New guy with Olds powered pickup

tjet · 09-19-2009, 09:08 PM

Just wanted to say hello. My current project is an Olds 455 powered '59 Chevy pickup. I've been rebuilding the truck & I've got another 455 in the works for it that's gonna have more power.
Anyway, cool forum.

hotrodpc · 09-19-2009, 11:19 PM

Aha, Glad you made it buddy. You gotta gotta gotta get some pic of your truck on here if you haven't already. For the other members who don't know, this is the guy I mentioned was also building a ChevrOLDSlet. His is coming along nicely. I told him he needed to join the forum that there was a great wealth of info here, and many certainly be interested in his ride. So lets pretend we really are good guys around here, so I don't look like a liar.

I didn't want to be only guy here with Olds powered truck. So I invited some backup !!!

Welcome to the forum T.

hotrodpc · 09-19-2009, 11:23 PM

I am not going to take all your glory away T, but I'll get your truck introduction started for you. Eat your heart out Brad. Just a tab bit close to what you are wanting, but this one will move. This is T's project. He has more pics but I'll save those for him.

tjet · 09-19-2009, 11:39 PM

Hey thanks man. The truck has been sitting for 15 years & I'm getting it going again. Here's the link:
59 Chevy Pickup Buildup - Photo Gallery

There's a lot i need to do with it. I'm setting up the suspension now before the engine & trans.

bradrhale · 09-20-2009, 07:41 AM

the 58 and 59 models are a bit too new for me. something about the 4 headlamps i really dont like. but the body lines are awesome so i stick with the 55, 56 and 57. it is a great truck though and am looking forward to see more of her in the future.
will she stay yeller??

tjet · 09-20-2009, 02:10 PM

Yeah, a lot of guys perfer the 55-57. Some guys will install the earlier sheetmetal on their late truck. I actually like the dual headlights of the 58-59...More attitude IMO. My brother has a 57 though, & he argues his case, lol. The trick to make it look right is not to contrast the chrome too much. It looks cleaner if the emblems are off & the chrome work is painted the original white color...Anyway, these trucks are a lot of fun. The best part is that they are very easy to work on as long as it's not too rusted. I think most of the time, all I use is a 9/16's, 5/8's, a screwdriver & a hammer. You can get parts like crazy now. The engine compartment will take almost anything, but a early hemi might be tough to clear the steering box

I think I may keep it yellow, but not sure.

Cool forum, I hope to learn stuff. BTW, I also have a 97 nissan p/u, & I just sold my 88 HD Isuzu longbed

gmctrucks · 09-20-2009, 04:25 PM

What year of Oldsmobile engine is that.

tjet · 09-20-2009, 05:45 PM

The one that's currently in the truck is out of a '72 Vista Cruiser wagon. It has about 150,000 miles when I dropped it in. I drove it for another 75,000 or so. It still runs good if you can believe it.

Instead of rebuilding that motor, I picked up another 455 that I'm putting together & I'll keep the one in the truck as a spare & rebuild it later.

The 455 I'm building now is out of a '71 442 with a manual transmission. It was missing the original W-30 "H" heads & intake, so I picked up a nice vintage Edelbrock intake & a cool pair of marine "K" heads for it. I want to give it a traditional look, using vintage parts that are no longer made. My goal is to make this truck look like it was hot-rodded in the late 60's using no modern parts at all...

bradrhale · 09-20-2009, 06:52 PM

i guess it still has the shamrock dash in it?? a buddy of mine special ordered a replacement from dakota digital and made it look wild. he kept the factory knobs and levers for everything else but the needles in the dash were replaced with the digital stuff.
what do you have behind the olds, tranny wise??

tjet · 09-20-2009, 07:45 PM

The dash is all original, but the radio was cut out about 40 years ago. I'm gonna get a dash repair kit & weld in the original radio sheetmetal.

The trans in it now is the TH400 that was attached to the Olds. I'm not crazy about it as the revs are too high on the highway. I want to setup the new motor with a manual trans with overdrive, but I need to fab most of the clutch linkage setup.

09-19-2009, 09:08 PM	#1
tjet Full Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: ct Posts: 14	New guy with Olds powered pickup Just wanted to say hello. My current project is an Olds 455 powered '59 Chevy pickup. I've been rebuilding the truck & I've got another 455 in the works for it that's gonna have more power. Anyway, cool forum.

