55 chevy truck build and intro - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

lotussutol · 08-08-2007, 09:37 PM

My name is Lotus and I am happy to finally be a member of this forum. I have lurked for quite a while.

I love hotrods (I own a 52 chevy coupe deluxe car) and a longbed and soon a shortbed 55.5 chevy trucks.

I will start with the longbed. I have had this truck since the late 80s when I got it from my uncle. It has sat at my parents house forever. I plan on making the truck in a gasser style with a BB caddy. I am using these two trucks as inspiration to build it.

Right now the truck is rough and needs work. Here are some pics I took recently of the truck.

This weekend I am going to be buying this 55.5 shortbed truck. It already has a camaro clip on it. I plan on taking the best body parts from both trucks and using on the shortbed and then using the other parts on the longbed.

I already have a 383 SBC to go in the shortbed. A friend (Dusty) did most of the work putting the sbc together. It has aftermarket heads and weiand stealth intake ported to match the heads, hot cam, etc... I am detailing the engine to look sorta era correct for an older hotrod but know that it will not be perfect.

Sorry for the long post. I will keep them shorter in the future. I will post pics in this thread as I get work done on the trucks. I will probably have lots of questions as I am going to try and do as much of the work on the trucks as I can with just me and friends.

Thanks,
Lotus

entourageguy · 08-08-2007, 10:46 PM

Don't change your posts we like pictures....
Brian ...

CAL 58 GMC · 08-08-2007, 11:56 PM

I agree with my buddy Brian, we all like pictures!

lotussutol · 08-09-2007, 12:14 AM

Cool...I love to take pictures of the work. so I will make sure and post them.

Also, in my sigs there are more images. There are not a lot of the 55 chevy trucks yet but they will come. There are a ton of my 52 chevy car though from start to end...wrong forum for the car though since it is truck heaven here! hehe.

Jebb1978 · 08-09-2007, 12:26 AM

Love those Gasser pics! I haven't seen these trucks done that way before. I like a new direction! Good luck on her and Welcome to the Board!

entourageguy · 08-09-2007, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CAL 58 GMC

I agree with my buddy Brian, we all like pictures!

I'm Cal's buddy

can I come over for a beer and borrow your lawn mower??

Brian ...

bondobob · 08-09-2007, 11:54 AM

Love the gasser look! You have to have a big narley (sp?) mill. Are you sticking with the stock front end? Drill that axle. Here's a a couple of killer Cad motors for you.

lotussutol · 08-09-2007, 12:26 PM

I will probably stick with the stock front axle and use 2” steel blocks welded to the axle for lift. I know they say to not use blocks on the front but this is just going to be a around town goof off vehicle so it should be ok.

The straight tube axles that I see for sale are too narrow or I would consider going that route.

Those caddy engines are monsters! The great thing about them is with an aluminum intake and with headers they are not much more weight then a SBC.

But first I want to get the short bed chevy truck on the road.

tiggerstoy · 08-09-2007, 12:49 PM

sweet, looking forward to this build, keep the pics coming

krue · 08-09-2007, 01:14 PM

Welcome to the board, that looks like 2 killer projects.

lotussutol · 08-09-2007, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krue

Welcome to the board, that looks like 2 killer projects.

yeah it very well could kill me. ha...

Here is a pic of my wife and daughter goofing off pretending to be out racing.

lotussutol · 08-11-2007, 05:28 PM

No new pictures today. I did go to pep boys and get two cherry bomb 2 1/2" inlet and outlet glass packs today for the truck and a water neck for the intake. I had a pep boys gift card to use that I got from work.

I will have new pictures sunday night though as I am going down to get the shortbed truck in the morning. I can not wait to get it home and start working on it.

pgf545 · 08-11-2007, 07:22 PM

I love that gasser look. Keep the pictures coming and welcome to the board.

Bernie

CAL 58 GMC · 08-11-2007, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by entourageguy

I'm Cal's buddy

can I come over for a beer and borrow your lawn mower??

Brian ...

Sure you are, along with Jebb, texascowboy, Daniel U, Kabwe, Igotachevyor2, 55ChevyPu, tiggerstoy and anyone else I might have missed. Basicly your all my buddies! So if you come you have to bring your on beer since I don't drink and as long as you can wheel the lawn mower back from Canada by Friday you can borrow it.

