First Post and Looking for insight

[dano8485]

Hey Guys,

I have been searching around the site for a while now and so many sweet trucks out there!!

I have a 53' Chevrolet 3100 that I got for free out of the newspaper back about 16 years ago. I was 14 at the time and I knew that I wanted a truck but never realized that I had no idea what it would take to build what I wanted.

Things have changed a lot since than and I now have a pretty successful biz and a fair amount of free time depending on the time of year. Watching some builds on Fast and Loud and reading the forums have got me re inspired to build this thing over the next couple years and spending some quality time with my Dad.

The truck has a Mustang 2 in it that I bought and had installed when I was about 16. I have a mono leaf rear in it now and a 9" ford that I got for $50. not sure of the gears that are in it and I know it needs to be cut down.

I think I really want the truck to be a go fast and handle like a race truck more than I do a highway cruiser. I love the way that trucks look on bags and back in the day I could only dream of doing an air set up but the more I read the more I am leaning that way.

I am looking for some input on what to do for suspension, I have been reading and I was leaning towards Ride Tech and doing the strong arms in the front and then the triangulated rear.

Also how much clearance do I need on my frame notch to get the truck to layout?

I currently have a 700r4 and a fuel injected 350 from an older full size blazer. I know that I could over haul it and have something that runs good but am I better off just going crate and knowing everything is new and set up to work in harmony? The other thought was do I buy an early 2000's Camaro and steal the motor and trans out of that so I have something that is setup to run together already.

This would be more extreme than my truck would be because i do actually want to drive it for an extended amount of time but it does give me inspiration to build something similar.

http://www.ppihc.com/wp-content/uplo...ll-650x440.jpg

Any help you guys can offer me would be awesome and I really look forward to getting to know the guys on here and the builds!!

DW