1956 Chevy Pro-Street Build

[ptc]

FRONT PAGE UPDATE INFO ----- Great Idea from "Hart Rod"

Exterior Body:
Remove all inner fender sheetmetal - Done
Remove all bumpers and hardware and brackets -Done
Remove all door handles keys, latches, lights, signals, reflectors - Done
Remove all emblems and sell - Done
Remove battery from engine compartment and put under bedside -Done
Remove fuel tank from cab - Done
Shave front turn signals - Done
Shave front bumper mount recesses - Done
Shave door handle holes
Repair door bottoms inside
Repair door bottoms outside
Shave filler cap - Done
French in '52 Merc headlight rings
Fit New Halogen headlights Tri-Bar
Fit New LED tail lights in Rail supports - Done
Install Fuel Cell 17 gal rear bed mount - Done
Weld fill all bed holes - Done
Weld up all bed ends -Done
Remove all tailgate chains and mounts - Done
Install hidden tailgate latches - Done
Install hidden tailgate hinges - Done
Install new rear roll pan - Done
Install new hidden trailer hitch -Done
Install new flip down license plate - Done
Sheetmetal tubs for rear wheels - Done
Metal tube frame and Sheetmetal bed areas -Done
Install 4 point mounting for bed removal -Done
Sandblast the inside of the bed and do a spray in liner
Sandblast Cab spray liner underside
Fill all firewall holes to smooth face - Done
Shave 55-56 hood down
Fit 58-59 hood valley to 55-56 hood frame
New wheels:
Fronts: 18x8, 3.5" BS, Pirelli P Zero 295mm
Rears: 20x15, 5.5" BS, Pirelli P Zero 375mm

Front suspension:
Remove and sell all Z28 Front suspension components -Done
Re-weld up all frame member transitions - Done
Install QA1 tubular upper/lower A-arms - Done
Install QA1 coil over shocks - Done
Install QA1 tie rod sleeves - Done
Install Front 1 1/4" sway bar with poly bushings and lowered brackets
Install QA1 2" drop springs
Modify Z28 Spindles to fit Wilwood brake calipers - Done
Install Wilwood 12.19" vented rotors - 4 piston calipers - Done


Rear suspension:
Install Chris Alston 4 Link rear clip – Done
Install Coil over shocks - Done
Rework 9" BIG Ford rearend: Auburn 3.73 gears w/ Spool, Moser axels, new bearings
Install Wilwood 12.19" rotors, 4 piston NON-Ebrake calipers - Done
Install Custom balanced Driveline
Install panhard bar - Done

Interior:
Remove Dash - Done
Remove all interior - Done
Fit and Install Plain dash - Done
Install 4 point roll bar inside cab/ rear hoop, door hoops, under dash, over windshield, rear belt bar.
Fit and make roll bar mounting pads Rear - Done
Fit and make roll bar mounting pads Front
Install New 20 Ckt American Wire harness
Install 1 piece door glass kits
Install Altman Latch kits
Install New Billet Door handles and window cranks
Install Dakota Digital VHX Gauges
Install new 5 Point harnesses
Install B&M Black Diamond shifter
Install IDIDIT tilt column
Install Billet Lokar brake and throttle pedal set
Install Billet Specialties steering wheel
Install PROcar Leather race buckets
Install all sound insulation, back cab carpet, headliner, visors


Motor:
Planned ---- 509 Cu In BBC, 320CC Alum Heads, .700 lift hyd roller cam, Supercharged, TH400 Transmission-- Base Build
Purchase Motor - Done
Purchase Trans - Done
Purchase Supercharger - Done
Install Centrifugal Supercharger - Vortech V4Z
Install ProMaster High torque starter
Install 2" primary to 4" Collector headers over frame
Install 3" electric exhaust cutouts
Install 3" primary exhaust outlet at front fender
Install Magnaflow secondary exhaust system exit at rear wheels
Install BBC cross flow alum radiator
Install twin 14" electric fans
Install Mezeier 50GPM electric water pump
Install power steering SAG 800 - Done
Install hydroboost under cab - Done
Lokar throttle and kickdown cables
Custom radiator support and shrouding
Move motor forward 1.5" make new mounts - Done


ORIGINAL START DATE INFO

Hey All, finally decided to make another leap into a new project for myself to get done before this life is over with. Have always wanted a "Task Force Series" truck and liked the 55-57 models the best. Have shopped around for a few months looking and doing some tire kicking, but never pulled the trigger on anything..... till now! - - - - So this is what I found and knew that it would be a decent starting point for this build. I bought a chassis ONLY that was already put together by somebody down in SOCal -Clovis to be exact. I hear some good trucks come out of that area?

