47-55.1 Mom's '54 project build thread

[pgf545]

Daniel, is that the CPP leaf spring setup? It looks like the one I put on my dad's truck. He was looking for a more level ride height and that looks exactly what he is looking for. Looks like you are making more progress than I am though. Hopefully I can get down there next weekend and weld the floor in. Keep posting progress to keep my butt moving...lol.

Bernie

[Daniel U]

I'm not sure what rear kit was ordered, but the front is from TCI with the stiffest front springs they had. A lot of the front fender gap will go away with a V8 and 700R4. I'll ask my brother which rear kit he ordered for the leafs. He's coming over with it tommoro afternoon. We're pulling glass, and interior/gauges, and anything else before soda/sandblast.

[pgf545]

Daniel, A little trick on the glass that I learned the hard way. That rubber gets so hard that you can't remove the glass so we cut the outer ring and removed the glass. I broke one side of the windshield before I figured that out. We were going to replace the rubber anyway so it was no big deal.

Bernie

[Daniel U]

Thanks, that's how I did mine, but my rubber seal was much more plyable than my mom's trucks windows are currently. I appreciate the heads up though.

[Daniel U]

I helped my brother on my mom's '54 today. The glass, rubber for the door jams, and gauges/ignition/choke/etc. are out. The floor pans and fenders will be replaced to save time. The cab has plenty of bondo and rust to keep my brother busy. The bedsides are in fairly good shape. She'll need new front and rear bumpers too. Between my old '54 doors and her's, she has enough to make a pair. Here's a few pics from today:

Clear firewall

No glass

My brother Tim pulling the last gauge cluster out.

[Daniel U]

Originally Posted by pgf545

Daniel, is that the CPP leaf spring setup? It looks like the one I put on my dad's truck. He was looking for a more level ride height and that looks exactly what he is looking for. Looks like you are making more progress than I am though. Hopefully I can get down there next weekend and weld the floor in. Keep posting progress to keep my butt moving...lol.

Bernie

The rear leafs are from TCI and are a 1/2 ton.

[Daniel U]

Mom's truck went to soda blast this morning. It should be bare metal by this Friday. If I'm not at work, I'll post some pics.

[Daniel U]

I only got pics of these parts, but the rest of the cab and bed are at my brothers. Blasted and ready for prime and body work.

[Daniel U]

Here's a few pics of the naked cab and a few more parts( pretty rough):

My old nose cone:

Brake stuff:

Passenger side from outside:

Driver's side:

[solidaxel]

I must have found mine in the same field!!!

[Hart_Rod]

And to think, all you AZ and Cali guys think you have all the best sheet metal. JK. I found my 52 in Rockford, AL, just north of Montgomery. It's about as clean of body that I've seen. Here's some pictures. All original cab corners, floors, cowl, doors.............

[Daniel U]

Yeah, we knew it was rough, but the exterior was hidden with body fill. We knew the floor boards were pitted, just not that bad. For time sake, my brother may end up working with the original cab and replacing the fenders. As it is the floors and cab corners will need attention. The rest of the cab is riddled with "whooptee do's" as my brother put it. If my mom did'nt need a '54(her birth year), we would've found another truck. So my brother is pushing for an Oct. finish date for her bithday. Very optimistic, I say. The good news is she's not concerned with all the details I am(A/C,CC,PW,booming stereo,leather interior,etc). So it will kinda be a "plain Jane" '54. But that's what she wants. She's even planning on keeping the starter on the floor.

[Daniel U]

I talked to my brother today. The cab is black with an etch primer used on bare metal applications. Here's some pics:

[solidaxel]

Hey Rob, not all of the Az and Cali. lived there all there lives here from the looks of mine it came from the snow belt for most of its life!!! The 55 GMC that I have I am the second owner and for fact it lived its entire life here, and it shows

[Daniel U]

The black etch prime really shows the flaws in the body. (Pics above^^^^)

[Hart_Rod]

Originally Posted by Daniel U

The black etch prime really shows the flaws in the body. (Pics above^^^^)

Ain't nothing a good body man can't fix, .

[solidaxel]

I'm going to wait until Daniel and his brother finish theirs, them I am going to ship them my cab, as they will well experienced and should take half the time to replace the sheet metal !!!!!!

[Daniel U]

Originally Posted by Hart_Rod

Ain't nothing a good body man can't fix, .

My brother is the right man for the job. He does beautiful work. His 1st complete was a '70 Dodge Charger 500. Though it wasn't worth as much as the 440 or Hemi, it never made it to the crusher. When he finally posts his own truck you'll have to have him email you some pics. A near flawless paint job. I was very proud of him. That was before his ASE Cert.

[Daniel U]

Originally Posted by solidaxel

I'm going to wait until Daniel and his brother finish theirs, them I am going to ship them my cab, as they will well experienced and should take half the time to replace the sheet metal !!!!!!

My brother stays pretty busy. He's doing a '66 Mustang after my mom's truck. He's got at least 10 projects of his own that need attention.It must be nice to be single sometimes

[Daniel U]

I just got off the phone with my bother. He said the toe boards are in and he's working on the floor now. I should have some pics by the begining of next week.

[Daniel U]

Here's a few pics of the new floors installed. I didn't take the pictures, so what you see is what you get. Sorry.

firewall

Driverside firewall

new floor on driver's side

[Daniel U]

Here's a few shots of my mom's '54 long bed. My brother got the motor/trans. in for mock up. The cab has ben coated inside and out with primer. The patch panels inside are nearing completion. Once the motor mounts are welded in, the chassis goes to powder coat. The motor seen here is a crate GM motor rated @ 280 hp. The trans was rebuilt. Here's the pics:









Enjoy!

[Hart_Rod]

It's looking good Daniel, thanks for the update.

R

[solidaxel]

Daniel,
I just noticed your toe boards and they look like they are much easier to install than the B1tchen products I have, what brand are they?

[Daniel U]

My brother told me they were from Golden State Pick-up parts. I stopped by and took some more pictures of it. He got one of the cowl pieces in and a door hung. They're using newer style OEMish latches and strikers. After I took the pic we mounted the cab and marked where to cut for the trans tunnel. Enjoy!

The pass. side door hung.

Inside with new guts.

Pass. side jam

Batterey box

Driver's side cowl removed