Kabwe's aka Bam's build

[Jason 56]

Truck looks awesome! Your truck has inspired me extensively. I’m thinking about pancaking my hood as well. Any advice or recommendations... ex. How much to remove and where to remove it?

[JML55]

Hadn't been here in a while, great work, I like all the new mods. Its giving me ideas for my next build, 55GMC fleetside short bed. I found a really nice 58 fleetside box for my new project, now got to find a new cab.

[dsraven]

you could always buy a new cab. they come with doors so a bunch of time is already saved. not cheap though. you would also have to get a vin for it. out here in Alberta that has to go through the insurance bureau of Canada and will cost about $1500 just for the vin. you gotta show bill of sale for any of the vehicles you have donor parts from as well.

[dsraven]

hey Bam, are you driving your truck now? i bet you get some heads turning.

[BAM55]

Originally Posted by Jason 56

Truck looks awesome! Your truck has inspired me extensively. I’m thinking about pancaking my hood as well. Any advice or recommendations... ex. How much to remove and where to remove it?

Thanks man.

As far as pancaking the hood. On the orginal 55 hood I took out 1 inch in the front and tapered it around the sides. Here is a shot of the cut lines and the amount I took out. I did not want it extreme that is why I only removed an inch.

Originally Posted by JML55

Hadn't been here in a while, great work, I like all the new mods. Its giving me ideas for my next build, 55GMC fleetside short bed. I found a really nice 58 fleetside box for my new project, now got to find a new cab.

Thanks man. You are going to build another truck? Not me.lol

Originally Posted by dsraven

hey Bam, are you driving your truck now? i bet you get some heads turning.

Not yet man. I got the doors and hood painted and I currently blocking the bed trying to get it ready for paint. I have to install windows, its getting there slowly but surely.

Here are some pics of how the doors and hood turned out.





I was not going to post any pics until I had everything together but you asked.lol

[dsraven]

stuff looks great. hood turned out awesome, looks factory. I wished mine was that far along, never seem to get time to work on it. been plugging away at the box lately. decided to start at the back and work forward, fab work completed as I go and finishing everything in epoxy ready to set aside till assembly and bodywork can start. big job with a frame swap but every little bit counts. like martinsr's plan, 5 mins a day. lol.

[oldman3]

Bam, painted parts look super. Been missing your updates, thanks for the pics...Jim

[dug224]

I feel a pancaked hood coming on. It is amazing how much such a subtle change like that makes the truck look incredible.

[BAM55]

Originally Posted by dsraven

stuff looks great. hood turned out awesome, looks factory. I wished mine was that far along, never seem to get time to work on it. been plugging away at the box lately. decided to start at the back and work forward, fab work completed as I go and finishing everything in epoxy ready to set aside till assembly and bodywork can start. big job with a frame swap but every little bit counts. like martinsr's plan, 5 mins a day. lol.

Yeah man this hobby (sickness) can be overwhelming at times but you just got to keep plugging away. Instead of biting off big chunks I've learned to set my goals to just accomplish one thing at a time so that I can see progress.

Originally Posted by oldman3

Bam, painted parts look super. Been missing your updates, thanks for the pics...Jim

Thanks man, I only have weekends that I'm free to work on this thing so you know how that goes.

Originally Posted by dug224

I feel a pancaked hood coming on. It is amazing how much such a subtle change like that makes the truck look incredible.

Its nothing to it but to do it.lol

[ptc]

Originally Posted by BAM55

Yes another change.lol I keep looking at my 55 hood and my 58 hood and thought it wood look good if I grafted the 58 hood onto the 55 hood.

Bam - the hood came out great! -- I liked this idea from the start, and the way you did it was probably easier than mine. Thanks for sharing. Its a lot of work but the end result is a much better looking Task Force Truck!

