'55Chevylover's 55stepside build up - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

'55Chevylover · 12-13-2009, 05:34 PM

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

'55Chevylover · 12-13-2009, 06:13 PM

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 · 12-13-2009, 06:23 PM

More pics of door post repair.

'55Chevylover · 12-13-2009, 06:32 PM

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

'55Chevylover · 12-13-2009, 06:36 PM

More pics of stripping.

'55Chevylover · 12-13-2009, 06:40 PM

Still on strippiing and priming.

poncho_villa · 12-13-2009, 06:44 PM

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 · 12-13-2009, 06:46 PM

Looking good. What are your plans for it?

'55Chevylover · 12-13-2009, 06:46 PM

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

'55Chevylover · 12-13-2009, 07:01 PM

Almost finished with the priming stage.

'55Chevylover · 12-13-2009, 07:18 PM

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 · 12-13-2009, 07:25 PM

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 · 12-13-2009, 08:19 PM

Fenders temporarily bolted back on and primed.

'55Chevylover · 12-13-2009, 08:37 PM

The hood was in pretty good shape.

'55Chevylover · 12-13-2009, 08:44 PM

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

'55Chevylover · 12-13-2009, 08:55 PM

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

'55Chevylover · 12-13-2009, 09:01 PM

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 · 12-13-2009, 09:06 PM

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 · 12-13-2009, 09:13 PM

Everything is out ready to put the new back in.

'55Chevylover · 12-13-2009, 09:27 PM

Now to put the new inner part back in.

'55Chevylover · 12-13-2009, 09:33 PM

Now for the outer panel.

'55Chevylover · 12-13-2009, 09:36 PM

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

'55Chevylover · 12-13-2009, 09:42 PM

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

'55Chevylover · 12-13-2009, 09:48 PM

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

'55Chevylover · 12-13-2009, 09:52 PM

Drivers side cab corners and step done.

12-13-2009, 05:34 PM	#1
'55Chevylover Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Charlotte NC Posts: 166	'55Chevylover's 55stepside build up This is my project, it is a '55 Chevy 3100 2nd series short bed stepside. Attached Images __________________ God Bless America '55 Shortbed Stepside '79 C10 2010 Malibu Not too proud of: 2011 Nissan Altima, (Not American made)

12-13-2009, 06:13 PM	#2
'55Chevylover Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Charlotte NC Posts: 166	Re: '55Chevylover's 55stepside build up 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 Attached Images __________________ God Bless America '55 Shortbed Stepside '79 C10 2010 Malibu Not too proud of: 2011 Nissan Altima, (Not American made)

12-13-2009, 06:23 PM	#3
'55Chevylover Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Charlotte NC Posts: 166	Re: '55Chevylover's 55stepside build up More pics of door post repair. Attached Images __________________ God Bless America '55 Shortbed Stepside '79 C10 2010 Malibu Not too proud of: 2011 Nissan Altima, (Not American made)

12-13-2009, 06:32 PM	#4
'55Chevylover Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Charlotte NC Posts: 166	Re: '55Chevylover's 55stepside build up I forgot to mention that I stripped the cab down so I could see what else I would find. Attached Images __________________ God Bless America '55 Shortbed Stepside '79 C10 2010 Malibu Not too proud of: 2011 Nissan Altima, (Not American made)

12-13-2009, 06:36 PM	#5
'55Chevylover Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Charlotte NC Posts: 166	Re: '55Chevylover's 55stepside build up More pics of stripping. Attached Images __________________ God Bless America '55 Shortbed Stepside '79 C10 2010 Malibu Not too proud of: 2011 Nissan Altima, (Not American made)

12-13-2009, 06:40 PM	#6
'55Chevylover Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Charlotte NC Posts: 166	Re: '55Chevylover's 55stepside build up Still on strippiing and priming. Attached Images __________________ God Bless America '55 Shortbed Stepside '79 C10 2010 Malibu Not too proud of: 2011 Nissan Altima, (Not American made)

12-13-2009, 06:44 PM	#7
poncho_villa Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: B.C. Posts: 457	Re: '55Chevylover's 55stepside build up 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? __________________ 58 Apache short fleetside ona 64 chassis:

12-13-2009, 06:46 PM	#8
ChuckDriver A320 Pilot/USAF Retired Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 2,629	Re: '55Chevylover's 55stepside build up Looking good. What are your plans for it? __________________ JJ My 1957 build: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=334552 http://www.trifive.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22037 Instagram - Chuckdriver57

12-13-2009, 07:01 PM	#10
'55Chevylover Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Charlotte NC Posts: 166	Re: '55Chevylover's 55stepside build up Almost finished with the priming stage. Attached Images __________________ God Bless America '55 Shortbed Stepside '79 C10 2010 Malibu Not too proud of: 2011 Nissan Altima, (Not American made)

12-13-2009, 07:18 PM	#11
'55Chevylover Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Charlotte NC Posts: 166	Re: '55Chevylover's 55stepside build up When I started on the fenders, this is what I found. Amazing what the filler and a super thick layer of primer can hide. Attached Images __________________ God Bless America '55 Shortbed Stepside '79 C10 2010 Malibu Not too proud of: 2011 Nissan Altima, (Not American made)

