'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?

[ChuckDriver]

Looking good. What are your plans for it?

['55Chevylover]

I got the whole cab primed except for the steps that are going to be replaced anyway.

['55Chevylover]

Almost finished with the priming stage.

['55Chevylover]

When I started on the fenders, this is what I found. Amazing what the filler and a super thick layer of primer can hide.

['55Chevylover]

This is the drivers side fender. It had been hit at the rear of the fender and the cab also has a dent in it, but I am not going to do anything with that because it will be covered back up again.

['55Chevylover]

Fenders temporarily bolted back on and primed.

['55Chevylover]

The hood was in pretty good shape.

['55Chevylover]

This is another thing that I found on both fenders. I will replace them with new ones.

['55Chevylover]

These are a few pics of the cab, fenders and hood.

['55Chevylover]

The next thing was to start on the rear inner and outer cab corners and steps. I had ordered these patch panels from Obsolete Chevrolet but while checking all of the other on line parts places, I ran across the technical section on Brothers web site that had a step-by-step installation of the cab corners. I printed these out and followed them.

['55Chevylover]

Of course I didn’t have all of the exotic cutters and welders they used in the installation instructions. I used a 3” cut-off wheel on a 3/8” drill to cut the outer metal off and I had just bought a new mig welder but had never used one before. I also purchased a spot weld drill bit that they had suggested to drill out all of the spot welds. That was sweet.

['55Chevylover]

Everything is out ready to put the new back in.

['55Chevylover]

Now to put the new inner part back in.

['55Chevylover]

Now for the outer panel.

['55Chevylover]

I also put the new step in along with the outer corner.

['55Chevylover]

Now I am starting on the right side inner and outer cab corners and step.

['55Chevylover]

Now I am going back with the L/H cab corners and step.

['55Chevylover]

Drivers side cab corners and step done.