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RE: [oletrucks] New 55 Cameo

To: Ernie_Ganas@email.msn.com
Subject: RE: [oletrucks] New 55 Cameo
From: mark@noakes.com
Date: 19 Jun 2001 13:55:14 -0700
Ernie,

That is one nice truck.  Not that the opinions of others count for much, but I 
would suggest that you keep it as stock as possible given what it is and stick 
to original type options such as the hydrovac brakes you mention and not do 
discs or monoleaf.  I suppose as long as you don't do anything that can't be 
undone, it doesn't matter much though.  Cameos are worth quite alot these days.

My brother has been working on a 57 cameo "off the frame" restoration forever 
and he is hooked up with the Cameo club somewhere in TX.  Per the Cameo club, 
and they have gotten about as rigorous as the Corvette bunch, the Chevy trucks 
had gray V8 engines in them for 55-59, ie, not orange or red(56) like the cars 
though most people paint them that way when doing a resto.  The exception would 
be a dealer installed car engine which did happen on occasion.  Being a 55, 
your's should also be a 265.  Or does it have a later model engine in it?  If 
you'd like, I can try to get a point of contact for you on the Cameo club from 
my brother.

PS--Why did msn consider your web site adult material with restricted viewing 
requiring age qualification?  I found that pretty funny...from the people who 
brought us Virus Express...

Mark Noakes
58/56 Chevy Suburban (in progress restification, ie not stock)
59 GMC Suburban (waiting its turn, will be straight stock resto)
Knoxville, TN


On Tue, 19 June 2001, "Ernie Ganas" wrote:

> 
> Bill,
> 
> You mention that you wouldn't take two leafs out of the 6 spring set, do you
> think it would be too much?
> 
> Before I go much further I have to get the steering and transmission under
> control the wander on the freeway and quick up shifts are making life
> difficult.
> 
> I've thought about the Disk Brake conversion since I intend to be driving on
> the freeways out here in Northern California. A nearby shop has a Hydrovac 
>unit
> to convert to Power Brakes and I thought I might try that first before I go to
> the Disk Brakes route.
> 
> I'm fairly limited at home(very tight garage) and will have to use a shop to
> make improvements, so things will be done a little at a time.
> 
> Cameo Picture's at http://communities.msn.com/ChevyTrucks/ernies1955cameo.msnw
> 
> 
> Ernie
> 55 Cameo
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Hanlon, Bill [mailto:Bill.Hanlon@COMPAQ.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2001 10:38 AM
> To: 'Ernie_Ganas@msn.com'
> Subject: RE: [oletrucks] New 55 Cameo
> 
> 
> Mine (pictures attached) has been my everyday driver for
> 14 years.  The best bolt-on I did was disk front brakes.
> I've probably spent $12K on it over the years, but that
> isn't bad when amortized.  And it has only failed to get
> me home one time in 14 years.
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ernie Ganas [mailto:Ernie_Ganas@email.msn.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2001 12:33 PM
> To: Hanlon, Bill
> Cc: oletrucks@autox.team.net
> Subject: RE: [oletrucks] New 55 Cameo
> 
> 
> Bill,
> 
> I checked and I have 6 leaf springs front and rear. The reason for my
> initial
> question was due to the fact that I was debating taking one or two leafs out
> (2nd/5th or 3rd/6th leaf) and maybe putting Teflon strips in the spring pack
> to
> smooth the ride out.
> 
> The truck was a totally unexpected find at the Good Guys Summer Get-together
> show and for budget reasons (wife related as well as the stock market) I
> can't
> get too carried away. I'll probably leave it close to stock with
> improvements
> being bolt on oriented so it could be returned to stock.
> 
> Ernie
> 55 Cameo
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Hanlon, Bill
> Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2001 9:01 AM
> To: Ernie Ganas
> Cc: oletrucks@autox.team.net
> Subject: RE: [oletrucks] New 55 Cameo
> 
> 
> Looking through the GMC Master Parts Book, I found that there
> were 3 different spring options for the front end of the GMC
> 1/2 tons from 55-59.  The standard had 6 leaves and there
> were optional 7 and 8 leave springs.  My truck had the 8 leaf
> springs.
> 
> Being basically cheap, I removed the 3rd and 6th leaf (from
> the top) and dropped the front of my truck 1.5".  I wouldn't
> have removed 2 leaves from the 6 leaf spring.
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Wayne Osborne [mailto:wayne@chevytrucks.org]
> Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2001 10:21 AM
> To: Ernie Ganas
> Cc: oletrucks@autox.team.net
> Subject: Re: [oletrucks] New 55 Cameo
> 
> 
> Ernie,
>    I have the mono leafs installed on the front of my 56..  Heres a link to
> my web site--  http://www.chevytrucks.org/wayne/
> I installed them a couple years ago and am personnally very pleased with
> the results. I bought them from a list member for around 200 bucks or so,
> much cheaper than a vendor.  Installation was no problem--had no
> complications whatsoever. The ones I have are the reversed eyed spring,
> which gave it another inch of drop, the first test drive was not so good.
> Noticed that the top of spring was only about an inch from the frame bump
> stop and it bottomed on just about every bump. I then removed about half
> the bump stop with a hack saw (yep--just sawed the sucker in half). This
> improved the ride tremendously. Now you cant go flying over rr tracks or
> over speed bumps fast as they will still bottom out. I bought the nitrogen
> shocks that go along with the springs which help as well. The ride a a
> little bit bouncy when going over bridges and the like, but on regular
> roads, in my opinion is fine. I've heard some not likeing them due to them
> being bouncy, but i personally have no problems with it. On the rear end, I
> removed every other spring from the pack-this brought the rear down to
> match the front, wish i'd done that to the front before shelling out 200
> bucks. Here's a couple links of before and after stances.....
> 
> Before:   http://www.chevytrucks.org/wayne/truck.jpg
> After:      http://www.chevytrucks.org/wayne/wayne56new.jpg
> 
> 
> At 10:28 PM 6/18/01 -0700, you wrote:
> >I just bought a 1955 Cameo and am new to the list, website with pictures to
> >follow.
> >
> >I have a couple questions has anyone installed the monoleaf springs on
> their
> >truck, if so how do you like them? I have heard some positive comments,
> but am
> >interested in any other comments. Where did you get them, how much did they
> >cost and how much of a problem was it to install them? Did you replace all
> the
> >springs or only the front ones?
> >
> >Thanks,
> >Ernie
> >55 Cameo
> >oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
> >
> Wayne Osborne
> 1956 Chevy Pickup
> LaGrange Ga.
> http://www.chevytrucks.org
> http://www.chevytrucks.org/wayne
> oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
> oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
> oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959

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