55 Fleetside Restomod
 

Hey Guys,
Pretty new here. Sitting in China for the last two days reading your build threads has motivated me to start my own, and my project. It's a 55 2nd series with a 58 fleetside bed on it. Kind of a cool story. My dad and I bought it in 1991 when I was in highschol from a local dealership in Longmont Colorado. It ran and drove but wasn't all that pretty. We were gonna restore it but after 3 years and no progress, we realized we had neither the time or the money to do much with it. Found a buyer, delivered it to him myself and forgot about it, or at least dad did. I never stopped building that truck in my head. 2 years ago, on my nightly craigslist search, I see an add for multiple old chevy trucks for sale. I called on it the next day, and spoke to the old mans wife and she directed me to his yard in Longmont Colorado! I drove straight down there and walk up to James Deans long lost Grandfather, and he recognizes me. I say," you actually remember me?" He says "of course I do, your truck is right over there." I look over and there it is, sitting where I parked it 20+ years ago. I told him I wanted to buy it back but didn't have the scratch to do it right away. He agreed to hold it for me, and last year my wife says, "go get it for your 40th birthday." What an angel! about a week later we do the transaction. He hands me the title, and it's still in my name. He had never had it transferred. Brought it home, change plugs, oil, blow out the fuel system, and it fires right up. After tires, wheel cylinders and rebuilding the master cylinder it's back on the road. This was October of 14.

Since then I've been driving it and I've begun buying parts and making plans.

As of now, here's the plan:
Iron block junkyard LS Stroker bulid. Shooting for 600 HP.
T-56 six speed.
C4 vette front and rear suspension and brakes.
20" wheels on all 4 corners.
big back window conversion
bucket seats with a custom center console
Etc, etc, etc.....

I might even build and additional stepside bed so I can switch back and forth because I love the look of both. Mainly what I'm shooting for is a great handling, fast truck with all the latest creature comforts.

Any feedback and ideas you all have along the way are appreciated.

Re: 55 Fleetside Restomod
 

Here it is in what would have been it's final resting place.

Re: 55 Fleetside Restomod
 

25 years ago in my folks garage.

Re: 55 Fleetside Restomod
 

Back on the road....

Re: 55 Fleetside Restomod
 

A couple more.

Re: 55 Fleetside Restomod
 

Very cool story.
Clean looking truck to start with.
Kim

Re: 55 Fleetside Restomod
 

Super cool story that puts a smile on your face.

Solid looking truck too!!

I like your plans for the build. Good luck to you!!

Re: 55 Fleetside Restomod
 

Thanks guys. Looking forward to getting started. Bought an aluminum under bed fuel tank a few weeks ago and found a guy locally that has the corvette parts. Gonna go pick them up next week. Now start the search for a motor and trans.

Re: 55 Fleetside Restomod
 

N123DY, what a great story. Life has some fun twists. Good luck on the build. Read Farmer Sid his thread deals with a C-4 should give you some tips & tricks on the suspension.
Nut Case

Re: 55 Fleetside Restomod
 

Now that's a cool story!!
Big plans for it, hope you leave the patina on it....

Re: 55 Fleetside Restomod
 

Latest update. I bought a motor and trans! Found a 6.0 lq4 out of a 2003 Chevy truck, a set set of l92 heads, and a t56 six speed out of a 2002 firebird. This engine head combo with a mild cam made over 500 hp in a hot rod magazine article awhile back. I'm in the process of renting a shop and moving my stuff over so I can get started. Hoping to have it in running driving mock up form by summer.
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Re: 55 Fleetside Restomod
 

Cool project, keep posting pic's!!

Re: 55 Fleetside Restomod
 

I love these fleet sides. Nice ride

Re: 55 Fleetside Restomod
 

Nice project.
Looking forward to updates.

Re: 55 Fleetside Restomod
 

Cool story!

Short Fleetside beds bring some decent cash. I'd consider fixing any rust issues on it and selling it for the cash to finance some of your project since you like the stepsides as much and '55's never came with them anyway.

Keep those pictures coming!

