[56belair4dr]

Looks like I have a new project. It's a 1955 Chevy 3100 big window step side. I was browsing the internet late Saturday night and happened to see it about 20 minutes after the ad was put on. I immediately called the guy and went to look at it yesterday (Sunday) after church. Luckily, since I was the first one to call, he held it until I could get there. He said that since he posted it, he had people waiting in line that had called wanting to buy it at that price, some even offering over his asking price. Overall, it's a beautiful truck. He said it was completely restored 20 years ago, and painted about 5 years ago. As far as I could tell, it has no rust. The cab corners, rockers, floors, fenders, everything is rust free. The paint job isn't perfect, however it is very presentable. The frame and underside all looks like has been restored as well, it is all shiny gloss black. It has a rebuilt 283 engine and 3 speed on the column. It also has a new interior, which basically only consists of the seat and headliner. The only thing it needs is the brakes checked, since they are really tight, and changing the ugly small air filter, but other than that, it is ready to drive and show. I had thought about putting chrome bumpers on it, but the white looks ok in my opinion. Any thoughts? :bowtieb:

 

[gotmotors]

Congratulations. For a twenty year old resto, it sure looks good. Must have been done the right way. I agree with the air filter change. Now, if it had two more it would look OK.

 

[Chevyragtop57]

Great looking truck you found. Like big back windows too. Mike

 

[carls 56]

congrats, sweet ride Andrew. bumpers look good just that way. :tu:tu

 

[Mikes56]

Good timing you were lucky to catch the ad early! Always wanted one of these, very cool truck. I love chrome, if you get tired of the white. Maybe add some chrome later on. But looks nice as is! :tu

 

[BIGglaSS]

Excellent find! Just get a battery hold-down and enjoy it as-is (while you plan the "hot-rod" updates)

 

[Big Bob]

Man o man,it sure looks good.I'd leave the exterior just as is,you can always chrome the bumpers later on. In the eng. compt. install a metal fuel filter and change that tiny air cleaner. Very nice p.u. and more rare with the wraparound rear window. :anim_25: :shakehands: :tu :tu

 

[angs1957]

Looks like a fantastic truck :congrats: on being the new lucky owner

 

[BamaNomad]

Great looking truck... IMO, it doesn't need anything other than the air cleaner.. .. and to be driven daily~

 

[56belair4dr]

Thanks for the compliments everyone! I brought the truck home yesterday and spent the afternoon cleaning it up. The paint polished out very nicely. The paint is not perfect show quality, however, it looks too nice to be a daily driver. I forgot to mention when I was talking about the restoration that when it was restored, they did a frame off resto. When it was painted, the previous owner put base/clear on it, and its in great shape. The wood in the bed has had some sort of stain put over it, but I think the wood would look better more glossy, but I'm still undecided. I am also going to put another air cleaner on it, but have not decided if I want to go original or not. I have an original 4 barrel oil bath air filter that I thought about using, and getting some script valve covers to put on it, but I may go with some sort of chrome air filter with finned valve covers like I have on my 57 Bel Air. I'm going to order a new chrome hood emblem for it since the previous owner painted the old one silver. Also wanting to get different wheels/tires, I saw some smoothie wheels from US Wheel that I liked. I would paint the wheel the turquoise and have the trim ring and center cap over the wheel. I also thought about getting some white walls to put on it, but I'm undecided. Either way, I don't particularly like the large tires that are currently on it. Any ideas?

Here are some pictures:

Bringing it home yesterday:

Thought this picture was neat, since it shows the differences 62 years can make in a vehicle design (technically, the white GMC is only 52 years younger).

Here are some pictures after cleaning it up:

I see me in this one!

 

[56belair4dr]

I was playing around with Photoshop and edited these wheels onto the truck, this is kind of the style wheels I'm looking at. I think they look better than the originals, but still have the original look. I'm not sure about the whitewalls though, I have a brand new set of 15" white letter Cooper Cobra tires that I might put on those style wheels. I'd probably order 15x8 wheels. Any opinions?

 

[saf57]

Beautiful truck. Great find and it sure polished up nicely.

