1959 Fleetside REBORN
 

Well I finally get to rip into her! I bought a truck about 4 years ago to help me get stuff from home depot for our house expansion. It is a 1959 fleetside 3200. It was a good truck til a couple of months ago when the cam snapped (I think). It is a 350/350 change over. I have been collecting parts for several years....
1959 impala dash with 1956 belair steering wheel
LY6 from a 2007 Silverado 2500HD
6L90e from the same
Mustang II front end
2010 camaro rearend
several body mod to clean up
power latches on tail gate
1958 Impala bumpers
Prowheel X5's 18x8 and 20x8.5
Two tone paint
--Blazin copper w/ golden almond (champagne)
--root beer brown w/ golden almond or tan

Re: 1959 Fleetside REBORN
 

Day ONE!
More to come dinner. STARVING!!!

Re: 1959 Fleetside REBORN
 

Still Day ONE!
Ride Height......

Re: 1959 Fleetside REBORN
 

End of Day ONE!
Dad The comedian.......

Re: 1959 Fleetside REBORN
 

Cool build.
Keep the pics coming.
Kim

Re: 1959 Fleetside REBORN
 

Day 2

Re: 1959 Fleetside REBORN
 

Check your fluid bucket before useing!!!!!

Re: 1959 Fleetside REBORN
 

I'm a aircraft strutures mechanic, so I rivet and install mechanical fasteners 8-10 hrs. aday.OK, so I removed some sheet metal, removed an engine and trans., And a steering wheel and assembly over 2 days. So why am I so SORE???

Re: 1959 Fleetside REBORN
 

To bad about the spill.
You're sore because it's hard work.
Kim

Re: 1959 Fleetside REBORN
 

Two tone paint --Blazin copper w/ golden almond (champagne) --root beer brown w/ golden almond or tan

Nice truck can't wait to the the paint colors

Re: 1959 Fleetside REBORN
 

Nice 4eyed wide bed.:D
Looks like some nice original steel
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Re: 1959 Fleetside REBORN
 

Looks like your off to a good start. Good luck.

My build thread
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...14#post5273714

“I would rather spend 2 hours making a part than $2.00 buying one”

Re: 1959 Fleetside REBORN
 

Thanks guys!!!
Well not alot done today. If I had worked on it I would have been skinned alive. Here are some pics I took while the boy where in the garage. I was thinking of keeping the vent grill. Key word WAS.......

Re: 1959 Fleetside REBORN
 

I think that's the best reason to close it up, although it looks really cool also.
Kim

Re: 1959 Fleetside REBORN
 

Well NO going back, we removed more stuff tody. Man thous rivets are tough. When do I get to adding........

Re: 1959 Fleetside REBORN
 

A little progress every day and you'll be surprised at what you get done.
Kim

Re: 1959 Fleetside REBORN
 

number one reason to shave the cowl vent on these trucks (and yours isn't bad)

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1333926620

Re: 1959 Fleetside REBORN
 

I love the 4 eyed ... especially the fleetsides. I'm in!! Keep the photos coming.

Re: 1959 Fleetside REBORN
 

The last couple of days were used to remove rivets, clean the frame, and mocked up IFS.

Re: 1959 Fleetside REBORN
 

Wow! You've done a lot of work in a very short time. Please keep the updates coming!

Re: 1959 Fleetside REBORN
 

ChuckDriver,
I had a head start, I have been reading and watch here for sometime. And THANKS to all that share there stories and builds.
Mike

Re: 1959 Fleetside REBORN
 

Today seams like a waste, but we decited after adjusting the suspension geometry several times that I need dropped spindles. So now I get to.... dismantel IFS
weld new cross bar not suspension cross member
remove old bulky one
trim frame rails for boxing
In the 3rd picture you can see a thick line and a dot. Thick line = 1" drop,
dot = 2" drop. Sorry about pic 3....

Re: 1959 Fleetside REBORN
 

Thick line = 1", dot = 2"...Take 2!

Re: 1959 Fleetside REBORN
 

I would wait untill you have spring and engine in before buying some dropped spindles, I did the same thing and cut a coil, and after it the spindle intall and it came down way more than I anticapted. Just some friendly advice, really nice build.:ito:

Re: 1959 Fleetside REBORN
 

Looking good home boy.

Re: 1959 Fleetside REBORN
 

Yep get the weight on it first before making your decision!

Re: 1959 Fleetside REBORN
 

Well almost ready for boxing.... where's Tyson

Re: 1959 Fleetside REBORN
 

Nice work. Great progress. Waiting to see more pics of the IFS install

Re: 1959 Fleetside REBORN
 

Ok I cut 4 pcs. at 6" of 1/8" plate. Welding was done by my Dad. So now I'm waiting for dropped spindles. Here's today's adventure.....

Re: 1959 Fleetside REBORN
 

Hey guys, I hope you don't, mind me recognizing my Dad...The Comedian...The Look(look what you made me do)... And The Welder.
Thanks Dad!

Re: 1959 Fleetside REBORN
 

Looking good. I think it's cool your dad's helping you.
Kim

Re: 1959 Fleetside REBORN
 

Gotta love the father/son projects!!

Re: 1959 Fleetside REBORN
 

Welding up hole here. Waiting for parts s**ks!

Re: 1959 Fleetside REBORN
 

Do you plan to box the front section of the frame?

Re: 1959 Fleetside REBORN
 

yes. I have discited to run the trans lines and a tube to chase wire throught the frame before boxing. Kindof like conduit in a wall.

Re: 1959 Fleetside REBORN
 

Enjoy reading this build. I really like the fact your father is there to help. I can only hope my dad can watch down from up above when I start the restoration of his truck.

Re: 1959 Fleetside REBORN
 

if you run the trans cooler lines straight forward from the trans you can do it all in steel lines
the little bit of twist in the lines from the motor will be absorbed in the steel lines
if you run the trans cooler lines to the frame you will need to add flex lines and a lot more bends

my trans cooler lines run straight forward from the trans right next to the oil pan.
makes for an easy run out of all steel lines, that is how the oem's run them

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/IMG_1298.jpg

as for the conduit, i ran 1/2'' pvc pipe from the center of the cab back to the rear of the frame
it made for a good looking wiring job, no wire ties holding all the rear wires in place :D
i ran the bundle of wires low out thru the firewall behind my remote mc reservoir.
it's not east to see (white tube), but it starts right before the factory x-member and exits out the back

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/n...e/IMG_0160.jpg

all my motor wire run thru the recess for the distributor, this keeps the firewall clean
i had to p[ut the recess in for the 2 big plugs out the back of the big cap hei distributor.
what you don't see is the big 3/4'' ramjet wire harness run thru the firewall behind the distributor

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/IMG_1302.jpg

i wish i had thought to run a conduit to the front thru the frame, but i didn't
instead i ran it thru the gray flex conduit next to my heater/ac hoses on the left side
it kept the firewall and inner fenders free of distractions, and the ezwire harness had plenty of wire length
to go from the panel on the left side to the conduit on the right side and to the left headlites

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/IMG_1305.jpg

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/IMG_1297.jpg

Re: 1959 Fleetside REBORN
 

Thanks for the info, Ogre. I was wondering about that 5th heater-ac line.

Re: 1959 Fleetside REBORN
 

It's been a few days, waiting for parts sucks. So today I left work at lunch so I could entertain you. Actually UPS stop by last night with the parts.
Pic 1 is final mockup for height. Pics 2-5 are welding it in.

Re: 1959 Fleetside REBORN
 

you can always tell the retired guys
welding in their jammies :lol: