jkretzer
MegaCrank
- Joined
- Jul 9, 2006
- Messages
- 1,444
I was asked by a few members to start a thread on my build, and besides I always enjoy looking at what everyone else is building so here it goes. First off this will be a slow build while funds and time allow.
The truck was given to me in trade for some car work for my neighbor. 1956 chevy 3100 shortbed stepside 2wd. 3sp column, orig 235 straight 6 engine. the engine was locked up so I pulled it to tear it down, the plan was to refresh the engine and put it back in the truck for a short time so I could drive and enjoy the truck some, but plans have changed. I was power washing the block yesterday to remove the 58 yrs of grime and saw a 12" crack along the drivers side of the block. I have always wanted this body style truck to DD and icing on the cake would be to have a 4BT in it backed by a 5speed, so that is the direction it is going now. I wont need to find an engine just yet but if a deal comes along I will jump on it. so if anyone has or knows where a 4bt is let me know, don't care if it needs rebuilt or is just a long or short block.
The truck has been sitting since 1985 in my neighbors yard on a slight slant towards the drivers side so that is where most of the rust is. the frame is solid, the passenger side is in good shape other than the cab corner and rocker panel. My plan for the body is to remove a piece at a time and cut out the rust and weld in new metal, strip the paint and prime it then store it so I can move on to the next. drivers fender was the worst so naturally that is where I started. next in line is the drivers door, then passenger fender, then door. Once the front clip is complete I will move onto the cab, then remove the cab once complete and start on the bed and chassis.
Since I am never planning to get rid of the truck and I am by no means an experienced body man, I am going to get the body as straight as I can, with the full intentions that I may remove and rework parts in the future.
My end goal is to have an original truck in appearance but have comforts of newer vehicles, power steering, disc brakes, bucket seats with belts, tilt column.... etc. below are a few pics and some of the progress I have made which isn't too much. Once my busy season at work stops I will work on it more.
The truck was given to me in trade for some car work for my neighbor. 1956 chevy 3100 shortbed stepside 2wd. 3sp column, orig 235 straight 6 engine. the engine was locked up so I pulled it to tear it down, the plan was to refresh the engine and put it back in the truck for a short time so I could drive and enjoy the truck some, but plans have changed. I was power washing the block yesterday to remove the 58 yrs of grime and saw a 12" crack along the drivers side of the block. I have always wanted this body style truck to DD and icing on the cake would be to have a 4BT in it backed by a 5speed, so that is the direction it is going now. I wont need to find an engine just yet but if a deal comes along I will jump on it. so if anyone has or knows where a 4bt is let me know, don't care if it needs rebuilt or is just a long or short block.
The truck has been sitting since 1985 in my neighbors yard on a slight slant towards the drivers side so that is where most of the rust is. the frame is solid, the passenger side is in good shape other than the cab corner and rocker panel. My plan for the body is to remove a piece at a time and cut out the rust and weld in new metal, strip the paint and prime it then store it so I can move on to the next. drivers fender was the worst so naturally that is where I started. next in line is the drivers door, then passenger fender, then door. Once the front clip is complete I will move onto the cab, then remove the cab once complete and start on the bed and chassis.
Since I am never planning to get rid of the truck and I am by no means an experienced body man, I am going to get the body as straight as I can, with the full intentions that I may remove and rework parts in the future.
My end goal is to have an original truck in appearance but have comforts of newer vehicles, power steering, disc brakes, bucket seats with belts, tilt column.... etc. below are a few pics and some of the progress I have made which isn't too much. Once my busy season at work stops I will work on it more.