E-tek Restorations: PROJECT THREAD

[e-tek]

Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

Today (Boxing Day in Canada), I put all the fender braces on...

Check the E-tek Resto-BLOG (December 23rd post) for more...

Then finished the tear-down on 2 engine blocks. This first one is an FE - just check out this nice cylinder wall:

But this flathead block is the 2nd bad one in a row (see them big holes that aren't round?)....I've been trying to find a good block to put the right year engine back in my '46 Merc Shop truck (currently has a '53 in it).

 

[Toolhorder]

Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

I am a happy customer of this outfit. They are decent people who are in the restoration business as well as retailers so they have a good understanding of what is going on.

http://www.fillingstation.com/

These guys used to be local to me and then they went to Lebanon, OR. Great place for parts for these trucks.

 

[Toolhorder]

Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

e-tek,

I've really enjoyed reading this thread. If you have any words of wisdom to help me with mine I'm all ears. I'm pretty overwhelmed just looking at it. I've had her probably like 10 yrs. and I used to drive it around quite a bit. Currently needs brake work (waiting in a box in the garage) and some tires to be safe on the road. Has a 235 in it currently.

 

[e-tek]

Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

e-tek,

I've really enjoyed reading this thread. If you have any words of wisdom to help me with mine I'm all ears. I'm pretty overwhelmed just looking at it. I've had her probably like 10 yrs. and I used to drive it around quite a bit. Currently needs brake work (waiting in a box in the garage) and some tires to be safe on the road. Has a 235 in it currently.

Your truck looks to be in much better shape than this one I did!

The best advice is the one we always hear (which is why it's good advice I guess!), which is: to just keep at it, do a little at a time , keep moving forward.....break big parts into small and finish them as they come.
Once you've done a few resto's you realize this is so simply the case. If every time you are out there you get at least one thing accomplished, the list gets shorter. If it helps (it did me). put a list together, starting from the macro (get truck into shop, remove body panels, remove drive train, sandblast frame....), then going to the micro (rebuild brakes, redo brake lines, rebuild master cylinder, blled brakes...).
As for motivation, I find that posting up photo's every night or two also helps. You get to show off your progress and mabe get some feedback. Even when someone posts "great work, keep posting", it helps! I find myself eager to get into the shop and get things done, take pics, then when relaxing that evening, to post them up, research the next to do and chat about other guys projects.

Also: remember it may take 2 years even if you work at it EVERY Weekend. Once you get past this realization, you won't get pissed when a year comes and goes and you're barely half way!

Anyways, sorry for the long post.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE on GJ and those that come from other sites to check us out. My next project will be posted up soon and I hope to continue to see everyone else do the same!

 

[Responder]

Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

Happy New Year all!

I could echo what everyone else has said about your build as this is awsome, but I will only say this with outmost respect .......

..............HOLY $H!T....................................

My hat is off to you and ALL others that are capable of this type of work.

On another note, we have an old Chev truck like you hauled your leaves away with, but not nearly in as good shape or running for that fact, and the box is missing.......LOL!

Thank you for all the effort in posting to keep us all up with the project as we know that this does take a pile of time.

Again, fantastic work.

 

[e-tek]

Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

Happy New Year all!



On another note, we have an old Chev truck like you hauled your leaves away with, but not nearly in as good shape or running for that fact, and the box is missing.......LOL!

Thank you for all the effort in posting to keep us all up with the project as we know that this does take a pile of time.

Again, fantastic work.

Thanks Responder!

If you want someone to restore that truck of yours , we likely live only a stones-throw apart!

 

[internetdude]

Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

...then wiped WD40 on all the black rubber. I tell ya, WD40 is amazing. This is just one of the 400 uses for the stuff. Out of all the tire shine/sheen products I've used I feel good about putting this on and it gives them a perfect, flat sheen that looks good - and "real"...

Right now I use 303 for the tires, that is the most amazing tire product I've ever used. That's because it doesn't wash off, it penetrates the rubber, provides UV protection, isn't overly-shiny and is great for daily drivers. It keeps the tires looking "naturally black" way longer than any tire gel / dressing product I've used. That said, I might try WD40 once. I'm not a big WD40 fan though...

I miss Saskatoon, I lived there for 8 years. Great city, growing like crazy. Fortunately I sold my house at the right time back in '07 when house prices were nice and high ;-)

 

[e-tek]

Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

Right now I use 303 for the tires, that is the most amazing tire product I've ever used. That's because it doesn't wash off, it penetrates the rubber, provides UV protection, isn't overly-shiny and is great for daily drivers. It keeps the tires looking "naturally black" way longer than any tire gel / dressing product I've used. That said, I might try WD40 once. I'm not a big WD40 fan though...

I miss Saskatoon, I lived there for 8 years. Great city, growing like crazy. Fortunately I sold my house at the right time back in '07 when house prices were nice and high ;-)

There not much you can'tdo with Wd-40! Seen this?
http://www.jokeroo.com/videos/extreme/wd-40-car-tire-repair.html.html

I moved to Saskatoon from Vancouver about 12 years ago now. I like it much better (smaller, way less rain, nice hot summers, easy to get around, easy to know lotsa people)....but then I've only met one other person who also moved from Vancouver here, while THOUSANDS of Saskatoonians have moved to Vancouver, so what do I know!

 

[e-tek]

Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

Well, I THOUGHT I was done....
There was still the little matter of that steering column wires that got hacked off during disassembly. I had tried to get the owners to have someone else "more qualified" to do it, but since they have it here - and I've done near everything else - they asked me to take a crack at it....

Take a peak at my blog to see I got from this:

To this:

 

[e-tek]

Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

Let there be LIGHT!

