1956 · Full custom build
IN BUILD — BODY SHOP / FINAL PRIMER56 Chevy 3100
§ 01
THE BRIEF
J&C Griggs of Odessa, TX brought this 1956 Chevy 3100 stepside to Hammer Fab in May of 2020. The direction was set early — a slammed pro-touring stepside with deep candy red paint, bronze forged wheels, and a heavily reworked front clip. The full concept rendering was completed in May of 2021 and has driven every fabrication decision since. The truck is currently in the body shop phase, going through final primer before heading to paint.
§ 02 — Note from the shop
"Rendered May '21, now in final primer — J&C Griggs' 56 3100 heads for the paint booth."
§ 03 — Build journal
The updates.
A living log of every meaningful moment on this build — new photos, short notes, and the milestones worth marking.
7 UPDATES · 1 MILESTONES
Milestones
- JUL 1, 2026— Body shop — final primer
UPDATE 07 / 07
Jul 1, 2026
BODY MILESTONEBody shop — final primer
The 56 3100 is in the body shop phase working through final primer. Every panel is being blocked and refined so the deep candy red topcoat lays down as clean as the rendering. Mockup shots with the bronze grille, bumper, forged wheels, and the finished engine test-fit show how closely the build is tracking to the concept.
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J007UPDATE 06 / 07
Nov 1, 2020
FABRICATIONSheetmetal and structure work
Early metalwork focused on reshaping the 3100's structure and hand-finishing the details that disappear once the truck is in primer and paint. Inner panels, bed pieces, and front-end sheetmetal were all reworked to sharpen the final body lines.
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J011UPDATE 05 / 07
Mar 1, 2021
DESIGNIn-house design — SolidWorks, 3D scanning, laser cut & CNC
A big part of this 3100 is being designed inside Hammer Fab using SolidWorks and 3D scanning. The step plates were modeled in SolidWorks and laser cut. The stainless exhaust tips were designed off of a 3D scan of the rear of the truck so they'd tuck perfectly under the bumper, then CNC machined out of solid stainless. The firewall was drawn up in-house and laser cut from 10ga steel. All design work and scanning happens here at the shop — only the laser cutting and CNC machining are outsourced.
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J019UPDATE 04 / 07
Jun 1, 2022
DRIVETRAINEngine build — LS long-block with individual runner intake
The 3100's LS long-block came together with a maroon-painted block, finned polished valve covers, polished stainless headers, and an eight-stack Kinsler-style individual runner intake — all mocked up on the engine stand before dropping into the truck.
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J021UPDATE 03 / 07
Apr 1, 2024
MOCKUPFull body mockup — front clip, rear end, wheels
With the body in epoxy black and the chassis rolling, the whole truck came together for the first full mockup — front clip and grille in orange primer, custom rear roll-pan and tailgate, and the polished forged wheels tucked under the fenders.
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J024UPDATE 02 / 07
May 1, 2021
DESIGNConcept rendering complete
The full concept rendering for J&C Griggs' 1956 Chevy 3100 was completed in May of 2021 — deep candy red, bronze forged wheels, custom front clip, and a laid-out pro-touring stance.
J025UPDATE 01 / 07
May 15, 2020
TEARDOWNBuild kickoff
The 1956 Chevy 3100 arrived at Hammer Fab in May of 2020 for J&C Griggs of Odessa, TX. Direction set from day one: full custom stepside build.
J026§ 04 — Process
Chapter by chapter.
Every build is documented as it moves through the shop. Here's how this one came together.
C027The rendering
Completed May 2021, the rendering locks in the truck's final direction — deep candy red over a smoothed body, custom front bumper and grille surround in bronze, bronze forged wheels with red brake calipers, and the cab and bed dropped to the ground on a modern chassis.
Body shop — final primer
The 3100 is currently in the body shop phase working through final primer. Panel gaps, body lines, and every seam are being blocked and refined so the deep candy red topcoat lays down as clean as the rendering promises.
§ 05 — Gallery
Frame by frame.
25 FRAMES · SHOT IN-HOUSE
G029G030G031G032G033G034G035G036G037G038G039G040G041G042G043G044G045G046G047G048G049G050G051G052G053§ 06 — Next steps
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