Thread: 1st Build - '58 Chevy Step-Side Ute

Great looking old ute!!

Hope your build looks just as good!!

Good luck!!!

Wow Geoff what an awesome Truck. Too bad he has to sell it. I hope he got to enjoy it some before it is gone. Good for you for making a scale model of it. A couple of years before my Father in law passed I made a scale model of his 64' Chevy stepside and gave it to him for Xmas. It was a plastic kit one. He loved it. It is sitting above his desk in a bookcase. And now my wife and I have the truck and I will be restoring it to its former glory. I'm not sure what wood is comparable in Aussie, but if I was using Red Oak as the body then a light color for chrome would make since to me such as Hard Maple here in the States. If you have any questions during the build I will help any way I can. Make sure you post lots of WIP photos. Bret

Do you have more pics of the engine bay. It appears to have a Supercharger. Wow! Bret

Originally Posted by bj383ss

Do you have more pics of the engine bay. It appears to have a Supercharger. Wow! Bret

My thoughts exactly Bret, I would love to see some more of the engine bay as well.
I hope you enjoy the build Geoff, I'll be looking on to see how it goes. Beautiful looking truck by the way, anyone would be chuffed to be steering that around summernats or similar.
Cheers, Ian

Ok, so I stayed up most of last night trying to figure out some dimensions and drawing up some sort of plans... will probably be working at 1:17 scale which should make the overall length a tad over 300mm. Given the apparent dimensions of some of those curves, it looks like my first job this morning will be to cut and laminate some side pieces (just have to wait for the kids to wake up first )

Originally Posted by bj383ss

Do you have more pics of the engine bay. It appears to have a Supercharger. Wow! Bret

I actually dont have any more pics of the engine bay... I wish I had. The only pics I have are the ones from the magazine. Not being a car person myself I didn't take any photos of the car when he showed us all at the 'grand unveiling' . I do have the write-up for the magazine too though, and in it he says the engine is a 327 V8 with a Weiland 671 blower, a steel crank and custom engineered Alloy heads. This will be something I will be trying to find pictures of from my good friend Google to see if it will be feasible to build the engine for the model as well... I can't imagine leaving it out though... will have to see. Will post the first of the WIP pics this arvo.

Geoff I have a 1/12 scale model 57' Chevy that has a small block chevy in it and one of the engine options is a 6-71 blower. I can take some pics of it for you and give general dimensions. You will just have to scale it up a bit. Bret

Originally Posted by bj383ss

Geoff I have a 1/12 scale model 57' Chevy that has a small block chevy in it and one of the engine options is a 6-71 blower. I can take some pics of it for you and give general dimensions. You will just have to scale it up a bit. Bret

That would be fantastic Bret! Thanks heaps

I appreciate your response earlier as well with the timber type... I have purchased some Poplar which I think would look good for the 'White' areas of the pics like the inside trim and the chairs etc, but should I use a similar colour for the chrome bits as well or look for something whiter? I had thought of testing how the poplar reacts to bleach... might give an interesting effect. It's unfortunate that the Bunnies and Masters only stock a limited timber range as far as species goes.

Fair crack you "hot rodders" drooling over Geoff's dads old Chevy Ute.....He want's to build a model not the real thing....lol.
Mind you, it sure is one very good looking vehicle and a Queenslander to boot.
G'Day Geoff, I too have a few bits & pieces of information which might help you.
Cheers, crowie

hi Crowie, Cotton wood is a nice white timber,that stays fairly white under oil and esterpol THat should look fantastic when it is finished, .CD

So I decided to start with the sides from the tray to the front. I cut them to rough size and laminated them early this morning. I then got to work with the scroll saw, and then did some finer shaping with the dremel drum sanding attachment to get the outside shape looking right.

I have finished the first side and have the other one ready to go tomorrow morning. It's a fairly long process of shaping with the dremel, but I'm happy with how the shape turned out so far.

I might have to reduce the width of the window part a bit later on... not sure if that looks right yet. https://www.woodworkforums.com/images...py/biggrin.gif

The plan with colours at the moment is to use the red oak for the main body and anything that is blue in the original pics. I may or may not apply a stain or something to darken it a bit... open to some advice there. I'm thinking of using poplar for the inside trim and seats, and am still looking for a whiter timber for the chrome parts... Heading off to Google to look up cottonwood https://www.woodworkforums.com/images...es/mf_wink.gif
Still have absolutely no idea how I'm going to achieve the dials and switches on the dash board inside, the lights on the front or the windows!

Enjoying the learning curve! - Any feedback or advice welcome!

Good start!

Originally Posted by artme

Good start!

Well done, Looks good, keep the photos and build notes coming.....cheers, crowie

Originally Posted by geoffmac

That would be fantastic Bret! Thanks heaps

I appreciate your response earlier as well with the timber type... I have purchased some Poplar which I think would look good for the 'White' areas of the pics like the inside trim and the chairs etc, but should I use a similar colour for the chrome bits as well or look for something whiter? I had thought of testing how the poplar reacts to bleach... might give an interesting effect. It's unfortunate that the Bunnies and Masters only stock a limited timber range as far as species goes.

G'day Geoff, Check out the "market place timbers" someone like "MapleMan" could supply you some timber bits & pieces of some very nice local hardwoods for the model making. Chris [MM] is not too far from Beerwah on the way to Maroochydore; but I'm sure that a few of the Brissy blokes will have a better idea of local timber suppliers, from memory there's a big one at Banyo, can't remember the name though. Cheers, crowie.

Great start Geoff. Laminating the pieces to get the right widths is a great idea. I brought the 57' home from storage last night. Will get some photos and measurements for you today. Bret