Ben Jammin's 1955 Chevy/GMC Project
 

Alright guys! I have been waiting patiently for a year and a half now to start this thread on my build. Some of the details are complicated, but if your like me you'll mostly just look at the pictures anyway.

At 19 (which is not too long ago by the way) I began a serious search for a '55 (really wanted a '57) chevy or GMC pickup truck. Being a college student supporting myself by working part-time at autozone this was a far fetched idea to begin with.

Re: Ben Jammin's 1955 Chevy/GMC Project
 

I recieved a break or two and got ahold of a 1955 short wheel base with some really great parts on it for very cheap, just to find out when I picked it up the frame in the rear was horribly bent up.

The pictures of the truck in one peice disappeared into thin air but the main parts are here.

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Re: Ben Jammin's 1955 Chevy/GMC Project
 

After acquiring this truck I was in search for a good frame in some form or fashion. That came my way in the form of a 1958 GMC pickup in the middle of a group of trees.

I will have to resume at this point tomorrow to post more pictures. And I promise there will be pictures or more than rusty ole trucks once I get the time to post it all on here.

I will be excessively, possibly even annoyingly thorough.

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Re: Ben Jammin's 1955 Chevy/GMC Project
 

looks like a good start so what have done to it so far

Re: Ben Jammin's 1955 Chevy/GMC Project
 

:welcome2:
There's nothing wrong with posting pics of rusty trucks.
Kim

Re: Ben Jammin's 1955 Chevy/GMC Project
 

Due to my project funds.... or lack thereof, I find things in interesting places. This is the '58 GMC how I found it.

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Not only did i have to cut down the trees touching the truck, I had to cut down some pretty large ones just to get the truck out of the group of trees.

I went the day before and cut and sectioned all the trees (Some were fairly large)... now thats dedication!

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Notice that this frame is already equipped with a V8 MOUNT, which I will keep.

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Re: Ben Jammin's 1955 Chevy/GMC Project
 

My last whole vehicle purchased is a little bit different. Now having a good frame, two cabs to work with, 4 doors, etc. I needed and engine and transmission set up. My original plan was to fine a 90's model truck that had been rolled or totaled in the rear and yank the engine, tranmission, wiring harness, and computer out of it to integrate into the truck.

Well I got close. Another chance happening presented me with this '92 camaro with a TBI 305...... I know its not a 350, but the price was RIGHT! A guy I worked with had a nephew with no insurance, the rest u can figure out.

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Re: Ben Jammin's 1955 Chevy/GMC Project
 

I bought ONE more... well a half a truck. God poured out his blessings on me and a scrap yard opened up not a quarter mile from my front door. In my searching one day I found a '65 truck with a really good looking bed. As much as a hated to, they took it over to the torches and I cut the whole truck in half. I got the rear half, frame and all. (i cut the axle out too, less weight)

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Now... a recap of all this junk I bought so far. You guys think im crazy? All this rusty wrecked stuff has cost me under $1000 so far. but then again who do you know who would look at this picture and see value of more that a thousand dollars??

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Re: Ben Jammin's 1955 Chevy/GMC Project
 

That's my kind of backyard...

Looks like you have a great start on a truck.

Good luck, Rg

Re: Ben Jammin's 1955 Chevy/GMC Project
 

Now for some clean, rust free parts that might even be a little shiny.

For this build I wanted to start from the ground up so the first thing to do would be the suspension.

I started out by test fitting the brackets (CPP) on the old axle.

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Re: Ben Jammin's 1955 Chevy/GMC Project
 

I got a 3" drop axle from a guy on ebay In this picture you can see the new king pin set installed. (these pictures were taken from my phone so i apologize)

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Here you can really see the difference between the new and old axle.

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Re: Ben Jammin's 1955 Chevy/GMC Project
 

Thanks Jim!

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Here I have it all fitted together.

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Re: Ben Jammin's 1955 Chevy/GMC Project
 

looks like you got a great start, reminds me of our 58 build on a budjet, love ingenuity, great job, hope to see more!

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Here i have the brackets installed and painted and the upgraded tie rod ends in place.

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Re: Ben Jammin's 1955 Chevy/GMC Project
 

Crazy? I would say good find for $1000!! Good luck on your project and keep those progress pictures coming!

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I painted the calipers, parts of the rotor, and the brake pads to help keep rust away in the future.