Anyway this frame started life (Im told) as a '56 3100 shortbed-stepside, the front clip was added from a '71 Camaro Z28 and the stock rails all boxed up complete to the rear, no access to anything inside.... So there will be some modifications there. The rear end was chopped off and a Chris Alston full rear clip was added.







The Chris Alston rear clip is pretty nice addition and makes for a great start on this project.




Some Specs (as-purchased):
'56 frame - channeled and boxed completed
Chris Alston Battle Cruiser rear clip - 1.25" 4-Link with Coil overs
'71 Z28 Camaro front clip complete
Sag 800 power steering 2 3/4 turn ratio
11" rotors, Z calipers, rebuilt A-arms with poly bushes
Shortened Ford 9" rear housing, Auburn 3rd member, 31 Spline axles, 3:73 Gears spooled
17 gallon fuel cell
Weld Wheels 15x15 rear w/ M/T tires
Weld Wheels 15x8 front with Goodyear

[Kim57]

I'll be watching this build.
Be sure and post lots of pics.
Kim

[ptc]

Hers some more pics of the chassis so far. Once I get the frame all welded up with cross braces, trans mount, bed mounts, panhard and the sway bar mounts I can move on to other things.

The rear end needs some dressing up and most likely will need that spool removed for street use. The 3rd member is brand new but needs to be gone through none the less to make sure it is right. It is a 31 spline Strange S-series which should be strong enough for some BBC horsepower! Im thinking an O/D transmission will also help with the 3:73 gears on the highway... possibly?

The drum backing plates will be removed and exchanged for some Wilwood 13" disc setups with Dynalite 4 piston calipers. I have some new Superlites I had from an old project but will probably not be using them on this. Need to buy a whole kit for this.

[MIKESAD50]

Nice Start. I will be following this.

[Kim57]

Looks good. you have a great frame to start with.
Kim

[55 Chevy Dave]

What a great frame! I have worked most of the winter to get near to the point you are now. Good luck with your build! I will be following!

[Advanced Design]

Tagging along too. Looks like a fun build.

[Sim6]

Great work!

[ptc]

Well I got most of the front frame all patched up in the places that needed it, seems it was done a bit weak in some points. I have a few more welding things to complete on the frame before final paint touch-up and I want to pre-fit everything before that happens anyway.

Next step is to flip it back over and do the top side, get the mock up motor and trans mounted and the trans X-Brace in place. The brake hydro-boost mounted on the frame rail and the panhard bar, and the the fuel tank mounts, center and rear X-Braces.

I have installed the QA-1 lower tube arms and the coil overs, this is a very nice setup and easy to install this way!!!! The Camaro frame around the inside of the coil spring cup seems to have had extra bracing welded in. Does anybody know if the Z28's came 'better prepared' from the factory???? that's what this front end came from I'm told.

Anyway heres some progress pics from this weekend.

[Kim57]

Nice looking suspension pieces.
Kim

[ptc]

Originally Posted by Kim57

Nice looking suspension pieces.
Kim

Kim, these are all QA1 parts and they are really nice, fit really well and were VERY reasonably priced through Summit who matched the best priced I found on the web happily. I like using summit because they get stuff to me in 1 day usually, and no sales tax.... (for now!)

[ptc]

Anybody around the Norcal area have a BBC or SBC with a auto trans to use for a mock up ?????

I will pickup and deliver.... let me know


Thanks

[Joe Pass]

Looks like a good start....That sure looks like the rolling chassis that was for sale up here NorCal about a year ago...Saw it on craigslist, considered it but just wasn't in the cards at the time
Joe

[ptc]

Joe, thats the one.... I got it from a guy in Yuba City and he had bought the whole truck from somebody down in Clovis area that had built it. He didnt want to part with the body pieces only the chassis.

