[ogre]

ND
halfton put it well, swap tops maybe your best bet. i've not seen rust that bad around a roof. check out custom trucks mag ''project get shorty'' they have a good article on chopping a 71 truck cab. adjust your doors and brace the cab well, before cutting. when your door gaps look good; weld it. resist the urge to chop a 55-59 cab, too many of these trucks get chopped and not finished because the owner can't get glass to fit.

[ogre]

thanks halfton. big winter project is to get the door panels done. still lots of little stuff to do. cruise doesn't work. ac doesn't work; have to pull the console out to replace the expanssion valve. speedo hangs up and reads slow; found a local shop to rebuild it for $150. so basicaly i need to gut the interior this winter. we have an old car show in town next weekend, i'll probably park it for the winter after that. 54 was the high yesterday, salt season is coming...

[NEW INTERIORS]

Love the way it looks... Great Idea..

[deadbodyman]

ND,patching up the inside isnt a big deal and mighbe fun,you'll defenitly learn something..
I'd strip the outer roof and see if its in good shape (it looks like it is)
Try replacing the bad metal first and if it gets to be to much for you ,you can always cut the whole roof off..it may sound scary but its actually pretty ez with a few proper tools...and theres plenty of talent here to guide you either way you go..

oK GUYS,I found a 55 trk and need your advice.Its got a 57 hood on it and its a running trk with a hot little 350 in it ...The body is pretty darn good its not packed with bondo no paint ,just primer..The guy wants 4,500 for it ..I can actually drive it home (thats the nice part) I really want it but 3,500 sounds good to me ...what do yall think.Whats a nice DD with paint worth??? I think I'm trying to get someone to talk me out of it ...But I do need a truck and 4,500 is not that much for a truck,any truck...I'll be hauling a big dual axel utility trailer and a car trailer mostly.
Geeze ,,I think I just talked myself into it...Funny thing was I was up there looking at two rusted 41 chevy sedans and this guy had four 55 trks sitting in the garage.. These may just be the best looking trks ever made and I always wanted one..
Alright, so I'll call the guy...thanks guys for helping me to make up my mind...

[ogre]

dbm
your wife says you have too many projects now.
this late model truck may be a little out of your league,
they fall apart at the mere mention of towing a trailer.
but if the body is as good as you say, send it to me...
you'll just tear it apart, hotrod it and put a cherry paint job on it.
ogre






ps: welcome to the 55-59 chevy truck owners club.
and yes these trucks are the best looking trucks ever made.
glad we could help make up your mind
4500 sounds good, 3500 sounds better
i paid 2500 for mine in very nice shape 20 yrs ago

[deadbodyman]

I talked to the guy yesterday and hes very interested in my old Iroc and my 54 chevy trk ,I smell a trade in the air...
My plan is to do a few minor things like put a seat in it and just drive it .Well I'll have to bag it first but thats it ..its also been clipped already ...If I do anything at all to it I'll box the frame and chop it but the trucks are pretty much perfect just the way they are.
I'd rather drive a primed 55 than any run of the mill newer truck ..same goes for a car too.
Funny,I did make the mistake of telling the wife of my plan to get a truck and that I found one for 4,500 ...WHAT !!!! for that kind of money it better be like new ,she said...I told her it was pretty nice but I may have forgot to tell her the year it was made.Pics are coming, I'll be sure to get one of her expression when she first sees it.
Sometimes building a rod takes more than just money and knowledge...

[vortectim]

Ive got a 56 Chevy Truck for sale, I hate to get rid of it but I just don't have the time and income to finish it. Im considering all trade and cash offers. You can view it on the classifieds section.

[57halfton]

DBM , Bag it ? , box the frame ? , chop it ? Drive it in primer I understand, I shot a coat of primer on my 57 last January now its all one color and low maintenance for driving back and forth to work.
Gene

[deadbodyman]

If this all works out ,the first thing I'll do is install air ride,so I can have the best of both worlds,a nice hwy ride and something that'll tow my big trailer...Plus it'll look good in thedriveway sittin on the rockers...
Boxing the frame will give some extra strength for hauling too..
If I do anything at all to the body it'll be a slight chop maybe 2" but that'll be later on down the line..
The guy has one with a 4" chop and it looks pretty good but maybe a little too much...
I'll use it as a truck not a trailer queen so the paint will come later and even then it'll only be a SS like Nason Ful-Thane ,so scratches wont bother me...
You guys have some great looking trucks and I just gotta have one...I'll be asking a ton of questions once I get this and its nice knowing everything I'll ever need to know is right here...It wouldnt surprise me if the guy I'm getting it from is a member here also...

[DOUBLEDICK]

Hello Guys it has been a long time.I am finally getting my life and my head back together.I am picking up the wrenches today and all weekend.I have to fix the things I have neglected for so long.Got to change the wheel bearings on the 98 then tie rod ends on the saturn and put the new muffler on the motor home.On the up side the contractor is supposed to come bid the concrete in the new shop on Saturday.After the concrete is done I can put the 58's in the shop and get started on the rebuild.It will be nice to work indoors this winter No more tools lost in the snow for the winter I will soon be done working on the halve to's and get on to the want to's LIFE IS GOOD!

[ogre]

dbm
if you have the time, read all 2k posts in this thread. lots of good info in here.
sounds like we're drinking the same kool-aid



dd
your not going to miss working on your back in a snow drift.
post pics of shop progress
welcome back, i can't even imagine.

[Yellow55]

I just bought a 55 3100 and I am needing a little advice, my goal is to put a IFS on this truck from now I want to drive it a little before I take it apart for a major rework. some one did a cheap lower job by removing leafs where is a good scorce for some additonal springs to raise it just a little. My most urgent need is a steering rod with the ball typr ends. does some one makes these still?

As I figue this site out I will post some pics to give you a Idea what I am starting with. Some one did most of the hard work it just need detailed and finished.

When we are all done we will convert it to Natural Gas using Hilborn stacks and a MEFI5 EFI, We can do the software our self. CNG is only $1.30 per gallon here.

[58Apache]

After having the truck a few years I finally got around to tearing it down so I can work on it this winter. I have a 58 1 ton dually and I bought a 1972 3/4 ton frame to move the body to. I wan tto keep it a dually so I'm going to move the dually rear end to the 72 frame.

I need to find the rubber bushings for the leaf srping setup. Any ideas?

I'll try to post some pics.

[58Apache]

Here's the current rear end on the 72 3/4 ton frame. It's an eaton. I will likely sell it to help finance the project.

[deadbodyman]

HEY 58, Is THAT a .....409 ????? holly crap!!!
I've been toying around with the idea of using a shortend dually rear myself..