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What have I got myself into?

Well I bought this truck, a 1955.2 Chevy 5700, last weekend at a farm auction. My winning bid was $300.

The truck is pretty straight but I realized when we went to pick it up, the fenders are fiberglass. So that kinda sucks. Oh well. I'll try to find some here or just roll with it for now. It has the 283, I think.

I had planned on a 6bt/nv4500 swap but I kinda backed off on the idea a bit. The rear ratios being a HI-6.10 and LO-8.10 make the high speed with a Cummins 54mph. haha These trucks were never meant to be speed demons but I'd like 65 if I can get it. Haha.

Now to get a shop-vac drug out and get it cleaned up and see what else is not as expected.

'Bolter

Good score Steve. I’m surprised that fiberglass fenders were available for the LCFs.

John

They look rusty. I guess it's just the faded orange paint.

I'm sorry I haven't responded.. I couldn't find where this went. I not very forum savvy yet.

Yeah Otto, it's been painted and it's pretty flaky. I hope some wet sanding can take it off and leave the original. The fiberglass fenders are really bumming me out. I really thought I'd found a near perfect body truck.. haha. Nope!

I wouldn't worry too much about that. I bet they're after market replacements. Everybody was doing fiberglass parts in the 1970s for cost and weight reasons. Heck, modern trucks are practically all fiberglass.

You might be able to stiffen them up by layering fiberglass on the inside.

Fiberglass fenders makes your truck even more unique.

Reinforcing it is an idea I hadn't considered. Thank you. I'll keep looking for steel but if I can't find any ill do that. I called the junk yards in my area and they said they'd keep an eye out but didn't have any on hand. One guy said he had a '58 and a '59 but I don't think those will match. I'll do more research and see just how dissimilar they are maybe I can rework them to be close enough for me...

5 minute google search = NOPE! 4 headlights.. narrower hood.. what was I thinking!? Haha.

Well I just found out that the 55.2 fenders only ran for that 1/2 year. After that I guess they changed a little bit. So finding fenders will be that much more difficult.