'56 Chevy Panel build (SLP)
 

Well with the purchase of the suspension I’ve decided to go ahead and start a build thread. I’ll start from the beginning just to document it all on one page.
In high school I would drive buy this little old junk yard that was in a town of around 900. I kept eying this panel that was barely visible.

This was what it looked like from the street.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...uck/panel1.jpg

3rd year of college I decided to talk to the guy and ended up buying it for $50. Turned out to be a ’56 chevy ½ panel. Last time it was on the road from the plate was ’68.
It took 6hrs to get it out of the junk yard and to the farm only 8 miles away. More junk yard shots. It was full of engine parts he was storing. And it was covered in moss.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...ck/panel05.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...ck/panel04.jpg

I used an old axle that my dad had lying around to transport it once out on the farm. Here are pics of it after I scraped most of the moss off.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...ck/panel11.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...ck/panel15.jpg

Re: '56 Chevy Panel build (SLP)
 

Then it sat in the old shed until for 14 years collecting dust.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...ck/panel18.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...ck/panel30.jpg

While it didn’t look like much the panel body has zero rust through. The only rust though is in the typical truck areas, steps, toe board, firewall, and cowl.

Re: '56 Chevy Panel build (SLP)
 

Over the last few years I’ve been collecting parts. Now I’m going to start on the first stage of the build, to get it rolling. Here is my rendering I did to inspire me. I look at this every day.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...k/1b7a1ad8.jpg

Plans
Suspension front- Scott’s Super Slam IFS, airbags, disc brakes, power rack.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...ottsIFS011.jpg

Suspension rear- SD’s Super lift triangulated 4link

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1.../sdrear002.jpg

Wheels - dodge 20” steel spares, filled holes, and early chevy hub caps

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...cleanup040.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...k/wheels92.jpg

Body- 2 tone paint, slight custom touches here and there but keeping it stock looking

Interior- Keep it simple and looking stock

Motor- ?? don’t know yet leaning toward and LS.

Re: '56 Chevy Panel build (SLP)
 

May 1st after work.

I pulled the panel over to the shop to start. Since it was a late start that’s all I got done.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...cleanup003.jpg

May 2nd

It started off good found 4 used 20’s for $25 on my way to the metal shop. Metal shop was closed, so no metal for the boxing plates. Next I just started to clean the panel out. After 41 years of sitting there was a ton of dirt. I knew that the wood was in decent shape but wow only one small spot that had a little rot.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...cleanup012.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...cleanup011.jpg

Here’s more of the clean up.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...cleanup014.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...cleanup009.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...cleanup007.jpg

Re: '56 Chevy Panel build (SLP)
 

A few things I never noticed fire extinguisher bracket and flare bracket

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...cleanup023.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...cleanup024.jpg

Dash has the heater delete and radio delete plates.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...cleanup010.jpg

Re: '56 Chevy Panel build (SLP)
 

Little bit of the fun stuff.
20's” mounted to the s-10 rear.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...cleanup006.jpg

Now it’s time for cutting up that nice wood floor. You truck guys have it easy, just yank the bed off and there you have it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...cleanup042.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...cleanup044.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...cleanup045.jpg

Just for fun I rolled the rear end up front to see what it was looking like. Still need lower profile tires and the rockers are still too high.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...cleanup050.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...cleanup053.jpg

That’s it for a little while. Since it’s out on the farm 20 miles away, only get to work on the weekends.

Re: '56 Chevy Panel build (SLP)
 

sweeet.

using adapters in the back?

Re: '56 Chevy Panel build (SLP)
 

Nice work Jared
You must be excited to finally get started on the panel. You sure got luck with that shell. Good start. I'll definitely be following closely every weekend :metal:
Luv your rendering of the finished product, that gonna be sweet

Re: '56 Chevy Panel build (SLP)
 

For now I'm using adapters. Later on I will probably build a rear with out them.

Very excited about the start. Like I said been setting on this thing for 14 years plus the 5 years from when I first saw it. And yes deals like that are getting harder to come by.

Re: '56 Chevy Panel build (SLP)
 

keep it up man .....:metal:

Re: '56 Chevy Panel build (SLP)
 

Nice work, i like it with the 20" looks rely good. Keep the pictures coming.

Re: '56 Chevy Panel build (SLP)
 

Have you finished up a wheel and tried to balance it yet. I remember seeing a thread about you doing this with the wheels and wondered how it worked out?
Neat build......

Re: '56 Chevy Panel build (SLP)
 

subscribed..

Re: '56 Chevy Panel build (SLP)
 

Not yet. Still need to do a little grinding on the test wheel.

Re: '56 Chevy Panel build (SLP)
 

they will balance. You'd seriously have to bend the wheel for it to not balance.


you'd be freaked out if you saw how actually out of round and horribly off weighted 99% cast chrome wheels are.

Re: '56 Chevy Panel build (SLP)
 

what are the wheels off of? looks like some great progress!

Re: '56 Chevy Panel build (SLP)
 

Wheels are newer 20" dodge truck spare tires.

Re: '56 Chevy Panel build (SLP)
 

Lotta nice ideas going together here. 56 panels are very cool.

Re: '56 Chevy Panel build (SLP)
 

Any progress on the cab?? I have to ask... Why did you have to cut the floor out??
and which S10 rear axle did you p/u for your truck?

Re: '56 Chevy Panel build (SLP)
 

Thanks, been thinking about this thing for a while now. With all the stuff going on today it's getting harder to come up with something different.

Nope, only working on it on the weekends. Just did some major cleaning and assessing the rust damage.

Cut the floors for my 4link. With the size of tires and how low I'm going it had to be done.

This is a 2wd S10 rearend. I did checking and since I had to run addapters it was going to work for me. I plan later to build a rearend that will do with out the addapters and be wider.

Re: '56 Chevy Panel build (SLP)
 

good deal, thanks!

Re: '56 Chevy Panel build (SLP)
 

ck the width of a mustang or cougar they mite be what you need
the body looks real decent from what we see

Re: '56 Chevy Panel build (SLP)
 

I love it!!

Re: '56 Chevy Panel build (SLP)
 

Big fat zero done on the panel this weekend. Wife birthday, mothers day, and nephew's dedication used up my whole weekend. And found out that next weekend is loaded up also.

I did go out to the farm to check on it after some nasty storms rolled through the area the other night.

Re: '56 Chevy Panel build (SLP)
 

I understand my weekend was honey doos involving the cabinet making part of the shop. Next week end I'm traveling to my Mother's memorial service. But after that I get to finally prime and paint all the stuff I worked on this winter and get to finishing the body work. Did have a nice mothers day BBQ over at my kids.