57 chevy build
 

First off you guys have an awesome site here . The truck has been in our family since the first owner. My dad got it from his cousin in 73 and my dad gave me the truck in 93 when I was 13. The truck doesn't have an engine in it now but my dad gave me a 427 and turbo400 tranny to put in it.

When I graduated high school I tore the whole thing apart and stared to work on it one piece at a time. The only rust it has is in the passenger door and the front bottom part of the cab corners. Oh and my dad took a plasma cutter to the passenger fender so now I have to find another one. I put the whole project on hold to restore my 78 cj5, and the truck has been setting since 2000. With being newly divorced and some inspiration from my good friend Matt I'm starting the project up. So far what I have is a front clip from a 79 Camaro ( I got it for $200). I still need to bring the cab and bed from my dads house to here in Tucson. My buddy Matt and I are going to make the frame out of 2x4x1/8 steel tubing. Im going to bag it so im going to do a 4 link system in the back. Its going to take some time but its going to be fun.

Re: 57 chevy build
 

:welcome2:
Why are you not using the original frame and just grafting the clip on? Just curious.
Be sure and post lots of pics of the build.
Kim

Re: 57 chevy build
 

Just for your info I bought a 56 frame for short bed from Freds Truck Parts in Tucson for $200.

Re: 57 chevy build
 

I have the original frame but I don't want to chop it up. My friend and I want to see if we can build one. I will post pics as I go on with the build. My dad changed his mind on the 454 and gave me a 427 out of a corvette and a ten bolt rear end with posi. Im happy about that. That will save me some money. Im hoping to get the frame and suspension done by the end of august.

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One thing I wanted to ask everyone is what is a good brand of bags and air system to buy?
I want to do a 4 link set up in the back but all this is new to me.

Re: 57 chevy build
 

I finally got my truck to my house and got the motor pulled from my dads truck.
My motor came from a 69 corvette.

Re: 57 chevy build
 

For the right person that 69 Vette engine might be worth some money. Might be someone looking for the original engine for their 69. I'd run a search on google to see if the engine #'s hit anything and check some of the Corvette sites. Could help someone out and get enough to buy a new crate engine.

Re: 57 chevy build
 

The motor has been im my family for a long time so I think im going to keep it. Thanks though for the idea. I took the intake manifold off and the valve cover and it is really clean in side the motor. The last time it ran was 91 or 92. I hope i don't have to replace any main components in it. The damn thing weighs a lot. I think I need a better engine stand, I had to put a block of wood under the motor because it was sagging bad.

Re: 57 chevy build
 

Well its Christmas in July. I ordered my poly rebuild kit for my camaro front end. Tranny mount bar, all the rubber for the doors and front and rear windows. Tail lights, patch panel for the dash, peep mirrors, cab mounts, all little miscellaneous rubber parts for the whole truck, master cylinder, front shockwave bags and rear triangulated 4 link with shockwave bags also.

Re: 57 chevy build
 

I got my front bags and 4 link set up. Hopefully I will start on the frame next week.

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We got the frame going and are mocking up the 4 link for the rear.
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Re: 57 chevy build
 

This is how deep the rims can go in the wheel well.

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One of the cab mounts.

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Cleaned up the rear end. The mounts were chewing up the sawazall blades so we used peanut butter as lube and it worked perfectly. LOL

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A side view of the triangle 4 link.

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Mock up of the 4 link.

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All this progress has been over the last month. I have been working 65 hours a week so I haven't been able to help my friend out much. But we are not going to be able to do anything on the truck next week because we are going to SEMA in Vegas woohoo!

Re: 57 chevy build
 

Starting to get the camaro clip cleaned up and stripping the paint off the cab.
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Re: 57 chevy build
 

what size rims and tires did you go with? How wide is your rear end?

Re: 57 chevy build
 

The rims in the back are 20x10 and the tires I used are 255/50/20
My fronts are 20x8 and I haven't got the tires yet.
I would have to go to my friends shop and measure it.

Re: 57 chevy build
 

Some work inside the cab.

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More cab work.

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Camaro front.

Re: 57 chevy build
 

Looks like you've been busy with a wire wheel.
Kim

Re: 57 chevy build
 

I'm no expert. Not at all. You and your friend are likely much more knowledgeable. But, I have shockwaves and a camaro clip with a triangulated 4 bar on my '50. I just thought I'd mention that I wasn't planning on running the shockwaves when we put the clip on, but if I had, I would have welded it in higher on the frame (Z'd it more, if you will) so that I could get the whole thing lower when fully aired out. There isn't as much travel in the shockwaves as I was hoping for. To make up for it I'll need to buy drop spindles, then I should be fine.

Good luck on your build. It's gonna be a nice truck!

Re: 57 chevy build
 

So far im about 14 hours using the wire wheel. Do not buy the ones from harbor freight. They really suck. I used two of them on my motor and chewed them up. I got a dewalt one and its more bang for your buck. Thanks for the info GhostTown. Did you notch out where the front bags went into the sub frame? Im going to leave the whole sub frame intact and just run the new frame on top of it.

Re: 57 chevy build
 

The dash was a Pain in the butt.

Re: 57 chevy build
 

The Shockwaves fit perfectly into place. My clip is actually a '79 Firebird, so I called up Ride Tech and ordered Shockwaves for that specific application. There for, it was a bolt in set up.

My frame sits perfectly on top of the clip rails too. Like below:

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b...0/PICT0018.jpg



That ride height was great when using the F-bird factory springs, but then I went and C-notched my rear end and when everything is aired out, it sits nose high. It's not a HUGH notch, but enough to get my running boards an inch from the ground. The front end doesn't have enough travel to sit level with the rear.

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b...PICT0004-3.jpg

This is the front (poor pic, I'm sorry) at full slam. It's about 2 inches, or maybe a bit more, higher than the rear when when both are fully dropped.

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b...PICT0002-2.jpg

Anyway, I don't mean to jump into the middle of your thread. I just saw that you are doing something similar to what I have, and thought I would point out that before you weld that clip up, double measure the full range of suspension travel to make sure the truck will sit the way you want it too. The clip, or the shocks might stop it from getting as low as your custom rear end. When all was said an done, my mistake was switching plans in the middle of the build and going with air ride. Drop spindles will fix it, but if I were going this way the whole time, I would have made up the difference in the frame and not have to buy the spindles.

Also remember, I have a '50 so that might make a big difference in where you place yours anyway, and I could just be full of hot air. I simply thought I would say something and you could discuss it with your friend. I could be wrong.

Re: 57 chevy build
 

Thank you very much for the pics and info. No problem at all for jumping in the water is fine. haha...
I just need to get the old bushings and ball joints out now.

Re: 57 chevy build
 

Looking good. Can't wait to see some more progress

Re: 57 chevy build
 

Haven't posted in a long time. Been really busy at work. Starting to get the frame going again.
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Re: 57 chevy build
 

nice!

Re: 57 chevy build
 

looking real nice. Are those foose wheels? they look killer.

Re: 57 chevy build
 

Yes they are. Hopefully getting some work done on the frame soon.

Re: 57 chevy build
 

Cleaned up the rear end and took off the drum back plates. Also mocking up the rear notch. Hopefully going to weld it up soon.Posted via Mobile Device

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Re: 57 chevy build
 

This is looking great, love the low stance so far.
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Re: 57 chevy build
 

Thanks

Re: 57 chevy build
 

Ok here is a little update. I finally found a 95 explorer rear with all the needed parts plus the parking brake cable for $170. The dust covers were a little beat up but i got them all straitened out. It needs the normal new pads and rotors. So they are on the way. Pulled off all the stuff and stared to fit and clean everything for the swap.

Re: 57 chevy build
 

They fit perfect.