1958 Chevy 60 Viking

[Steve-W]

Yesterday our new project arrived, a 1958 Chevrolet 60 Viking. it's a 1 owner car, original delivered as a brand new car here in the Netherlands (first registration is december 1958) it was impounded by the Dutch IRS because the owner (stated on the side of the truck) was dealing in illegal fire-arms and drugs... so we bought it for a very nice price. and despite the cabin having been thrashed by a fire, I think we've got a great basis for a project car.








first plan is to get rid of the back-end and shorten the wheelbase, because otherwise it won't fit in our garage! currently as it stands it's 24 feet long and almost 11 feet high.
I know there will be haters, but we're going for the rat-rod look.

Keep u posted!

[flashed]

Im in ,that thing is cool.

[nuke1]

Damn is that thing wicked. Can't wait to see some progress

[Katrina/10]

Cool truck, cool story. What was it originally used for? The fire damage will be a challenge to fix, I would think. Sounds like you have a good plan.

[Steve-W]

the PO was a transport company, it even has a hydraulic tailgate. so I guess they used it for shop deliveries and such.

[Katrina/10]

Good luck with the project! Be sure to update.

[RockinKees]

Nice project Steve!
I’d like to see a Rat Rod, what are the further plans?

What is IRS? Hetzelfde als de Domeinen??

[jjzepplin]

I am in !

[Steve-W]

Originally Posted by RockinKees

Nice project Steve!
I’d like to see a Rat Rod, what are the further plans?

Ofcourse ratrod! we're going to shorten the wheelbase by 5Feet and add airrides. (we'll come see you, because we'll need some help designing that )

Originally Posted by RockinKees

What is IRS? Hetzelfde als de Domeinen??

ISR = Belastingdienst. The PO was arrested for drugs/guns and tax evasion.
must have been a real nice guy...

So we cleaned the cab a bit and had a closer look at the fire damage, as far as structural only the roof is a bit warped, but that doesn't concern us.

what suprises me, is how rot free is the truck. driving in the Netherlands for 59 years and it looks like it has been standing inside most of the time


we managed to open the hydrolic tailgate and took it of...this already saves 300 pounds


then we cleaned the inside of all the debris. the blask on the sides is a kind of kit where the insolation was up against. the aluminum back close to the cab was all melted because of the fire.


here's a pick of the hydrolic cilinder underneath the truck. removing that will again save a lot of weight


and check out that rear end!!



the project almost went down the toilet, because I was a bit optimistic in regards to our timeline dismanteling the build-up. So I called the landlord and asked if he wouldn't mind it standing outside for another 2 months.

luckily he gave the green light!
project is a go!

[Russell Ashley]

I'm looking forward to seeing how this one goes.

[YahamaR1]

Looks good, I am going to follow this build..
Succes...

[MNchevy]

Very cool story on the truck! What are your plans for the back of the truck after you shorten it? Build a new box or flatbed? Do you have plans to use it as a hauler or just a cruiser?

Looking forward to this cool build.

[RockinKees]

Ah belastingdienst....a really nice guy Haha!!
You are not afraid of big projects!
Have to come visit sometime, when do you think it’s inside?
Should be fun!!

[Steve-W]

Originally Posted by RockinKees

Have to come visit sometime, when do you think it’s inside?

Well seeing the holiday season is here and I'll be spending xmas abroad we're aiming for the end of Januari.

But we made some progress today. I took the afternoon off frpm work and got some work done.





Saterday and Sunday we'll be trying to remove the rest of the bed.

And now for the first dumb question: is the glass the same as a 1958 Apache?

[RockinKees]

Pretty large vehicle....

Would make a very radical flatbed truck for hauling Hot Rods around
As for the glass, I thought the carbs are the same.
If you can measure it around the opening, I will do the same, then you know.
You have my number, call or app me.

[Advanced Design]

Looks like a cool project and I will be tagging along.

[Steve-W]

Originally Posted by RockinKees

Pretty large vehicle....

Would make a very radical flatbed truck for hauling Hot Rods around
As for the glass, I thought the carbs are the same.
If you can measure it around the opening, I will do the same, then you know.
You have my number, call or app me.

I'd love to make it a flatbed but we have to shorten the wheel base to make it fit in our garage 😂. And Will measure the window. Thanks Kees!

[Steve-W]

Saturday I was grounded by my wife, because she wanted to do x-mass shopping without me or the kids.. seeing it was horrible weather anyway, I didn't really felt like being outside.
Sunday was dry-ish, so we got some work done.

Thats my mate Ferry








that frame looks a mile long.

the bed of my c10 is already full with the debries from last week, didn't have time to go to the dumpsite yet. I think I'll need to make 3 more runs to get rid of all the old crap

I also contacted our dutch DMV, because you can't just cut up a frame and not have it changed on the VIN details. we'll be aiming for 132.5 Wheelbase like on the 6100 serie.
They'll come by and have look to discuss our plans, because if you do it wrong, the vehicle could loose it's VIN and I'd be left with a 9 ton paperweight.

[RockinKees]

Yep, that’s pretty long!
Good to let the DMV come first. Document also everything they say, probably let them sign too. I think they will take pictures of it in original state.

[dsraven]

pretty sure the big truck cabs and doors are the same as the small truck cabs it is just the fenders and hood etc out front that is different. with that said, you could check with an auto glass supplier and they would know if they looked in their application guide.
good to get the dmv involved early and ask/write down the answers. ask what the proper procedure is because they may have a hand out or a web link that explains the whole procedure and what needs to be compete before they come and inspect it again or you have a certified shop do an inspection. hopefully they don't deem it as requiring some sort of heavy duty inspection due to the fire damage.
my truck is made up from 3 different vehicles and they took the original vin tag then issued me with a new 17 digit vin tag and rivetted that to the body. now I need to get an out of province inspection done when the truck is complete. they also renamed the truck. I am in Alberta Canada though so different there.

[Steve-W]

Originally Posted by dsraven

pretty sure the big truck cabs and doors are the same as the small truck cabs it is just the fenders and hood etc out front that is different.

I think you're right

Originally Posted by dsraven

they also renamed the truck

what do you mean? you created a new brand??

[dsraven]

have you seen this site before?

http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com...esto/index.htm

[Steve-W]

Originally Posted by dsraven

have you seen this site before?

http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com...esto/index.htm

No not this site, thanks for pitching in!

Not that it is of any importance now, but would anybody know the lug patters of the Viking? 20" 6 lug wheels..an odd combo if you ask me, or not?

[dsraven]

just copied from a stovebolt forum found here, but I think the 6 lug wheels are 6 lugs on 8.75" circle. don't have one so not totally positive on that one.

https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthreads...1036713&page=1

The 8 3/4 6-lug wheels were also found on many Ford, Dodge, International, and GMC 2 ton trucks and school buses into the late 1960's (and perhaps later). Most of these have 8.25x20 tires.

[Steve-W]

Originally Posted by dsraven

The 8 3/4 6-lug wheels were also found on many Ford, Dodge, International, and GMC 2 ton trucks and school buses into the late 1960's (and perhaps later). Most of these have 8.25x20 tires.

Yeah I think you're right! thanks.

yesterday I went on my first rubbish run, getting rid of most os the sidepanels, the cargo lift and the side frames. today I loaded up most of the bed floor. this is all metal, so I'll be visiting an iron recycling company instead of the landfill


Slightly leaning backwards with aprox 1000 pounds in the back.
I enjoy using my truck for what it was intended
#IdonthateshowtrucksIjustdontneedone