Project Orange Crush (57 3100)
 

So I have been around for a few months now looking through others build threads and discussions gathering a wealth of knowledge that I never expected to find on here guess I was to "smart" for my own good :lol:

Anyhow I decided it was time to start my own build thread to hopefully help others and keep myself motivated to keep the project going not sure how many will actually follow along but this thread should help me stay sane

I got this truck in August of 2015 as a trade for my 1965 impala fast back that I got as a graduation gift from high school in 2012 long story short I got bored with the long heavy sled so I shoved full speed to get the 454 that came in the boat out and replaced it with a 350 did a brake job and gave it a single stage shot of flat black to get it looking half decent and got a trade offer for this truck which was EXACTLY what I was looking for other than a 69 Camaro but with the value of them I decided it wasn't worth my life savings to go that route

What I want to do with it:

- 454 big block :chevy:
- 4L80E
- Chop top
- Suicide Doors
- Raised bed floor
- 1974 Nova front clip
- Ford Explorer limited slip 8.8 rear axle
- Obvious rust repair and chop top/doors fix cut up from PO
- Drag truck :metal:

My background in auto body is rather extensive I have been doing it from age 16 in one way or another working in several body shops as an Axalta paint mixer and service tech and have been operating my own small bushiness since 18 for on the side jobs but am now stuck at a GMC dealership selling parts :waah: atleast I'm still in the field

Now to the pictures:

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The Impala I traded off
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Day one shots
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The 454 all pretty
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PO welded the top portion of the door to the cab so no door windows?

Re: Project Orange Crush (57 3100)
 

Attachment 1492646
Upper window channel I ground out
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Nova sub-frame install pics
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A truck out at my local Ewe-pull-it that I got a wiper trans and interior panels/switchs from
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How she is sitting right now :(

Re: Project Orange Crush (57 3100)
 

Looks like a good starting point. The chop top is interesting.... I never liked the ones I saw before but yours has some interesting lines to work with. Keep it going.

I see the door window frame top going away too... make it like a roadster door glass (frameless and single piece, no wing) especially if you are doing suicide type door openers, opening from the front.

The front windshield is going to be your biggest accomplishment and probably most costly part of the cab. Thats going to have to be cut special from laminated DOT glass, then baked and bent into shape to fit your cab. BUT at the same time you should make it a 'smooth fit' windshield with no rubber around it. Make it a glue in type. It will look great! Less likely to BREAK IT TOO!!!

Looks like a cool project! Stick with it...

Your parts went out yesterday - I hope you werent looking for show quality stuff, because it isnt, its original '57 - even the ignition keys! they ARE ORIGINAL 1957 keys that came from my truck. Also sent you the gas cap key but there wasnt a gas cap to go with it.

Re: Project Orange Crush (57 3100)
 

Thanks ptc sorry if I seemed a bit gunho on knowing about them but I have had a personal package gone through at work and I don't trust it sitting at home on the stoop for long never know these days.

I'm taking cues from your truck looking for that pro touring rod truck look hopefully I don't mess it up and make some frankentruck monstrosity although some board members might be saying "to late"

and on the glass I have gotten a quote from my local glass shop I have worked with in the past and they said depending on the amount of windshields they break anywhere from 1-3 grand never thought of flush no seal I will need to look into that maybe use butyl tape?

never know I may find a cheap cab but all things considered this ones about as rust free as they get for the area

Re: Project Orange Crush (57 3100)
 

You truck is different, thats hard to find these days with SO MANY of these trucks still around. Its really hard to be different because EVERYTHING has been done to them. - stick with what you got started, I think it will be really cool...

I got some ideas for possibly something REALLY different... but dont want to discuss them as somebody with a huge budget and body shop will be all over it for their next SEMA presentation.... ;)

Re: Project Orange Crush (57 3100)
 

Cool project! Do you work at Billion?

Re: Project Orange Crush (57 3100)
 

Sure do AD should I be worried now?

Re: Project Orange Crush (57 3100)
 

Goodness no. I just know a lot of GM dealers and use to work across IA and SD. Cool area.

