56 step/C5/C6 Z06 BBC

[Chevette]

Got the hood and fenders on.

[Chevette]

Oops. Got the hood and fenders on.

[Kim57]

Looks good.
Kim

[Stephanie]

Looks really nice

[1966JSM]

lookin good

[Kabwe]

Looking really good man. More pics please.

[Chevette]

Originally Posted by Kabwe

Looking really good man. More pics please.

Here are a couple more. I'm using a C6 Z06 front suspension, C5 rear and C6 Z06 rotors and calipers at all four corners. I installed a tilt/telescopic column and a wheel with paddle shifters. I didn't lengthen the torque tube so the engine sits in the cab a bit, but is manageable.

[Kabwe]

Any shots of the engine? Looking really nice man.

[Chevette]

Originally Posted by Kabwe

Any shots of the engine? Looking really nice man.

Thanks for the kind words. I only have the plastic BBC mockup engine in it right now. I have a 375hp/396 sitting on an engine stand and it will go in after I take the cab back off for new floors etc. I have an 18" bead/flange roller so I will make the floor pieces myself.

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by Chevette

Thanks for the kind words. I only have the plastic BBC mockup engine in it right now. I have a 375hp/396 sitting on an engine stand and it will go in after I take the cab back off for new floors etc. I have an 18" bead/flange roller so I will make the floor pieces myself.

Plastic mockup engine you got to love it man. Makes life much easier.

When you start on those floor boards I can tell you to keep the noise down like you are always telling me.lol But please do post pics.

[Chevette]

Originally Posted by Kabwe

Plastic mockup engine you got to love it man. Makes life much easier.

When you start on those floor boards I can tell you to keep the noise down like you are always telling me.lol But please do post pics.

The mockup engine weighs 29.0 lbs. that includes the valve covers. I bought it on eBay and it has steel threaded inserts for every bolt-on (headers, intake, water pump etc.). The floor will be easy to build, because the torque tube requires that the floorboards be built in two pieces and I have a 36" brake that can handle up to 16 gauge, though I will only use 18 gauge. Then I can roll beads into it to strengthen it. I built a set for a friend and they turned out really nice.

[Chevette]

My favorite new tool.

[Chevette]

Originally Posted by Kabwe

Plastic mockup engine you got to love it man. Makes life much easier.

When you start on those floor boards I can tell you to keep the noise down like you are always telling me.lol But please do post pics.

Now I'll be able to make more noise ......well maybe not more noise, but faster noise than you. I bought a cheapo plannishing hammer for $75.00. Now I'll be able to bash the hel......heck out of all kinds of stuff. Not even going to warn the neighbors.

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by Chevette

Now I'll be able to make more noise ......well maybe not more noise, but faster noise than you. I bought a cheapo plannishing hammer for $75.00. Now I'll be able to bash the hel......heck out of all kinds of stuff. Not even going to warn the neighbors.

Nope sorry I have one also so you can't make more noise than me.lol I hardly every use it but I do have one. I will always be the king of noise.lol

[shadow1967]

Where did you get that for 75.00?

[Chevette]

Originally Posted by shadow1967

Where did you get that for 75.00?

Canada's version of Harbor Freight. It's called Princess Auto. It was the only one they had. Regular price was $159.00 A friend called me and said there was one for $79.00 (display model)do you want me to pick it up? Ummm.............yes! I tried it out with a piece of 18 gauge and it worked very well. I'm happy.

[seanery]

Hey Chevette, this is cool. I'm thinking about using a C5 transaxle and suspension for my '50 GMC project. I'm using a '64 Buick Nailhead. I'd love to see more photos and see or hear what your plan for the floors, firewall, etc are. From what I've seen from C5 roller photos it's a huge, fat torque tube and it sits up pretty high. Has that been your experience with it? Any other info I could glean from you would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
-sean

[Chevette]

Originally Posted by seanery

Hey Chevette, this is cool. I'm thinking about using a C5 transaxle and suspension for my '50 GMC project. I'm using a '64 Buick Nailhead. I'd love to see more photos and see or hear what your plan for the floors, firewall, etc are. From what I've seen from C5 roller photos it's a huge, fat torque tube and it sits up pretty high. Has that been your experience with it? Any other info I could glean from you would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
-sean

Hi Seanery: Good plan indeed. I'm not sure of the AD dimensions, but I had always thought they were narrower than the TF trucks. If this is the case, you will have some extra work to do. The stock track is very wide on the C5/C6 Corvette. I have had to do serious mods to the rear fenders and I built my own front suspension carrier because the C6 cross member is more than 2" too wide. As for the toque tube height, it's not a problem. It only sits up in the cab a few inches which is easily covered with a console (I'll take some measurements and post them for you). The real trouble with the torque tube is it's length, or lack there of. It's about 10 inches too short, so I was faced with getting it lengthened or sitting the engine back in the cab. I chose the latter. Anyway, I will take a few pics and some dimensions and post them for you. I like your idea for using the nailhead. That will look cool. What are your thoughts for the frame? BTW, get ready to spend some money.

[seanery]

I'm thinking about losing 6-10" of the wheelbase, the GMCs were a tad bit longer than the Chevy's I hear, so maybe that will help a bit with the lack of length. I want to box the whole thing. I'm not using C5 up front, I'm gonna go with C4 from Flat Out Engineering. When you get a chance I'd love to see fender to fender of the rear of your truck from about 10' back or so.


Thanks for the help!

[Chevette]

Originally Posted by seanery

I'm thinking about losing 6-10" of the wheelbase, the GMCs were a tad bit longer than the Chevy's I hear, so maybe that will help a bit with the lack of length. I want to box the whole thing. I'm not using C5 up front, I'm gonna go with C4 from Flat Out Engineering. When you get a chance I'd love to see fender to fender of the rear of your truck from about 10' back or so.


Thanks for the help!

Seanery: I hope this is what you wanted. I pie cut the vertical and the bottom horizontal so I could tuck the fender in at the bottom and not loose any width at the top (tire clearance). Then I cut an inch and a half out of the width of the step. Now I'm at the stage of working the fender out at the tire for clearance. I still have many hours of work to do on the fenders, then I have to widen the box by close to 3". The reason I did it this way is because I didn't want to widen the fender then angle the step from a wide fender to the narrower cab. Hope that makes sense.

[69CST-V]

I'm in for this one. Awesome start.
Posted via Mobile Device

[1955GMC]

Nice work. I'll be waiting to see where this build goes. Real "out of the box thinking" here

[R.A.D]

Originally Posted by 1955GMC

Nice work. I'll be waiting to see where this build goes. Real "out of the box thinking" here

x2

[shadow1967]

Sorry for being a pain But DAD and I have another measurement question.
What is the height difference between the cradle mounts(front to rear)?
Thanks in advance,
Mike

[Chevette]

Originally Posted by shadow1967

Sorry for being a pain But DAD and I have another measurement question.
What is the height difference between the cradle mounts(front to rear)?
Thanks in advance,
Mike

With the cross member sitting level, front to back (at the base) there is a 2" difference at the mounting surface(front being 2" lower than the back). I have mine set up so the intake manifold will sit level when the engine is attached to the bell housing/torque tube, as I'm not using an LS. I assume you can change the angle of the torque tube to level when using an LS with a level manifold.