Sorry lotussutol for jumping your thread but I had to reply back to my buddy Brian and since your apart of the 48 to 58 club that makes you my buddy too!

**Thealien** · 08-11-2007, 08:12 PM

Welcome to the forum, thanks for the pics/posts!

entourageguy · 08-11-2007, 09:29 PM

One big happy family.....

Brian ...

texascowboy593 · 08-11-2007, 11:41 PM

La Familia!!! Welcome to the board lotussutol! You've found a good home here!

Igotachevyor2 · 08-12-2007, 12:09 AM

Welcome aboard

lotussutol · 08-13-2007, 12:41 AM

Whew...it was a long ride and I had a blow out on the trailer but I am home with the truck. Here are some pics.

Me taking the spare off my truck and putting it on the trailer. I actually had to flip it around and run it backwards so it would not rub. Maybe not the safest but I made it home nice and slow.

The sunset is really orange from all the smoke in the sky from california being on fire. It looks like it is snowing outside from the ash.

I am not sure what this rearend is...does anybody know?

I am happy to be home with the truck. I have to unload it in the morning and then go get a new tire for the borrowed trailer. When my friend dropped off the trailer when he heard I was going to long beach he was like oh...I do not know if the tires will make it as they are pretty tore up.

Tri5Nerd · 08-13-2007, 01:01 AM

Welcome, that looks it's a 9", looking from the rear.

lotussutol · 08-13-2007, 01:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tri5Nerd

Welcome, that looks it's a 9", looking from the rear.

that is what I am thinking too since it looks like in the picture of the rear from the front that the whole thing unbolts and comes out.

I can not wait to get it up on the floorjacks to find out if it is a posi and what gear ratio is in it.

It has a matching bolt pattern for the front camaro clip though so I guess maybe the drums were re-drilled.

lotussutol · 08-13-2007, 02:00 AM

I am being told the rear end looks like a chevy impalla rear from 62-64. Anybody here know what these rears are called and have any information on them?

b.sharp · 08-13-2007, 01:24 PM

I don't know what it is specifically called but if it has the same chevy bolt pattern and no redrilled rotors it could be an impala rear end. I have a good friend who has several of these rears. One is in a '55 wagon. I had a posi stump someone gave me years ago and I let him have it for his wagon.

Welcome to the board !!!

Latr,

lotussutol · 08-14-2007, 12:26 AM

I got the front body clip off (just had to lift it off), the hood off, and the bed off today...all of which was easier then getting it off the trailer and in the garage by myself. hahaha.

bfink · 08-14-2007, 07:54 PM

looks like you got a cool project , i love the pic's of those gasser trucks , if mine didnt already have a clip in it i would love to go that route. i'll be looking for updates , i saw yor post on the HAMB too (im always lurking but i dont post much , one of these days i'll get some pic's of my truck up) , brian

08-08-2007, 09:37 PM	#1
lotussutol Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Taft, CA Posts: 140	55 chevy truck build and intro My name is Lotus and I am happy to finally be a member of this forum. I have lurked for quite a while. I love hotrods (I own a 52 chevy coupe deluxe car) and a longbed and soon a shortbed 55.5 chevy trucks. I will start with the longbed. I have had this truck since the late 80s when I got it from my uncle. It has sat at my parents house forever. I plan on making the truck in a gasser style with a BB caddy. I am using these two trucks as inspiration to build it. Right now the truck is rough and needs work. Here are some pics I took recently of the truck. This weekend I am going to be buying this 55.5 shortbed truck. It already has a camaro clip on it. I plan on taking the best body parts from both trucks and using on the shortbed and then using the other parts on the longbed. I already have a 383 SBC to go in the shortbed. A friend (Dusty) did most of the work putting the sbc together. It has aftermarket heads and weiand stealth intake ported to match the heads, hot cam, etc... I am detailing the engine to look sorta era correct for an older hotrod but know that it will not be perfect. Sorry for the long post. I will keep them shorter in the future. I will post pics in this thread as I get work done on the trucks. I will probably have lots of questions as I am going to try and do as much of the work on the trucks as I can with just me and friends. Thanks, Lotus Last edited by lotussutol; 11-02-2007 at 10:55 PM. Reason: fixing broken images

