After stalking this site for the past two years while discovering my 56 and how I want to build it after the inspiration of some of the
amazing builds on this forum I have decided to start my own thread. Please feel free to post your build links on this thread as I like
to see what all of you are doing as well.

My 56 was purchased from a guy in Silverstran beach in Oxnard Ca. I could have driven her home but the tires were rotted and a bit
harry to even drive a few blocks. The Po before him had at one point put an amazing paint job on her like a ghost purple and black pearl.
He let it sit for a few years and then sold it. Sitting on the beach gave her some rust but not all bad. I drove her around in her all stock
form for a while with the 223 and three on the tree wobley misguided steering and iffy brakes. Until one day coming home from work the
master cylinder went out. Luckily the trip home isn't that far and the E brake worked. After assessing the situation I decided that is time for
her to get a "Second Chance".

Like most of us in this world things happen and we sometimes get a second chance at life. I lost my Dad in 2010 and this is something that he
and I always talked about doing together just never happened. Ironic that this truck came to me shortly after his passing. Also since I started
in the tear down my Daughter has had some weird medical problems that are beginning to improve. Amongst all that she is the one who helped
me name the 56 Second Chance. So with out any more sad sob stories I would like to share with you what has transpired in the last year or so.
I have done a bit thus far but like all of us budget builders I have a ways to go and a lot to learn.

This is about two days after getting her home, daily driver in early 2011

 

So I will post some pics of the truck from when I got her home. The rotted fenders and front cab corners and of her in her stock glory.

 

 

 

 

The running boards were the worst!

 

 

So this is when I learned about Mid Fifty and the tootsie rolls, bought a few replacement panels after doing some research and decided to getter dun!! pictures are a little small, the old phone was not so smart. doing better now with real camera.

 

So the build as of right now is a frame up restoration with:
3 inch drop axel
down and forward springs
disc brakes front
power booster and master cylinder
Toyota power steering kit
heavy duty tie rod w/ends and spacers
new rear stock springs for a 9 inch conversion
all new bushings and pins
flip kit for the 9
engine mount for the 351c
trans mount for the C6 (may change to AOD)
stripped the frame to bare metal and repainted
removed the old trans cross member completely not sure why some have left it in
that's about where I am now, still have much to do. Ok now some pics!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Great build thread. Love that original replacement door handle. Looks like a very solid base truck with which to start. Reps