'55Chevylover's 55stepside build up

[OrrieG]

When you use the stripper make sure you clean and neutralized it with water per the instructions. Residue left in the cracks will cause problems with the paint. I only use it on large panels where there are no cracks or crevices.

[ChuckDriver]

Awesome work and pictures!! Keep them coming.

I'm with Hotrodrookie the rear you have is not from a Explorer, but the brakes are. I've owned a 96 and a 99 V8 Explorer and neither had a 9in. I think they had the 8.8 similar to the mustang.?

['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.

['55Chevylover]

Originally Posted by ChuckDriver

Awesome work and pictures!! Keep them coming.

I'm with Hotrodrookie the rear you have is not from a Explorer, but the brakes are. I've owned a 96 and a 99 V8 Explorer and neither had a 9in. I think they had the 8.8 similar to the mustang.?

Well, I was told that this rearend was used in the Explorer from 95-2001.

['55Chevylover]

Originally Posted by JML55

Who did you get the 4 link kit from? Can you post a closeup pic of how the panhard bar is attached? My kit uses a different style panhard bar but i like yours much better.

I got it from Classic Chevrolet. Here are a few pics of how it attaches. The first shows the rear attachment. It bolts through the lower link to a pivot and the panhard bar bolts through the hole. The second pic shows where it attaches to the front using the same type bolting. The third shows the bar from the top.

['55Chevylover]

After I got the frame home, I had to come up with a way to run the engine so I could keep it from drying out while I finished the rest of the truck. I saw a portable run station on a web site and of course I could not afford that so I had to come up with my own interpretation for running the engine. I also had a lot of problems with the power steeting lines but finally got that cleared up after several weeks going back and forth with the frame shop to get the correct fittings. I had ordered a braided line kit but it did not have the right fittings. I came up with this plan, I built a basic start panel that has the tach, oil pressure, temp and volt meters. I wired up an ignition and start switch and fastened that temporarily to the frame. I used the radiator from my wrecked 92 camaro and the only fan I had was a house box fan. I got it all set up and have been running the engine for some time now. Don't laugh, it works.

['55Chevylover]

I only had a set of stock exhaust manifolds to put on so I could run the engine.

['55Chevylover]

Then I wanted to paint the calipers so I removed, cleaned, primed, painted and reinstalled them. These are on the rear.

['55Chevylover]

This is what the front looks like now.

['55Chevylover]

After all that was done, I started on the underside of the cab. I layed the cab on its back on a triple layer of blankets to protect it. Then I started stripping. I started by using a torch on the old undercoating and scraping it with a putty knife, wiped it down with paint thinner and then used the same type sanding brush I used on the cab.

['55Chevylover]

I found out that my dolly legs were in the way and I couldn't get to the corners, so I removed the dolly.

['55Chevylover]

I ordered some Seam-Seal from Eastwood and sealed all the seams where the cab corners and steps overlapped. Then I painted the whole under body with POR-15 and sprayed undercoating over that.

['55Chevylover]

The finished under cab.

['55Chevylover]

I then moved up to the firewall. I had about 30 holes to fill in. I decided I would do that and keep the original look on the firewall instead of replacing it with the smooth panel. A lot cheaper.

['55Chevylover]

Now we are up to date with my project. I ordered a smooth dash panel from Brothers and am in the process of installing the new panel. The first photo shows the dash where someone cut out the radio section and tried to smooth it out. I found this when I stripped the dash. The second photo shows the dash cut out. The third shows the new smooth dash panel and the old dash.

['55Chevylover]

The first photo shows the new dash panel clamped in with a straight metal bar under it to make sure it was straight. The second shows a 1/4" rod I had to tack in where the glove box was since the dash actually was recessed for the glove box door. The third shows a piece of unistrut I welded in so it would be behind the dash panel for extra support.

['55Chevylover]

The new panel is basically tacked in and almost ready to finish. You can see in the last pic that I am also filling the holes on the left side of the instrument 'V'. This is going to be a totally smooth dash except for the gauge cluster.

['55Chevylover]

These photos show the holes in to the left of the instrument gauge 'V'.

[poncho_villa]

Looks great. But there's still lots to do. When I first saw the picture of the engine in the run station, I thought, "jeez that's gonna be loud,... til the valves burn up". But then I saw the post about the stock manifolds you used. Ya had me goin for a minute there.

[lonelywanderer]

lookin good. do you hve any better pics of your engine mount set up. looking for ideas on how i should make mine

['55Chevylover]

Originally Posted by poncho_villa

Looks great. But there's still lots to do. When I first saw the picture of the engine in the run station, I thought, "jeez that's gonna be loud,... til the valves burn up". But then I saw the post about the stock manifolds you used. Ya had me goin for a minute there.

Since that photo was taken, I now have a set of hedders on and it really sounds GOOD

['55Chevylover]

Originally Posted by lonelywanderer

lookin good. do you hve any better pics of your engine mount set up. looking for ideas on how i should make mine

I have attached a couple of pics of the motor mounts. They were made of tubing welded to a plate that boxed in the frame at the motor mount location. Hope this helps some.

['55Chevylover]

Pictures of the new hedders.

[poncho_villa]

Looks like those hedders are good quality items. I like those thick flange ones as they are less prone to leaking. They aren't very tarnished yet. Too bad that has to happen, but it does add to the character of the chrome. Do you wear ear plugs when you fire it up?

['55Chevylover]

Originally Posted by poncho_villa

Looks like those hedders are good quality items. I like those thick flange ones as they are less prone to leaking. They aren't very tarnished yet. Too bad that has to happen, but it does add to the character of the chrome. Do you wear ear plugs when you fire it up?

No I don't, but I really should. Every time I run it I have to leave the garage because it is so loud.