In part seven of our Cimtex Rods Super Cameo Buildup series, we covered the installation of our Stainless Works four-tube ZR1 headers and Cimtex Rods-fabricated 3-inch custom exhaust system, as well as the fabrication and installation of our Cimtex Rods-constructed 22-gallon fuel tank and the accompanying MagnaFuel fuel system. Now we’re going to cover the mockup of our Powerdyne BD-11A SilentDrive twin supercharger system. But first let’s digress and take a look at the big picture. One of the key criterion in our Cimtex Rods Super Cameo buildup was to elicit that all-important “wow” factor throughout the entire series. When it came to the engine, we didn’t want to install just any old run-of-the-mill, multi-carbureted GM small or big block, much less a late-model GM crate engine straight out of the catalog. Going in we figured that the Cimtex Super Cameo powerplant should be something special.

“What’s going on right now with this truck is probably one of the most difficult parts of the overall buildup,” commented Cimtex Rods’ Darrell Cimbanin. “Getting everything to fit inside and underneath this highly modified 1956 Chevrolet Cameo half-ton chassis, like the exhaust and fuel systems, for example, requires a lot of thought and careful planning, not to mention the actual fabrication process, which is very time consuming!”

In parts two and three of The Auto Builder’s Cimtex Super Cameo series, we followed along as Cimtex Rods primaries Tim and Darrell Cimbanin instatlled one of Flat Out Engineering’s Corvette C4/C5 front and rear independent suspension crossmember kits beneath a 1956 Chevrolet 1/2-ton pickup chassis.
Of course, this was followed by the actual installation of the 1984-1987 Corvette C4 rack-and-pinion-steering-equipped IFS and the bolting up of the 1984-1987 Corvette C4 IRS, which makes for a pretty nice-handling street truck.
Along the way, some modifications to the Corvette C4 front suspension were made for the sake of simplicity and an enhanced ride. For openers, Flat Out Engineering designed its kit to incorporate a pair of 12-1/2-inch Aldan Eagle 659/450 coilover shock absorbers, which replace the somewhat antiquated GM designed Owens Corning Corvette C4 monoleaf fiberglass front spring.

In Part III of our Cimtex Super Cameo buildup, we’re going to follow along as the guys from the Jarrell, Texas, crew modify the rear framerails on this ’56, “kicking it up” a full 8 inches. In the process, Tim and Darrell will also narrow the Corvette C4 IRS half shafts to achieve the much desired rear tire clearance they need in order to be able to run a set of humongous 20×10 billet wheels wrapped with a set of BFGoodrich radial T/A rubber.

“Building a good truck chassis is just like building the foundation for a house,” says Cimtex Rods’ Tim Cimbanin. “Everything starts at the ground floor. If you don’t have a good foundation, you don’t have anything!”
No truer words were ever spoken, and we’ve been preaching this fundamental information in all our publications.

While attending the 2003 SEMA Show, we ran across Darrel and Tim Cimbanin from Cimtex Rods in Jarrell, Texas. The Cimbanin brothers were there to drum up support and showed us some sketches of their latest truck building project, and what a project it is!