do matching front hubcaps come eventually? glad to see its making progress
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do matching front hubcaps come eventually? glad to see its making progress
Thanks.
Yes, one of the hubcaps is Chevy the other GMC. Also the front wheels and tires are original (15" two piece wheels and tubed tires). The rears must have been damaged at some time and swapped out for 16" one piece steel wheels with tubeless tires.
Eventually it will get new 16" steel wheels on all 4 corners and white wall coker radial tires with chrome Chevy era hubcaps.
I've been slowly taking it apart and putting it back together.
The door latches were replaced so now it only takes one try to latch the door instead of 20.
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...ps3197e13b.jpg
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...psfcf6084c.jpg
The steering gear box was pulled and rebuilt. The one that was in my truck had a broken steering shaft (splined and threaded portion near the steering wheel). So I pieced together one good box and shaft assembly from 3 junkers I got off CL. Also refurbished the steering wheel and all the interior firewall rubber.
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...psdec3fc01.jpg
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...pse86b5645.jpg
The steering gear box takes a special grease (leveling grease) which I could only find through John-Deere and which is basically a mix of chassis grease and 80w gear lube. It's strange stuff.
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...psbed36603.jpg
The rubber brake hoses were replaced and all the bearing/hub/brake assemblies were taken apart.
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...ps649d20cb.jpg
The front passenger side bearings were screwed.
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...psfcb9775e.jpg
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...psdebac563.jpg
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...pse3b4801d.jpg
Both front drums and both rear drums were screwed.
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...ps48ab110b.jpg
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...psbf169192.jpg
Both front wheel cylinders were screwed.
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...ps0960c9ba.jpg
Everything got soaked in industrial degreaser for a day or two. Then into a 10% vinegar bath of two to three days which stripped all the rust off. Then everything got a fresh coat of paint.
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...ps8a4d1644.jpg
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...psdd18b215.jpg
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...ps2aa7d579.jpg
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...ps5b6d9cae.jpg
The brake drum hardware was screwed.
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...psdcb92bf5.jpg
The front steering kingpins were screwed and rusted into the spindles. A 20-ton press and an oxy-acetylene torch got them moving.
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...ps73504edd.jpg
Cleaned and painted front I-beam. New u-bolts and new king pin bushings and thrust bearings.
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...ps9d5420c4.jpg
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...ps536b3adb.jpg
Looking good.
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...ps9b389cbe.jpg
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...pse7fa8c50.jpg
I pulled the tank and found rust and old epoxy from a ****ty fix. I'm gonna replace it.
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...ps25aa4f13.jpg
That's an interesting fix for a broken float.
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...ps4ec857a6.jpg
All new fuel system. New flex lines. Cleaned hard lines. New tank. New sending unit. New filler neck. New sending unit wiring harness to gauge. Dealer option fuel filter installed. Rebuilt fuel pump.
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...psb443d3ba.jpg
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...ps4662968d.jpg
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...ps48765d68.jpg
Front worn suspension compenents.
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...pscwndrkf7.jpg
New.
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...psrh72fscy.jpg
Disassembled spring pack.
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...psbw3en5d0.jpg
After a 48-hour vinegar soak and degreasor.
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...pspim2qswu.jpg
Put back together.
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...pspzm9mfem.jpg
It'll do wicked burnouts now!!!
What color are you going to go with when you get that far?
I want to stick close to an original '56 color scheme. I'm not going back to the original golden yellow though (first offered for trucks in 1956).
Some other original options I'm thinking of are. . .
forest green - http://vehicle.images.autoferret.s3....5K016968_1.jpg
dusk rose - http://imgc.classistatic.com/cps/poc...004j15_27.jpeg