09-19-2009, 11:19 PM	#2
hotrodpc Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: OKC, OK Posts: 3,155	Aha, Glad you made it buddy. You gotta gotta gotta get some pic of your truck on here if you haven't already. For the other members who don't know, this is the guy I mentioned was also building a ChevrOLDSlet. His is coming along nicely. I told him he needed to join the forum that there was a great wealth of info here, and many certainly be interested in his ride. So lets pretend we really are good guys around here, so I don't look like a liar. I didn't want to be only guy here with Olds powered truck. So I invited some backup !!! Welcome to the forum T. __________________ *Winners NEVER Quit , Quitters NEVER Win !!!*

09-19-2009, 11:23 PM	#3
hotrodpc Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: OKC, OK Posts: 3,155	I am not going to take all your glory away T, but I'll get your truck introduction started for you. Eat your heart out Brad. Just a tab bit close to what you are wanting, but this one will move. This is T's project. He has more pics but I'll save those for him. Attached Thumbnails __________________ *Winners NEVER Quit , Quitters NEVER Win !!!*

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09-19-2009, 11:39 PM	#4
tjet Full Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: ct Posts: 14	Hey thanks man. The truck has been sitting for 15 years & I'm getting it going again. Here's the link: 59 Chevy Pickup Buildup - Photo Gallery There's a lot i need to do with it. I'm setting up the suspension now before the engine & trans.

09-20-2009, 07:41 AM	#5
bradrhale Senior Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 8,026	the 58 and 59 models are a bit too new for me. something about the 4 headlamps i really dont like. but the body lines are awesome so i stick with the 55, 56 and 57. it is a great truck though and am looking forward to see more of her in the future. will she stay yeller??

09-20-2009, 02:10 PM	#6
tjet Full Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: ct Posts: 14	Yeah, a lot of guys perfer the 55-57. Some guys will install the earlier sheetmetal on their late truck. I actually like the dual headlights of the 58-59...More attitude IMO. My brother has a 57 though, & he argues his case, lol. The trick to make it look right is not to contrast the chrome too much. It looks cleaner if the emblems are off & the chrome work is painted the original white color...Anyway, these trucks are a lot of fun. The best part is that they are very easy to work on as long as it's not too rusted. I think most of the time, all I use is a 9/16's, 5/8's, a screwdriver & a hammer. You can get parts like crazy now. The engine compartment will take almost anything, but a early hemi might be tough to clear the steering box I think I may keep it yellow, but not sure. Cool forum, I hope to learn stuff. BTW, I also have a 97 nissan p/u, & I just sold my 88 HD Isuzu longbed

09-20-2009, 04:25 PM	#7
gmctrucks Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Houston,Texas Posts: 4,035	What year of Oldsmobile engine is that.

09-20-2009, 05:45 PM	#8
tjet Full Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: ct Posts: 14	The one that's currently in the truck is out of a '72 Vista Cruiser wagon. It has about 150,000 miles when I dropped it in. I drove it for another 75,000 or so. It still runs good if you can believe it. Instead of rebuilding that motor, I picked up another 455 that I'm putting together & I'll keep the one in the truck as a spare & rebuild it later. The 455 I'm building now is out of a '71 442 with a manual transmission. It was missing the original W-30 "H" heads & intake, so I picked up a nice vintage Edelbrock intake & a cool pair of marine "K" heads for it. I want to give it a traditional look, using vintage parts that are no longer made. My goal is to make this truck look like it was hot-rodded in the late 60's using no modern parts at all...

09-20-2009, 06:52 PM	#9
bradrhale Senior Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 8,026	i guess it still has the shamrock dash in it?? a buddy of mine special ordered a replacement from dakota digital and made it look wild. he kept the factory knobs and levers for everything else but the needles in the dash were replaced with the digital stuff. what do you have behind the olds, tranny wise??

09-20-2009, 07:45 PM	#10
tjet Full Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: ct Posts: 14	The dash is all original, but the radio was cut out about 40 years ago. I'm gonna get a dash repair kit & weld in the original radio sheetmetal. The trans in it now is the TH400 that was attached to the Olds. I'm not crazy about it as the revs are too high on the highway. I want to setup the new motor with a manual trans with overdrive, but I need to fab most of the clutch linkage setup.