1957 Chevy 3100 pick up project

[garyk1970]

well Ive known about this truck for about a year,and finally struck a deal and brought it home on Monday.found out when i was loading it up the owner calmly told me "you know this truck ran when parked,right?" the truck is very rough and rusty,and my intentions were to use the truck as a display but now my wheels are turning as i thought it would make a great rat rod style project for me. Tow-mater from the movie cars is the theme of the truck...
fast forward to today and i bought some tune up parts and a battery during the week.
started about 9:30 am...rewire the harness where needed,new plugs,belt,points,battery,changed the oil and filter,oil lines for oil filter housing,battery cables,cleaned out the fuel lines in tank,full of varnish and a fire extinguisher for safety....
mater started right up.....idled smooth....good oil pressure,179 temp, have no idea how long its been since ran last...very cool experience witnessing the first startup...very lucky...im going to try and find some wheels and tires and hopefully the clutch works....
ill keep you guys posted with pics on the progress...

 

[JOHNDEEREGN]

Always loved the old Chev front ends..... had a mean look to em.... My dad had a 57 he dropped a 327 in when I was a kid

 

[garyk1970]

Always loved the old Chev front ends..... had a mean look to em.... My dad had a 57 he dropped a 327 in when I was a kid

cool,a v8 swap is in my mind...lsx if i had the budget....for now the i6 is purring....cant wait untill i can put a muffler on it.....
but the whole rat rod scene is appealing to me,so I'm not sure what direction this will take

 

[JOHNDEEREGN]

cool,a v8 swap is in my mind...lsx if i had the budget....for now the i6 is purring....cant wait untill i can put a muffler on it.....
but the whole rat rod scene is appealing to me,so I'm not sure what direction this will take

LC2 and a kick ass stereo :biggrin:

 

[garyk1970]

LC2 and a kick ass stereo :biggrin:

god,how do you know me soo well??!!....lets see,move gas tank to rear so a large box will fit behind seat,make some kicks for componets,mmmmmm

 

[The Radius Kid]

god,how do you know me soo well??!!....lets see,move gas tank to rear so a large box will fit behind seat,make some kicks for componets,mmmmmm

I see you've got your expert help there in the last pic'.
Have fun and good luck.:smile:

 

[scot w.]

Cool truck Gary! If it were me I would just leave it looking just like it is with the In-line 6 and drive it... That old look is completely in these days and some people would go crazy over it... Put a stereo in it, drape a blanket over the seat and drive it...

Looks good Sanford!



.

 

[charlief1]

Cool truck Gary! If it were me I would just leave it looking just like it is with the In-line 6 and drive it... That old look is completely in these days and some people would go crazy over it... Put a stereo in it, drape a blanket over the seat and drive it...

Looks good Sanford!

.

Kinda what I was thinking but you need to go to inliners.org. Lots of info on how to build an inline 6 and pump it up quite a bit. Just imagine either a 4 barrel carb on it or maybe 3x2 webers. Add a header and talk about people looking at it.:biggrin:

 

[garyk1970]

I see you've got your expert help there in the last pic'.
Have fun and good luck.:smile:

thats my 4 year old girl Kacie,im trying to get her into cars too :tongue:...shes a sweetheart.she name the truck mater,,,,

Cool truck Gary! If it were me I would just leave it looking just like it is with the In-line 6 and drive it... That old look is completely in these days and some people would go crazy over it... Put a stereo in it, drape a blanket over the seat and drive it...

Looks good Sanford!

.

sick minds think alike?:biggrin:

Kinda what I was thinking but you need to go to inliners.org. Lots of info on how to build an inline 6 and pump it up quite a bit. Just imagine either a 4 barrel carb on it or maybe 3x2 webers. Add a header and talk about people looking at it.:biggrin:

i love the strait 6....i learned how to drive with a three on the tree ford i6 .

 

[gofstbuick]

Nice truck. But once you start modding your truck, no telling when you'll stop:biggrin:. I too thought of just dropping a V8 into my 55. After looking at the front suspension setup, I purchased a Heidt's IFS and TCI leafspring setup and ford 9 inch and disc brake conversion, then upgraded the headlight wiring, changed the gauge package and steering column modification. The list is never ending, Hope you have fun with your project.

 

[garyk1970]

Nice truck. But once you start modding your truck, no telling when you'll stop:biggrin:. I too thought of just dropping a V8 into my 55. After looking at the front suspension setup, I purchased a Heidt's IFS and TCI leafspring setup and ford 9 inch and disc brake conversion, then upgraded the headlight wiring, changed the gauge package and steering column modification. The list is never ending, Hope you have fun with your project.

thanks,
with the new "cars" movie coming out,it will be a hit at shows this summer i bet.
I'm going too start by cleaning up the interior,and leaving the outside alone for now...
started mater up today a few times,and found reverse and first gears,clutch works!!
gotta find some wheels and tires and take him around the block....

 

[turbo nasty]

Cool find Gary

 

[garyk1970]

Cool find Gary

thanks Jason,hope all is well....

 

[Rivical]

Looks Awesome!

Just be sure you check, or maybe not bother and just replace the brake hardlines and hoses! Installing a dual res MC is pretty simple insurance too! That lil girl looks worth the additional saftey net you'd be throwing on your enjoyment.

I've got a '56 4500 single axle that I'm gonna start the mods on soon.

 

[garyk1970]

Looks Awesome!

Just be sure you check, or maybe not bother and just replace the brake hardlines and hoses! Installing a dual res MC is pretty simple insurance too! That lil girl looks worth the additional safety net you'd be throwing on your enjoyment.

I've got a '56 4500 single axle that I'm gonna start the mods on soon.

thanks, safety and reliability are top priorities for this one....post up a pic of the 56.....

 

[Raymond Bunch]

That's a very nice project, happy to hear you saved it. We have a gentleman here with a similar one that runs 6.80-6.90's in the eighth mile. He put an LS series engine in it, it's a very nice straight forward set. Looking forward to seeing your progress on yours.

 

[Squid4life]

Love it, nice looking truck! Great body style!