55.2-59 Bucks 55 build

[mrbuck]

Long story short, I found this rig on FB wher the previous owner had already started the frame work. He had a heidts mustang II welded into place and the mounts for a no-limit fat bar 4-link. The frame was then blasted and powder coated. Here she is the day I brought home my new baby.

[mrbuck]

Had to make a bunch more room in the garage, but got the frame in place and up on blocks ready to start assembling.

[mrbuck]

Picked up an 10 bolt rear end from a friend, cut all the brackets off and got into place, to mount up to the 4-link

[mrbuck]

Also mounted up the under frame gas tank.

[mrbuck]

Heidts mustang II front end installed. Except for coil spring. Need to go get a spring compressor for that. Disc brakes going on all four corners. Power steering all mounted up.

[mrbuck]

Decided to do a little rust repair today. I don’t know how but the center of the cab back wall was completely gone from rust. It the only spot on the whole truck. But anyway out with the old in with more old, found a patch panel at a junk yard.

[mrbuck]

Had to fab a brake booster bracket and install the booster. Twisted up some new brake lines. Don’t laugh it was my first time doing hard lines. They need a little finessing but will still serve the purpose.

[mrbuck]

Forgot to add pics

[mrbuck]

Battery box mounted

Front coils installed

Rear end painted and installed with disc brakes conversion

[mrbuck]

Oh yeah this baby showed up today. Gm performance crate 350. Matching th350 trans in route also.

[bosco]

Nice start with your rolling chassis. Looks great.

[Joe Pass]

great project....Norcal?

[mrbuck]

hey Joe- yeah right down the road from you, Santa Rosa

[Joe Pass]

Your in my backyard !......I don't have much extra parts lying around anymore, but I have some door latches your welcome to.... They are repo's lightly used Rt and Lt.....
......Great build
Joe

[mrbuck]

Originally Posted by Joe Pass

Your in my backyard !......I don't have much extra parts lying around anymore, but I have some door latches your welcome to.... They are repo's lightly used Rt and Lt.....
......Great build
Joe

Might just take you up on that, I been thinking of doing the altman latches.

[mrbuck]

Happy Labor Day


And We’ve got a ROLLER!!!!!!

[G&R's57GMC]

I have the NoLimit fat bar Currie 9" air suspension .

It's important that the track bar be level at ride height so the rear axle has the least side to side movement as it travels up and down .
You may have to relocate the chassis end to get it level .

This is mine at ride height

[G&R's57GMC]

BTW you should add a drop out cross member where the original was to tie the front cab mounts together . Over time they will sag without one , then the sheet metal panel gaps will go wonky and be a bear to fix .

[Joe Pass]

Congrats....looking good.....

[mrbuck]

G&R I’ll have to check that out, I’m hoping the rear end comes down a bit once there some weight on it.

[mrbuck]

G&R— how does a crossmember fit with the trans there? Do you have any pics?

[G&R's57GMC]

I still have to cut and make it a bolt in like the GMC’s have then add metal to the bottom of it then cut the center down to the new metal . In other words make it deeper under the trans .

On my build the low point of the cross member was to be nine inches above the road at ride height . Since I’m adding metal to the bottom it’ll be seven inches .

The sad thing is the photos were taken the day it was finished getting the suspension installed at NoLimit back in December 2010 . After I got it home I installed the calipers and Wheel Vintiqes Artillery wheels and Coker wide white tires . Then shoved it in the corner of the shop to sit for years as I gathered a mock up cab , rad & fans support inner fenders and a 5.3 & 4L60E .
Meanwhile I spent 3 years rebuilding an Airstream , redoing my pick up trailer , new engine install (body off) in my Tahoe , currently reassembling my 66 Dart .

And there it sits ...

[G&R's57GMC]

Looking again at your Chassis , the trans may be low enough to sneak a flat bar over the top of it with a slight bend in it to tie the upper chassis rails together below the cab floor at the front cab mounts .
The trans cross member looks close enough to the front cab mount to aid the upper flat bar to keep lower chassis rail from twisting . This combo could be an alternative to the original cross member .

[57tailgater]

I always had the thought if that mid crossmember was modified to function like the original 3 piece one for a Hydromatic it would work in these types of situations. It would be able to provide support between the rails and have a center section that drops out for tranny R&R. I can't find a picture but someone may have one. Did you pull out the one between the rear cab mounts as well?

[G&R's57GMC]

No it’s still in and will stay in .