Wsurf's 58 Fleetside Project

[wsurf4me]

I've been looking at picking up a 55-59 for awhile, lurking and learning on the board here getting ideas. I originally looked at quite a few 55-57's but never found one that seemed right. About 9 months ago I came across a 59 fleetside shortbed at a show and knew that was the style I was looking for. After a few months of CL searching I only found one SWB fleetside and it sold the day I called. Finally found another a month later and although it was modified a bit differently than I was looking for the bones were there. After a little bit of back and forth we were able to work out a reasonable deal for all. Since then it has turned into a much bigger project than I anticipated, seems to be one thing after another. I've posted a few times looking for help on specific things that I ran into thinking a small project wasn't worth a build thread. Well it seems to keep getting bigger so here we go, hopefully I can gain insight from all the great people here and tie it all together for other newbies like me. Enough said, here some pictures to get started -

[wsurf4me]

The previous owner was building a hot rod he could run down the street with when he ran out of money and interest. I was looking for something I could turn into a daily driver, the truck is pretty solid, most of the body work already done. So I overlooked the yellow paint, old tired 454, and the custom interior. A few interior shots, check out the custom wood cup holders and armrests -

[Kabwe]

It looks like a great project truck. I only wish mine was that nice when I bought it. Nice truck man.

[wsurf4me]

Originally Posted by Kabwe

It looks like a great project truck. I only wish mine was that nice when I bought it. Nice truck man.

Thanks, I'm not looking a nearly as much work as you and alot folks on here have done. I thought I was looking at an engine swap and paint but keep finding more and more to do.

[wsurf4me]

So I cleaned up and sold the old engine and transmission, 454 with a th400 tranny. It was tempting to keep and rebuild but I want to drive this every day, still haven't decided on an engine but I'm leaning towards a L31 with a few mods.

[blue57]

Originally Posted by wsurf4me

So I cleaned up and sold the old engine and transmission, 454 with a th400 tranny. It was tempting to keep and rebuild but I want to drive this every day, still haven't decided on an engine but I'm leaning towards a L31 with a few mods.

Good choice. Good power, good mileage

[wsurf4me]

Once the engine was gone I started looking at the front end, everything was looking pretty beat. No big deal, pulled all the sheet metal and installed all new bushings, ball joints, tie rod ends, bearings and brakes. Put new shocks on and found the frame was torn up pretty good where the upper stud went. Welded it up and painted with a couple coats of satin epoxy. I started looking at the firewall and I couldn't let it go, way too many holes. What was plugged was with hole plugs or galvanized tin screwed in.

[wsurf4me]

Originally Posted by blue57

Good choice. Good power, good mileage

Thanks blue, I posted a thread awhile ago and it seems to make a lot of sense for me and my budget. Thinking about a mild cam upgrade but may just stick with the stock one at first.

[blue57]

Originally Posted by wsurf4me

Thanks blue, I posted a thread awhile ago and it seems to make a lot of sense for me and my budget. Thinking about a mild cam upgrade but may just stick with the stock one at first.

i had a TR224 cam put in mine with stronger springs and push rods. I got it from a friend of a buddy who pulled the motor out at his shop so i did it out of convenience. My dad however is leaving his stock.

[Kim57]

Looks like a real nice truck.
Kim

[wsurf4me]

Originally Posted by Kim57

Looks like a real nice truck.
Kim

Thanks Kim, it was your build and others that got me to jump in. I'm not going anywhere near the level of fabrication most on here are doing. However I keep finding things that have me tearing the truck further apart instead of getting it back together.

[wsurf4me]

I welded up all of the holes except for the steering column, harness and brake master cylinder. You can see the previous owner hacked the firewall pretty good.

[wsurf4me]

The steering column was in pretty bad shape and wasn't centered on the gauges, it was about 2" to the left when sitting in the drivers seat. I decided now was the time to move and improve it. Ordered a 30" universal Ididit column and got everything centered back up. Also pulled the harness and welded all the remaining holes, planning to run the wires out much lower on the firewall.

[Kim57]

Looking good.
Kim

[wsurf4me]

I went ahead and put a coat of sandable primer on, still need some touch up in spots but getting there. The only holes left are hood hinges, battery box, steering column and master cylinder. Plan on getting the master cylinder, brake pedal and gas pedal installed next. Anyone have any input on where to run the harness out? I'm thinking down low along the drivers side inner fender.

[wsurf4me]

Ran to the junkyard and picked up a brake pedal assembly, the old one was hacked together at best. Also grabbed another gas pedal assembly that is opposite of mine just in case. Started cutting the brake pedal bracket down and got a rough idea of placement. Anyone else have a C10 frame? I'd love to see how the brake pedal and booster went in relative to the firewall and steering column.

[Stepside Jim]

Looking great. My project is simailar, started as a clean up, then escalated to an all out rebuild.

Plus I don't see too many running big blocks, I was feeling all alone.

One last thing, it's always interesting looking through others pictures and thinking I'm looking at my own.

Keep the pictures and progress coming.

Jim