1956 Dodge C3B pickup

[truknut1972]

Hi, my name is Jeff. I'm from Florence,AL. I know the forum goes to 53, but I was wondering if someone would help me out on making mine as a rat rod. Help me with ideas and where to get parts. Thanks, Jeff.

[48Dodger]

Hey Jeff, Welcome to the forum.

Post some pictures of your truck so those of us who don't have a 56' can get an idea what your project looks like.

http://www430.pair.com/p15d24/mopar_forum/showthread.php?t=30007

http://www430.pair.com/p15d24/mopar_forum/showthread.php?t=29974

48D

[1952B3b23]

Hi Jeff welcome, some pictures would be a definite benefit. You have certainly come to the right place for good ideas.

[pflaming]

Go to search, then advanced search, then Pilot-house: then put in 'ratrod' and you will be reading for a while.

I hate to see a '56 ratrodded. I have no animosity toward ratrodding, but the '56's are a bit scarce and are very nice trucks. Whatever you do, I wish you well, this forum has lot of good information.

[William Davey]

There's a HUGE MOPAR only salvage yard about 10 miles north of Rogersville, AL. I forget the route number, but there's really only one big intersection in town. They are loaded with 60's and 70's mopars, I don't know how much further back they go.

I also have a 55 C-3-B8 with the 259 cu in V8. For now mine will remain mostly stock, but maybe someday...... A period correct hot rod with 57-58 392 Hemi, 727 torqueflite (MUST have pushbutton shift) with 8.75 differential, Fatman IFS, etc,etc.

[truknut1972]

Yeah I forgot about Teds place. Not too far from the house either. Thanks..

[truknut1972]

Thanks, soon as I get pics I will post them..

[truknut1972]

Thanks, will be post pics soon..

[truknut1972]

Hey Jeff, Welcome to the forum.

Post some pictures of your truck so those of us who don't have a 56' can get an idea what your project looks like.

http://www430.pair.com/p15d24/mopar_forum/showthread.php?t=30007

http://www430.pair.com/p15d24/mopar_forum/showthread.php?t=29974

48D

Thanks, I will post pics soon..

[truknut1972]

There's a HUGE MOPAR only salvage yard about 10 miles north of Rogersville, AL. I forget the route number, but there's really only one big intersection in town. They are loaded with 60's and 70's mopars, I don't know how much further back they go.

I also have a 55 C-3-B8 with the 259 cu in V8. For now mine will remain mostly stock, but maybe someday...... A period correct hot rod with 57-58 392 Hemi, 727 torqueflite (MUST have pushbutton shift) with 8.75 differential, Fatman IFS, etc,etc.

Thanks alot, Mine is an old bellsouth truck..Where do you get your parts from? like: wheel cylinders and master cyclinder. Since mine was a bellsouth truck, I guess when they sold the truck they kept the utility bed for another truck, well mine has a 53-56 ford stepside bed with ford gate. So I thats why I want to do something different. It has patina and I like that all want to do is get it running, lower it and drive it.. Thanks again..

[William Davey]

I used Oldaddy (Rustyhope) disc brake kit on the front -he's on this forum. Got all the requied parts from him and the local NAPA. NAPA master cylinder and rear wheel cylinders. Rear brake shoes were re-lined by a local brake shop. Hand bent new brake lines - also NAPA bulk length. I did not install any proportioning or residual pressure valves and have no problems. Stock truck heighth puts the MC above the highest wheel cylinders which may help.

The NAPA store is run by old guys that know what a condenser is. They're people you want to treat very well.

[Robert Thornton]

I LIVE IN FLORENCE ALSO I got my brake parts from james tractor supply in florence he was able to order a lot of elect stuff for me. good luck rt

[truknut1972]

[truknut1972]

[55 Fargo]

Great truck, gotta her running? I have a 1955,56 Dodge Fargo, with a 52 box. Mine is a work in progress, she is registered and on the road, runs well, but needs a lot...

[truknut1972]

No it's not running yet.. I want to try to get her running though. Suppose to 2 yrs ago. Nice truck you have..

[albolton]

Welcome to the forum...its nice to see a few more 54-56 ..there are quite a few guys with alot of knowledge here...by the way Rat rods are very cool when done right, and in many cases in my opinion may save a truck that might be a bit too far gone from being scrapped..the first pic is my 54..the second is a rat rod that was for sale on ebay..you have probably already seen it..but I think it is very cool

Edited May 8, 2012 by albolton

[truknut1972]

Thanks for the info. I don't really know what I want to do right now. Just found a guy local that has an older dodge truck, so I will hopefully get mine running I might try to keep it more original if I can find a dodge bed.

[John Mathias]

The beds are out there, I have 2 extra myself I've picked up over the years. You can darn near build one new from places like Mar-K. I have a 53' and a 54', and the 54's frame is beyond resonable(sp) repair, so I'm going to drop it on a Dakota frame. Do what you want, it's your truck. My $.02's:D

[truknut1972]

Thanks John.... I messed with the '56 Sunday evening and got it to turn over, but first we weren't getting spark. So I called my cousin, he came over and we got spark, but then realized we didn't have a rotor button. So I ordered one, should have it today, maybe we can get it to crank in the next couple of days. Wish me luck, that it runs good, like the guy said I bought it from. If so, it's brake time..

[pflaming]

For now, I would forget about the spark, pull the plugs and do a compression test. NICE TRUCK. I like that model

Welcome to the journey!

[truknut1972]

Thanks, my cousin said it had good compression. Got rotor button and new plugs, still no crank.. Realized there is a gap between the intake manifold and the exhaust manifold, like it's missing a gasket of some kind. When it turns over you feel air out of the gap..

For now, I would forget about the spark, pull the plugs and do a compression test. NICE TRUCK. I like that model

Welcome to the journey!

[John Mathias]

How big a "gap"? Can you post a picture? Sounds kinda fishy that someone would remove the replace the intake, without something else being missing as well. BTW, looking real close at your windshield, that looks like a 54', 56' had the lower corners a little more square. Have you run the vin# to confirn its a 56'? It still could be, Dodge did some fancy stuff back then with parts on the shelf.

Edited June 2, 2012 by John Mathias

[albolton]

definitely not a 54, or early 55, has to be a late 55 or 56...awesome trucks

[truknut1972]

The gap is close to probably a half an inch or so. I will get a pic posted for ya. It's definitely is a '56, cause it's a wraparound windshield. The '54 has more of a flat windshield.

How big a "gap"? Can you post a picture? Sounds kinda fishy that someone would remove the replace the intake, without something else being missing as well. BTW, looking real close at your windshield, that looks like a 54', 56' had the lower corners a little more square. Have you run the vin# to confirn its a 56'? It still could be, Dodge did some fancy stuff back then with parts on the shelf.