1958 project fleetside pics.

[fabguy]

Hi all,
I am new to this site. I have a 1958 fleetside pick up, and a 1955 carry-all (suburban)
1958:
Our truck is a fleetside, originally a long bed, shortened rear of frame, then a 1971 1/2 ton truck front clip was added. currently the truck will be going to the body shop on 8/13/2010 if I get a few mods done first. Bed is leaving tomm. I still have the frame in my shop & trying to decide wether or not to bag it, or just lower it. then it is going off to powder coat. I have a nice lil 327 that was locally rebuilt by blair's. Looking for a 700r4, so if you know of one let me know. Also it will be getting a 57 truck front end ( i think )I have an extra one & the 58 front end.
Now for the carry-all
1955 carry-all:
Our carry-all has alot of sentimental value for us, It was a project started by my father-in-law years before he passed away, we bought it from him right after we all found out he had cancer I spent many hours helping him build this beaut so here are the spec's: body 1955 carry-all, engine, trans, rearend, fuel lines & tank, wiring & speedo, are out of a 1994 caprice police interceptor, nothing is better than having fuel injection (throttle body for now). frame is a 1971 1/2 ton truck with swing arm rearend. Here is a few pics of them. I will post more as I take them & from the body shop.

[Tchia65]

Welcome, I'm new too and starting on my 58 Fleetside.

[70-Shorty]

those are some cool projects you have going.....Not that i have the resources (YET) but i would seriously love to do a '58 fleetside shortbed on a '57 short wb chassis and do a low rent cameo thing. I prefer the tri-five front clip over the 58's dual headlight styling.
I'm gonna be watching this thread....love both trucks you have.
Welcome and good luck!
Tim

[fabguy]

Originally Posted by Tchia65

Welcome, I'm new too and starting on my 58 Fleetside.

Hello, & are the fleetsides getting popular now?

Originally Posted by 70-Shorty

those are some cool projects you have going.....Not that i have the resources (YET) but i would seriously love to do a '58 fleetside shortbed on a '57 short wb chassis and do a low rent cameo thing. I prefer the tri-five front clip over the 58's dual headlight styling.
I'm gonna be watching this thread....love both trucks you have.
Welcome and good luck!
Tim

Thank you, & what is a wb chassis. As far as my 58 dual headlight front end, I am thinking about making a BBQ out of it I think it would be cool. hehehe Hey noticed your local to me, if you need some help from a small shop, let me know.

[70-Shorty]

Originally Posted by fabguy

Thank you, & what is a wb chassis. hehehe Hey noticed your local to me, if you need some help from a small shop, let me know.

Short Wheel Base....
yep i'm in ontario. Have a sign shop corner of Brooks & Mountain....down the St. from TCI.
Tim

[fabguy]

Well the owner of the body shop is picking up the bed today. Have to weld up a few more small holes and mock the front end & doors (need to patch the bottoms 1st.) up on the cab dolley then the cab is off too. Excited about it all. Will post more pics later.

[fabguy]

Ok, bed is off to body shop. Here are a few pics of the truck now. By the way, the wife said she wants to keep it looking like a 58, so dual headlights it is. Now I have an extra 57 front end.
also, anyone know where I can get some original bed inner fender wells?

[poncho_villa]

I'll have to side with your wife. Some of us actually like the dual headlights. You should have no problem selling off that extra 57 front end. That '55 carry-all looks great. Any more pictures of that?

[fabguy]

I will post more soon of the carry-all. She is a little rough in some parts but she again will be a daily driver once I drop the tank & replace the fuel pump. She is a project we will start
once the truck is back on the road again.

[Kabwe]

Looks like you have some really nice projects.

[renegade6]

Originally Posted by fabguy

... By the way, the wife said she wants to keep it looking like a 58, so dual headlights it is. Now I have an extra 57 front end.

Don't feel bad. I ended up with a manual transmission and a bench seat for the same reason.

