Projects My 1955 Dodge 1/2 ton pickup (re)build

I wouldn't call this a HAMB worthy build but I'm gonna update this thread and look for input until someone tells me otherwise

I do apreciate input good or bad. I have a good flame suit so let it rip!

Project: 1955 Dodge C3B
Motor: 80's GM Goodwrench crate 350
Trans: TH400
Rear Axle: GM 10 Bolt

History: I traded a Jeep project that I had been working on for numerous (more than I would like to admit) years for this truck. The truck came from Goffstown NH and was last seen at 2006 car shows. If anyone has seen it before, please let me know as I have very little history of the truck.

Condition: I believe that this will be the 3rd time that this truck has been rebuilt. I think the first rebuild was the best. You will see what I mean through the pictures.

The plan: My first goal is to get the truck back on it's feet. This means that I will do a few things that I will instantly NOT be proud of. I want to keep the truck in a drivable condition throughout the build so that I can keep the family happy with the truck rather than having them ***ociate it with a pile of parts in the garage.

What I've done:
12V replacement blower motor for my heater. 4 Seasons 35576
Rebuilt the heater
11 gallon spun aluminum tank
Rebuilt the windshield wiper vac*** motor
Put in seatbelts

Future Projects That WILL be done:

Redo the grill. I bought a damaged stock grill off ebay
Electric radiator fan
Tub the rear moderately (contradictory to redoing the bed but I'll chop it up when I'm ready to tub).
Airbagged 4 link with disks.
Rhino line the interior
Tint the rear window
Disk brake conversion on the front
Install an e brake
Put in directionals

Things I'll talk about but will never do:

Remove the roof lights
Replace mirrors with billet small style
Put on headers and side pipes
Rebuild or remove the steps
Remove front bumper rails
Repaint the truck
Power steering
Fix all the gauges
Install a hidden radio

Thanks for following along,
Mike<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

 

Picking up the new project:

 

First thing I focused on was the heat to keep the ball and chain happy.






It was a happy home to more than one critter

 

taken apart


The 6v motor. The wires fell apart as soon as I touched them.


The reason the motor dod not work on the bench test:


The 12V replacement: Four Seasons "Factory Air" part# 35576 I looked high and low for the best fitting motor. I finally just called four seasons directly and spoke with a tech who gave me a few specific options to try. This was the best. All I had to do was cut the studs by the output shaft and shorten the shaft itself.

 

Looks worthy to me...
.

 

Rebuilding the switch to last.



A quick sand and spray:




The new wire routing:



IN and plumbed to the engine!


Heats right up and keeps the cab nice and toasty.

 

nice... that first pic it looks like its mad its being towed by a Chevy.. lol but then again the drive train is all Chevy lol

 

Looks worthy to me!

Good looking truck. Sounds like you've got the right idea with the build, keeping it on the road is a good thing. Maybe not as good as a full rebuild, but its a lot easier to stay motivated if you can take it around the block for a little motivation. Piles of parts can get overwhelming pretty quick.

If you don't already have the Don Bunn book on C-series trucks, you should pick it up. Lots of good info in there. Obviously with the Chevy drivetrain it won't all be useful, but its a good reference.

Amazon has it here


Also, you may want to check out the P15-D24 forums. They have a Pilothouse forum, lots of good info there that still crosses over to the C-series trucks.

http://www430.pair.com/p15d24/mopar_forum/

They also maintain a "knowledge" page with a bunch of manuals and some "how to's". Mostly related to B-series Dodge trucks, but there's some C-series stuff there also, and most of it crosses over anyway...

http://www.dodgepilothouseclub.org/know/know.htm


Always good to see another old Dodge truck back on the road, keep up the good work!

 

I rebuilt my wiper motor. Works great! I need a dedicated vacuum port on my intake for it and don't have one. I'll have to find another reason to pull the intake besides just the wiper motor.

 

Next project is the bed. I asked about the tank and the previous owner said "It was running like ****. I think there's some water in the gas tank or something so I just threw the boat tank in"




The steel inside the bed was heavily welded by someone not so great at welding:

 

I pulled the steel in the bed

not too bad



I found the issue with the gas tank

 

wow thats the worst gas tank ive ever seen , the truck is pretty cool , good project

 

Sunday night just for fun pics....

My wifes car looks amazingly similar to my truck




next to my dads Dodge. 44 years apart

 

Thanks moparmonkey! The links will help.

 

I love those trucks my buddys dad had one back in the day. old school lowrider with hydro's

 

^^

I love that truck in the video! Wish I could find one of those visors.

 

FYI a fuel tank from a '53 or '54 is the same as the '55 & '56, or the gas tank Renu process work purty good if ya cain't find a suitable replacement.

 

Got some oak for the bed and a spun aluminum tank. It's only 11 gallons and has no baffles or anything but it'll do.



All cut to length with stainless bed strips.




I'm debating on routing the edges for the bed strips but I like how high the strips are raised without.

What do you guys think? I will be staining the wood black.

 

Thanks for the info I also read somewhere that an S10 tank from the 90s is also real close. As you can see in the above pics, I'm taking the easy way out

 

cool truck, I like this gen dodge trucks, they are different. The bed mounted tank fits the truck perfect.

 

Looking good. You do nice work. Good luck with the truck and keep posting pictures.

 

I wish it was bigger but i didnt want to spend the coin to get a real tank. The 11 gallons should get me about 100 miles

 

Diggin the build. I am working on a '56 for my daughter http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=574288). It didn't have a heater but at least the fuel tank was intact. Where did you get the stainless strips for the bed? Still not ready for that part of the project but always keeping my eyes open for pieces I might need. And just out of curiosity, what is the brake setup like?

 

I got the bed strips and bolts from Gary at Roberts Motor Parts. I don't know how their prices actually compare but Gary is always there to answer any questions I have so the business goes to them. The best bet is to call.

The brakes are still all stock (aside from the chevy drum rear end). I will be putting discs on the front and rear. I have all the parts, I just need to decide when I want to do it.
I'll be using a Wilwood MC and prop valve. I read about a few different OEM MC's from other vehicles that can be used but I am not in love with any of them.

 

Can you offer some pics of the engine in relation to the steering and master cylinder. Also the routing of the exhaust from the mainfolds down? I'm starting the planing on an engine swap on mine and that area looks really tight. Thanks

 

I'll get some pics for you tomorrow. It is a tight fit for sure.

 

Raidmagic,
I took some pics with my phone and uploaded them to photobucket. Unfortunately, photobucket is blocked here at work

Here is a link to my photobucket account. The pics should be in the general folder.
http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e308/onzrocs/

Mike

 

Here is the steering and manifold

 

I have been doing a lot of work lately. Here are some pics.

I bought a damaged grill on sleeze bay



Did some minor repair




Put on:





It's not perfect but it's just right for the truck

 

I was not a fan of the exhaust tips.
(before)


(after)



Simple? yes. There are 3 things I like about this. The looks, the sound, and the fact that I don't have 2 big black spots in the driveway after revving the engine.