08-08-2007, 10:46 PM	#2
entourageguy Yellow truck club Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Barrie Ontario Posts: 2,080	Re: 55 chevy truck build and intro Don't change your posts we like pictures.... Brian ... __________________ ................................................................ Brian ...... My hub garage address http://www.hubgarage.com/mygarage/59apache I gue$$ everything has it'$ price ALL GONE NOW *59 Chev Apache* *PRAISE THE LOWERED* 350 700r lokar shifter power MII front end, shockwaves tilt, 4 wheel discs 4-link and bags 10 bolt limited

08-08-2007, 11:56 PM	#3
CAL 58 GMC Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Clovis Ca. Posts: 3,311	Re: 55 chevy truck build and intro I agree with my buddy Brian, we all like pictures! __________________ Classic Trucks Link http://www.classictrucks.com/feature...uck/index.html 1958 GMC.Project Build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=162816 1966 Chevelle Build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=443576 Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prrNKo8F7Zw#GU5U2spHI_4

08-09-2007, 12:14 AM	#4
lotussutol Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Taft, CA Posts: 140	Re: 55 chevy truck build and intro Cool...I love to take pictures of the work. so I will make sure and post them. Also, in my sigs there are more images. There are not a lot of the 55 chevy trucks yet but they will come. There are a ton of my 52 chevy car though from start to end...wrong forum for the car though since it is truck heaven here! hehe. __________________ Lotus Current Rides/Projects 1955.5 Chevy shortbed truck 1952 Chevy Coupe Deluxe car

08-09-2007, 12:26 AM	#5
Jebb1978 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Mesa,Az Posts: 3,713	Re: 55 chevy truck build and intro Love those Gasser pics! I haven't seen these trucks done that way before. I like a new direction! Good luck on her and Welcome to the Board! __________________ 1959 GMC project

08-09-2007, 11:54 AM	#7
bondobob Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Deep River, Ct Posts: 135	Re: 55 chevy truck build and intro Love the gasser look! You have to have a big narley (sp?) mill. Are you sticking with the stock front end? Drill that axle. Here's a a couple of killer Cad motors for you. Attached Images

08-09-2007, 12:26 PM	#8
lotussutol Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Taft, CA Posts: 140	Re: 55 chevy truck build and intro I will probably stick with the stock front axle and use 2” steel blocks welded to the axle for lift. I know they say to not use blocks on the front but this is just going to be a around town goof off vehicle so it should be ok. The straight tube axles that I see for sale are too narrow or I would consider going that route. Those caddy engines are monsters! The great thing about them is with an aluminum intake and with headers they are not much more weight then a SBC. But first I want to get the short bed chevy truck on the road. __________________ Lotus Current Rides/Projects 1955.5 Chevy shortbed truck 1952 Chevy Coupe Deluxe car

08-09-2007, 12:49 PM	#9
tiggerstoy tiggerstoy Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: camrose Alberta Canada Posts: 416	Re: 55 chevy truck build and intro sweet, looking forward to this build, keep the pics coming Last edited by tiggerstoy; 08-09-2007 at 12:49 PM.

08-09-2007, 01:14 PM	#10
krue Designated A-hole! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: South Mississippi Posts: 36,448	Re: 55 chevy truck build and intro Welcome to the board, that looks like 2 killer projects. __________________ "If it ain't broke, fix it 'til it is!" Being stupid ain't illegal. We're Still Debt Free Except for the House!!! www.daveramsey.com 70 GMC SWB Stepside project "Green Booger" soon to be 6.0l/4l80e 93 S-10 "Poppaw's Truck"

08-11-2007, 05:28 PM	#12
lotussutol Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Taft, CA Posts: 140	Re: 55 chevy truck build and intro No new pictures today. I did go to pep boys and get two cherry bomb 2 1/2" inlet and outlet glass packs today for the truck and a water neck for the intake. I had a pep boys gift card to use that I got from work. I will have new pictures sunday night though as I am going down to get the shortbed truck in the morning. I can not wait to get it home and start working on it. __________________ Lotus Current Rides/Projects 1955.5 Chevy shortbed truck 1952 Chevy Coupe Deluxe car

08-11-2007, 07:22 PM	#13
pgf545 Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: Santa Fe,Texas Posts: 933	Re: 55 chevy truck build and intro I love that gasser look. Keep the pictures coming and welcome to the board. Bernie __________________ 52 Chevy Truck (Dad's) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=206021

08-11-2007, 08:12 PM	#15
Thealien Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Pine Ridge Florida Posts: 4,135	Re: 55 chevy truck build and intro Welcome to the forum, thanks for the pics/posts!

