[ogre]

funny thing is that there is no off/run bezel on the I6 trucks
but when you get a v8 truck it has a plastic bezel with off/run/start
i guess it saves that annoying search for the foot starter

you both have the I6 starter switch
on original v8 trucks the vin starts with ''V''

[cal1320]

Ok, my turn. I finally got some more improvements done on my truck. I purchased this 56 a couple of years ago and have been improving it as I went without pulling it off the road for long. New wiring, front power disc brakes, T-5 trans from an S10, 3.42 Camaro rear axle. The truck had a 58 283 with a rochester 4 jet that ran ok, but the valve guides were toast and would foul the plugs every 800 miles. The engine need a change and the manual steering had to go. The engine was easy, I had a 61 283 from an Impala project that ran good. Added 416 305 heads, Summit 1102 cam (performer copy), Aluminum street dominator intake for Q jet, serp belt drive from a 1990 chevy 4.3 . Engine runs great and has plenty of power. Very happy with it.
The steering was a little harder. Choices for power steering with a straight axle are either Toyota box or Chevy box. The Chevy box has many draw backs. The greatest is bump steer due to the very short steering arm.
I almost went with the Toyota until I started looking at the rack and pinion offered by No Limit. Quick steering, no bump steer, $800. Ouch $800. Wonder if I could do it cheaper. Yep. Saturn rack and pinion-free, steel for R&P bracket-free, new saturn rack inner tie rod ends-$25, machine the new inner ends-$40, outer tie rod ends, tubing and tubing ends-$60, reuse the factory column-$0, lower column bearing-$6, 3/4 DD x 1 DD u joint-$55, telescoping steering shaft-$85.
Thats it. Less than $300 for a power R&P straight axle steering set up.
It steers fantastic.

[Bluegoose57]

That's superb that you saved that I can't figure out how to download my pics to my profile

[paulem55]

Hey Richard,
Like your truck.
Just bought a 58 Apache. Needs everything. So I'll be picking your brain and everyone else's on this site.
I use to be a 55 man (year I was born) but the double headlights finally got to me.
Where do I go to try and sell a nice big window cab?
Thanks
paulem55
Virginia

[FireFighter128]

Hey fellas,
Hope everyone has been doing well. Does anyone here happen to have door glass assemblies they are looking to sell or get rid of? Im going with the original vent window type set up and looking for a used set.

[spacytracy]

Getting ready to to do some surgery on my 1957 chevrolet with small back window. I bought a rear cab clip locally for a big window wrap around, then bought a new large window and seal. I can see that the inside panel is different from the small to the large, but does not look like it will be a problem. I will be cutting off the back right at the body line detail, and am just hoping that the factory used same body line dimensions when these sections were stamped at the factory 56 years ago. Anybody else ever try grafting a big window section like this? I will post some pictures as soon as weather is good enough to move my hot rod outside will cutting and welding.

[dsraven]

there is a write up on it in the custom classic trucks tech section, or the classic trucks tech section. they cut it at the body line where the chrome pieces go on. the inside panel is different and it is longer top to bottom. maybe a cab strength issue? check out the article, it is pretty good info.

just as a side bar, does anybody know if the cabs from the bigger trucks, like a 3 ton, are the same as a 1/2 ton? I have a line on a 3 ton cab in better shape than my 1/2 ton cab. I would like to do the swap and then put the big back window in. my 1/2 ton needs cowls, floor, rockers and steps, lower hinge pillars, inner hinge pillars, pillar supports on the back side, lower front fnder mount brackets, front cab mount setions under the floor, cab corners inner and outer and work around the windshield because of rust. the 3 ton looks pretty good except for cab corners and inner hinge pillars. even the steps look pretty good.

any info would be appreciated.

[dsraven]

check out custom classic trucks tech section feb 2009 titled »1956 GMC Truck - Almost Paneless it goes through just installing the big window and not the whole back panel of the cab.

[spacytracy]

Thanks, though I will be also replacing the back section of the cab roof at the same time with mine, this answers most of my questions. I will try to photograph my before and progress of this and post. Thanks again for the lead on this article.