Re: Project Orange Crush (57 3100)
 

Very cool project.
Kim

Re: Project Orange Crush (57 3100)
 

Going out to the local yard Saturday to pick up a rear axle out of a 98 ford explorer found one out there that should have a 4.10 limited slip axle and they inventory so it's for sure there hopefully the 40 degree weather sticks around so then I can have four wheel disc brakes and run my 33x12.5R15 tires that I want after I shorten the axle up :metal:

Re: Project Orange Crush (57 3100)
 

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Removal of the beast
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We managed to shoe horn it in the back of the trusty Subaru wagon my friend was kind enough to help me haul it home
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One last picture home safe

Then my Sunday was spent working on my daily driver far less fun but it had to be done.

Re: Project Orange Crush (57 3100)
 

And one of the 4L80E I picked up two weekends ago now
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I for life of me cannot figure out why these images keep flipping is it a phone picture thing should I take them all in landscape?

Re: Project Orange Crush (57 3100)
 

Nice parts finds. Many phone pics flip sideways for some reason. Mine don't and I take pictures in landscape on an Android.

Re: Project Orange Crush (57 3100)
 

Nice parts.
Can't imagine laying on frozen ground to pull parts.
Kim

Re: Project Orange Crush (57 3100)
 

Well the price was right for 4.10 gears and posi but in all honesty it was 40 and I was sweating with my coveralls on :lol:

If I let snow stop me I wouldn't ever get anything done! :chevy:

Re: Project Orange Crush (57 3100)
 

Got some interior handles,window cranks,exterior handles,ignition switch with keys and a front hood script from ptc today in the mail thanks buddy!

Re: Project Orange Crush (57 3100)
 

This will be a cool truck.

Re: Project Orange Crush (57 3100)
 

I hope its what you needed. That is an all original ignition sw with the original keys! The owner who I got the truck from was the original buyer of the truck in Apr 1957 and said they never bought any new keys when he handed them over to me. Well at least they will be in another '57!!!! ;)

Re: Project Orange Crush (57 3100)
 

Snow doesn't bother me a bit. Cold is nicer to work in than the heat. At least you can take stuff off when you get too hot. Can't do that in the summer heat.

Re: Project Orange Crush (57 3100)
 

I've been saying the same thing for years it starts to get illegal after awhile when you take things off from the heat :lol:

Re: Project Orange Crush (57 3100)
 

I worked on rebuilding the ignition cylinder ptc sent me came apart pretty hard and broke the cover will need to find a new one in the bins at work shouldn't be an issue then getting a new key cut and new cylinders/grease in and she will work like new!

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Fully disassembled
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tools involved (cant forget helper cat)
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The broken cover
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Gummed up the cylinder a bit on the one side getting the end out but it will be no problem with its function.

Re: Project Orange Crush (57 3100)
 

Send me the originals (keys) back if you dont want them! ;) I'll give them back to the Original Owner.... as a keepesake

WHen he sold me the truck, he said all he wanted was "a ride" in the new one when Im done..... (well and cash money!) :lol:

Re: Project Orange Crush (57 3100)
 

Welllll I have plans to use it still just getting some spares and freshing things up really I'm just dying to work on the truck with how cold it is I'm doing anything I can no matter how pointless it might seem at this point

Re: Project Orange Crush (57 3100)
 

Ignition cylinder didn't go "as well" as I had hoped all the aftermarket keys I am finding stop short in the cylinder not finding anything in the back of it just baffles me oh well just don't lose this one key I suppose at least it got fresh grease and new springs/tumblers.

In other news I got engaged last Thursday and luckily she wants to take some photos with the truck for the wedding that just gave me a free pass to kick this into overdrive to meet that deadline she plans the day I build a truck everybody's happy!:chevy:

Re: Project Orange Crush (57 3100)
 

Congrats on the engagement.
Kim

Re: Project Orange Crush (57 3100)
 

Congratulations on the engagement. Sounds like she is on board with your car and truck hobby so that is good.

Don't want to hi-jack, someone correct me if I'm wrong, but that ignition switch looks like a car switch, not for a truck. Did 57 trucks with factory automatic come with that style? Since the original owner said it was original to his truck I was just wondering why it was that style.

