I’m currently working on a '53 Chevy pickup that I bought on a Yahoo auction about 3 years ago. It was right off the farm and the cab had more rust than metal but hay, what's a little metal replacement between friends anyway.

So far I have replaced the rear cab corners, front outside "A" pillars, firewall and the entire floor along with a 18"x3' section in the lower rear of the cab. The floor and firewall were done with custom cut 14 ga. pieces while the cab corners and “A” pillar outside sections were patch panels. It may weigh a little more now but it is solid.

I traded the stock babbitt pounder and trans for a couple of '50 doors (without the vent windows) and picked up a '47 bed from Kansas at a local swap meet. Also picked up a replacement radiator support while passing through Arizona. The original had the entire bottom section rusted out.

The frame was ground clean and the front section and back half were boxed. A Heidts Mustang II IFS was installed with a power rack and 11" GM disk brakes. A set of Dodge Caravan rear springs were mounted on custom hangers with a set of home made "CalTrac" traction bars to eliminate spring wrap. I wish I could take credit for this but using the Dodge springs (which are an extreemly easy install) was the brain child of a friend in Canada. He has well over 30,000 miles on the same setup with no problems. The 10-bolt posi rear end is from a mid 70's Trans Am and is equipped with 3.08 gears.

Motivation will be a 331 (+.0625) Chrysler Hemi, which will be hooked (via a Wilcap adaptor) to a TH-350 trans. I rebuilt the trans last winter and included a shift kit and a few select hardened parts. The rotating assembly is currently at the machine shop being balanced. The pistons were another e-bay purchase and were brand new and had been sitting on the shelf of a hot rod shop for 35 years. The result will be an engine with 3 7/8” bore (the same as a 283 sbc) but with a 3 5/8” stroke. Or about 343 cu. in. Nothing wild here, just a single 600 cfm Holley on a stock 4 bbl. manifold, mild cam and 8.5 compression. I will be using a 340 electronic distributor and ignition system, stock exhaust manifolds with dual 2.25” pipes with crossover, and twin Flowtech Terminator mufflers.

Other mods include “Hot Rod Air” air conditioning, extensively modified dash, a white leather split bench seat from a late 70's Olds Tornado, Lokar shifter, and Mazda Miata door handles with 84 Toyota Celica latch mechanisms. The front fenders were beyond repair so a set of "glass" replacements have been procured. Wiring will be done with an "It’s a Snap" kit and the bed will have a rolled pan with '70 Camaro taillights. The truck is also equipped with a new class III hitch from a Ford Expedition which was custom installed through the frame rails. It will be hidden and accessed through a folding license plate mount. The color will be 1969 Dodge "Hemi" Orange and it will ride on '69 Camaro rally wheels.

Where am I now?? The chassis and all metal replacement are done and I'm currently doing bodywork. Will assemble the motor soon and hope to have it on the road sometime next spring. All work so far has been done in my garage.