1955.1 Chevy 3600

Here she is

Day Zero

Tear down begins

Waiting to be picked up in WV
Waiting to be picked up in WV
Waiting to be picked up in WV
Waiting to be picked up in WV
Waiting to be picked up in WV
Waiting to be picked up in WV
Waiting to be picked up in WV
Waiting to be picked up in WV
Waiting to be picked up in WV
Waiting to be picked up in WV
Waiting to be picked up in WV
Waiting to be picked up in WV
Waiting to be picked up in WV
Waiting to be picked up in WV
Waiting to be picked up in WV
Waiting to be picked up in WV
Loaded in the trailer, headed to the shop
Loaded in the trailer, headed to the shop
Excess Parts

Not gonna need these

The last owner was going in a different direction with the truck fitted to a C10 chassis with a 305.

305 and Turbo 400 pulled out...LS T56 going in
305 and Turbo 400 pulled out...LS T56 going in
C10 frame no longer required
C10 frame no longer required
Old 305 ready for a different project
Old 305 ready for a different project
Project ready Turbo 400
Project ready Turbo 400
Frame Modification

Donor Frame - 2000 Regular Cab S-10

Swapping to a thinner frame gives more room for meatier tires.

Donor truck arrives
Donor truck arrives
Kubota to the rescue
Kubota to the rescue
Just like that the bed is off
Just like that the bed is off
Time to strip down the frame
Time to strip down the frame
Almost ready for new brackets
Almost ready for new brackets
Code 504 front mounts
Code 504 front mounts
Code 504 rear mounts
Code 504 rear mounts
Code 504 kit off to a good start
Code 504 kit off to a good start
20-gallon fuel cell mocked up
20-gallon fuel cell mocked up
POR-15 rust prevention coating applied
POR-15 rust prevention coating applied
Body Work

Frame off restoration

While this is a frame off restoration, the goal is not to restore to pristine condition, rather, fix the ugly yet retain the age and character.

Thats a nice big hole for a LS
Thats a nice big hole for a LS
Work smarter not harder
Work smarter not harder
Cab dolly 1.0, 2.0 was a tad taller
Cab dolly 1.0, 2.0 was a tad taller
This made easy work out of removing the cab
This made easy work out of removing the cab
When in doubt, put it on wheels
When in doubt, put it on wheels
First test fit
First test fit
So far so good
So far so good
For a first test fit looking good so far
For a first test fit looking good so far
Unless someone is shifting from the bed, this won't work
Unless someone is shifting from the bed, this won't work
Mid-shift here we come
Mid-shift here we come
Truck was originally a long bed, but not for long
Truck was originally a long bed, but not for long
Love it when one tool has multiple uses
Love it when one tool has multiple uses
Not bad placement for a test fit
Not bad placement for a test fit
Shortening the bed will require shortening the running boards
Shortening the bed will require shortening the running boards
Made every attempt to use original parts
Made every attempt to use original parts
Fuel cell bracket design
Fuel cell bracket design
Stock HP = not enough

Just a couple extra cylinders

When you add more power, you also need to upgrade other components to get that power safely to the ground.

This should have been a factory option
This should have been a factory option
Intake design took a couple attempts to get IAT acceptable
Intake design took a couple attempts to get IAT acceptable
FAST continues to impress
FAST continues to impress
K&N filter hides in a custom box
K&N filter hides in a custom box
When contemplating ideas grab whatever is laying around
When contemplating ideas grab whatever is laying around
We eventually figured it out
We eventually figured it out
Mid-shift in progress
Mid-shift in progress
On second thought full rebuild
On second thought full rebuild
A GTO T56 has a few extra parts not mentioned in the service manual
A GTO T56 has a few extra parts not mentioned in the service manual
Cleaning and inspecting is a must
Cleaning and inspecting is a must
Upgraded fork pads, synchros, and some odd and ends
Upgraded fork pads, synchros, and some odd and ends
Gears mesh well for a test
Gears mesh well for a test
I can live with that
I can live with that
Time to get her back in
Time to get her back in
A little tight, but not too bad
A little tight, but not too bad
99 Explorer 4.10 LSD with disc brakes
99 Explorer 4.10 LSD with disc brakes
Just need to shorten and center the differential
Just need to shorten and center the differential
Blazer sway bar provide more shock clearance than the Explorer sway bar
Blazer sway bar provide more shock clearance than the Explorer sway bar
More power, larger brakes
More power, larger brakes
Rear disc brakes should help
Rear disc brakes should help
Body Work

Metal work complete, POR-15 applied, time for filler

Unsure if the hard part is over or if it is about to begin.

POR-15 rust prevention to minimize future issues
POR-15 rust prevention to minimize future issues
Considering some additional metal work to eliminate the seam
Considering some additional metal work to eliminate the seam
Almost fun time
Almost fun time
Bring on the Bondo
Bring on the Bondo
This is a resto-mod, not restoration
This is a resto-mod, not restoration
Cleaning up all the small holes that won't be required
Cleaning up all the small holes that won't be required
Let the dust fly
Let the dust fly
High build primer to clean up some pitting, but not all
High build primer to clean up some pitting, but not all
Paint

Paint and final assembly

With the goal to retain age and character whilst providing a mean appearance a satin paint choice was complimented by spray on bed liner.

A little crowded
A little crowded
No need to pull the vent window as everything was being replaced
No need to pull the vent window as everything was being replaced
Won't be scratched in a parking lot
Won't be scratched in a parking lot
This ended up giving the engine bay such a nice look we never mounted the hood
This ended up giving the engine bay such a nice look we never mounted the hood
Just in case we change our minds the hood was painted to match
Just in case we change our minds the hood was painted to match
Fenders were in rough shape, can't tell now.
Fenders were in rough shape, can't tell now.
Won't slip on these running boards
Won't slip on these running boards
As many parts as possible were preassembled on carts
As many parts as possible were preassembled on carts
Interior

Spools of wire, painters tape, and modernization

All wires labeled...you may have thought so...

In an effort to keep heat out
In an effort to keep heat out
And to keep music in
And to keep music in
Carpet starts to make it feel like a truck again
Carpet starts to make it feel like a truck again
Wires everywhere pulled out again to trace down an issue
Wires everywhere pulled out again to trace down an issue
This is overkill
This is overkill
Mocking up a Kicker 12" box
Mocking up a Kicker 12" box
Seats were light grey, nothing some dye can't fix
Seats were light grey, nothing some dye can't fix
Wrapping the interior panels with some faux gator skin
Wrapping the interior panels with some faux gator skin
Headliner drying nicely
Headliner drying nicely
Little by little the interior is coming together
Little by little the interior is coming together
Not ready to go on, but had to visualize it
Not ready to go on, but had to visualize it
This style never gets old
This style never gets old
Bed Mockup

Measure once cut twice

Measuring only goes so far when you realize that an only truck from the 50's aint quite square anymore, nor was it factory new.

These were the options, B was selected
These were the options, B was selected
2nd coat of clear
2nd coat of clear
Final coat of clear
Final coat of clear
2 tie down points serve as handles to fuel cell and battery compartments
2 tie down points serve as handles to fuel cell and battery compartments
Tuning

Carb vs EFI

Once upon a time you tuned by smell, feel, and looks nowadays you need an advanced computer degree to tune an engine.

Still in the early phases of tuning
Still in the early phases of tuning
Time for new injectors
Time for new injectors