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#101 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Middleton, Idaho
Posts: 352
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Re: My 55 Chevy 4X4
Hey Marc, enjoying your build details. Welcome to the classic 4x4 brotherhood. I'm winding down on my '58 4x4 build. There is light at the end of the tunnel!
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"Built- not bought" 1958 GMC 150 4x4 in progress 1980 K20- Restored 1985 K3500 Flatbed 58 GMC 4x4 build thread: http://http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=557675 |
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#102 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Ventura, Ca.
Posts: 439
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Re: My 55 Chevy 4X4
sweet build... watching how it comes out !!!!
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#103 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: vancouver
Posts: 183
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Re: My 55 Chevy 4X4
Thanks. dyno I have read your blog and you have done a lot of work in a short time. My goal was 2 years but I don't think I will make that. When I get to a point where I am going to have to spend some big money I drag my feet. My goal is to have the engine, trans in and running by May with all the sheet metal in epoxy primer and hung. I have Painted all my own project cars to this point but what I want to do with this one is out of my comfort zone. I have spent months going back and forth if I was going to paint the truck or not. Right now I am leaning towards getting it painted but that is a huge bite out of my budget.
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#104 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Middleton, Idaho
Posts: 352
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Re: My 55 Chevy 4X4
I hear ya Marc. I took me 9 months to to all the rust restoration and paint. Then the stress on top of all of it trying to do a good job shooting it without problems!
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"Built- not bought" 1958 GMC 150 4x4 in progress 1980 K20- Restored 1985 K3500 Flatbed 58 GMC 4x4 build thread: http://http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=557675 |
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#105 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: vancouver
Posts: 183
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Re: My 55 Chevy 4X4
Made a couple patch panels for the floor. Other than the hinge pocket this was the only rust in the cab.
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#106 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: vancouver
Posts: 183
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Re: My 55 Chevy 4X4
Finished my floor patches and started filling some of the holes in the firewall. Not sure if I am going to do the bigger ones.
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#107 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Tomball, Texas
Posts: 1,592
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Re: My 55 Chevy 4X4
Your patch work looks good. How'd you form the round groove down the middle of the patches? I've tried similar but they didn't turn out looking that nice. Happy holidays!
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Rick 78 GMC K15 SWB, 350/NV4500/NP205/4.10s Project Hazel 71 GMC C25 350/TH400 - Project Angie 59 Chevy SWB Stepside (next in line? Not sure now ![]() 2001 GMC Sierra K2500 |
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#108 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: vancouver
Posts: 183
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Re: My 55 Chevy 4X4
I bought a Harbor Freight beed roller and used the 1/2 die. In a pinch for a small flat piece you could put a 1/2 bolt in a vice and beat it with a hammer. Also when welding in the patch after 2 or 3 tacks hammer the two pieces and they will start to form to each other. I could of just used a flat patch but I have had the beed roller for a while and wanted to use it. I would like to make some raised panels in the interior and it is going to take some practice to make anything that looks nice.
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#109 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Tomball, Texas
Posts: 1,592
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Re: My 55 Chevy 4X4
Ok, it all makes sense now - you cheated and used the right tool for the job
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Rick 78 GMC K15 SWB, 350/NV4500/NP205/4.10s Project Hazel 71 GMC C25 350/TH400 - Project Angie 59 Chevy SWB Stepside (next in line? Not sure now ![]() 2001 GMC Sierra K2500 |
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#110 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: vancouver
Posts: 183
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Re: My 55 Chevy 4X4
Hope everyone had a happy new year. It was able to get some work done on the cab corner. I was not the best install but I don't want to spend 15 hours to see if I can do better. It looked like it was stick welded in. I just cleaned up the welds and filled the holes.
Get all of the x-mss put away and reclaim my garage and start getting some stuff done. Goal is to have the cab on the frame in the next 3 weeks.
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#111 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Idaho
Posts: 8,800
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Re: My 55 Chevy 4X4
Grinder and JB Weld is your friend. I used to get pretty wound up about using "too much" plastic filler until I saw the TV pro rod shops slathering it over all the welds and full body panels to acheive the perfect look. Just make sure you get all the slag and crud out of the welds.
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1959 Chevy Short Fleetside w/ 74 4WD drive train (current project) OrrieG Build Thread 1964 Chevelle Malibu w/ 355-350TH (daily driver) Helpful AD and TF Manual Site Old Car Manual Project |
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#112 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: vancouver
Posts: 183
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Re: My 55 Chevy 4X4
Trying to get a game plan for my mangled dash board.
I have been trying to fix a patch panel someone lap welded in and I finally decided to do it right.
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#113 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Salem Mo
Posts: 651
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Re: My 55 Chevy 4X4
Hey Marc, just checking in. Looks like you're doing fine, it's just one step at a time.
