I started almost a year ago thinking about gathering all the pieces for a '55/'56 Chevy pickup and finally have all the pieces- plus a bunch of extras. Yesterday morning I spotted a really nice big-window cab on ebay with an awesone "Buy-It-Now" price and snapped it up because the price of it was a lot less than it would cost to weld my big-window frame into my very nice small-window '57 cab. Plus it has really nice doors (alone worth the price) and was a totally rust-free cab that has already been blasted, primed and blocked and just needs to be shot in the color of my choice. I first picked up a '56 Chevy shortbed for $500- that SamIyam spotted a couple hundred miles north of me. It worked out that my sister magazine brothers at Custom Classic Truck needed some tech on installing a dropped axle, disc brakes and a rear-end flip kit so I did that on a couple of my weekends and finished it off with a set of OG chrome reverses, spider caps from Riley Automotive and a set of U.S. Royal wide whites. That was a couple months ago before we took care of the summer's schedule of events. All the while I have been collecting nicer sheetmetal to replace the shot cab and doors that came with the original truck. I recently bought a zero-rust or damage '57 small-window cab & doors to go along with my HAMB saved big-window cab I will cut the big-window clip out of that was headed to the scrap yard. Also picked up a '57 hood because I like the hood bumps and a '57 inner grille came from another HAMBer so I can make my own custom grille. So total right now I have 3 front clips, 3 cabs and 2 beds with rear fenders to build into my "dream truck". My dad had a really nice '55 when I was born and I was crushed when he sold it when I was 5. I plan on using the extra pieces to build my 14-year old son his first ride to haul him and his dirt bike around and I'm really glad he has taken an interest and said "I don't want any import cars". Got a radiator from '40 StudeDude (yes, I sent the payment!) Also along the way of my parts hoarding I picked up a '57 short panel from HAMBer Seon that I'm picking up next weekend, some really nice panel seats for it from Resorit (sp?), got some parts relayed from Kansas HAMBers (THANKS guys!) and just talked to Sean at Fat Lucky's about my special carpeting he's making for me and ultimately I will work out getting him to upholster my seat (this is ESPECIALLY exciting as I have NEVER paid anyone to do uphosltery work for me). So all in all this has really been a HAMB project and I have to thank BulletNose for the picture of his buddies truck that got me totally reinspired in finding and building one of these trucks. This truck was bought off the lot in 1956 and immediately lowered and lakes pipes added. I LOVE IT! And this picture was taken less than a half mile from MY house 50 YEARS AGO!!! Thanks to all the HAMBers- look forward to posting some pictures in a few weeks when all the pieces are looking like a truck finally! I know that there are lots of pictures floating around here of cool '55-'59 Chevy pickups- if you could add them here I can always use the inspiration. Thanks Jim
jimmy good luck with the truck, also yet got a extra GOOD driver door weve been threw about 5 so far thayve all been BAD
Yes, I might have a nice extra driver door after I get all these pieces picked up- you need it right away?
Sounds like you've got a winner planned there, Jim! I'm looking forward to seeing more posts about your progress! Ben
I love those trucks too, I had a 56 when I was 16 years old, and hope to build another like it one day.
Way to go, Jim! Keep us posted! When you get it running, maybe you could show it off at the Pomona Swap for all to see????!!!!Or the LA Roadster Show????!!!!!
Should have it at the roadster show- no problem. Thanks Jim Running a '58 Small-Block dressed up with a lot of polished and finned aluminum- DEFINITELY NO Billet! More HAMBer stuff with chrome pulleys from 3-window Larry and a fancy oil fill tube from Dickster. And a Skull shift knob from ChromedRat and an early Corvette style steering wheel from F-100Parts. The final touch will be my HAMBer made plaque from BedSledKustoms.
Good luck Jim, I think it is especially cool of you building a truck for your son. He must be a good kid to feel the attachment to American Iron too.... Look forward to seeing the "new" Dream Truck's new form.......
I was excited to find out tonight that my engine is a '62 283 with '57 heads. I was worried it was going to be a '75 305 and that would just bother me because even though its just a small-block Chevy, I prefer it be a vintage one.
Jim, so now the cab you picked up from me is just extra???? Man... I hoped to see it driving around...Maybe use it for your son??? EVILT
Yeah, I ended up just saving the big rear window clip (for a small-window cab) since the rain gutters, heater boxes and cab corners were rusted off- and the dash was cut up. I picked up a perfect small-window cab with doors for $500- and a big-window cab with doors & not one ounce of rust already primed, blocked and ready for paint for $900-. Consider that nice doors alone go for over $500 a pair so one cab was free and the other big-window was $400-. It would have cost 2-3 grand to repair that cab I got from you- just pure economics, and I'm CHEAP! It's not going to waste, just not feasable to fix it. Thanks Jim
I was just messing with you.... I figured it was for parts.. That's where the doors and rest of it went...I am cheap too. You could scrap out what is left for enough money to get a soda... EVILT
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