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As a side note: I will have painted steel rims on the truck when it is done, so the center caps will show. I ordered some supposedly chrome caps from CPP and was very disappointed when I recieved them. So I bought some regular caps from autozone and smoothed them with 1500 grit sand paper and polished them with mother's.

The one I did is on the left, and the one from CPP is on the right.... you decide.

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Re: Ben Jammin's 1955 Chevy/GMC Project
 

Thanks CAL 58 I'll be sure to tell my girlfriend that someone else agrees haha.

Re: Ben Jammin's 1955 Chevy/GMC Project
 

looks like it,s going to be a fun project can't wait to see it finished.

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Great Lookin start on your project! Keep the pics coming, see ya jeff

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Thanks guys! 58 GMC ... your truck SHARP! Almost sharp enough to change my mind into keeping the 58 look, its so hard to change a heart though...

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lets talk about rear ends... can't go wrong posting pictures of a rear end on the internet, its been proven again and again...

This is another scrap yard find. I found a 78 chevy pickup with a good looking rear and end traded a bent up one and 25 bucks for it.

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Re: Ben Jammin's 1955 Chevy/GMC Project
 

I stripped the mounts off, cleaned out the gears, and got all new brakes, now its ready for some new spring seats...

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Re: Ben Jammin's 1955 Chevy/GMC Project
 

Lookin good! Money well spent:chevy:

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Nice work so far but GOD YOU PEOPLE WITH MONEY MAKE ME JEALOUS:waah: damn i have literally built 90% of the parts i have needed to drop my 57' then put the 396ci in it...one day i will have clean parts like everyone else but for now it looks like its from 1958 and im proud of it:lol:

Re: Ben Jammin's 1955 Chevy/GMC Project
 

if i've learned anything about money and these builds you never have enough. sides the most creative engineering can't be found in a box from ups. it's generally found outside the box....
GT

Re: Ben Jammin's 1955 Chevy/GMC Project
 

Nice project. Glad to see you're building a chunk of Americana instead of a Honduh.

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On the same note I envy your skill on being able to do those things. I dont have the tools or the knowledge. Do you have a thread on what you did specifically?

And thaks for your comments all you other guys!!!

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not to rain on your project but you do realize the 78 truck rear has the bigger 5 on 5 bolt pattern for the wheels

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Ben, I'm impressed with what you have been doing. It is nice to see the younger guys getting into some good American metal. The only thing I can say is keep it up and don't get discouraged when things don't go according to plan. I have been working on my dad's truck for 2 years now and we probably still have another year to go. Also I have a 69 Camaro that I have been messing with for ever...lol actually I have had it for about 10 years and am now just getting the time and money to mess with it. Once my kids get out of school then it is ME time. Keep up the good work and let us know if you run into a problem, I have gotten lots of help from the people on this board.

Bernie

Re: Ben Jammin's 1955 Chevy/GMC Project
 

It's ok to rain, I brought an umbrella. The car pattern(front) is smaller than the truck, but since I am using painted steel rims I have some steel rims off of a car for the front and some off of a 90's model truck for the rear.

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just a thought but why not use the camaro rear diff?

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if there is a local machine shop in your area and if they can do you could have the rear axles and drums redrilled for the car patters

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Thank a bunch Bernie, I would never touch an import... not my style.. And there will be plenty of questions to come, I'm sure of it. And as far as American vehicles go here is my other car...

I shaved the door handles, air brushed ghost flames, and painted it myself. Added remote start and stereo system.

(the last two pictures are before I got ahold of it)

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Re: Ben Jammin's 1955 Chevy/GMC Project
 

Thats a good thought, I havent explored that option yet...

And I know this is kind of a stupid reason but I got the axle flip kit from CPP. It comes with everything to mount an axle with a 3" housing. The rear end on the camaro I have is much smaller. Any other cars I have checked on they are all 2 1/2" I dont have much of an issue with the bolt patterns being different... are there any other factors I should be worrying about?

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Here are a couple pictures of some random things I'm doing right now.

The plan is while I'm waiting on the big things to come together I can work on all the little stuff...

I welded some small holes so the inner fender will be smoother

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Blasted and painted the headlight buckets

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Got these valve covers for a STEAL on ebay

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Re: Ben Jammin's 1955 Chevy/GMC Project
 

hahaha never has a 19yr old gotten a complement like that before:lol: no i should have one but havent gotten around to it yet

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Compliments of a 22 year old