On the dash repair, do you plan on going back to the original radio opening? If so, they do make a nice repair panel that welds in. Mine also had a modified radio opening, sometimes you wish you could go back in time and slap their hands and let them know of the work they are creating for you in the future. lol Jim
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#114 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Massapequa Park, NY
Posts: 873
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Re: My 55 Chevy 4X4
Quote:
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Frank 1957 Chevy 3100 2000 Silverado z71 SOLD 2012 Ram 1500 Quad Cab 1992 International 4700 |
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#115 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: vancouver
Posts: 183
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Re: My 55 Chevy 4X4
When I bought the truck it actually came with that panel from an original dash. I think I am going to use a hidden stereo. I might smooth out the dash or at least get rid of the ash tray. I am going to experiment with making a storage pocket. I want to make a fake grill that looks like an AC vent that will pivot up where a pocket will be. If that doesn't work then back to original.
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#116 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: vancouver
Posts: 183
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Re: My 55 Chevy 4X4
I finished my patch panel and started cutting out the dash.
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#117 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: vancouver
Posts: 183
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Re: My 55 Chevy 4X4
Hopefully today the cab goes on the frame I added some gussets to the front cab mounts.
Also started on the dash pocket. I made a 2" lip that I will weld to the dash and make the rest of the box a sleeve that bolts to the lip. [ATTACH][ATTACH] 1350364[/ATTACH][/ATTACH]
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#118 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: vancouver
Posts: 183
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Re: My 55 Chevy 4X4
What I thought was going to be a 2 hour job turned into an all day event. After getting the cab on the frame it did not look right. The front of the cab was way Higher then the rear. Not knowing what was going on I had to put the bed on. The cab and the bed were not parallel. I think I forgot to account for the bushing thickness on the front mounts. I cut the the front mounts and got the cab and bed lined up. Side to side height is within 1/8" and the cab is about 1" high in the front but the engine should level it out. If not I will adjust the height up/down by rear suspension. I swear I had everything dialed in before I took it all apart. Now I am going to have to redo the core support mounts. Just one giant domino affect.
I also started welding in the sleeve for the dash pocket.
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#119 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: vancouver
Posts: 183
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Re: My 55 Chevy 4X4
I finished the face of the dash pocket. I also hung the front sheet metal mostly to get it out of my way.
I am going to work my way from the back forward. I narrowed the hitch my friend gave me. Next I will get the rest of the bed stripped and in primer then work on the bed floor, tailgate, and tail lights. My goal is by mid March to have the bed all finished.
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#120 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Tomball, Texas
Posts: 1,592
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Re: My 55 Chevy 4X4
Truck is looking good! So is the Camaro on the lift. I think I'm at a similar stage of the build where its strip paint, do the body work, epoxy primer, move to the next panel. Getting the bed done by March sounds like a do-able goal.
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Rick 78 GMC K15 SWB, 350/NV4500/NP205/4.10s Project Hazel 71 GMC C25 350/TH400 - Project Angie 59 Chevy SWB Stepside (next in line? Not sure now ![]() 2001 GMC Sierra K2500 |
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#121 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: vancouver
Posts: 183
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Re: My 55 Chevy 4X4
Thanks, one step at a time. The camaro was my first car I bought when I was 16. Lots of lawn mowing. About 20 years ago I decided I wanted to do a high end build on the car. Then life hit me. It has all the good stuff in it just needs engine but I want to do a lot of body mods and the need for a truck outweighs the car. I am shooting for 1 1/2 years for the truck and then jumping right into the car.
couple experiments.
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#122 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Tomball, Texas
Posts: 1,592
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Re: My 55 Chevy 4X4
Nice, and really cool that you've kept it that long! I found a 69 Camaro when I was 17 for $450. This was in 79, but it was a really good deal even then. Its long gone now (wife wrecked it) but I keep watching for another one. They are just so dang expensive these days!
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Rick 78 GMC K15 SWB, 350/NV4500/NP205/4.10s Project Hazel 71 GMC C25 350/TH400 - Project Angie 59 Chevy SWB Stepside (next in line? Not sure now ![]() 2001 GMC Sierra K2500 |
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#123 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: vancouver
Posts: 183
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Re: My 55 Chevy 4X4
Started on the bed. I built a 1 3/4 x 3/4 frame out of tube to take the place of the bed wood.
Then I fit a sheet of diamond plate to bolt to the frame. I put the plate over the top of the angled bed rail. The bottom of the angle was a little rusted out. I will add some 1/8 x1" flat bar to the rail then put a new angled rail over everything to cover the gap. Now I just need to take it all apart finish welding the frame, drill the rest of the mounting holes, and paint it.
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#124 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: vancouver
Posts: 183
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Re: My 55 Chevy 4X4
Quick up date. I finished welding, painted the bed frame and drilled all the mounting holes in the diamond plate. The bed is at the sand blasters. I also got some tail lights I am going to experiment with.
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#125 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: vancouver
Posts: 183
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Re: My 55 Chevy 4X4
I have the bed parts at the sand blaster. I am also putting a storage compartment in the floor of the bed. I cut the hole, made a mounting flange and built a metal box.
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