1957 Project!

[1956cameo]

After looking for about 10 years my parents (Muleman100) finally found a 57' short wheelbase big back window project. It is all original with the factory 283 v8, and Hydramatic automatic transmission.

We got it out of Southern Oklahoma, just outside of OKC. Tomorrow we are going to see if we can get it to start.


Here it is loaded up on our trailer. It has been sitting since 1996, so hopefully there is still some life left in her. If not, no big deal a complete restoration is scheduled for it.



Here we are strapping it down. The truck was a little busted up and rusty but the cab was in great shape, and the truck was complete.



Not much to the interior. It had some sort of home made door panels on it.



The former owner taking the hubcaps and beauty rings off of it just incase they popped off during transport. He had the truck since 1989. Said he wished he could keep it but knew he would never have the time to fix it up and was tired of seeing it just sit.



And were off back to Texas. We will keep you posted with any progress we make!

[kalirodding]

Looks good,Keep us posted. I just picked up a 55.

[drivea55]

looks like a good start there.

keep us posted...

now time to take my cab off...

[ChuckDriver]

Very nice! Please keep us posted on the progress.

[1956cameo]

I had today off so I went over to my dad's to see if we could get the truck started. First we had to go to the used tire shop since two of the tires on the truck wouldn't hold air. Next we put a battery in the truck and instantly the headlights came on and the windshield wipers were running. We turned the key and the starter seemed like it was dragging but was working. After replacing a few broken ignition wires and putting on new points we were able to get the truck to start and run. We even blew a rats nest out of the passenger side tail pipe!

Here is a picture of our tools sprawled out all over the place.



Here is my dad (Muleman100) scraping to find the stamp number on the carburator so we could get a rebuild kit. Tomorrow we are going to rebuild the carburator, tinker with the brakes, and see if we can get the truck driving. Still have to see if the automatic transmission is going to work.

[ChuckDriver]

Is that a spare Cameo bed in the background!!!!

[Muleman100]

Chuckdriver, You are pretty observant. We bought that complete 1957 Cameo bed about ten years ago and have just now found the right truck to put it on. When we start the restoration this truck will be finished as a Cameo.

[kalirodding]

What I would give for a Cameo bed.

[1956cameo]

We worked on the 57 again today. We rebuilt the carburator, replaced battery cable connectors, replaced some fuel lines, installed new belts, put a new fuel filter on, and took out the gas tank. We were able to get the truck to not only run but drive as well today. We got it up to second gear but due to it still not having brakes we were limited on how far or fast we could drive it.


The gas tank is pretty much junk. Not only did all but one screw holding the fuel sending broke off, there was a rust hole in the tank, and the inside of the tank looked like a tar pit. To give you an idea of how bad it was here is a picture of the fuel sending unit that came out of the tank.



I was driving back to the shop a little faster than I should have been and since I had no brakes I had to keep driving thru the overgrown back pasture. On the way back out of the pasture I started hearing a THUMP!! THUMP!! THUMP!! sound. Once I got the truck stopped I looked under it to see that all types of weeds got wrapped around the driveshaft.



The next thing we are going to try and do is get the brakes rebuilt so we can get the truck registered for road use. Not sure when the actual restoration is going to begin but for now we are enjoying getting the truck back in driving condition.

[Muleman100]

Brakes are on order so it can be driven and actually stop

[72addict]

I almost bid on that truck, but the guy told me it was not the original motor.
ANy chance you can email me some pics of the hydramatic linkages? I have a '58 that I am missing pieces of.

[ChuckDriver]

Nice WeedEater!!

[1956cameo]

72addict, You are correct the motor is not the original. It would have been nice to be #s matching but my parents wanted it either way. When we got it home we noticed it had side boss's and 57' blocks wouldnt have those. Then we ran the stamp # and it said it was a 1970 block 307. We will be going back with a date correct 283 when the restoration begins. The good news is the Hydramatic was rebuilt less than 100 miles ago though.

Yes I will get pictures of the linkage posted for you. Might be a little while but I will get them for you. I myself am paying very close attention to how all the Hydramatic components are comprised since my 56' Cameo originally was also a Hydramatic but now has a Caddy engine. I am trying to see how to put my truck back together properly.


Chuckdriver, It took the weeds out as good as a brushhog would have! When I first started hearing them whap up against the bottom of the truck I got really nervous. I thought I had cratered the tranny!

[Texasdeere]

Cool Find!

I would like to find a nice 55 or 56 stepside.

[72addict]

pics of linkages?

[1956cameo]

72addict, Sorry we haven't been working on the 57 lately due to other obligations and I completely forgot about getting the pictures. I am planning on going out to my dad's next week. I will get some pictures for you then.