08-11-2007, 09:29 PM	#16
entourageguy Yellow truck club Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Barrie Ontario Posts: 2,080	Re: 55 chevy truck build and intro One big happy family..... Brian ... __________________ ................................................................ Brian ...... My hub garage address http://www.hubgarage.com/mygarage/59apache I gue$$ everything has it'$ price ALL GONE NOW *59 Chev Apache* *PRAISE THE LOWERED* 350 700r lokar shifter power MII front end, shockwaves tilt, 4 wheel discs 4-link and bags 10 bolt limited

08-11-2007, 11:41 PM	#17
texascowboy593 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Southeast Tx Posts: 1,302	Re: 55 chevy truck build and intro La Familia!!! Welcome to the board lotussutol! You've found a good home here! __________________ "The rays of light thru the Shiner Bock bottle make me wanna turn the key and put down the throttle...and get lost down 35" - Jason Boland www.YouTube.com/user/593Films - Watch My Videos! 1977 Silverado K10 2014 Dodge Durango (Wife-mobile) 2008 Dodge Ram Lone Star Edition (Daily driver)

08-12-2007, 12:09 AM	#18
Igotachevyor2 Apache Club Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Goodlettsville,Tn. Posts: 1,294	Re: 55 chevy truck build and intro Welcome aboard __________________ 58 CHEVY APACHE I 74 CHEVY C-10 I 78 K-10 donor truck I 89 SONOMA My Trucks Apache Sitting Idle MySpace Project Dad's Truck (74 C-10 to K-10 conversion) .



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08-13-2007, 12:41 AM	#19
lotussutol Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Taft, CA Posts: 140	Re: 55 chevy truck build and intro Whew...it was a long ride and I had a blow out on the trailer but I am home with the truck. Here are some pics. Me taking the spare off my truck and putting it on the trailer. I actually had to flip it around and run it backwards so it would not rub. Maybe not the safest but I made it home nice and slow. The sunset is really orange from all the smoke in the sky from california being on fire. It looks like it is snowing outside from the ash. I am not sure what this rearend is...does anybody know? I am happy to be home with the truck. I have to unload it in the morning and then go get a new tire for the borrowed trailer. When my friend dropped off the trailer when he heard I was going to long beach he was like oh...I do not know if the tires will make it as they are pretty tore up. __________________ Lotus Current Rides/Projects 1955.5 Chevy shortbed truck 1952 Chevy Coupe Deluxe car

08-13-2007, 01:01 AM	#20
Tri5Nerd Tripple Five Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: USA Posts: 658	Re: 55 chevy truck build and intro Welcome, that looks it's a 9", looking from the rear.

08-13-2007, 02:00 AM	#22
lotussutol Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Taft, CA Posts: 140	Re: 55 chevy truck build and intro I am being told the rear end looks like a chevy impalla rear from 62-64. Anybody here know what these rears are called and have any information on them? __________________ Lotus Current Rides/Projects 1955.5 Chevy shortbed truck 1952 Chevy Coupe Deluxe car

08-13-2007, 01:24 PM	#23
b.sharp Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: Frankfort, Kentucky Posts: 508	Re: 55 chevy truck build and intro I don't know what it is specifically called but if it has the same chevy bolt pattern and no redrilled rotors it could be an impala rear end. I have a good friend who has several of these rears. One is in a '55 wagon. I had a posi stump someone gave me years ago and I let him have it for his wagon. Welcome to the board !!! Latr,

08-14-2007, 12:26 AM	#24
lotussutol Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Taft, CA Posts: 140	Re: 55 chevy truck build and intro I got the front body clip off (just had to lift it off), the hood off, and the bed off today...all of which was easier then getting it off the trailer and in the garage by myself. hahaha. __________________ Lotus Current Rides/Projects 1955.5 Chevy shortbed truck 1952 Chevy Coupe Deluxe car

08-14-2007, 07:54 PM	#25
bfink Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Turlock , CA Posts: 76	Re: 55 chevy truck build and intro looks like you got a cool project , i love the pic's of those gasser trucks , if mine didnt already have a clip in it i would love to go that route. i'll be looking for updates , i saw yor post on the HAMB too (im always lurking but i dont post much , one of these days i'll get some pic's of my truck up) , brian

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