58 gmc ifs help

[bwilde86]

I need pictures of how these setups look (stance of vehicle)

I just picked up my grandfathers 58 gmc 1 ton dump truck. I am on the hunt for a stock short bed frame. I need help deciding on a IFS setup. I dont want to Clip the frame. I am debating between the flat out engineering front cross member and no limit engineering. I dont plan on making this a racing only truck but i want it to handle well because i do want to try the sport of pro touring hopefully one day soon with this truck.

plan on going with a twin turbo lq4 with a t56 magnum. (havent decided on a rear but will probably do the ford 9)

flat out - price is a lot better than the alternative and parts are easier to obtain through any auto part store (no limit may use parts i can easily obtain as well). I am not sure how well the corvette suspension will handle with the truck as no one i know owns one of these trucks. I have ridden in plenty of c4 vettes and they do handle very well. i am not sure if they make crossmembers to use the c5-c7 vette suspensions or how different they are from the c4. i would plan on using the later version of the c4 if i went this route. Also not sure how much upgrading or rebuilding is needed to make the suspension optimal.

No Limit - not much to say. everyone who uses them loves them. Price is almost double when all is said and done but has the results to back up the price tag.

Scotts, heidts,porter all make great pieces as well and if i choose to go the no limit route im sure i will research all of them again but currently leaning no limit over those.

Not sure with my being as novice as i am will notice a difference. it will be mainly a street truck that i would like to take to some events when its complete.

not sure how the stance is on either. I plan on coilovers in whichever setup i go with so dont want it slammed but dont want nose bleeds from elevation either. I am going to go with No Limits 4 link for the rear as ive heard nothing but good things about it. I want the ride to be comfortable but i also understand that performance suspension isnt like driving a caddy.

im sure this is all scrambled and doesnt read well. this is my first project and will probably second guess myself until i die.

thank you for any input.

[dsraven]

you may want to check the frame specs on the 1 ton if you plan on using that frame. I think the 1 ton frames are bigger web than the 1/2 ton stuff. if you are planning on doing a complete new frame check Canadian Hot Rods. they are in Tappen, British Columbia (west coast) and make a beautifull frame with corvette (all gm parts) suspension. wheels on ready to put your body on top and engine trans in. they have a website you could check out. the USA dollar is waaaay better than the Canadian dollar so it could be a big benefit for you. I toured the shop and they make some nice stuff. all engineered and cnc cut frame parts, built on a proper frame bench, boxed, hidden brake, fuel, battery cables, powder coated your color etc. do a cost comparison of all the stuff you want on your original truck frame and then add some shop supplies and power bill for lights, welders, steel etc and, trust me, the price isn't that far off. it all sounds good till you add up all the "might as well" things and then you may be really close to a manufactured frame.
not trying to discourage you in any way, just saying do a feasability study before you start. you may be surprised.
if you decide to work with your old frame make sure to set things up good and sturdy before you start cutting and welding. get the rake angles figured out etc so you have something you enjoy driving, not something you have to herd down the road.you can get scrap metal right now for pretty good prices. maybe some scrap beams would be cheap to build your own frame bench and when done you can recover some money by turning it back in for scrap metal again, or sell it to the next rodder.
have fun. take pics, post'em. we are all pic addicts.

[bwilde86]

Draven - I am not planning on using the frame it is already sitting on. I am looking for a new to me stock frame that I can work on while I drive this one as it sits. I will look into that company but I'm not sure if shipping is going to kill the price even if it's reasonable. At this point I have more time than money and am actually looking forward to the work of doing it myself. Already have the tools except a frame rack which sounds fun to make. Thanks for that idea.

