Thread: 1954 chevy
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Old 05-20-2010, 01:01 PM   #2
mr48chev
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Toppenish, WA
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Re: 1954 chevy

Here we go again. Welcome to the board.
There are two problems with that late chassis under the AD trucks
1. the wheels usually stick out of the fender wells more than most guys want these days and don't really allow for a lowered truck. You end up with more of that 70's look with the tires sticking out of the fenders a few inches especially if you decide to run any type of reverse wheel.
2. The kickup at the back of the frame takes up almost all of the room in the bed when you put a bed on the truck at a level to match the lines of the cab. On almost any bed you use you will have to raise the floor a few inches to make it work.

At one time I was going to cut down a late model box and then run my early fenders on it but I have gotten away from that look on my rigs.

Some guys have a local sheet metal shop bend up the bed sides and end and then build their own beds. Not for everyone but I have seen some nice beds made that way.

Another option would be to build a slick little flatbed for it. Then it is just you, the truck, a tape measure and what ever material you decide to use.
I have a 1-1/2 ton that I intend to do just that to when I shorten the frame and set it on running gear similar to what is under your truck. I am going to use the stock frame though.

You will find that most of the guys on the board who have done frame swaps under AD trucks use the S 10 longbed chassis as it fits pretty well after they build a set of cab mounts similar to what one of the board members designed and shared the design with the board. You aren't exactly home free with that but the tires tuck under the fenders (a bit too far actually) The truck has modern running gear and a guy can get it real low real easy.
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