In the late sixties, I first noticed this Cameo at a service station/store/repair shop in Wasola , MO. After years of asking the owners to sell the truck with no success, I had to leave for a tour of duty in Vietnam. I came back from ‘Nam to find that they had been using the truck to haul young pigs and walnut shells (in a white truck)!

Finally, in 1972, the owner decided to sell the truck to me at a price I could afford and off it went to my folk’s farm. The truck had seen the last of its pig hauling days. I hid the truck in the horse barn so people couldn't see it until it was presentable.By 1974 I had the truck back in good running order and it was nicknamed “Farm Truck.”
 
Six years later, in 2000, I started thinking the truck needed another rebuild; it now had close to 300,000 miles on the odometer. After all the years of building and upgrading classics for other people, it was time for ours to be get a complete makeover. There would be must-have options such as no more clutch, more comfortable interior, removal of the gas tank from the cab, added seat belts and new suspension to make it handle like a car. Of course that was just the first shortlist.
 
A rebuilt 1974 Nova front clip was installed that included a larger 1π” sway bar and GM disc brakes. I replaced the rear end with a 1967 Camaro rebuilt unit with 3.36 gears, which is narrower than the stock truck rear to let me run in the 10's at the strip. I ordered Posies 3" dropped springs and put them under the axle for an 8" drop and a C'd (notched) the frame, but the ride was too harsh for both of us so every other leaf was removed and AIM bags with Air Tech controls and a Poor Man’s 4-link, was installed. Now, both ride and comfort were under control. For power, a 1995 LT1 and 4L60E transmission were used. That motor provided lots of power and was easy to maintain. The exhaust manifolds were smoothed inside and out and then ceramic coated to pick up a few more horses.
 
Next came the installation of a new exhaust system with 2-1/2" aluminized pipes and Rhino mufflers. For the fuel tank, I made a pattern out of cardboard boxes for size and fit, then had a hot rod friend and ace stainless steel welder copy my pattern; it fit and was leak-free on the first try. Most people put the gas tank were the spare tire usually goes and that’s what makes the Cameo, but my gas tank ended up in front of the left rear wheel. The power brakes, battery, compressor and pump/motor for the bed all reside under the cab and bed. A 1997 Camaro radiator/fan assembly was fitted to cool the LT1 and we have already logged over 25,000 miles since 2003.
 
To make the truck’s exterior better fit the running gear, things needed to be smoothed so handles, hood and fender emblems were taken off. I wanted to retain the original white color, although a lot of my pals told me to not to do that. However, it's a 1955 Cameo and white was the only original color choice. A special white paint was made with both silver and pearl added, which was topped by a clear coat. Thanks to PPG and Bud Martin for the paint and body work. The end result was that it looked like a really big refrigerator, which I nicknamed Kenmore.
 
After looking through 1940 through 1960's body styles I came up with an idea for side trim and showed a sketch of what I thought would look neat and ran it by Bud Martin. He called Bob Aten and asked him to come and see if he could air brush the trim and hood emblems. A few hours later we had the trim graphics applied and the Kenmore nickname went away. Next the bumper bolts were ground smooth before plating and a Billet grille finished the outside.
 
Inside, 1997 Sebring convertible seats, which have shoulder belts built in, were installed along with a full-length steel console with heater/air ducts and two storage areas. The Vintage Air unit was lowered and modified to provide space for a 6-disc CD changer where the glove box had been located. A Custom Autosound stereo went in the cab with 90 watt kick panel speakers from CCI, a couple of tweeters in the stock speaker box and a pair of 10" woofers powered by a 200 watt Jenson amp. Along with the smoked window glass, power seats, windows and doors I also installed Custom Rod Gauges, an ididit tilt telescopic column and wheel and then a modified 1997 Camaro shifter for the console. Now the interior was complete.
 
Since this project went on for a long time, with several periods of no activity, some parts ended up in different places. One part I forgot about was the bed, which had been stored outside. Leaves, rain and snow on a stainless steel bed take their toll. After building the floor again a cover was a must, but no more snaps this time. A frame was made from thin wall tubing and a sheet of aluminum with convertible top cylinders and motor were installed to raise and lower the cover.
 
The Cameo was completed in 2003. There are still a few minor things to fix, one of which is a really-slow-to fill gas tank. It seems we always have something to fix or upgrade; a ride is never really finished.
 
Specifications:

Drivetrain:
1995 LT1 with 4L60E transmission
1967 10-bolt rear end with 3.36 gears
1974 Nova front clip
PST front-end kit with 1π” sway bar
Disc front brakes and drums in the rear
Posies 3" dropped springs
AIM bag controls by Air Tech
2∏” aluminum pipe exhaust system with Rhino mufflers
1997 Camaro replacement radiator and fans
Ron Francis XP series wiring with S&P engine/transmission harness
Ceramic coated manifolds
 
Body:
Stock 3124 Cameo Carrier 1/2 ton
Smoothed hood, doors and gas door
Air brushed side trim and hood emblem
PPG white with silver and pearl plus clear coat
Frenched power antenna and home made Bowtie third light
 
Wheels and Tires:
Billet Specialties Street Star 8” x 16” on the front and 10” x 16” on the rear
BF Goodrich 205/155R16 front and 205/150R16 rear