My complete '57 chevy build

[blackdiesel]

When i was 12 (2002) i decided that i wanted a 1957 Chevrolet for my first pickup. (I live on a farm, i started driving with my Dad when i was 4, and by the time i was 8 i drove Dad's standard pickup anywhere on the place that i wanted to go) Anyways, i wanted my pickup lifted, 4x4, red, and loud! Some of those desires have changed, i will explain in the thread.

I will give a little background on my family before i get to detailed on my story with descriptions and pictures. My Dad and Grandpa have/drive/build old cars. Grandpa has a '51 ford coupe, '57 chevy belair two door hardtop, and a '57 pickup (similar to mine, only terquoise and drivetrain differences) My Dad has a '56 chevy belair two door post and a '57 chevy pickup. (Will post a thread on this truck too) My two older sisters picked out old cars too, which required a buildup also. Its just a family tradition so to speak.

Ok, so at twelve years old, we started looking hard for a '57. In october we found it. It was setting on a narrowed frame with the makings of a pro street truck. It had good rear fenders, a good cab, and a good front clip. All in all it was a good truck to start out with.


Now, since i wanted a four wheel drive, my next purchase was a '77 gmc with a 4 speed, 205 transfer case, full floater 14 bolt and a dana 44.


Notice this frame was a long wheel base. I needed a short wheel base, so instead of cutting this frame down i found a half ton and swapped all the parts to it.

Sandblasted the frame and cleaned up the drivetrain really good. Fresh coat of black shiney paint make it all look new again. For a motor i am using a 305 tbi out of a 91 camaro with 30k miles (at the time of install)


Those wheels and tires are just rollers. Notice the big back glass cab. I love the looks of these. And the view from inside is insane. You can see everything!

This build, being my first obviously. i learnd so much. So big big BIG props to my Dad for that. There are so many memories that we have in this truck. He taught me everything i know about vehicles. We've learned alot since this build (have built several since) but the first is always the best.

Back to the truck. Here i learned how to mig weld by smoothing the firewall.


We sent off all of the metal to be sandblasted. Didnt find anything that we didnt expect. The core was pretty solid.


However you to find one that dosnt need cab corners is a rare duck!


To put the '57 on the '77 frame took a little fabrication. Had to raise the front cab mounts up 4". Then we mached everything up and did the body work. Also added a 4" suspension lift.


Then we blew everything apart, did the final bodywork, then primed it all.


The paint we laid down the first time was custom mixed. We started with Corvette Red then added (what seemed like) a bunch of colors. Took 3 gallons to paint it all


Two toned the dash with a high metallic silver and a metallic charcoal. You'll notice in the pictures that it has a late model Chevrolet stepside bed. I was anxious to get this truck on the road, and we couldnt find any good stepside rails. So this was a quick, easy, short term solution.

[blackdiesel]

Lets fast forward a little bit here, and this is what it looked like when it was completed in 2004



This lasted me till i was through high school. However there were parts of it that i just didnt like. As with all builds, it is never truely "done"

So after i graduated high school (class of '08 baby!) i decided to pull it back into the shop, repaint it, build the original bed, new interior (never really much cared for the first one) and an automatic transmission. I didnt want the lift anymore, and needed smaller tires. To be quite honest, it was like driving a basketball down the road and caught ALOT of wind. Handled horrible and acceleration was terrible.

Pulled the bed off, replaced the 4 speed with a rebuilt 700r4, took the lift out, and stepped down to a set of 285 tires instead of the 315's.

Back to the grindstone! Started block sanding the whole thing (AGAIN!) and getting ready for the new paint which was going to be Strawberry Pearl. (decided to go factory color to make color re-matching much much easier)



Then i went to work on the bed. Still couldnt find any good stock sides, so i built my own. Used 1/4" thick, 2x4 steel tubing, welded it together at 45* for the "custom" look. Then used original rear fenders. I welded the tailgate shut because A) Nothing will be loaded in the back of this truck and B) No one needed to be in the back of this truck. and finally to get rid of the chains and not have to worry about hinging and hidden latches



Then i proceeded to finishing blocking the fenders and rails, then paint. Then i put a custom wood floor in the bed. I laminated ash, cherry, and walnut together.


Progressing to the interior, i installed a new headliner, bench seat, carpet, kickpanels, and door panels.

[blackdiesel]

And finally we end up with a finished product:


Sorry she is so dirty in some of the pictures, it had been setting in the shop for a few weeks when the interior pics were taken.

[Kim57]

Very nice truck.
Kim

[blackdiesel]

Thank you!

[thirdstreettito]

Welcome! Nice truck! I definitely like it after the second rebuild.

[50adrod]

very nice, and such talent at a young age.

[JML55]

Very nice work.

[1956cameo]

Very nice! I think it looks alot better now that it has an original bed back on it. Glad to see such an ambitious new person on the board. Welcome!!

[blackdiesel]

Originally Posted by 1956cameo

Very nice! I think it looks alot better now that it has an original bed back on it. Glad to see such an ambitious new person on the board. Welcome!!

I totally agree. I never much cared for the late model bed, it was just the only option at the time. Thanks for the kind words!