Re: Project Orange Crush (57 3100)
 

Congratulations on getting engaged and having the green light to speed forward on a project is always a good thing.

Re: Project Orange Crush (57 3100)
 

Congrats on the Ingagement that is wonderful!



The ignition came out of 57 3600 series 3/4 ton truck with a 6 cyl and 4 speed manual transmission. If that helps your knowledge think tank? The VIN says it was built in the Oakland CA plant and it was purchased from an Oakland dealership in 57, driven to Acampo, CA and spent its entire life as a farm truck here in the central valley.

Were cars built in Oakland? or was it a truck only plant?

Re: Project Orange Crush (57 3100)
 

Congrats on getting the truck in your wedding. :)

Re: Project Orange Crush (57 3100)
 

My fiance has said in the past that I spend to much time with cars and should marry them so this is as close as it will get I think ;)

And thanks for the congrats guys

Re: Project Orange Crush (57 3100)
 

Tonight I worked on my ford 8.8 stripped,drained and started to remove the axles when the retaining bolt for the gear pin sheared off about a half inch below the head needless to say the pin is in place and it turned into a "tomorrow job" any thoughts though?

I'm thinking of drilling it a little past the pin threads to get the pin out and try to save the pin later or should I try to extract the bolt as is?

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Re: Project Orange Crush (57 3100)
 

Once again I am reaping the benefits of working at a dealership one of my techs has just the solution for me link below of the kit

That combined with the bolt through my ford store only costs me 1.40 on top of that the axle seals are only 4 bucks a side I can see a happy ending to this would be disaster

http://www.fabbriassociates.com/kitinfo.html

Re: Project Orange Crush (57 3100)
 

And voila just like that problem solved I didn't get many pictures because who on here hasn't seen a torn down axle and it got dark but I did take of few of the surgery to save the carrier I am for sure getting one of these kits made a would be nightmare into a 5 minute fix

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all masked to go under the knife
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Guide bolt and the 12" long drill bit
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SUCCESS!!!
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Re: Project Orange Crush (57 3100)
 

Pretty slick.
Kim

Re: Project Orange Crush (57 3100)
 

Thanks I thought the same thing I spent most of the afternoon looking at new carriers thinking the worst glad my tech had one

Last night I got the rest of the parking brakes off and started to grind the brackets when the axle shifted feel and crushed a finger of mine so work stopped early

Tonight I finished the grinding after some 3lb sled persuasion I got the job done measured a bit to compare what I was seeing online for lengths

Then took the pan off the transmission not much metal or clutch material in the trans so I will look at the reverse band and sprag to see their conditions and put in my shift kit and be ready to rock and roll in no time

at this rate I may get to drive it a few days before the wedding even ;)

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Re: Project Orange Crush (57 3100)
 

Nice progress Starchaser. I like the look of the chop top

Re: Project Orange Crush (57 3100)
 

This weekend was beautiful 50-60 degrees made for some good work time (30 and windy again today:/) so I had a friend come over and we removed the cam bearings from the block washed out the engine with soap and water and bagged it up for later assembly

Also got the harness out of the trans and the pump and planetary all came out in one so that made for a heavy needle to thread past the stand but we got it done ordering the HD2 Trans-go shift kit this next paycheck as well as a few other small things for the engine :chevy:

Last thing that got done was I went to the steel yard and got 81lbs of sheet for plating the frame fore only 16bucks gotta love that .20 cent drop steel price!

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Re: Project Orange Crush (57 3100)
 

A few pictures of the trans

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Re: Project Orange Crush (57 3100)
 

Nice progress.
Kim

Re: Project Orange Crush (57 3100)
 

Thanks glad someones listening to my ramblings still

Ordered Valve springs, retainers and keepers from Alex Parts for a good price now for valve train I need to get valve spring rotator eliminators and should be good to go on the engine assembly other than a light hone to remove cylinder glaze and a bottom end balance at the machine shop :chevy:

money money money hopefully I get far enough along before the fiance figures out just how expensive it will all be :lol: :smoke: