Caddy powered pick-em-up. 57 Chevy truck

[rlovell383]

Very Cool project! And that engine, ...dang! This should be a really fun cruiser, looking forward to seeing more.

Thanks I appreciate it!

[rlovell383]

Got the passenger side header done! Man that is some work but I'm really happy with it. About as good as I could hope for being my first time and only having a Mig welder. It won't win any beauty contests but it will definitely get the job done.



After getting all the tubes tacked I broke the collector back off and welded the star in. That seals the inside of the collector off.



Finished product:



And the best part. It fits!

[Protour_Pinto]

Great job on those headers! I wish I would have seen this sooner, I have a set of headers Im not using on my truck that probably would have worked for you.

[bbalch404]

Truck looks great! Love the seats. Keep up the good work!

[rlovell383]

Great job on those headers! I wish I would have seen this sooner, I have a set of headers Im not using on my truck that probably would have worked for you.

Truck looks great! Love the seats. Keep up the good work!

Thanks guys!

[rlovell383]

Header progress day...

Got my steering parts in the mail today so I could move forward with the driver side header. I really wanted to keep a straight shot with the steering shaft and avoid a 3rd U joint, for an extra failure point and wear item. Figured I'd mock it up and give it a go...








It might just work! Glad I decided to offset the steering column to the driver side 1/2 inch. That helped a ton with the rear cylinder.









Thats it for tonight.... Hope to finish up the header tomorrow.

[rlovell383]

Headers are done! I'd say probably 30 hours of work in them but I really enjoyed the process. They turned out pretty cool lookin

[rlovell383]

Cut the collectors to length and welded on the flanges. Also double checked for pin holes in the welds and mailed them off for ceramic coating!




Pulled the interior back out. Cut the windshield out and cleaned 60 years of crud off the dash. Its all original paint and its killing me to sand and refinish it!!! ARGH!
But I'm sticking with my plan and will make the interior shiny and new...

[rlovell383]

Radiator came in from PRC





Glass is out. Cab is totally bare of everything now. Time to start sanding and prepping for the shiny stuff.
The surface rust is coming off quick with just some 80 grit on my DA. Happy days.

[Protour_Pinto]

That cab is in great shape!

[rlovell383]

Weary of interior sanding I decided to assemble my gauge panel. Its an aftermarket aluminum gauge panel insert that I painted matte black.




The supplied gauge hold downs didn't really work with my gauges. So I made my own out of some aluminum stock. Also had to make some plastic shims to act as spacers behind the gauges.





It works!

[JJK]

I really like the guages installed behind the panel with a flush (inset, actually) face! A lot cleaner looking without the bezels sticking out.

[rlovell383]

I really like the guages installed behind the panel with a flush (inset, actually) face! A lot cleaner looking without the bezels sticking out.

Thanks! Me too. It has a nice factory look to it I think.

[rlovell383]

Works been crazy but I've managed to chip away some more on the truck.

Got a reproduction bezel for my gauge panel to complete the look...




Got a new carpet and it should look pretty spiffy:




Lots.... And lots... Of sanding...




Its coming out pretty good. I'm hoping to get it in paint in the next week or two. Then the real fun begins with final assembly.

[Mikey97D]

Looking good.

Surprised the 1190 isn't distracting you yet.

[rlovell383]

Looking good.

Surprised the 1190 isn't distracting you yet.

Thanks,
Its my daily transportation once the snow melts. Winter just doesn't want to loosen its grip this year!

[rlovell383]

Some body repair today:











Smoothing the old gas filler:

[rlovell383]

More updates!

Cut off the original hood hinge bracing from the OEM firewall and welded them in place.







Got the floor painted with some rust proof paint and seam sealed the new firewall. Looks like it belongs there!




Prepping the dash for paint:




The moment of truth:








Looks nice with the brown... Very happy with the color combo.




Started installing dynamat:




Those headliner retainers are a thumb buster to install!!! JEEEEEEZE

[Ben@SpeedTech]

Nice work! I like the color combo, everything's looking real good!

[rlovell383]

Nice work! I like the color combo, everything's looking real good!

Thanks!