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Kris' 54 pickup build
My oldest son Kris and I try to get up to the street rod nationals every year for a day. This year he came back energized to get back on the 54 Chevy Pickup that Roger and Uncle Johnny gave him several years ago.
Kris is 6-8" so chopping the top isn't an option. He also doesn't have much spare cash so it is going to be low buck. We decided to raise the fenders and do away with the running boards. This meant that the whole lower front of the cab had to be reshaped. Grant Leeser, his friend Ed, Uncle Johnny, and Kris did most the work. I'm cutting down the radiator support and Roger, Mr Bugly Tools, is cogitating on the meaning of life. This is Kris with the burgundy Imperial hat helping Grant. This is what it looks like with the old hood cut down. A new hood will have to be built from scratch. So this is what a stock truck looks like. With the magic of photo shop, you can see what we did by raising the fenders the height of the running boards. What the modified truck would look like with a stock bed....not bad...BUT We're going to go with a more fleetside look. Almost like a UTE but not one piece. I have a Dodge Dakota bed that we're going to reskin the outside. Longer bed version Shorter bed version Attachment 17661 Not sure which version we're going to end up with. Regardless at the upcoming Dixieland meet, Kris is going to be working on the hood and other parts. Volunteers to get involved will be welcome.
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Kerry Pinkerton |
#2
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thats really cool! i really like the idea of using another bed and just reskinning it! i will have to remember that trick.
p.s. will you be doing anything with that bodyline on the bottom of the fender? added to the doors cab and bed might really set it off!!
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Brent Click Last edited by thingsthatfly2; 08-16-2012 at 10:07 AM. |
#3
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truck bed
Hey Kerry: I don't know what my 2 cents are worth but I think it needs more curves to look symetrical. The bed looks out of place and is too long even on the short bed version. Maybe a bed from a mid 90's step side or an old luv widened to fit, then like Brent said, run the trim line thru the door and rear fenders. Just a thought. You know more curves is always better. Mike
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Mike |
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Just making the front edge of the bedsides match the profile of the cab would do wonders for the flat sided bed...I realize it was a quick photoshop and ya probably didn't spend enough time on it to deal with the small details.
That said, I do like stepsides more for the old Chevies.. Remember the old Cameo carriers? They were sorta ugly when compared to the stock stepside, in my opinion. Just a thought I had after reviewing your pics.. How would a narrowed stock fender look on the outside of that fleetside bed you photoshopped? Best of both worlds there maybe? Those curves in the stock fender just say MUSCLE! while the bed you photoshopped up says...S-10 to me. But the stock bedsides for the stepside are way too busy with all the braces and bracketry, and a nice smooth bedside would be pretty slick with bumps matching the stocker fenders.. I'd draw it up if I was talented.. Why can't the cut down stock hood be used? Mounting? Bracketry? wrong shape? Sweet idea for a truck .. I really like the concept you have shown for the front.
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No longer driving for a living so its time to dust off the old tools and get crackin'! I'm now spending winter in the Northeast and Summer in Texas??! I think I got it backwards again... Bill F. Last edited by Truckntran Bill; 08-16-2012 at 11:29 AM. |
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bed
Straight bed does not look right IMO. Maybe Metal Form Stock Chev fenderline in new sides. Doesn't have to be embossed very deep.
Is that roadster done yet. I liked that PROJECT???
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Gerry Miller |
#6
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I forgot to mention we are going to make 'fenderettes' like on the panel trucks. Roger and Uncle Johnny have one and I'm hoping we can get them to bring it to the DixieLand meet. They are on the list to attend.
I'm just not good enough with photoshop to draw them. I'll do something with the fender line. Either take it out or run it down the doors and bedside...don't know. Gerry, this is my son's project...not mine. I'll help him when he works on it but I'm not going to do it for him.
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Kerry Pinkerton |
#7
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Had to
Kerry, I had to razz you on that roadster.
I got interested in metalshaping VS. Bodywork for 30 years When I couldn't form that cab corner of my 1950 Chev where they all rot out. I tried to make it in one piece and ended up sectioning it in 4 pieces. Just after making a stupid bowl I can see how I might have done it differently. I spent a week just dolly work on my hood . Cant imagine the fun making a new one. Tell Kris good luck on the pickup.
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Gerry Miller |
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Kerry, how much did you raise the fenders, I have three of those trucks and have been contemplating doing that to at least one.
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Doug Walter |
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About this much...
Seriously, I don't know. Whatever the height of the running boards is. We moved the fender bottom up to the bottom of the doors.
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Kerry Pinkerton |
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Kerry, maybe these might help.
The yellow one IMO looks out of place, maybe because the rear fender looks too far rearward. Anyways, most of the guys doing this style run them on a S-10 frame and modify a S-10 '95 and up fleetside bed because its darn near the same width as the back of the cab...Eric
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Eric Elkin Last edited by sevt_chevelle; 08-16-2012 at 10:47 PM. |
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