I bought all these body parts from a guy in Stockton of C/L - He seems to have a 55-59 recycling facility down there!!!! I am gonna use the parts for mockup but may end up selling it all.

[Joe Pass]

Good project, I have a turbo 350 and a 400 automatic cores. They are good rebuilders but if you need one to build to your welcome to them

[ptc]

Thanks Joe, I found a local setup here in Sac area. So this weekend will be fitting up the engine /trans mounts and getting a driveline measurement for all that stuff to be completed.

I will be getting the brake systems together and then hopefully fitting the bed to the rear frame and figuring out how to make all that fit with tubs and such.

Will have more photos after that!

[ptc]

This is a multiple choice question post:

Ok so Im really perplexed over going with the Wilwood brake systems front and rear or just something that is "capable". Im being told (and agree) that for a drag race type vehicle that the Wilwoods are pretty much overkill.

1. I can get the C5 spindles, hubs and 13" - 4 piston brake package for the front for alot less money and still have great breaking power.... what you do guys think or believe buyers would prefer for resale value?

2. Are there matching Corvette style brake calipers for a 9" Ford rear housing?

I definitely dont want to mix and match different systems.

[Kim57]

I've got Wilwoods on the rear and chevy discs on the front.
I don't see a problem with the mix and match. Wilwood now makes replacement calipers for my fronts so I may change them in the future.
Kim

[Advanced Design]

This company has brackets for the Corvette calipers for a Ford 9 inch rear.
http://www.kore3.com/products.php?cat=12

[ptc]

Ok guys so I decided on the Wilwoods, Dave at LOCAR PERFORMANCE.... here in Sac made me an offer I just couldnt refuse so I pulled the trigger on the complete set. Should be in this week.

As for an update on my build, I have decided to let the first group of 55-56 sheetmetal parts go (its all for sale) and move on.... I found a complete 1957 3600 truck that the cab and front clip is pristine no rust and just needs a sand and paint job.... So now its going to a be a 57 PRO-STREET!

Heres what we did this past weekend. Got my kids involved and they came over and lent a hand. First we got the upper a-arms installed just for looksies... and it looks good! Didnt install springs yet as no weight to compress them with. I still gotta take aprt the spindles and cut them down for the Wilwoods when they come in.

Then we set the dummy 454 motor and TH400 trans so that all the x-braces could be aligned and installed, motor mounts adjusted and the driveline aligned with the rear end. I got the nut-serts for the trans mount tack welded in. I will flip the whole thing again and do the finish welding later.

Next the bed....

[ptc]

I used the bed from the 55-56 for this build because with the very large oversize wheels and tires, I dont want to cut up a perfectly good bed so this one will do nicely. The side panels will be mostly cut away to allow for these wheel/tire combos to fit in there. I will be replacing the tailgate and front panel as they are just too beat up and rusted. I actually sold the tailgate already to guy that needed a nice 'patina', well used one.... This is just the ticket for him!

We fitted the bed onto the chassis, got the rear mounts cut off and relocated them with some "L" channel, welded them in and drilled holes and bolted it down. I aligned the bed and made many measurements from the cab and the front will be mounted with standoffs because no bed wood will be installed. Since the rear suspension/chassis comes up so high in the rear bed area there wont be any bed floor except for tub covers and basically a sheetmetal enclosure.

Then we got 1 wheel / tire assembly into place and I cutout the bedside to fit it in and a fender onto it.... WOW!!!! thats alot of RUBBER!!! But it looks mean!

Cant wait to burn these tires down the road!

[Kim57]

Nice progress.
Looks real good.
Kim

[II_Slow]

Old School Rules!

I have to admit I got a chubbie looking at that fat tire tucked up under that rear fender.

Makes me wish I had went Pro Street on mine - almost. I promised to stay "practical" on my build and keep it a daily driver / toy hauler. But it's never to late to redirect, right? Nah.

Keep going, brother. It's builds like this one that give the inspiration I need to get off of my lazy ass get back out in the shop working on mine.

[Roadkill58]

Nice work. Truck is looking good.






.

[ChuckDriver]

Nice build PTC, looking forward to a long smokey burnout!