Richard Precht's 1957 Chevy 3100

Owner
rico_bob

Description
My truck is a Heinz 57. The frame and VIN are from a '57. The Big Window Cab is from a '58 GMC 1-ton, the doors are from donor trucks, the rear fenders are from a '65 short wheel base stepside, the end panel of the bed is from a mid '80s stepside, other sheet metal is still being sought. The truck was bought in 1982 in Southwest Colorado (Four Corners Area). It was moved (too) many times. The .030 over 327 engine is out of a '64 Impala SS. It has the #461 heads, a Corvette camshaft, and was rebuilt in a shop in Durango, Colorado. The transmission is a 350 Turbo Hydramatic. The starter was a hard match-up for some reason, and the starter shop had to get me one they used in "Checker Cabs" which ran 327-350 combos? The rear differential is out of a mid '60s G-10 Van or C-10 Pickup. It is an odd one since the cover looks like the 12 bolt cover but it a 10 bolt with a set of 370(?)gears. I started with a frame off restoration (with modifications in mind)in 1982 but after a major mid-life crisis(divorce,job transfer,and move-again!), my truck was moved from Colorado to South Dakota, to the Upper Pennisula of Michigan in 1987. Without funds, and no place to work on it, my Heinz 57 was left in unheated sheds and barns for nearly twenty years. I moved again to the lower part of Michigan, went back to college at 41, and was a student for 5 years. After earning my grad degree, I moved to Fayetteville, NC for two years (1996-1998). The Heinz 57 was in a barn in Michigan. I moved back to Michigan in 1998, and have moved twice since 1998. Finally in 2002 I was able to buy a house again, and have a 2-1/2 car garage. When I went to retrieve the Heinz 57, the guy with the barn had given my truck away! But the guy who was given the Heinz never came to pick it up, so I was able to retrieve it. Needless to say, that after 20 years of terrible handling and storage, the Heinz was a MESS!
I am now starting all over! And believe me it is in worse condition today than when I started on it in 1982. I am now going to install a Martz Chassis Engineering Hub-to-Hub IFS, and go back into the engine to see what damage has taken place. (The engine has never been run - the Durango rebuild was in 1983!).
I have more time now since I work at a local college, although my descretionary funds are limited, I plan to enjoy the process and take it one step at a time as money allows. Thanks for looking in. rico_bob (aka: Richard in Michigan)

This is my ride, and I'd like to edit it.