My 58 Fleetside

[OrrieG]

I might be able to help with the drivers side. See the area circled below with the dent? Didn't you find it odd that it was dented? That was done on the assembly line. After they had finalized the fender dies they found that the inside vertical brace interfered with that inner panel. Instead of redesigning and retooling they issued the guys installing the fenders a ball peen hammer to adjust the inner panel. It looks like your fenders have been replaced and you might need more relief so it will pull in. My fenders had never been off my truck and I wondered why that was beat up. I was getting ready to fix it when I came across a thread written by a guy who had , then ended up beating them back in to get his fenders to fit. Mine are beaten different depths on each side.

On the passenger side it looks like the inner brace has weakened or been replaced without using the door for reference. You might have to pie cut the brace to flatten and get the reverse curve (notice how the drivers curves back in below the accent line?).

[Coupeguy2001]

Lee,
Tell you what I did.
I ground the inside of the hinges a little bit on my left door and added shims that I made from 1/8" steel on the outside side of the hinge where it meets the door to take up the gap between the metal that the bolt goes through, and the narrowed hinge.
Someone told me a long time ago that the hinge bolt areas crack on doors because the hinge is too narrow for the hinge channel in the door.
The best thing to do was to take an inside micrometer and measure the hinge channel in the door. THen measure the hinge. make a shim to take up the difference. A few thousanths don't matter, but .030 or more and the hinge areas in the door crack.
My shims were 1/8" thick and about 4 1/2" long, and had 3 holes in one, and 2 holes in the other.
I held the door up with a jack covered by a rag while I managed to wiggle the shim up into position in the door. I made the shim a little narrow, and had to manipulate it into the right spot.

I wouldn't grind more than 1/8" off of the hinge, and it was hard to get the grind area straight.
On your fenders, maybe you have an excessive gap between the fender and the rear vertical brace, or it slipped down before you welded it back on.

[Green 1959]

Thanks Coupeguy and OrrieG. I'm going to try both of your advises, might be a little while before I get to do them. Going to start school full time next semester and a baby on the way for December.

[Green 1959]

What a day!! THe windsheild looks great right? Nope its shattered.... Put glass in the back of the 53. What is the deal with the back window in these trucks? I got new glass and a seal but am having a hard time putting it in. What is the proper why to put these in?

[longbike]

That sucks!
Did you use the rope to pull the seal over the lip from the inside?

[Green 1959]

Yes and we were done with that part. It just wasn't fully seated so I was pushing it and wa la shattered windshield.
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[Green 1959]

I got the rear glass in
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[Green 1959]

The rear glass in. LIke a ghost!! Painted the right fender and grille thingy, shot the primer and then the white for a guide coat

[Kim57]

Looks good.
Kim

[Green 1959]

Originally Posted by poncho_villa

Is that your '57 chebby I spied in the background of one of those pics Green 1959?

I started a build page on my 57 if anyone is interested. Its called Barn 57

[poncho_villa]

Originally Posted by Green 1959

I started a build page on my 57 if anyone is interested. Its called Barn 57

And it can be found right here; http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=496483

[Green 1959]

Ice!!!! Here in southern AZ??? NO. I have the engine and trans that I wanted, inline 6 with a 700R4. Now I need to do the research to see if they were originally matched. It looks like it is out of a mid 80's??? The number on the head is 377131, where is the block number?

[Green 1959]

Got the engine of the stand

[Green 1959]

I got it down to the block. Painted one side with a new paint I have. Its alot like to color of the truck.

[Kim57]

Nice looking color.
Kim

[beanyard]

I acquired a 292 inline six this fall. Is that what you have there? I don't know what I will do with it cuz my truck already has a v8 327. I have heard that the big 292s are awesome though.
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[Green 1959]

Originally Posted by beanyard

I acquired a 292 inline six this fall. Is that what you have there? I don't know what I will do with it cuz my truck already has a v8 327. I have heard that the big 292s are awesome though.
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This is a 250 out of a 82-84 Chevy van. I cant wait to get it running so I can get my truck out on the road

[Green 1959]

Pictures on the right fender, grille back, hood and right side door painted. And for the Christmasy effect little white dots of unknown origan.

[Kim57]

Looking good.
Kim

[squirrely_1]

Thank you so much for posting all the pic's, i have a 58 step side all original.. Every picture i see helps me to know what to do..My truck is gonna need a bunch of help, but i look fwd to it. I eventually wanna replace my 235i with a later moel v-8, so i will need tons of advice on that part..

[OrrieG]

Originally Posted by Green 1959

And for the Christmasy effect little white dots of unknown origan.

Alien spies looking for ideas on how to jazz up their ship....

[zellway]

Look"N" good. I think that green with the gray is going to turn out nice.

[Green 1959]

Originally Posted by OrrieG

Alien spies looking for ideas on how to jazz up their ship....

Indeed. It seems to be the case...

[Green 1959]

HELP I am having the hardest time finding the lower thermostat housing for a inline 6. If anyone can help that would be awesome! The year of my engine is 82-84 but I would perfer a one off of a late 60's truck because they are cast iron.

[Green 1959]

Going to sell the 53, wondering what I should ask for it.