Longbox55

I refer to the same list myself, and am a member of the same Chevy truck site (Stovebolt.com) as the fellow who wrote it. I'm pretty sure that list is for US and possibly Canadian spec trucks, though. One thing that isn't made clear in the list for '57, is that the 283 is a 2 ton and larger only engine. Anything 1 1/2 ton and under either had the 235 I6 or the 265 V8. I'm not going to say necessarily that the Cameo you saw with the orange engine isn't correct, because sometimes and orange engine would find its way into a truck at some plants where they ran both truck and passenger lines, there is a good chance that somewhere along the line the engine may have been swapped. You would just about have to get the numbers off the engine to verify it. That's not really uncommon to see such swaps on trucks, as :numbers matching" really isn't as critical as it is on the later muscle cars.

That's correct. The brakes, rear axle, and wheels all come from the 1/2 ton truck (some source claim the rear axle is 3/4 ton, but that is incorrect), plus there's plenty of other changes. The Competition Guide can also be found on the Old Car Manual Project for free. http://www.oldcarmanualproject.com/books/1957ChevyStockCarCompGuide/index.htm One thing that can be done, especially if you build it as a 150 Utility Sedan (which the Black Widow kit does build as) or a Sedan Delivery, is put a 4 speed Hydramatic in it. There's a loophole in the rules where guys did get away with that by taking advantage of the inspectors lack of knowledge of what a given car really had as an option. In the case of those 2 particular models of '57 Chevy, they are listed as "commercial vehicles". While the Passenger cars, including the Utility Sedan and Sedan Delivery, were not available with the Hydramatic, Trucks were. It's just a simple matter of listing the Utility and Delivery as "trucks" to get away with it.

You would also need to have the specific number as well. Illinois, for example, used several different size plates prior to the standardization in size in '56. The plate size varied according to how long the number was, the higher the number, the longer the plate was. Low number plates also were taller than the high number plates.

I tend to agree, especially for an early Passenger V8. However, Truck V8s should actually be the same shade of gray as the 6 cylinder. Most 1:1s aren't painted in the correct color, so proper research can be difficult.

Very nice.

I usually get in the 5 gallon jug from the FLAPS, which usually comes out to being the same price as buying 4 gallons in the regular jugs. Plus I get a jobber discount, which makes it even cheaper. I use for jobs other than just stipping models, thoug, so I can justify buying it that way.

Superclean.

I'm going to be there. Hopefully, I'll have my builds done by Friday.

http://www.duplicolor.com/product/sandable-primer

No. There were no factory GM dual wheel trucks with a pickup bed until the Squarebody trucks came out in '73. Even then, the only factory pickup bed used with a dually was the Fleetside. They did off factory dual wheel light trucks in Cab and Chassis, Platform, and Stake bodies, in both 3/4 and 1 ton variants, though (2wd only). https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/docs/gm-heritage-archive/vehicle-information-kits/Chevrolet-Trucks/1965-Chevrolet-Truck.pdf

http://1954advance-design.com/Web images/PPIP/PPIP-1912-1966-EngineColors.html

You're right, finding correct stock reference is difficult, as many (myself included) tend to alter them from stock and redo them to their own tastes. It also doesn't help that when you do find pics of an unrestored truck the beige used on the interiors tends to fade to an almost off white color. http://www.redgage.com/photos/kinderhook/images/1477831303902701223936.jpg This one of the better pics I could find for a stock '55

The main differences will be the hood, grille, radiator core support, engine, dashboard, rear axle, and tailgate. The engine, if your going V8, and rear axle will be the easy part. The V8s were Pontiacs, so that will be pretty easy to get from just about any Pontiac kit. The rear axle for most '55-'59 1/2 ton GMCs is the Spicer 45 (some did use the Eaton built HO 33 that was used in Chevrolets). The Spicer 45 can be found in several kits, the AMT '53 F-100, Revell '56 F-100, and the AMT '49 Mercury. If you do a Canadian GMC, then you could keep the drivetrain and dashboard Chevrolet.

The Rat Roaster is the most recent kit I can think of that has a set. They're based on the Coker Tire reproduction Firestone cheater slicks.

Looks good so far. However, if you're going for factory stock, the interior should be beige with either dark brown or black on the dash top. That was the only interior option for pickups in '55, except for the Cameo.

Craft stores, usually in the scrapbooking section. From my own experiences with the local (sort of) to me craft stores, they're located in the same aisle as ink pads and stamps. I recently picked up some at the local JoAnne Fabrics store to try, and I will say that I'm impressed. Looks much better than the flocking I've tried before. This is the set I got, runs about $25 for 15 colors plus one vail of clear. http://www.joann.com/hampton-art-a-la-mode-embossing-powder-set-basics/1449669.html#start=26

It's an easy one for me, 1971 C-20, 350, TH 400, 4.56 rearend, in Huggar Orange and White.

Another option, fairly new to the market, would be Bondic. It's a UV cure bonding agent, it cures crystal clear and can be cured through the window glass and other clear/transparent plastics. http://notaglue.com/

I've had good results using Mequire's Hot Rims Mag and Aluminum polish on bare plastic.

Neither of those Escalade kits would have correct 4x4 setup for the '88-'98 GM trucks. It would only be correct for the '99-'06.

It doesn't have it either. I just checked the one I have, no trim. However, I can see where one could be mislead to think it does have it, the picture on the box top, which is of the actual car, does have it.

Are you sure about that? I have several issues of that kit (mostly Hot Rod and Skips issues), and none of them have that part.

GM Heritage Center Archive https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/gm-heritage-archive/vehicle-information-kits.html

Bear in mind, there are major differences between the '62 and '63 mechanically. The fames and suspension systems are different from each other, with the '62 using a torsion bar IFS and the '63 having a more traditional parallel leaf I beam setup. https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/docs/gm-heritage-archive/vehicle-information-kits/Chevrolet-Trucks/1962-Chevrolet-Truck.pdf https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/docs/gm-heritage-archive/vehicle-information-kits/Chevrolet-Trucks/1963-Chevrolet-Truck.pdf

Most resin casters suggest using Bleche-White tire cleaner. Superclean or any of ther other pruple lye base degreasers will also work.