[FAKKY]

updates required !!!
Its DA rulz

[fast2002]

Nice truck

[svr]

Bam,
I have a question on your electric parking brake system. Most of the linear actuators have limit switches at the end of each stroke. Have you adjusted yours so the brakes are set when it reaches the end of its stroke and hits the limit switch? Or do you let it stall out and kill the power?
I am in the build a parking brake system right now, waiting on a couple of cables for the wheel end and have made some brackets to mount the actuator. Your thoughts would be much appreciated. Your skills and build are over the top, Kudo's sir,

[BAM55]

Originally Posted by svr

Bam,
I have a question on your electric parking brake system. Most of the linear actuators have limit switches at the end of each stroke. Have you adjusted yours so the brakes are set when it reaches the end of its stroke and hits the limit switch? Or do you let it stall out and kill the power?
I am in the build a parking brake system right now, waiting on a couple of cables for the wheel end and have made some brackets to mount the actuator. Your thoughts would be much appreciated. Your skills and build are over the top, Kudo's sir,

I have my brakes adjusted so that the brakes are set when it reaches the end of its stroke (turns off) you do not want it continually pulling the actuator will break. It does not take much to engage the brake. What I did was install my brakes with the actuator closed then started my adjustment from there.

[dsraven]

hey Bam, is your truck done now? haven't seen an update lately. how you doing anyway? good to see a note from you on here.

[oldman3]

Originally Posted by dsraven

hey Bam, is your truck done now? haven't seen an update lately. how you doing anyway? good to see a note from you on here.

X2...Jim

[BAM55]

Originally Posted by dsraven

hey Bam, is your truck done now? haven't seen an update lately. how you doing anyway? good to see a note from you on here.

Originally Posted by oldman3

X2...Jim

Nope, as John Lennon said "“Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans". I had plans to have the truck finish but life got in the way.lol

Anyway, I do what I can when I can it will be done one day I guess.lol

[56 3100]

Hi bam when you did you box top rails corners did you use 1 7/8" od tube? what was radius?

[BAM55]

Originally Posted by 56 3100

Hi bam when you did you box top rails corners did you use 1 7/8" od tube? what was radius?

I used a 16 gauge 1 5/8 u-bend exhaust pipe from jegs

[slammed57]

Yo bam, whats up, how you been?

[_Ogre]

dang bam! that hood looks great 👍

[BAM55]

Originally Posted by slammed57

Yo bam, whats up, how you been?

Originally Posted by _Ogre

dang bam! that hood looks great 👍

Thanks for checking in guys. I had a major set back on the project. I had it to the point of test driving it around the neighborhood and everything was going fine and I was about to start the prep for the bed and notice when I removed some tape from the doors the clear came off with it. So I started putting tape all over the truck and snatching the tape off and it was just the doors that it was happening on. Then I remembered I used some Universal Clear that was recommended but I guess it did not like my basecoat. I could not find the clear I usually used locally. So I sanded the doors and scuffed the rest of the truck (the good areas) and repainted the whole thing to ensure I don't have any more issues.

Here is my makeshift paint booth



Repainted





Got things back together







My seat is in the upholstery shop and I should be getting it any day, once I get that seat back I'm on to painting the be bed. Hey its just a setback, they happen but the end is near I can see it now. Plus driving it has really set a fire under me. Its really has some pep.

[youngrodder]

Sorry about your setback.....Looks great now.

Marc

[hotrod1]

Hey Bam - The truck looks great! Same thing happened to me some time ago. Bad compatibility between sealer and paint for me.

Hope you are doing well.

[BAM55]

Originally Posted by youngrodder

Sorry about your setback.....Look great now.

Marc

Thanks, my fault I should have followed my first mind, something told me to wait.

Originally Posted by hotrod1

Hey Bam - The truck looks great! Same thing happened to me some time ago. Bad compatibility between sealer and paint for me.

Hope you are doing well.

Doing good and I hope you are also. Yeah its best to to stay with the paint system you are using. I knew that but sometimes life needs to kick us in the butt to keep us in check.lol