[fabguy]

Originally Posted by Kabwe

Looks like you have some really nice projects.

Thank You, Yeah I hope to have them both done soon, but concentrateing on the p/up first.

Originally Posted by renegade6

Don't feel bad. I ended up with a manual transmission and a bench seat for the same reason.

Funny how it works, you have a picture in your mind & they have one also but theirs always wins. I like them both. Yeah, I have to find some bucket seats soon for the burban, bench from truck is in it.

[CAL 58 GMC]

looking good!

[Kabwe]

fabguy I got a 700r4 from the Pomona Swap meet for 75 bucks. I rebuilt it and put it in my 55 Sedan.

[fabguy]

Originally Posted by Kabwe

fabguy I got a 700r4 from the Pomona Swap meet for 75 bucks. I rebuilt it and put it in my 55 Sedan.

I am going to go to the Pomona swap meet this sunday 8-15-2010 & look for one plus some other stuff too for the truck. If you go, look for me pulling one of these wagons & say hi if you like.

Mike

[Tchia65]

I'll be there Saturday, don't have a fifty wagon though

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by fabguy

I am going to go to the Pomona swap meet this sunday 8-15-2010 & look for one plus some other stuff too for the truck. If you go, look for me pulling one of these wagons & say hi if you like.

Mike

I will not be there this Sunday, but I have some advice for you. Wait until a little later in the afternoon to buy expensive items, people are willing to deal more because they don't want to pack all that stuff back up. Except for the professional vendors that is. People come to sell not unload and reload.lol So what I do is walk around first and remember where I seen things I need and then I catch them again later when they are thinking about leaving. Now if its a hot item you better get it quick(fenders, doors, hoods etc). The 700r4 is not a hard item to find.

Also get a 700R4 from late 1987-92 they had all the factory upgrades that solved the lubrication issues that plagued the '86 and earlier units.

here is a link that shows you how to tell what year the transmission is
http://www.technicalvideos.com/what_year_700R4.phtml

[fabguy]

Thank you for the advice & info about the 87-92 700R4.

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by fabguy

Thank you for the advice & info about the 87-92 700R4.

No problem man and good luck Sunday finding what you need. Oh and really cool wagons they come in handy don't they?

[fabguy]

Originally Posted by Kabwe

No problem man and good luck Sunday finding what you need. Oh and really cool wagons they come in handy don't they?

Thank you & Yeah they do come in handy, We have been building them for 4 yrs now. They have 4 wheel steering & 2 different models.

[fabguy]

well, finally got it assembled on the dolly for the body shop. It goes this thursday. Just have to hurry and fill in the vent below the windshield

[sson20s]

nice project ,wish i would have never got rid of my 59
i have a 56 big window ,trying to trade for a chevelle or impala .
what color are u painting it?

[fabguy]

Thank you sson20s,
It will be a Metallic rootbeer with apache white (like a coffee w/cream)insert around cab, inside door panels & along spears of bed (if I can find bed trim). I went with those colors mainly for the fact that I always love to see old trucks & cars with earthy colors, although I also like the new colors too, thats why we are leaning towards a burgandy wine candy for the suburban with a similar insert around the cab.

I met Thinkblu4 evr, today along with his son, father (i believe) out there also, great group of guys.

Had some good luck at the antique swap meet today, found a VERY good set of 58-59 fleetside wheel wells for $25.00 ea. & a chrome rear bumper (new fleetside) for $125.00, & set of saddles for the ford 9" rear end I am putting in the behind of the truck. Not sure what I am gonna do w/ my chevy 12 bolt yet.

[Thinkblue4 Evr]

Thats a sweet carry all i like it and nice build so far. And I wish we had the luxury of a shop space gets tight fast.

[fabguy]

Well got the frame up on stands today, going to get it ready for paint or powder coat. Going to try to do the bag brackets this week and strip down all the stuff.