norms 55 chevy pu build
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The story goes something like this. About 25 years ago my wife's grandpa (Rolf) was going to move to town as he and his wife were approaching 90. They owned this 55 Chevy pu.
Rolf had gotten it from his son (my father in law) who bought it in about 58 or 59 to drive back and forth to work at the local John Morrell plant in Sioux Falls SD. After about 10 years my FIL decided to trade for a newer Pu, when Rolf heard this, he bought it from his son to use as a farm pickup. For the next 20 years it lived a hard life on the farm and also served as a shop truck because Rolf was a mechanic and did repairs on neighbors equipment and also did tractor work in his shop, overhauling engines or fixing what-ever was wrong with them. When Rolf decided to move to town I asked if he might consider selling the 55 to me. He told me when he was done with it I could have it. About a year later the 55 came home to my house. When I got the 55 it was a long box but Rolf had a 55 short frame that he was going to build another pickup from but had not gotten to it, so I brought that short frame home too. The picture shows what I drug out of a corner of my shed after a 20 year slumber. I had done some work to it before putting it away which I will show in future pictures in future posts |
Re: norms 55 chevy pu build
If the moderators wish to move this to builds feel free to do so.
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Welcome.
Looks like a real puzzle to start with. Kim |
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Took the pickup all apart 20 years ago and put the cab on a short frame, then things came up and I put it in a corner and left it. Now I will have to re learn everything about it. |
Re: norms 55 chevy pu build
Interesting history on the truck! Did you go into the farming business?
Tagging along on the build. Have fun! |
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Since I had put the cab on to a short frame I needed to get a short box. Last summer I bought a short box that had been turned into a trailer.
I know I could buy all new stuff for this thing but the challenge for me is to use old stuff as much as possible and do my best to save it. Cool Vega tail lights :barf: |
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Decided to take the pu box trailer apart and put the pieces I will use inside. Got a little help from my daughter.
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This winter I started to fix some rust and dents in the box.
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Washington
That little gal look very knowledgeable/skilled. She needs leather for her hands and feet. Don't want to scar those young fore arms. She's a keeper, kill her 1st suitor, the word will get aroung :clap::clap::clap::clap: Look to be a great build. Keep on keepin on Nut Case :c2: |
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That looks like a lucky find on the trailer, plus it has the steps you will need. It still has the original emergency brake mechanism in it too.
I'm glad your daughter is interested in helping, It's good to see family members involved with a project. Looks like she knows what she's doing. |
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This corner of the box had been hit so I had to do some straightening.
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Nice fix on the box! You have some serious length clamps there.
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At some time someone had backed into something and dented and bowed the end gate. I was able to remove the dent but the gate will always have a slight inward bow.
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Repair looks real good.
Kim |
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This fender had gotten a bend in it during storage so I had some straightening to do.
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The front edge of the fender did not align with the step so I cut it and got it better. 20 years ago I made patches for the front lower edge of both fenders and they are still ok. The passenger side did not need any work to align with the step.
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Nice work.
Kim |
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Got the front end loosely put together. Lots of aligning to do when the doors are put on.
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Great project!
:uhmk: |
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I found on the passengers door a rusty hinge pocket, so I searched other builds and decided to fix with a plate.
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I got the hinge pocket welded back in and it is rock solid now. I found just a little bit of rust just below the pocket which I had to fix too. If there is any more rust I won't know until it is sandblasted.
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:uhmk: |
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Awesome project. Definitely following along.
Someone else may correct me on this but I did the same repair on one of my hinge pockets a couple weeks ago. I noticed in the pics that you dont have any welds on the side of the door close to the outside skin. Mine had a spot weld there on the support that comes off of the hinge pocket. Seems like that is needed to take some of the strain off of the inner door skin. |
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Looks like you have a few less spot welds than I do in mine. Guess the production guys must have been getting lazy on a Friday :lol:. Here are some pics from my repair. On the first one I have circled the weld point on the hinge pocket support and on the second the missing weld I was referring to. Hope it helps. http://i1148.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0jwyedsi.jpg http://i1148.photobucket.com/albums/...psl34cxmcd.jpg |
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Techie, you are 100% correct about having welds in places I don't. I can see how that one specific weld would stiffen the area. Looks like you have about 4 more welds than I did. It also looks like you have fine threads in the 3 nuts, where I have coarse threads:confused:
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There had been a couple different mirrors on this door over time so I decided to try and fix that area and it turned out ok. Now I have both doors hung and have been adjusting and working on gaps between doors and cab. I am also trying to decide about getting the Altman bear claw latches. norm
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Repair looks good.
Kim |
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Thanks, I had to do some work to the lower corners where 20 years ago I had welded in corners. I should have done more hammer and dolly work at that time but didn't so now I fix. I did some welding on the corner to make a crisp corner then ground it down. I know I cheated doing it this way but I did not want to cut the corner out again on an other wise good fix. It will take a little bit of bondo to make it perfect but so will all of the truck. Please excuse the really crappy picture. norm
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I found this picture from 20 some years ago when I was working on the rear fenders.
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been working on the edges of the driver fender. Hard to believe the gaps were that bad from the factory, places they were off by nearly a quarter inch. Got a little to do on the top along the hood to finish this fender.
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Nice project. Good work on the hinge pocket. Along for the ride. dug
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I finally got the driver side front fender done. The gap at the top was bad, don't know if I screwed it up 20 years ago or it is just factory bad, but it is better now. The hood seems to jut out just a little bit at the back corner. Next I will look over the passenger side and I know it is rougher than the driver side.
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Repair looks real nice.
Kim |
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It's been a while, I haven't been too busy on the 55 but I have done some this winter. I decided to get a new passenger fender for the front as my repairs from long ago with my torch were not so great and I was very successful at warping a few places, a nice clean new fender was a good choice with just a little work it is a nice fit, equal to factory I'd say.
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The main reason I am slow on the 55 is during the summer I play with the A in the background.
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