The Stovebolt Site Forums Welcome! Welcome Centre Do It Yourself (DITY) Gallery 1959 Fleetside extended, possibly a military truck

I purchased this truck from a friend about a year ago. It was just a rolled on an original frame. It was just kinda hung together with few bolts and mechanics wire twisted here and there so it wouldn't fall apart. It has some rust but better than a lot that I have seen. I think that it might have been a military truck. The pass door was olive drab and i could read some of the lettering that was on the door, that said army. The blue color looks like what the navy might have used, and that is over red. As you can see it has a 58 hood and fenders.
I'm in the process of lengthening the doors by 4 inches,adding a quarter window,and extending the cab to fit an early 80's chevy long box frame.
This is how I got it.http://s1185.photobucket.com/albums/z350/59apachefleet/?albumview=slideshow

Steve's 59 fleetside extended

I added a few more pictures to the bucket. I'm using a mid 80's C10 long bed chassis. after some measuring and trimming in a few areas, it should work just fine. The frame will stay uncut, and the cab will be lengthened 17 inches if I remember correctly. The doors will be lengthened 4 inches to get the proportions looking good, and it will help to accses the rear area. Lots of work but I Really enjoy the metal fabrication & shaping.
http://s1185.photobucket.com/albums...20on%20c-10%20frame/?albumview=slideshow

Also added a few pics to last post.

I guess you like fabrication! That's a serious custom job. Look forward to seeing how the stretched doors look. You might start a new trend!!!

Hi guys
I gathered up a few more photos. The lower hinge pockets were rusted due to leaves and seeds going down the fresh air vent. I didn't even look for repair panels I just made my own. It required alot of pieces and many hours of trimming & tig welding.

In an earlier post I mentioned that the doors will be lengthened by 4 inches so that meant that the reproduction step wells would be short by 4 inches so I made dies for my pullmax machine, and made new steps. Also made dies for the rocker panel portion, as I will needd to make the rockers longer and also needthat shape at the bottom of the cab extention.

I made dies to reproduce the original shape of the drip rails/door jamb tops.
It's a little more work but I'm seperating the panels at the factory seams where ever possible.

My goal is to make it look like a factory built version.

http://s1185.photobucket.com/albums...for%20cowl%20bottom/?albumview=slideshow

http://s1185.photobucket.com/albums...and%20rockers%20fab/?albumview=slideshow

I admire your fabrication skills! Nice work!!

Steve's metal fab skills are incredible

way cool! I am planning on extending my cab but by grafting the rear of a 2nd one onto the back of one. I don't have the skills or equipment to fabricate all the stuff like you are doing!