Personally I like a narrow white wall or white letters. Some of my buddies think if it isn't a wide white wall it shouldn't be on the car/truck, but to me it is such a personal choice. Those wheels you photoshopped on, with either of the above, would look great.

Look forward to seeing what you decide. Regardless, its your truck, do what you like, your the one driving it. And if you don't like what you've got you can always change it.

 

[56belair4dr]

After having the truck for a week, I've decided to get a few things to improve it. I'm going to put front discs on it, and change the rear end, to change it over to 5 lug instead of 6 lug. I'm also going to replace the hood ornament with a new chrome one, because the person who restored the truck put the original back on and painted it silver, which looks terrible IMO. As for the wheels, I have a set of 15x8 Corvette rallys that I'll put on it for now. The tires on the wheels are brand new, with 0 miles on them, however they have been sitting in my shop for two years waiting to go on my Impala I'm currently restoring. So instead of letting them go bad, I'll put them on the truck for now. What amazes me about the paint is the color. Outside it looks like tropical turquoise, but inside under the fluorescent lights, it looks more blue. I credit this to the small amount of metallic in the paint. Here are some pictures:

New wheels:

Paint after polishing (still not done with it )

And to show the paint color difference in fluorescent light (featuring my reflection in the paint):

 

[56belair4dr]

Got the new emblem installed on the hood.

Before:

During (kind of like the shaved look ):

After:

Comparison:

 

[Carinsulation.com]

That looks like one clean ride! :anim_25:

 

[56belair4dr]

That looks like one clean ride! :anim_25:

I appreciate it! It's not perfect, but it looks pretty good. It had a nut and bolt frame off restoration in the late 90's to early 2000's, and it has held up really well. It was last painted 4-5 years ago in bc/cc turquoise with metallic in it.

 

[56belair4dr]

Update:

I've started putting on the discs this week, hopefully will be done by Friday 3:.
I've been thinking about going all out on the motor. This afternoon, or tomorrow, I'm going to get a new aluminum radiator (nothing wrong with the old one, just like the aluminum look better). I'm also planning to get polished dual quads and polished endurashine intake, so I can be different than most. Also I'm getting the finned valve covers, with a finned air cleaner for the quads. Along with this I'll have chrome alternator, chrome water pump, chrome pulleys, and chrome brackets. Also, I'm trying to find a chrome cover for the battery, which is in the stock location. I've seen the louvered chrome boxes for the cars, but haven't found one for the truck. I was thinking of possibly buying a polished aluminum sheet and making a cover to go around the sides of the battery, but the problem is, I can't make the louvers. Are the louvers necessary on those boxes? If not I will probably do this.

 

[Wolfman]

Congrats - beautiful truck! :tu :congrats:

 

[Big Bob]

Fantastic,the truck is looking real nice. If you're going to change out the v. covers,consider the aluminum finned valve covers from the 1969 Chevy Z-28 eng. They look real nice all polished up and the already have the baffles and oil drippers inside and ready to go. Keep the pics coming. :tu :tu :shakehands: :bowtieb:

 

[mickeywestsr]

After having the truck for a week, I've decided to get a few things to improve it. I'm going to put front discs on it, and change the rear end, to change it over to 5 lug instead of 6 lug. I'm also going to replace the hood ornament with a new chrome one, because the person who restored the truck put the original back on and painted it silver, which looks terrible IMO. As for the wheels, I have a set of 15x8 Corvette rallys that I'll put on it for now. The tires on the wheels are brand new, with 0 miles on them, however they have been sitting in my shop for two years waiting to go on my Impala I'm currently restoring. So instead of letting them go bad, I'll put them on the truck for now. What amazes me about the paint is the color. Outside it looks like tropical turquoise, but inside under the fluorescent lights, it looks more blue. I credit this to the small amount of metallic in the paint. Here are some pictures:

New wheels:

Paint after polishing (still not done with it )

And to show the paint color difference in fluorescent light (featuring my reflection in the paint):

I like the Rally's ......:tu
Cowboy :flag6:
:gba:
bowtie-trifive