Finally done, here is the After gallery. Click a picture to view the carousel…
Dashboard nearly complete.
Headliner, dome light, gun rack… check!
This was the “farm truck” in January 2017, the Before gallery…
The damaged fender and the old fix, lurking under the body filler that was blasted off.
Testing it out, with blankets and towels draped on the line to dampen the snap if the line should break.
LIft off!
Ready for disassembly.
And lastly, this gallery shows some of our work. There is no question that the paint job (and prep and finish) was by far the most time consuming and at times disheartening part of the restoration. The mechanical jobs were mostly straightforward, with just a handful that caused trouble. We got pretty good at rebuilding doors and windows but a broken – yeah, we broke it – passenger side window just as we were finishing the truck gave us some grief… nobody likes to backtrack. All in all, we enjoyed the project and we’re pleased with the result.
More importantly, Lewie is happy to have the truck just as he remembered back in the sixties, but made more enjoyable with the addition of power steering, power brakes, and the overdrive transmission.
Jim Tronier at work on the frame.
Back in the barn before the next rain. Bare metal will rust if you just drop a bead of sweat on it.
Sorting out the wiring for the dash… easy.
Dash lights spliced into blade connectors.
Fuse box above driver-side kick panel. Accessible but out of the way.
Found a convenient place for speakers, even with in-cab fuel tank.
Fresh paint. Now is the time for…
New electric wiper motor; manifold vacuum will be reserved for brakes.
Our engine test bed worked like a charm.
The 235 six, with fresh paint and added power steering pump and alternator.
Bearing installed into bottom end of steering column.
Steering shaft shortened, double D cut, and drilled for a pin or bolt.
Inner firewall cover and precut jute pad.
Precut and punched rubber floormat. I wish I had done this in the Apache.
Installation of frame, bed wood, and strips.
With access gained, we hammered and bent the fender back into shape.
Primer applied and ready for a closer inspection.
Truck cab painted brilliant blue. It pops!
New master cylinder access on the cab floor.
The original brake lever is used, and fit perfectly.
The CPP 5559BBD kit and our original brake lever.
Keeping the barn tidy… all the flatbed pieces on one cart.
Fixture attachment up close.
2 thoughts on “The ’56 Chevy 3600 Farm Truck is Finished”
I really enjoyed seeing the pictures of the truck. I am a Chevy truck guy, but my rucks are from the 30s and 40s.
I was especially interested in the platform bed on the truck. I have some complete sets of sideboards which were apparently taken off new trucks. I believe they are the same as the boards on your truck. One set was robbed of some hardware and parts were left outside. Two more sets are complete and were well stored. They are blue, green and black.
If you know anyone who needs them, I would like to see them back where they belong. I am in Missouri.
NICE WORK.
Mike Russell
573-592-1991 days
573 864 6539 mobile
I really enjoyed seeing the pictures of the truck. I am a Chevy truck guy, but my rucks are from the 30s and 40s.
I was especially interested in the platform bed on the truck. I have some complete sets of sideboards which were apparently taken off new trucks. I believe they are the same as the boards on your truck. One set was robbed of some hardware and parts were left outside. Two more sets are complete and were well stored. They are blue, green and black.
If you know anyone who needs them, I would like to see them back where they belong. I am in Missouri.
NICE WORK.
Mike Russell
573-592-1991 days
573 864 6539 mobile
Thanks for the compliment, I will keep in mind your truck parts.