[_Ogre]

that's a good looking 4 eyed beauty you have there, welcome to the forum
your truck appears to survived living in salt country rather well
sounds like you have a plan, maybe someone here can point you in the direction of a good frame

talk with rob over at no limit as to ride height, most ifs for our trucks are based on mustII geometry
he posts on this forum, but more for advertising than for the spread of information

though you might want to talk to the guys at heidt's too, their shop is located a few miles north of you
might be helpful to be able to roll in there when building your frame

At this point I have more time than money

join the crowd, they guys with more money than time don't frequent this forum

[bwilde86]

Thanks ogre! With the truck being in Alberta it's whole life it's never seen salt. They don't salt roads in the farming country at least and it's never left his farm. Ironically the first and only time it's seen salt was being trailered home. I will check them out! Wasn't aware they were near me. And I have talked to rob. I also posted this on the pro-touring.com forums as well.

[dsraven]

check out orrieg, he has a link that will take you to "the old cars manual project" from there you can get info on frame specs. or just buy the assembly manual. you will probably find out, or maybe you already know, that most guys will set the axle a little forward from the stock location because when the truck is lowered the wheel looks like it is too far back in the opening due to the angle of the rear part of the front fender. remember when doing this that the frame for a 58-59 is slightly longer out front and the rad support frame mount brackets are in a little different location than the 55-57 trucks. I know from personal experience because I have a 58 frame under a 57 truck. the assembly manual should show that though under the frame specs page.

[dsraven]

Google canadian hot rods site and che k out their road hugger chassis. C4 corvette. Lots of good ideas went into it.

[_Ogre]

not sure what you mean by pro-tour, that definition has changed much over the years
i think of pro-touring as gonzo hp and super wide rear tires... and barely streetable
if your building it to drive, look at my build, my 58 truk has been in most of the states east of the rockies

i need to drive it out west sometime, i promised orrieg a beer

[bwilde86]

When I mean pro touring I mean the road courses that people do. So I basically just want it to be able to corner extremely well. I definitely want it street friendly. Your build looks awesome. I'm going to have to go through it a couple more times and then I'm sure I will have a lot of questions for you. Yours gave me some ideas though that's for sure!

[dwcsr]

I think they call it autocross now. Bear in mind that a 1 ton chassis is different in thickness, rail height and where cross members are. So measurements from a 1/2 ton with a c5 suspension may be different

[bwilde86]

I'm buying a 1/2 ton swb frame to work with.

[_Ogre]

while truk would never autocross, it does have front and rear sway bars and handles like a big go cart
compared to stock body roll

since our trucks are all steel with a high cg i'd think the only way to autocross one would be to lose the bottom foot of the cab, doors and fenders
then channel the rest over the frame
there was a thread a while back about an autocross 47-55.1 truck that did something similar
it totally changed the look of the truk

[bwilde86]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

while truk would never autocross, it does have front and rear sway bars and handles like a big go cart
compared to stock body roll

since our trucks are all steel with a high cg i'd think the only way to autocross one would be to lose the bottom foot of the cab, doors and fenders
then channel the rest over the frame
there was a thread a while back about an autocross 47-55.1 truck that did something similar
it totally changed the look of the truk

I'm not planning on going that crazy. I know it's still a truck and won't ever have Porsche type handling. I just want a fun truck that I can push in some corners even now and then. The autocross events would only be for fun. Not trying to make it a one purpose vehicle.

[Scottshotrods]

Take a look at all of differences on all of suspension kits outs there
1.American made products
2.Quality of the overall product
3.How helpful are they over the phone
4.Support items you will need after the ifs is installed
U-joints
Power steering line kit
Flex lines for the calipers
Steering column
Master cylinder
Rear suspension
Fuel tank
Brake line kits
Fuel line kits
Ac-heater kits
Wiring kits
Radiators
Motor mounts
Tranny mounts

Do they offer any forum discounts

I cannot speak for anyone else but I can speak for Scotts.We can take care of you across the board each step of the way

Let us know if you have any questions at all?
You can send us a e-mail at scotts@scottshotrods.com

Justin

[Hblee]

Too bad you don't need a lwb. I have a nice 58 GMC lwb frame you could have.

Originally Posted by bwilde86

I'm buying a 1/2 ton swb frame to work with.