Sorry there are no images (will post soon) but over the weekend I located and bought an original bench seat in Guthrie Center, Iowa. The guy I bought the seat from is building a '55 and used a late model 3rd row seat out of a Tahoe so the seat belts are integrated. I applaud the safety feature but the bench looked a little too narrow in the '55 cab to me.

Seeing the stance of his truck convinced me to put a more modern front end under my truck. Yesterday I bought a '78 Camaro front end and all of the associated parts. The frame was already sandblasted so that will save some time. It came with steering, disk brake calipers, rotors, coils, anti sway bar, upper and lower control arms, etc. Those parts need to be blasted, painted and re-built but I'm looking forward to it. The motor mounts were not included but I'm not sure whether to go with a 350 or 305. Both have some good points. 305 may get a bit better fuel millage but the 350 will be easy to find and cheaper for parts. Thoughts?

Yesterday I had a few minutes so I took out a spark plug at a time and shot some spray lube into each cylinder to try to free up the engine. I did one at a time so I wouldn't screw up the firing order. I also noticed that the coil is missing. It appears that and the air cleaner are the only missing pieces in the engine bay. Robert is lending me his hoist and engine stand so I'll be getting those later in the week.

Bringing Her Home

The adventure begins. I purchased a 1959 Chevy Apache Step Side Short Box. I live in central Iowa and traveled to Tulsa, Oklahoma to pick it up. I borrowed a buddies race car trailer and my friend Robert was kind enough to go along and help.

Robert is on the left and Gary, the previous owner of this fine truck, is on the right.

Loaded up and ready to go. Not pictured is all three of us struggling with a cheap Harbor Freight come-along pulling the truck up the ramps.

That's me on the left - a little dirty from the loading but the smile says it all!

The pick up box had a few items headed to the dumpster.

Getting ready to unload into it's new home.

Angela, Gary's daughter is the one who posted the Craigslist ad for her dad. They were both really nice and helpful. Gary was only the second owner of the truck and he bought it in 1975.