55 1st series Boone Buggy

[IL boy]

Greetings from S. FL. Here is my 55 1st series that I have been slowly working on for the last 18 months. This is in tribute to my step dad, Daniel "BOONE" Hodge. We lost him 3 years a go to colon cancer. When we first moved in with him his pride and joy was a 51 chevy 5 window with a 350 sbc. He sacrificed it in order to get the down payment on the house i grew up in for the next 15 years.


I came across this on CL and bought it before I had a plan or a clue what to do. But I had to get it..



The frame ended up being totally rusted and cracked..



so I decided to do an s10 frame swap, the donor already had a 350...

[IL boy]

so i tore into the s10 and sent the frame to get an air ride suspension...

[IL boy]

started to disassemble the 55...

[IL boy]

some inspiration for my build...







Boone collected, restored, lived, and breathed John Deere tractors. Here is the last one he worked on...

[pinecrest]

That rear suspension setup is interesting. Could you post a "deflated" pic? With the notch, blocks and shocks, I'm just wondering why the bags are there. Or was that an in-progress shot? Just curious. Otherwise, congrats on your project!

[GRIMSS]

Originally Posted by pinecrest

That rear suspension setup is interesting. Could you post a "deflated" pic? With the notch, blocks and shocks, I'm just wondering why the bags are there. Or was that an in-progress shot? Just curious. Otherwise, congrats on your project!

Kind of wondering the same with the leaf springs still there. Also which s-10 did you go with the rear rails look like the don't have the same kick up.

Congrats on the the project and we like lots of pics here.

[IL boy]

i was trying to get the rear to go as low as possible while i save up money to go with a four-link set up. so basically the leaf spring holds the rear end and the bags support weight. the frame is an 84 (as far as the title said) standard cab long bed. this is my first project and i just finished a semester of welding class so there will be much more progress at a much quicker pace

[pinecrest]

Do the gas shocks help locate? Looks to me like they may be the first thing to bottom-out.

Not trying to bust any ballz, just trying to understand. I haven't seen it done this way, and I'm struggling myself with what to do on mine. I've just mounted an exploder rear on stock s10 leafs- as I said, I find your setup interesting.

What's next?

[IL boy]

pinecrest- no ballz busted here... the shocks do limit travel but should increase ride comfort. im not sure since this is my first build up and it hasnt seen the road yet. i may end up scrapping the whole set up before its all said and done. a lil trial and error ya know?

as for whats next...

i got 17" steelies off of a dodge (cheap CL find) to mount using 2 inch spacer/adaptors. they will be painted JD yellow to go with the John Deere farm truck theme. once that happens i will be able to lower the frame, get the measurement from the ground to determine how high to mount the cab support so that the running boards are on the ground.

i made up the cab mounts out of 3x3 square tubing i had laying around.

my engine should be mocked up some time this week (pix coming soon)

i am designing a 50's inspired John deere logo for door art

[IL boy]

here is an update, not alot done. work is picking up, and that is a good thing, so i have less time to tinker...

got my motor mocked up...




i know i have to chop the frame horns to gain clearence... waiting to mount new power steering box 1st