My 55 Chevy short narrow bed

Hey guys I just found this site and thought I'd share some pics (if i can figure out how to post them)and info on my truck that ive been working on for 12 years.

To start with I drug this truck and a 58 parts truck out of a pasture 12 years ago and it needed everything!

I completely tore the truck apart, cab off the frame and all. welded in rockers, cab corners and floor. The bed is a complete bed kit from a place here in okc called Markay. kept the cab and front sheetmetal all stock and the bed has a smoothie tailgate with hidden hinges, roll pan with frenched in tail lights, and oak floor with stainless steel strips.

For the suspension I kept the stock straight axle up front and removed about 4 of the springs from it to drop it down about 3 inches, I got my hands on some 50 chevy car hubs to convert it to 5 lug, out back I got a 2nd gen camaro 10 bolt posi with 373 gears and also removed about 3 or 4 of the overload springs and did a little heatin to the springs to get the stance I wanted.

For the motor I built a 6 inch rod 60 over 350 4 bolt main, it has 11 to 1 pistons, steel crank, crower 620/620 solid roller, gm performance 292 angle plug heads with 205 titanium valves and aluminum 1.6 roller rockers, edelbrock victor intake, 750 race demon carb, full msd ignition, and pete jackson gear drive. transmission is a 350 turbo with shift kit a tci street fighter 3000 rpm stall convertor flowing through a set of hedman headers with 2.5 inch pipe with flow masters

Interior wise its all stock including the original am radio that works! with the exception of a 76 chevy van steering column which is pretty much a direct bolt in for those of you that didnt know which will give you tilt, turn signals, and theres no key in the side of the column so it looks stock and alot cheaper than a ididit! I also built a center console out of wood and fiberglass to put the hurst shifter and auto meter gages in then painted it red to match the truck.

For wheels and tires I went with 15x10 weld prostars with 4.5 inch backspace in the back wrapped in 295 50's, up front I went with 15x4 weld prostars wrapped in 205 75's.

As far as paint i have the cab forward painted in what I call a "guide coat" basicly its there to show me the low spots or "wingies" i missed when i blocked it so its not the final paint job by any measure, the bed is still in primer cuz this weekend is the street rod nationals here in oklahoma city so i couldnt stand it anymore and had to get it out on the road. Did I mention today was its maiden voyage? LOL yeah i got a lot of compliments on it tonite at the cruise and had a great time aside from all the douchebags in thier clown cars with big wings and coffee can mufflers trying to get me to go fast and furious other than that fun fun fun.

Well thats the basics of my truck build, there was a lot more to it than the few paragraphs i typed but you guys know what it takes to build one of these things so ill spare you on all the little bs, but if anyone has any questions or comments i welcome them.

Donnie  

Heres a link to pic i think????







 

Very nice truck.  You did a good job and should enjoy that on the road.
The motor is a bit built for my taste with that high compression ratio.  What are you doing with the bed floor and interior?

The rear wheel size concerns me.  You are running a 60 inch wide axle with 4.5" BS.  The bed width is 50" so this gives you 0.5" of inside clearance between the rim and the bedside.  When you put the tire on the rim this might be reduced further resulting in a interference with the tire rubbing the bed side on turns.  Are you running any spaces on the rear?

I had to go to 4" BS to solve this problem on my 54 which has the same width bed on it.  I am also running a 2nd gen camaro rear axle.

Nice Truck!  

The bed floor is a oak kit, and interior wise I have the original seat, Im not totally sure what im going to do the interior yet. probably keep it fairly simple, was thinking of going with grey interior. As far as the wheels in the back, youre right its a real tight fit, on the inside with tires mounted I have about 3/4 of an inch clearance and the outer feneder I had to roll the fender lips to get clearance.

Donnie  

Sweet lookin' truck, coming together nicely.  
70ChevyC-10