Undecided what to do with my 53. Help and suggestions please

[MiraclePieCo]

Originally Posted by Mw548

I'm getting near the end of my 3800 s10 swap (9ft bed). It was a lot of extra work to keep the 9ft bed but worth it in the end.

Long and low is cool!

[Mw548]

Here are a couple pics of mine

[Mw548]

This is at stock height 2" drop blocks coming possibly spindles if i dont like just the blocks. The wheels are just set next to it until i get my spacers

[Mw548]

This weekend i mounted steering colomn brake pedal assembly and put a bench seat in from a astro van... getting excited for the warm weather

[Softpatch]

Have a build thread.?

[whitedog76]

Originally Posted by MiraclePieCo

Long and low is cool!

You're right, long and low is cool. You guys are making me wish I had kept my 3800 parts truck.

I guess I'll have to make the 3600 long and low. LOL

[Mw548]

Seat and steering colomn

[1953]

Ok my block numbers are, 3836233 GM 10 I found online that it was a 1955 235 car engine ok, now, my head casting numbers are 3835913 GM17 I have a 1953 Chevy 3600 can anyone verify that this is a 235 before I order new gasket set.

[abig84]

Originally Posted by Mw548

Here are a couple pics of mine

do you got any "under dash" pics? i always see 80s/90s columns in these trucks but never exactly how they get them to work in these trucks. im going to go the same route eventually with mine, i did steal the bracketry off a 90s silverado to use for mounting everything but just curious if you have to weld brackets all over to support it

[Mw548]

This is my first swap and have learned alot all i did was bolt through the bottom of the dash and tek screwed to firewall i will eventually through bolt through firewall but this works for now and the brackets are solid i dont feel any flex

[dwcsr]

its a 55 235 and this was an often done swap when the 216 went bad. Dealers had a conversion kit to make it work.

[1953]

You guys are badass beautiful

[63 & 64 Bowties]

Originally Posted by MiraclePieCo

Long and low is cool!

MiraclePie, you decided to come back?

[vintovka]

Not a big fan of the long bed AD's (or slamming) but must honestly say your lowered 9 foot bed does look really good (and unique) I like your seats what are they from (or did miss it)

[Mw548]

Astro van

[Mw548]

Im gonna start my own thread

[MARTINSR]

Originally Posted by 1953

I want to keep original motor and tranny I have the 216 3 speed 53 3600 the only thing I want to do is lower it a few inches and change the bolt pattern and put power brakes, front I would do the brake conversion, rear end would be changed. Would like some nice rims to fit.

What exact differential can I use with stock engine and tranny?

How can It lower it without to much work?

Truck was my father's and I want to keep it all original for most part.

Honestly, there is nothing to think about, nothing, if you plan on keeping the original motor and trans keep the frame and modify the suspension.

Do you even need the disc brakes and lowering? How about a simple dropped axle and lowering blocks on the rear. They drive awesome with these changes and you still have "an old truck" unlike when you do the frame "swap" stuff. What are your expectations?

I drive a stone stock 59 Rambler with drum brakes (don't even have self adjusters) with a flathead motor and three speed every single day and have for 6 years in the SF bay area, everyone doesn't have to have a disc brake updated chassis. I drove a lowered I beam axle 48 Chevy pickup for years with drum brakes commuting many miles on the freeways of SF bay area, it did the job just fine.

What are your expectations? Driving hundreds of miles towing a boat? Running autocross? What are your expectations?

Brian