loer ball joints.

[57picupnewbie]

I was lucky enough to have a side tire mount with this truck. However, it had some bad rust areas. I wanted to try and salvage it but it was over my head. Again, my friend at the high school (thanks Todd) has come to the rescue. Here is the pictures of the progress of the fender.

[Kim57]

Your buddy's frame looks good.
It's cool to have help with the hard stuff.
Kim

[72BLUZ]

well bro in law, everything is taking shape very nicely!!!!!!!!!!! i am looking forward to coming to south ga and seeing it all first hand.

[57picupnewbie]

Update on Frame: Here are pictures of new drop shackles and hangers mocked up before paint. Poly bushings have been installed. Also in process of installing the EZ-Chassis Swap Conversion Kit for the C10 donor frame. You can see the cab mount brackets. Leaf and coil springs will be red. Also, front has been totally disassembled (see pic). Each piece will be blasted, painted, new poly bushing and put all back together.

[57picupnewbie]

I found out last night during some research that the rear fenders for the step side is the same for years 55-66.

[ChuckDriver]

Nice progress! Keep at it and you'll be riding in style in no time!

[57picupnewbie]

Thanks Kim. I can't wait to get mine back. My back is feeling better so I hope to get back on the body work. I have to catch up with your build.

[renegade6]

Nice work!

[57picupnewbie]

Update: Frame was primed yesterday. Final paint goes on today. Caliper paint will be in today. Front end rebuild kit, which includes drops spindles, rotors and calipers, shipped today from NO LIMIT. I thrills me to see our youngsters this excited and involved with a project. They are really having fun with it.

[bensimmons_05]

Looking great! I can't wait to see some more of this one.

[OrrieG]

Speaking as someone who has been battling a sinus and lung problem for over 14 months you need to get some good masks when sanding and painting. I've had parents and grandparents die of emphysema and it is not pretty. Modern paints are basically airborne plastic and when breathed in the wet state coat the inside of your lungs which then quit working. It is not reversible. I hope the photo were just stage shots and not standard OP. My doc has told me that a lot of my problem is from long term exposure when I did not know better in the 60's and 70's.

[Russell Ashley]

Dru, looking good.

I could use some help with mine, do those kids make house calls, LOL?

[57picupnewbie]

The C10 front A-Arm Crossmember is a hugh monster. It is hollow inside and we found that it traps dirt, mud and grime. Todd, (my buddy that is instructor at high school, cut a hole in the bottom of his so in the future he could wash it out and keep it clean if need be. He asked me if I wanted to do the same and I said yes, however, we put our heads together and this is what we came up with. The surprise is after it is painted...you guys have to what on that...

[57picupnewbie]

Here is the black going on the frame. I went by today and they were spraying the final coat. I loved the shine. I will take picture of finished paint tomorrow. Hope I am not boring you guys with pictures.

[VA72C10]

looks good! (crossmember and frame) Not boring me at all

[57picupnewbie]

ChuckDriver: Thanks, I hope to finish by next March. The 2nd Annual SrA Michael Buras Memorial 5K Run Walk will be held here again and I would love to unveil old "Rosa" here and drive Michael's mom & dad up in it. I have several fund raiser's I am working on.

Renegade6: Thanks, we love what we do.

bensimmons_05: Thanks. One thing I have learned is we all love to share pictures on here...lol

OrrieG: You are right. I take allergy shots weekly. I feel your pain. No, the shots were not staged. I did mention it to Todd. He teaches safety and he enforces it but sometimes these kids just will not listen. Today, I walked in when the one kid was spraying my frame. No, respirator, no saftey glass...nothing. I mentioned it to Todd, who was working on another vehicle and he got right on it.

Russell: These kids have been a life saver since I have been getting my injections in my back. It has allowed me not to get behind. Would have loved to have said I did it all myself, but hey, never turn down help. Not sure if they make house calls...lol

[Kim57]

The frame looks great.
Pics are never boring.
Kim

[kaycee]

Nice thread you got going here,my ? is the wheel track the same as the stock frame? I have access to a 86 suburban frame and would rather do a frame swap as to cut my good stock frame.But I thought if you did this you would have to run a different wheel offset.Keep up the good work and the pics

[57picupnewbie]

kaycee, the wheelbase is real close. I believe it was within 1/2". I will have to get you some numbers and I will let you know.

[57picupnewbie]

Update: Started getting parts in so we began the reassembly. Here are a few pics.

[57picupnewbie]

Continuing to put this baby back together. Man we are having fun now.

[57picupnewbie]

Time for the A-Arms, Coils Springs, and Rotors. Also new Diff Cover and new shock on the four corners.

[Kim57]

Looking good.
Kim