Need to identify front clip

[Scottish58chev]

Hello all,

New to the forum and new to american trucks.

Recently bought a 58 Apache with i'm told a camaro clip but i'd like to know for certain as i want to change the front and rear to bags hopefully the pictures will help.

Thanks in advance

Calum

[1project2many]

I think that is a 70's Corvette front clip. It appears to have a piston connected to the steering gear. It also appears to have Corvette valve covers. You could check engine codes and see what the engine is from. Maybe you've found one that actually has a Corvette engine!

[Scottish58chev]

Not sure, engine code is V1112TAX and like i say these are all new to me so any information is very much appreciated

[OrrieG]

Camaro Flint plant, 11 month, 12 day
TAX 1970 350 255 4 convfwd cabs, a/t
TAX 1972 350 175 4 m/t

[Scottish58chev]

Thanks for that. Any Idea as to the front clip?

[1project2many]

Sorry... took too long to get back to this and couldn't edit the original post. The piston threw me toward Vette but there are too many clues that it's something else.

Steering gear is from early '70s Ford, maybe Mustang. Three bolt cover is big clue. Frame clip is 71-72 Chevelle judging by two bolt ball joints, control arm shape, and front steer configuration (tie rods in front of ball joints). Most GM cars of 60's to 70's were rear steer! Later cars have different shape upper control arms.


72 Chevelle


Mustang steering box

[Scottish58chev]

The control arm shape looks completely different to me to the one in the picture you put up. The top ball joint on mine isn't sitting as deep. I just don't want to make the wrong call when buying parts for it.

[1project2many]

I understand wanting to get it right. This is a Camaro / Nova upper arm:




The hole is shaped differently and the drop to the Ball joint is different.

Maybe there are casting numbers on the spindle?

[Scottish58chev]

Thanks for clarification, there may well be numbers on the spindle or other suspension parts. I only recently bought the truck and stripped it to what you see in the pictures before returning to work at sea, so won't get back into it to mid august when i get home. I thought with it being drum brakes that might have narrowed the search a bit but i couldn't find anything conclusive so i thought i'd try here.

Thanks again for the input, much appreciated

[1project2many]

Hmmm...

I found another candidate. '59-'62 Impala. These cars aren't all that common but it looks
like it might do it. They are front steer and use piston type power steering with the same box.

[Scottish58chev]

That does look a lot like what i have, even down to the chassis frame rails at the front

[dwcsr]

59-62 front clip was a good swap for 55-59 trucks, it slid into the truck rails as if it were meant to be there and didn't look cobbled together like a Camaro clip

[1project2many]

Neat. I've never heard of that one but it does look like a nice swap. And it has "original" style power steering for those who like the vintage look.

[dwcsr]

Originally Posted by 1project2many

Neat. I've never heard of that one but it does look like a nice swap. And it has "original" style power steering for those who like the vintage look.

At the connection points it the same width frame. I think its the frame clip that Kimbridge Ent. patterned their 55-59 clip from and changed it to use GM Metric components.

[Scottish58chev]

So it's looking likely that its an impala clip, good to know what it is to be able to source parts which in itself brings some problems with regards bagging the front end.

[1project2many]

One of the pictures above is from a forum dedicated to bagged suspension. There are several threads about these cars. Here's one:

http://www.layitlow.com/forums/25-ai...need-help.html

There are others but you might have to go through 15-20 pages to get three useful posts!

[Scottish58chev]

Thanks for that, I'm on night shift so going through lots of posts might just make the shift pass that bit quicker, always nice to have a starting point though

[mr48chev]

I'm pretty sure it's a bolt in project to swap that steering box and the always leaking ram style power steering for a later and modern box. Getting the right pitman arm might be the only issue.

On the bushings and ball joints I think most all 58/64 are the same and if you want to go to disk brakes there are plenty of kits for doing that readily available. I rebuilt a lot of those front ends back in the early 70's but can't remember what fits what.

[Scottish58chev]

Thanks for that, do you know if there is a modern rack and pinion steering available for them?

At least I know know what it actually is, you guys have been a great help. I'm sure it won't be the last question i'll be asking.

[mr48chev]

You could probably find one but a good power steering box off a mid 70's car would probably work quite well. I put a box off a full size car on a 57 Pontiac but that was a rear steer (steering behind the crossmember) car. Yours should be easier yet. I'm not sure if the Camaro/Firebird/ Chevelle size box or the full size box would be best though. It's just a thought if the setup you have tends to leak or isn't up to par as they can be a real challenge to repair and get to work right and rather expensive now to have rebuilt while a good later model integrated box isn't very expensive.

Here is some info on the 348/409 board. The second guy gives a pretty well detailed set of instructions It looks like it isn't a direct bolt on though as they call for a conversion bracket
http://www.348-409.com/forum/threads...ring-box.5313/

Bracket. Looks like something a guy with a bit of fab skill could figure out and make though. http://www.ebay.com/itm/58-TO-64-63-...c739ef&vxp=mtr

[Scottish58chev]

That makes sense, hopefully i'll be able to find something this side of the Atlantic that will do. Thanks again

[1project2many]

79-88 G body (Monte, Grand Prix, etc) are front steer. I believe steering boxes and parts are available through Speedway Motors.