Ryan's 57 pickup project

[RyanPartridge]

Figured I'd post my work in progress...

I purchased this truck last November on my way home from Arizona. It had been sitting out in the desert hills between Palm Springs and Temecula. The owner was a lady who inherited it from her step father "Mac" a couple years prior. She was recently divorced and just couldn't take care of it on her own. So the wife and I decided to bring home another project!

The only thing she told me was that Mac lived in Nevada and this truck came from there. It was his project he called "8DUNYET". Mac had done most the all the work on it except for the Toyota power steering kit that her ex had installed. She lived a half mile off a bumpy dirt road in an RV...so I wasn't surprised to find the truck had dozens of nuts/bolts shaken loose. So it begins...

[dieseldude4bt]

Nice truck.
Pic's of that steering conversion please.

[RyanPartridge]

Originally Posted by dieseldude4bt

Nice truck.
Pic's of that steering conversion please.

Thanks!
Here's a bad pic, I can get better ones...

[RyanPartridge]

Some things I found that needed fixing or I just didn't like...


1. The truck rode like crap. The front springs were flat worn out, sitting less than an inch from the rubber stops and the shocks were way too stiff. Scary to drive. Bump steer from Hell.
2. The dual pipes had cherry bombs with no tail pipes, drone in the cab was unbearable.
3. The truck had a Purolator electric fuel pump that must've gone bad because it vibrated loud! Hammering at every idle.
4. Lots of holes in the firewall letting fumes in.
5. Hard line coming out of the fuel tank sending unit had a small hairline crack letting gas fumes in the cab.
6. Chinese gauges from Autozone for oil pressure and water temp added, I don't trust em.
7. Heater rattled and rang like bell, something inside must've cracked. It also leaked coolant...keeping that carpet nice and wet.
8. Carpet on the floors had a nasty smell.

[RyanPartridge]

I also found these old photos in the glove box.
This was Mac and must've been from the day he acquired the truck years back.
Pretty cool find!
Not sure what happened to that old straight six in the bed...

[Jason 56]

Nice truck... looks like a great body to start with. What are your plans for it?

[RyanPartridge]

After I got the truck home I began to tackle all the obvious issues, snugging down nuts, cleaning and assessing the details...

I found that the truck was originally green and a base model straight six that someone had upgraded with an early 283 V8, Saginaw synchromesh 3 speed with a Hurst floor shift and an 8.2" 10 bolt rear end. Kinda neat! Also the six lugs had been swapped for 5 lug...

[nvrdone]

on your shifter, for the short haul, use a coupling nut and some all thread to extend the knob up to where its comfortable.

[RyanPartridge]

Originally Posted by nvrdone

on your shifter, for the short haul, use a coupling nut and some all thread to extend the knob up to where its comfortable.

Funny you mention that, it’s already got a five inch all-thread extension.
I’ve got a buddy that’s gonna make me something custom in the next few weeks here.

[RyanPartridge]

Painted my rear bumper and got it mounted!
License plate bracket too...still need to wire up the light...

[Jason 56]

Keep up the great progress! Love the stance

[RyanPartridge]

Originally Posted by Jason 56

Keep up the great progress! Love the stance

Thanks Jason!

[Dan in Pasadena]

I didn't read everyone else's responses but I agree, VERY nice looking truck. What I SHOULD have done with mine until I go totally carried away.

Hey, just a pet peeve of mine for what it's worth: Your side emblems are on backward. The oval goes to the rear. It was supposed to invoke a feeling of rockets from that era. A simple fix. Nuts on the backside.

PS: The oval is supposed to be painted red. Letters inside remain chrome.

[RyanPartridge]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

I didn't read everyone else's responses but I agree, VERY nice looking truck. What I SHOULD have done with mine until I go totally carried away.

Hey, just a pet peeve of mine for what it's worth: Your side emblems are on backward. The oval goes to the rear. It was supposed to invoke a feeling of rockets from that era. A simple fix. Nuts on the backside.

PS: The oval is supposed to be painted red. Letters inside remain chrome.

Thanks Dan!

10-4 on the side emblems. That's how they were installed when I purchased the truck and I took em off a few months back to paint em, still haven't got around to it. I'm kind of enjoying the clean simple look without em...even though the holes are still there.

[Dan in Pasadena]

You're welcome. Sorry for the "diarrhea of the keyboard" lol.

Guess I'm just digging your truck. I may have to sell mine and look for another!

[joedoh]

great truck, I am going to have a red 55-57 TF someday.

[RyanPartridge]

Originally Posted by joedoh

great truck, I am going to have a red 55-57 TF someday.

Thanks joedoh!

[RyanPartridge]

Drove out to Burbank last night to pickup some steelies a fella was selling. Since I was in the neighborhood I stopped at Bob’s for a Big Boy Burger and a vanilla shake.

Speaking of vanilla shakes....I’m rattle can’n the new wheels now!

[Dan in Pasadena]

Ryan, I'v been messing and meaning to go to the cruise-in at Bob's and haven't made it yet.

I like the vanilla color, Rustoleum, Krylon, Duplicolor? What color name? Will you use beauty rings? I like the narrow, ribbed ones with dog dish caps.

[RyanPartridge]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Ryan, I'v been messing and meaning to go to the cruise-in at Bob's and haven't made it yet.

I like the vanilla color, Rustoleum, Krylon, Duplicolor? What color name? Will you use beauty rings? I like the narrow, ribbed ones with dog dish caps.

Yeah I've never been to the cruise-in at Bob's either but keep telling myself I will someday.

I used Duplicolor's Wimbledon White, same as my rear bumper. Still need to re-do my front bumper and grill.
Not sure yet what caps I'm going to run, possibly baby moons, or no caps at all for a while. The wheels came with some original 57 Chevy car hubcaps, a couple are dinged up a bit...not too bad.

Not sure about beauty rings. I'm trying to keep the truck looking less-deluxe and more like a base model that got a couple mods back in the day. I like the old shop/push truck style...simple with a few upgrades. Not full blown custom. Then again, beauty rings might work. Once I get the new painted steelies on I'll have to sit back and look at it with a few beers and see if I can picture what the truck wants...

[GreasyLikeaBurger]

I havent been to the Toluca Lake BigBoy in probably 20 years. I use to live over on the otherside of the hill on the westside. We would drive over once a month or so. It use to get crowded early. Had to park on the street and walk over.

[RyanPartridge]

Originally Posted by GreasyLikeaBurger

I havent been to the Toluca Lake BigBoy in probably 20 years. I use to live over on the otherside of the hill on the westside. We would drive over once a month or so. It use to get crowded early. Had to park on the street and walk over.

Might be time for a burger!

[RyanPartridge]

Spotted this 59 yesterday on PCH and snapped a pic...

[joedoh]

wow if those are original 60s 15x7 (they will measure 8" wide outside to outside width) steels in 5 on 4 3/4 pattern, they are a super rare find. as someone who has hunted boneyards for them I am jealous. probably came on a station wagon in the 60s.

[RyanPartridge]

Originally Posted by joedoh

wow if those are original 60s 15x7 (they will measure 8" wide outside to outside width) steels in 5 on 4 3/4 pattern, they are a super rare find. as someone who has hunted boneyards for them I am jealous. probably came on a station wagon in the 60s.

They were on a station wagon but unfortunately they’re not originals.
These are 15x7 for the rear and 15x6 fronts.