12-13-2009, 07:25 PM	#12
'55Chevylover Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Charlotte NC Posts: 166	Re: '55Chevylover's 55stepside build up 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. Attached Images __________________ God Bless America '55 Shortbed Stepside '79 C10 2010 Malibu Not too proud of: 2011 Nissan Altima, (Not American made)

12-13-2009, 08:19 PM	#13
'55Chevylover Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Charlotte NC Posts: 166	Re: '55Chevylover's 55stepside build up Fenders temporarily bolted back on and primed. Attached Images __________________ God Bless America '55 Shortbed Stepside '79 C10 2010 Malibu Not too proud of: 2011 Nissan Altima, (Not American made)

12-13-2009, 08:37 PM	#14
'55Chevylover Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Charlotte NC Posts: 166	Re: '55Chevylover's 55stepside build up The hood was in pretty good shape. Attached Images __________________ God Bless America '55 Shortbed Stepside '79 C10 2010 Malibu Not too proud of: 2011 Nissan Altima, (Not American made)

12-13-2009, 08:44 PM	#15
'55Chevylover Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Charlotte NC Posts: 166	Re: '55Chevylover's 55stepside build up This is another thing that I found on both fenders. I will replace them with new ones. Attached Images __________________ God Bless America '55 Shortbed Stepside '79 C10 2010 Malibu Not too proud of: 2011 Nissan Altima, (Not American made)

12-13-2009, 08:55 PM	#16
'55Chevylover Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Charlotte NC Posts: 166	Re: '55Chevylover's 55stepside build up These are a few pics of the cab, fenders and hood. Attached Images __________________ God Bless America '55 Shortbed Stepside '79 C10 2010 Malibu Not too proud of: 2011 Nissan Altima, (Not American made)



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12-13-2009, 09:01 PM	#17
'55Chevylover Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Charlotte NC Posts: 166	Re: '55Chevylover's 55stepside build up 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. Attached Images __________________ God Bless America '55 Shortbed Stepside '79 C10 2010 Malibu Not too proud of: 2011 Nissan Altima, (Not American made)

12-13-2009, 09:06 PM	#18
'55Chevylover Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Charlotte NC Posts: 166	Re: '55Chevylover's 55stepside build up 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. Attached Images __________________ God Bless America '55 Shortbed Stepside '79 C10 2010 Malibu Not too proud of: 2011 Nissan Altima, (Not American made)

12-13-2009, 09:13 PM	#19
'55Chevylover Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Charlotte NC Posts: 166	Re: '55Chevylover's 55stepside build up Everything is out ready to put the new back in. Attached Images __________________ God Bless America '55 Shortbed Stepside '79 C10 2010 Malibu Not too proud of: 2011 Nissan Altima, (Not American made)

12-13-2009, 09:27 PM	#20
'55Chevylover Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Charlotte NC Posts: 166	Re: '55Chevylover's 55stepside build up Now to put the new inner part back in. Attached Images __________________ God Bless America '55 Shortbed Stepside '79 C10 2010 Malibu Not too proud of: 2011 Nissan Altima, (Not American made)

12-13-2009, 09:33 PM	#21
'55Chevylover Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Charlotte NC Posts: 166	Re: '55Chevylover's 55stepside build up Now for the outer panel. Attached Images __________________ God Bless America '55 Shortbed Stepside '79 C10 2010 Malibu Not too proud of: 2011 Nissan Altima, (Not American made)

12-13-2009, 09:36 PM	#22
'55Chevylover Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Charlotte NC Posts: 166	Re: '55Chevylover's 55stepside build up I also put the new step in along with the outer corner. Attached Images __________________ God Bless America '55 Shortbed Stepside '79 C10 2010 Malibu Not too proud of: 2011 Nissan Altima, (Not American made)

12-13-2009, 09:42 PM	#23
'55Chevylover Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Charlotte NC Posts: 166	Re: '55Chevylover's 55stepside build up Now I am starting on the right side inner and outer cab corners and step. Attached Images __________________ God Bless America '55 Shortbed Stepside '79 C10 2010 Malibu Not too proud of: 2011 Nissan Altima, (Not American made)

12-13-2009, 09:48 PM	#24
'55Chevylover Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Charlotte NC Posts: 166	Re: '55Chevylover's 55stepside build up Now I am going back with the L/H cab corners and step. Attached Images __________________ God Bless America '55 Shortbed Stepside '79 C10 2010 Malibu Not too proud of: 2011 Nissan Altima, (Not American made)

12-13-2009, 09:52 PM	#25
'55Chevylover Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Charlotte NC Posts: 166	Re: '55Chevylover's 55stepside build up Drivers side cab corners and step done. Attached Images __________________ God Bless America '55 Shortbed Stepside '79 C10 2010 Malibu Not too proud of: 2011 Nissan Altima, (Not American made)

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