Re: 55 Fleetside Restomod
 

Started tearing into it. Got the bed off, gas tank mounted, front clip removed and the motor and tranny pulled. Also picked up the vette parts today. Time to start mocking up the front end.

Re: 55 Fleetside Restomod
 

Hey guys, just a quick update. I've been buying parts and working on getting my c4 crossmember installed. Does anyone have a recommendation for a good long tube headers that will work with my LS and fit inside the frame rails?

Re: 55 Fleetside Restomod
 

Here's a couple photos.

Re: 55 Fleetside Restomod
 

How about 1 at a time.

Re: 55 Fleetside Restomod
 

Uno mas...

Re: 55 Fleetside Restomod
 

Looking good.
Kim

Re: 55 Fleetside Restomod
 

Thanks! I have a bunch more pictures but I'm having a hell of a time uploading them. Anyone have any pointers? I'm just using standard iPhone pictures. They are too big and I can only seem to get one at a time to load and it will only load if I make it square.
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Re: 55 Fleetside Restomod
 

Nice project!..... Check out the BBK stuff, its the nicest and best fit for LS motors.

Re: 55 Fleetside Restomod
 

Great truck and history with it.

With my IPad I can only upload one picture at a time. Uploading an additional picture, for the same post, simply replaces the first picture.

Will do thanks!
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I'm having the exact same problem.
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Re: 55 Fleetside Restomod
 

Cool project

Re: 55 Fleetside Restomod
 

Looks nice so far nice back story for it to!

Re: 55 Fleetside Restomod
 

What's up guys. So I've been so busy working on my truck I've neglected updating my thread. Long story short, it's running. Runs like a raped ape and handles great. I'm fighting a little oil pressure issue but I'll have it handled this week. All that's left is bolting in the passenger seat and mounting some seatbelts and this fase will be complete. The plan is to drive it like it is until this time next year, work out any bugs, and then tear it down for body and paint. I'll try to get some photos posted soon.

Re: 55 Fleetside Restomod
 

Here is the motor going in.

Re: 55 Fleetside Restomod
 

Motor mounts.

Re: 55 Fleetside Restomod
 

Steering column in. I had to cut up and reconfigure my header to make room. Found out that welding stainless isn't to big of a deal.

Re: 55 Fleetside Restomod
 

Here is the driver side header before the hacking began.

Re: 55 Fleetside Restomod
 

Wired up for the first start up. Fear not, this ridiculous rats nest is temporary. Everything will be nicely hidden. The intake has been dubbed the snorkus by my buddies. It's also temp. Ultimately I'd like to route through the inner fender and fab up a cold air box inside the fender.

Re: 55 Fleetside Restomod
 

First drive and what it's been looking like for the last few months.

Re: 55 Fleetside Restomod
 

First drive

Re: 55 Fleetside Restomod
 

So I got a $9000 flat! Front right tire sprung a leak. Probably had a sheet metal screw in it. I decided to take it to discount tire for a plug. Forgot to check when I left and drove about 1/4 mile with it flat. Rubbed a groove into the sidewall ruining the tire. No big deal. Wasn't planning to use them anyway. But I also don't want to buy one for no reason so I guess it's time for wheels and tires. I want as much tire as possible and trust that the discount kid can fit them, so I let him order some stuff up. After 2 sets of wheels and tires, I realize they're not gonna fit and the wheel I picked is not available in the offset I need. After lots of shopping I decide to go custom. Meanwhile, the source I had for the 12 bolt and chevelle 4 link backs out so I've got some decisions to make. So I go for it. Order a No Limit fat bar 4 link, brand new Moser 9" with the works, 4 corners worth of Wilwood disc brakes, 4 American Legend Commando wheels and 4 new tires. Wheels are 20x9 front and 20x10.5 rear. Tires are 255/35 front and 315/35 rear. American Legend loaned me a wheel fit tool so we could get the offsets just right. They should show up next week. In the mean time I need to get the rear setup final welded and re plumb the brakes. This thing should handle and stop great.

Re: 55 Fleetside Restomod
 

Wheel fit.

Re: 55 Fleetside Restomod
 

The commandos.

Re: 55 Fleetside Restomod
 

Coming along real nicely.
Wheel is real nice.
Kim