55' Cameo Build!!!

[55Cameo]

Ok so I've been on here a lil while and really like the boards here. Lots of good info and ideas, friendly people and decided to make my build thread.

So I'll give a brief history as best possible and then let you know my plans.

I'm now coming up on 30 and this is my 1st vehicle I ever bought which was at 15 yrs old. I bought the truck for $800 with no motor and trans and it started life as a step side. I wanted it to be my Hot rod and take it drag racing. My sis boyfriend at the time, which i now consider my bro even though they split, has a shop and we towed it there. My dad and I got a 283 from and Impala to rebuild and a turbo 350 from a Chevelle. We rebuilt the motor and did a lil work on the heads and mild cam, headers, torker intake, flowmatsers, holley double pump carb. Stuck trans in as is. We rebuilt all the stock brakes and new bushings in the suspension. We tried installing stock wiring harness but ended up having an electric shop do it, bad choice, later on that. So after almost a year of gathering parts, like a bench seat, tires, radiator, etc. and getting things done, we had it running and driving. I started driving it to high school and will always be remembered for my truck.

Over my high school years I did what i could while working at a tire shop. I ended up breaking a piston in the 283 because of clogged fuel line. So we put in a new crate target 350 and fuel lines and swapped all parts over. Up till i graduated in 2000, it got other stuff, Grant steering wheel, some gauges, another stock rear end(killed one racing), rebuilt trans w/B&M kit and vega converter. IT was always my DD.

In 2000 i became a family man and had my lil girl. Got a better job at the dealer and kept going on the truck best I can. Next couple years it got a Camaro posi rear end(blew up another stock one), lots of rear tires from great burn outs LOL!!, fuel cell, battery relocation kit, CPP disc brakes on soild axle, Car rally's, power brakes under cab, and new painless wiring kit because bad install and wiring caught fire.

Lastly In 2005 or so my uncle got word of Cameo parts. I ended up picking up a Cameo bed and cab from a field for my truck. Bed was in bad shape and missing pieces, had holes, but why pass it up. Had the bed repaired a lil and installed and drove around intending to gather the missing pieces.

Life went on and progress slowed on the truck and drove less cause suspension/steering problems and got new cars n took interest in those for a while. So it sat on side. Went through a relationship split, and lay off so more time passed.

Now in the present, within the last 4 yrs, got new job and relationship, which recently now married and settled down and became stable. I started driving the truck again but realized why it sat cause of its probs. So now its finally time for a frame off rebuild and do things better quality work since i learned more over the years.

So on to my current plans and ideas for the truck. It will be a pro touring build, so a great handling/braking truck, I can drive daily and get in and go anywhere/anytime. I'd rather be driving a classic more then a new car.

Things that will for sure get done by the end of this year:
-Mustang II IFS w/ manual steering
-LS/4L60
-Install my big window cab
-Acquire missing Cameo parts and install
-Redo brake lines for cleaner install
-Detail frame
-A/C
-Self custom made headlights
-Finish gauges
-Tires

And if money time permits:
-New rear suspension(prob 3 link)
-Big brakes and rear disc
-Roll cage
-Nitrous
-Alarm w/remote start and stereo
-Racing seats and harness
-Engine mods

The great thing is its already a runner/driver, just needs alot of clean up and TLC. I live in an apt so will be doing this from a hobby unit(12x20) work space. I'll get help from family friends but do all i can myself. I still have lots to learn and can see this site will help with that.

Heres all the pics I have now, will try and get more later:

[55Cameo]

Couple more pics

[55Cameo]

interior and bed

[55Cameo]

Engine

[Kim57]

Welcome to the build section. Sounds like a nice project. Keep the pics coming.
Kim

[_Ogre]

Originally Posted by 55Cameo

Things that will for sure get done by the end of this year:

we won't hold you to that

nice project, good find on the cameo bed. parts that used to be impossible to find are being repop now.
you are one tough s.o.b. if you're doing a frame off in a metal storage building located in az
welcome to the forum

[Kabwe]

Cool a cameo, I'm a nut for them. Keep us posted.

[55Cameo]

Thanks for the welcome Kim. Will have lots of pics

Orge-Lol thanks I hope not haha, but I'm trying to make myself stick to the plan for year!!
I got totally lucky on the Cameo. I fell in love when I found out what they were.
Well its either work in that or the truck just sits untouched. I choose to make progress lol. Ill do what I can to keep cool but honestly I've always work on it in the heat lol. Over the years I noticed that more n more parts are coming out. Ill be able to finally get what I need to complete the bed. Thanks for the welcome.

Kabwe-thanks for reply sir. I hope you like what I have coming.
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[Dads Burb]

What radiator is in your Cameo? Doesn't look like the stock one.

[55Cameo]

It's a summit 2 row aluminum radiator with Flex Lite dual electric fans. Works great and glad to say over kill for me. Never gets hot even here!!!

I was just gonna post some pics on that since it recently got done a couple months ago.

So this is my old set-up. Seen better days. A summit brand single row radiator with one small pusher and one large puller. Did ok, but at times got hot at idle and over the years damaged here and there. Def needed a new one.





I had to replace the radiator core from a previous wreck, and installed new core, summit 2 row aluminum, dual Flex-Lite electric fans as pullers. I had to make custom brackets for it to set in there the way I wanted but it came out sweet in the end!! The fan kit came with a thermostat so the fans kick on/off at preset temp. I also added a switch so I can make them go on/off when the engine is off for cool down at the track.

[Dads Burb]

That is really nice. Did the fans come with the radiator? What is the Summit part number?Did you make the support brackets? Have a pattern you could share? Do ya have a picture of the lower brackets installed?

Thanks

[55Cameo]

Thank you!!! They came seperate. I bought the fan years ago and had them setting aside, so I bought the new radiator to fit the fans. I got lucky cause they fit like a glove.

I save all my part numbers, I'll go through my folders and find both for you.

The father-in-law made the brackets for me. He works for an aluminum shop that does exactly this kinda working making custom brackets. He did it as a side project personally just for me.

I'll get you some pics and measurments when i disasemble the truck here soon.

[55Cameo]

Here's a link to the radiator
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-380331/

And these should be the fans I got. I got them years ago, but I know I have dual pullers with adjustable t-stat
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/FLX-412/

[55Cameo]

Ok so I just wanted to throw up some more pics of what I have left before I tear the truck down

[55Cameo]

And now on to some of my goodies I have for the truck.

1st of I got this MII suspension from Rod Parts. That was one of the biggest mistakes I've ever made. Would NEVER EVER rec him to anyone. It took me nearly 9-10 months just to get the parts and I still am missing some pieces. After repeated calling and broken promises I finally gave up and cut my loses and accept what I have. The good is I have alot of the big parts but still missing the coil springs and the sway bar itself. So will be looking into those soon as the suspension will be one of the 1st things getting done




And next is a couple nice dress up items to replace what I have. A nice overflow tank and finned trans cooler

[Kim57]

That sucks that you're having trouble getting the things you need.
The cooler and tank look nice.
Kim

[55Cameo]

Originally Posted by Kim57

That sucks that you're having trouble getting the things you need.
The cooler and tank look nice.
Kim

Thanks. Will make a great addition to the engine compartment.

Yeah lesson learned. At least I have most of it now.

[55Cameo]

Ok so today I made some progress on the truck. Got the doghouse pulled off and taken apart and removed the motor and trans. Man its been so long since I've seen mine like this and I found soooo many things that need some fixen LOL!!! Glad to get here and do things alot better this time around











Gonna clean and both the motor/trans and reseal and repaint them both. I love the orange but its time for a change. Gonna do some colors more suited to the way I'm going with it now and change things a lil and dress the motor up

[55Cameo]

Originally Posted by Dads Burb

That is really nice. Did the fans come with the radiator? What is the Summit part number?Did you make the support brackets? Have a pattern you could share? Do ya have a picture of the lower brackets installed?

Thanks

Ok so as I took it apart and took some pics for you on how I had the radiator in there. In the 1st pic you can see I had to cut out the inside wall where the bolt goes to mount it to the frame. There is a factory hole for the orig radiator at the very bottom. I just drilled another hole above that to match the new bracket. To mount the core to the frame I used a countersunk allen head bolt with a flat top for clearance


The I used allen head bolts to mount the bracket to the core because they are low profile and have less chance of rubbing the radiator. I also put some insulation on the radiator and core between each other for no metal to metal contact.


The the father in-law also gave me this rubber like material he said was really strong and wear resistant. Which it has seem to held up for almost a year now with no signs of wear at all. He cupped the bottom of the bracket to cradle to radiator.

[shadow1967]

Waiting for parts sucks. I bought some parts saturday thinking they would be here today. Well NOT!

[Kabwe]

Hey man I have some coil springs wasting space in my garage. If you want them just pay for shipping and they are yours. I don't remember the spring rate sorry, but they are new and never been used.

[55Cameo]

Originally Posted by Kabwe

Hey man I have some coil springs wasting space in my garage.

You do? Oh really mmm. How much you want for them man? I can prob use them till I can save up and get coilovers and get the rear suspension done at the same time

[55Cameo]

Originally Posted by shadow1967

Waiting for parts sucks. I bought some parts saturday thinking they would be here today. Well NOT!

Yeah it def did man. I got so scared thinking I was gonna get screwed over on the deal.

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by 55Cameo

You do? Oh really mmm. How much you want for them man? I can prob use them till I can save up and get coilovers and get the rear suspension done at the same time

I told you to just pay for shipping and they are yours. You can't be nice to some people.lol Hit me up in pm if you want them and I will find out how much shipping is.

[55Cameo]

Originally Posted by Kabwe

I told you to just pay for shipping and they are yours. You can't be nice to some people.lol Hit me up in pm if you want them and I will find out how much shipping is.

LMAO me>reading!!! i didn't even see that haha!! Thanks man. Yeah I'll pm yeah with the info.