'55Chevylover's 55stepside build up

['55Chevylover]

This is my project, it is a '55 Chevy 3100 2nd series short bed stepside.

['55Chevylover]

I have already posted some pics so I will try to pick up from where I left off.

The next project was the lower right door post. I removed all of the rusty metal, welded sheet metal on the inside of the post (not a whole lot of room in there) and coated the outside with cold bonding compound. Then I finished it off with body filler

['55Chevylover]

More pics of door post repair.

['55Chevylover]

I forgot to mention that I stripped the cab down so I could see what else I would find.

['55Chevylover]

More pics of stripping.

['55Chevylover]

Still on strippiing and priming.

[poncho_villa]

Looks great! I take it you don't plan to smooth the firewall by filling in all those holes. I didn't on mine, but I continue to use many of them. Are you shopping for a box? Or did you find one?

['55Chevylover]

Originally Posted by poncho_villa

Looks great! I take it you don't plan to smooth the firewall by filling in all those holes. I didn't on mine, but I continue to use many of them. Are you shopping for a box? Or did you find one?

I looked for one but decided just to fill the unecessary ones. I have pics of that and I will post them later on in my buildup.

[ClassicDreamer]

great use for the tree. Keep up the great work

[Kim57]

Looks like a great project. Keep the pics coming.
Kim

[OrrieG]

Love the shade tree lift! When I was a kid we had a big willow that we used to pull engines, etc. It also served as good place to hide out of the sun and drink beer in the summer when the leaves would extend to the ground. About 10 years ago the County bought the property. I cut off a piece of the limb and have it on my story wall in the shop. I've also used the maple in my front yard to pull out the radiator support and frame on a car my daughter used to t-bone another. Big chain and a couple of yanks, beat the hood back in shape with a 4# hammer and it closed just fine.

['55Chevylover]

This whole project starated in '98 when I first bought the truck. I had too much 'STUFF' in my garage to get the truck in so I had to build a small shop on the back of my garage to put the 'STUFF'. I really didn't start on the truck until 2001. Also during that time, I started remodeling the inside of my house, which is the house I grew up in. So, the pics I have posted so far are from back in 2001. I am bringing this up to date and will continue to post photos of what has been done to the truck so far. Been a lot of time and MONEY spent on this so far. I originally started out with a budget in mind and have blown that completely out of the water. Now I am on a "do as I get the money schedule". This project is going to take quite a few more years before I can get it roadworthy.

['55Chevylover]

I just tacked the axle brackets on so I could see what it would look like. I like it.
I took measurements I don’t know how many time to get the yoke angle as close to the right degree as possible. I even got the little wife to come out and look at it also. When I tacked the brackets back on and remounted the rear end, the yoke was wayyyyyy off. I had grind the tacks off and start over again. I finally got the angle set at around 3 – 3 ½ degrees and reinstalled the rear end and it worked out beautiful. I had a PROFESSIONAL welder come by and finish welding the brackets on for me.

['55Chevylover]

After I got the brackets welded on, I stripped the rear end to get it ready for paint. Then I primed it. I did not clean and prime the backing plates since I am converting to disc brakes.

[CAL 58 GMC]

Nice job so far!

[poncho_villa]

Boy, are we ever glad you have a good camera and know how to use it. This build is sweet.

[hotrodrookie]

This is the making of a great build. I was wondering why you installed that 4 link when you mentioned you had a 9 inch. And how did you find a 9 inch in an 98 explorer?

Question: What are the sizes of your coilovers? Spring rate? And how far in from the inside of the framrail is the top shock mount in on that cross member?..
...I plan on building my own..

thanks

['55Chevylover]

Originally Posted by hotrodrookie

This is the making of a great build. I was wondering why you installed that 4 link when you mentioned you had a 9 inch. And how did you find a 9 inch in an 98 explorer?

Question: What are the sizes of your coilovers? Spring rate? And how far in from the inside of the framrail is the top shock mount in on that cross member?..
...I plan on building my own..

thanks

I am not sure what the spring rate is. I ordered this kit from Classic Industries and everything was there. I can take some measurements on the shock mounts and see if I can find the spring rates and coil size and add that to this thread.

[nickp51chevy]

You have a crazy awesome build going on! Keep the pix comin'.

[ya it is a classic]

wow this is looking very good!!! how did you sand the paint to bare metal? i use a 6in da air sander but i cant get into the cracks like you do. keep it up!!!
ps my bro in law is from charlotte nc. kewl

['55Chevylover]

Originally Posted by ya it is a classic

wow this is looking very good!!! how did you sand the paint to bare metal? i use a 6in da air sander but i cant get into the cracks like you do. keep it up!!!
ps my bro in law is from charlotte nc. kewl

I used an aircraft stripper and then I used a 4" shaft mounted nylon 80 grit abrasive circular brush that I bought from Harbor Freight item #91371. Put it in my 3/8 drill and went crazy. Of course I used several to get the whole cab done. They also have a 120 grit wheel that I used after the 80 grit.

[ya it is a classic]

Originally Posted by '55Chevylover

I used an aircraft stripper and then I used a 4" shaft mounted nylon 80 grit abrasive circular brush that I bought from Harbor Freight item #91371. Put it in my 3/8 drill and went crazy. Of course I used several to get the whole cab done. They also have a 120 grit wheel that I used after the 80 grit.

hay thanks! also did you spray paint the primer on the cab. thats what i did on my 67 gmc its rustoleum sandable automobile primer. its really nice but i can take my finger nail and just barely scratch it and leave a mark. its nice and durable though

[av8tr33337]

Great build thread. I don't have the $ to do as nice a build, but I hope I can put the same touch on my metal work as you did. Can you elaborate on what you mean by aircraft sander??? I built Jets for Cessna here in Wichita and we used Dotco's with cut off wheels, sanding pads, and scotchbrite pads, quite a bit but not sure if thats what you mean.

[ya it is a classic]

Originally Posted by av8tr33337

Great build thread. I don't have the $ to do as nice a build, but I hope I can put the same touch on my metal work as you did. Can you elaborate on what you mean by aircraft sander??? I built Jets for Cessna here in Wichita and we used Dotco's with cut off wheels, sanding pads, and scotchbrite pads, quite a bit but not sure if thats what you mean.

its a aircraft STRIPPER not sander. i think its a liquid that like softens and eats away the paint. then you take a wire brush and pretty much wipe it away

['55Chevylover]

Originally Posted by ya it is a classic

hay thanks! also did you spray paint the primer on the cab. thats what i did on my 67 gmc its rustoleum sandable automobile primer. its really nice but i can take my finger nail and just barely scratch it and leave a mark. its nice and durable though

I used a DZ3 automotive primer that I bought from our local automotive paint supplier.