 

[gsport]

Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

looks good... is it "now" finished??

 

[Motown 454]

Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

Ta dah!

 

[e-tek]

Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

Ta-da is right!!

I know I've called it finished several times.....but then there's that one last thing. Plus I thought it would go to an electrician......turned out to be me....

Today I hooked up the (crappy) vacuum wipers. Not sure how anyone ever saw anything in the rain in those days.

 

[Motown 454]

Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

I had faith in you that you'd get that wiring done.

 

[e-tek]

Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

I had faith in you that you'd get that wiring done.

Thanks Mo - much appreciated!

The owner and family came by to view the finished product. It was a treat seeing him in the truck he purchased (with his brother) 55 years ago:

More here: http://e-tekrestorations.blogspot.com/2012/01/crozon-family-visits-e-tek-for-big.html

Here's a token of appreciation the owners got me:

Goes into my collection, here: http://e-tekrestorations.blogspot.com/2012_01_21_archive.html

 

[Nighttrain]

Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

Job well done! I love the video on your web site, your son is great "Welcome to the show" "It's leaking oil too" classic.

 

[e-tek]

Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

Job well done! I love the video on your web site, your son is great "Welcome to the show" "It's leaking oil too" classic.

Thanks Nighttrain....I though I was the only person - being Dad - that thought that was funny. He's quite the character. And no, it wasn't leaking oil!

 

[whruble]

Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

I Have enjoyed this whole post!!! Job Well Done and a big help for me as i get ready for my frame off resto of my 56 3200 Longbed

 

[e-tek]

Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

The Chevrolet left the lair today. Took flight and soared - right up the ramp onto a flat deck! Goodbye princess, see you in the spring.

 

[Richie Pretto]

Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

Very nice job, congrats; your post and pictures are a bast source of tips and information.
Thanks again for charing.

 

[e-tek]

Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

Very nice job, congrats; your post and pictures are a vast source of tips and information.
Thanks again for sharing.

World Wide Web indeed! Thanks Richie.

 

[e-tek]

Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

Let's not forget how it showed up!

....and again, as she left:

 

[TommyD]

Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

Nice work! Well done. Is that a big back window in the finished pic? Someday I hope to do the same but I need to get better at my welding. I have your links bookmarked. When I get time I'll read this thread.

I'm a member a NAPCO online club, just for info now but when I get the money I would LIKE a '56 pick-m-up. I like the grill/front end of a GMC but I'll take a Chevy, I'd like a NAPCO because I think they look very cool sitting a little higher that the 2wd. I have a bookmark of a 55 GMC and am absolutely in love.

Maybe an easier task would get a 56 body and mount it on a blazer chassis?? Old NAPCO parts can be found but modern parts are a lot easier.

 

[tatra]

Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

e tek, seeing as how this will more than likely sit till the nice weather arrives , have you and the new owners taken into consideration the fuel sitting in the tank may go bad and if you have gasahol like we do, is all the rubber lines up to spec?.......be a shame to have to deal with those headaches sonn after the nice weather hits.........and maybe start a thread on what to look for in the correct flathead you require for you're truck as i do come across some on kijiji here from time to time, some being given away......will forward any info i come across...........looks great pal.......cheers.......

 

[e-tek]

Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

e tek, seeing as how this will more than likely sit till the nice weather arrives , have you and the new owners taken into consideration the fuel sitting in the tank may go bad and if you have gasahol like we do, is all the rubber lines up to spec?.......be a shame to have to deal with those headaches sonn after the nice weather hits.........and maybe start a thread on what to look for in the correct flathead you require for you're truck as i do come across some on kijiji here from time to time, some being given away......will forward any info i come across...........looks great pal.......cheers.......

GREAT point Tat - I'm gonna make sure the owner puts some STABiL in it ASAP!

 

[HOTFR8]

Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

Let's not forget how it showed up!

....and again, as she left:

Now that is just a great couple of photos. Well done Ed.

 

[djjsr]

Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

Sure nice to see another oldie back on the road again.

Nice work!

 

[gustoffur]

Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

It's been over 10 years since I spotted the old girl in the bush rotting away. To see it restored almost brings tears to my eyes. Thanks.

 

[Motown 454]

Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

Truck looks awesome. Beautiful job.

 

[lomonte]

Weather still **** there, or has someone lit it off and gone bombin' around? Looks great!

 

[e-tek]

Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

1st PLACE, 2012
DRAGGINS ROD & CUSTOM CAR SHOW
​

 

[Jay H 237]

Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

Congrats! Nice to see all the work you did was appeciated and paid off well by it taking 1st, I'm sure the owner is proud too.

I just noticed that the truck actually has two mirrors on the driver's door. Are both factory? Just seems odd to me.

 

[Motown 454]

Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

Congratulation's Well deserved! Owners must have big smiles on there faces, you too I bet.

 

[Nighttrain]

Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

Well earned!

 

[lomonte]

Woot woot!

 

[Omphaloskeptic]

Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

E-tek, what a well-deserved and appropriate result for all your hard work. Kudos!

 

[glider]

Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

I hope you had a grin from ear to ear, well done!

 

[HOTFR8]

Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

Well done Ed.

 

[Lomotil]

Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

1st PLACE, 2012
DRAGGINS ROD & CUSTOM CAR SHOW
​

Nice job! If I were there, I'd pat you on the back (and ask for you to post more pics of the wife with the truck...)

Edit: Had to come back and give you another virtual pat on the back. I lost track of this thread the last page or two, DAMN, that's some beautiful work.

 

[brslk]

Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

A well deserved win! You did some awesome work on that truck. I read every page.

Congrats Sir.

Bruce.