Project 58 blast from my past

[Madd Doc]

Is it a good thing when the parts truck you pick up is in better shape than your project? oh man now what do I do? Grabbed this 58 long bed, V8 for a song.

[Kim57]

That's a nice looking truck.
Kim

[Madd Doc]

Thanks Kim, I picked it up for next to nothing as the PO didn't want to deal with the rust around the back window, It came factory with a v8 and sm420 4 speed trans. He told me the trans makes noise but when I brought it home it sounded like it was about to come apart, didn't just whine it howled on acceleration and deceleration. as luck would have it I had another one on hand so i swapped it out, same noise! I started looking at the rear end, when I dropped the drive line I found the pinion nut was finger tight so I torqued it down and added some 140 wt lube, better but still to noisy. I pulled the cover and everything looks a little loose inside plus the ring and pinion is a little low for me, I counted 20 teeth on the pinion and 39 on the ring. anyhow I have a rear from a 76 chevy truck, its only 3 inches overall wider than stock, should be better than the stock one, I will try to take some pics of the swap. I want to get this one drivable then attack that rust around the window.

[Katrina/10]

Hey that's a nice looking truck, how about some more pics? Even the rusty parts!

[mknittle]

that's called project shift

[Madd Doc]

I like that....project shift... Got a start on swapping out that rear end with a Chevy 12 bolt.
Here it is with the old spring perches cut off and the new ones in there approximate locations, Plan to mount it in and tack the perches, pull it back out to final weld and then paint it up.

Interior



These are that rusty rear window area:

[Madd Doc]

Update, got the rear end into the green truck, then started think about having two project trucks. Mentioned to the wife that I would probably sell one and work on the other but she never stops surprising me even after 34 years, she said I should keep both, drive one and do a really nice job on the other! Ok since I only have room for one in the garage that sound good to me. So I will split the projects and the build threads, this one stays "Project 58 blast from my past" and the green truck will go under the thread "Project 58 daily driver",

[Madd Doc]

While life keeps throwing obstacles at me I have managed to get some work done on this truck, most of it not photo worthy but progress was made on cutting a long bed step side down to short bed. Lots of rust removal and a trial assembly to see how things are fitting, so far so good, everything lines up and matches the bolt holes.

Went to the local machine shop to get a patch panel bent up, he was pretty busy and just told me you know were everything is go and and get what you need, a few minutes laying out, trip to the sheer and brake and all done and tacked in place

[Kim57]

Pretty cool he let you do that.
Had something similar happen when I needed a couple holes drilled that I didn't have a large enough bit for. The owner of the shop set me up and let me use his tools and didn't charge me.
Kim

[Madd Doc]

I have know this guy for years and always liked his shop, every tool you can think of for metal fabrication, and there are 2 land speed cars in there. I was honored that he trust me enough to use his tools especially ones that can remove a finger or two with one slip up.

[Madd Doc]

Been a while since posting last but in the mean time I sold my house in the peoples republic of california and moved to Arizona, trucks and all. Now I just need to get all my tools set up..........

[Madd Doc]

Been a While but I finally got things in order here in Arizona, Built my shop




and picked up a big window cab, Let the fun begin again

[Madd Doc]

Ok things are progressing finally, Got the frame blasted and painted, front suspension rebuilt, painted or powder coated, assembled with new super slider springs and disc brakes, it's sitting on the front wheels again. Whew mile stone achieved

[Kim57]

Looks real nice.
Kim

[Madd Doc]

Doing the Big money jobs slow but sure. Got my custom width 9 inch done and installed


Now on to the Big Block 454, just got it back from the machine shop, bored 30 over and ready for assembly.