What did you do with your truck today, Part 3

[idbeast]

Originally Posted by dsraven

idbeast,
nice job on getting the front wheels centred in the openings for the size of wheel and amount of drop you chose. how much forward of stock location are you, 1"?

I'm actually in the stock location! I took the 20's off my Avalanche and put on my 55 GMC 6 lug bolt pattern to see what they would look like, they were way too big! So I decided on 18's, with the help of someone getting ready to open his own wheel and tire business, and he hooked me up with a killer price!

[dsraven]

stock axle as well?
mine is MII, but not even close to done yet.

[idbeast]

77 Nova front clip on the 56 Chevy, stock axel on the 55 GMC!

[idbeast]

Originally Posted by my56chevytruck

I really like your wheels and the stance. I'm searching for the right wheels for my 56. great truck!!

Thanks my56chevytruck, my wheel and tire guy brought me several mounted wheels and tires and a few tires, to try out when I explained that I've got a 77 Nova front clip and rear end and wasn't sure exactly what I needed for size or offset!

[MARTINSR]

Soooooo, no five minutes yesterday or the day before. Wednesday I took my wife on her Christmas present night out to SF to the Orpheum Theater to see a play (Finding Neverland) and we didn't get home until midnight. Then last night I was dog tired and didn't get out there. Not only was I out till midnight we got lost going to the play and walked quite a bit in the pouring rain before the play.

So there are my excuses. The show was outstanding by the way.

Tonight I got out there for a little while and cut out the rust and made the patch panel for the hole. The gap at the rear corner really isn't as bad as it looks.

Brian

[MARTINSR]

I got that patch welded in the next night. And then tonight I cut and roughed into shape the outer patch. So funny how rough this area of the truck is, the fenders don't even match side to side.

So I know I will be at least as good as it was.

Brian

[Whumbachumba]

Test fitted the new wheels on the truck today and installed new shifter ball. Easy processes, but it's progress!

[idbeast]

Got the one piece windows in and working!

[MBrown]

Removed the hood and the front clip, getting ready to install Flat-Out corvette frt cross member! then going in with the 5.3 and transmission.

[MBrown]

I know some of you are saying without pics it didn't happen so:

[MBrown]

What is this piece called? I pressure washed the frame and firewall and this is the only rust through I had. I want to know what its called so i can find a patch piece.

[idbeast]

fender aligned...

[idbeast]

and center console in.

[idbeast]

Put the seats in with the center console... it's starting to look like a truck again! And I know a lot of people don't like high back buckets, but the truck is being built for my comfort! Notice the split in the seat cushions, each side under each leg is air bladder controlled for adjustment!

[MARTINSR]

Right on!

Brian

[b-mac]

idbeast, I dig the seats. Most of the trucks here are at least a little "resto-mod" and it bums me out to see an awesome truck, someone has put a ton of work into, and I open the door to see a bench seat from an '89 chevy farm truck...or worse. I want to be able to take a corner in my truck, and I don't want my ass to slide to the passenger's side. I would also prefer not to die from a broken neck when some dumbass in a Kia, on their cellphone, rear-ends me at a stoplight.
But, to each, his own. I see the appeal of an OEM look.

Anyway, more door repair for me. Moved to the other side.

[strider621]

Well I am like a kid on Christmas Eve. After 3 1/2 years in body shop/paint prison, I am getting to bring my truck home tomorrow. This process began July of 2013 when I took possession off the transport truck. For the first 6 months I worked on the interior,engine and underneath. Then it went into prison where it was blown apart all the way to the frame. I continued to help my friend work on the truck at the body shop but he did a lot of the tedious work. He is buffing out the hood tonight and we will put it on for the last time in the morning. I never felt it would be right to have a build thread because I wasn't doing a lot of the work. The last 3 years have been trying on my patience, but now my excitement has drowned out my frustration. Here is a front shot with the new smoothie front bumper. I will try and post some finished pictures in the near future.

[idbeast]

Looking good!

[strider621]

Thanks, idbeast.

[b-mac]

Love it. More pics please. I dig that bumper.

[oldman3]

Very nice looking truck, smoothie bumper is great...Jim

[strider621]

Well we had a productive day getting the front end completed, hood on and aligned. I had put 2" drop spindles on earlier without the hood and bumper. Now the front wheels are too close to the fender well. They don't hit but I am afraid a sharp turn and a dip in the road will let them scrape. I will mill out the centers of the wheels and remove the spacers to let them recess back in the wheel well. It seems like I take two steps forward and one step back. One of these days I am going to luck out and the sun will be shinning when I take pictures.

[strider621]

One more picture of the other side.

[idbeast]

Looks great!

[strider621]

Thanks idbeast.. I was disappointed not to be able to drive it home today but it's been over 3 years so I guess I can wait.