55.2-59 Starting my '58

[mydogearl]

I made this account in 2012 and made one post where I was considering selling my '58 that I bought in '03. Nothing ever materialized from that and here I am actually going to start on this thing. Part of the hang up was I lost the garage (long story) and I had the truck torn down and had to move it to a much smaller and cluttered garage/barn where it got buried for years and years. Now I've got it somewhat decluttered and ready start chipping away at the truck.

It's a '58 body on '79 Blazer 4x4 frame. 350 with th400, I believe. With that being said, the motor was never moved to my current garage from the original garage and I have no clue if it's still there or not (again, loooong story). So who knows, I might be looking for another motor when the time comes.

I wont have a huge budget on this thing and the plan for it is to be a nice driver... it won't necessarily be a daily driver but will be one that I'll get out and drive about any time I want. I've never been the type to want vehicles that are so nice that they're almost too nice to drive, not there's anything wrong with that.

Even though, there won't hardly be anything "original," I do plan on it appearing as "era specific" as possible. I'll try to get some of the old pics of it uploaded. I'm looking forward to the challenge and also hopefully being a contributing member, although I'll be asking for advice more than I'll be giving it.

[mydogearl]

Old photos before truck was torn down.

[bosco]

Looks like a good starting project. Looking forward to seeing the progress.

[_Ogre]

4 eyes? what's not to like?

[Rickysnickers]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

4 eyes? what's not to like?

There's two too many

[mydogearl]

Hah! Early on, I almost wished mine was a '55/'56 but the '58/'59 has grown on me so much. I've come to the conclusion that I prefer the earlier models for sportier, two wheel drives and the later for four wheel drives as they seem a little beefier looking.

[Rickysnickers]

It's a nice looking truck. I'm just giving Ogre grief

[cameo]

welcome to the club. I have owned my truck for 35 years, and it has never had a seat in it, so i have never even sat in it. it has been in many different garages and barns ove the years, but it is now being worked on. I feel your pain Sir. time to make some progress!!

[mydogearl]

That's painful cameo. I drove mine around the farm a handful of times almost 20 years ago. You can probably see the one gallon fuel tank hanging from the front in one of those pics. I wasn't going far when I did drive it.

[dennislbrooks]

Southern Ohio huh. Stop over. My 59 is a little different.

[mydogearl]

Sweet, Dennis. Looks like I'm an hour east of you. Is that a napco or newer frame?

[mr48chev]

Glad to see that you are finally at a point where you can get something done on it.

I'll say this, keeping costs under control and within budget usually means that you need to keep things simple.

Engine, a good running 350 out of a "snow/winter" car/truck that finally got so rusted that it is no longer viable to drive on Ohio roads but runs great and you can drive it home, pull the engine and send the hulk off to the scrapper. 350 simply for the same reasons all too many fools disrespect them. They are easy to find, parts are easy to find, plentiful and comparatively inexpensive than those for more "interesting" engines with alleged cool factor. All you need to think about is how well the engine runs and that the donor rig has good papers to get rid of the hulk with.

"Period" correct on that truck is 80's/90's when a lot of guys were buying beat up square body 4x4's tossing the body and putting an earlier body on it like that one has been done. I'd leave the wheels it has now on it, put stock front and rear bumpers on it and a stock grill and call it good.

[mydogearl]

Hey 48. I've been putting a rough budget on it and it shouldn't be too terribly costly. Not a whole lot needed. When purchased, it actually came with brand new grille, bumper, and headlight rings among other things. The era specific thing is just my personal taste in the looks. Nothing to do with value or originality or any other factors.

I think there is a good chance the motor is still there and hopefully not locked up and I'll be able to recover it. But if not, I'm mostly in agreement with you on the 350. I don't hotrod around and generally drive pretty sensible anymore. I'm not fond of fixing things that could be avoided. If I do anything special or "above and beyond" with the motor, it would simply be for the challenge to myself.

Oh, and those wheels are definitely going. They're ugly as sin lol.

[dennislbrooks]

mydogearl, not a napco. Orig frame with 84 K10 axles, a 350th and a np208, and 350 engine.
On 32 in 1 hour I can make it almost to 23 but we are old and usually have to stop at the rest area past union hill, on 50 about Bainbridge, on 52 maybe Sandy Springs, about 1.5 hours to Portsmouth 73, about 2 hours to Jackson.

8-)

Let me know what you need. I have a new small back window, a restored driver door, maybe other.

Did your 58 come with the clearance lights? Are those oem stamped up in the roof?

[mydogearl]

Hey Dennis. About 10 minutes south of the 32/23 intersection.

I know I'm probably like everyone else and will be needing front fenders but not in much of a hurry for those yet. Door and back glass are still good, to the best of my knowledge.

I doubt those are factory clearance lights but I never paid that much attention to them. If I recall, they seemed to be very light and cheap plastic feeling.

[dennislbrooks]

Sheet metal is pricy these days. I repaired all my metal - all welded. I did purchase lower inner/outer door panels the inner and outer brow and fabricated metal for passenger fender and the rear glass inner and outer brow. All because of mouse piss over the years before I got it.