55.2-59 Frame swap Trailblazer/Taskforce

[gabe2000]

In 2017, I brought 1956 chevy truck short bed stepside. This is my 2nd project but by no means am I a professional or expert. I am self-taught by y'all guys on Google. Finally I have time to work on the truck.

I was inspired by Dug`58, Dsraven and others to do this trailblazer frame swap. I sold 56' frame and brought 2002 trailblazer for $1500. After reading other trends, I decided to use the Trailblazer complete body and engine wiring. That way I'll dont worry about Pcm wiring and wiring headaches. I'll be use the same powerful inline engine. I am worrying about the instrument clusters functions. Any ideas? When the time comes.

The plan: complete restoration of the cab only (body, mechanically, electrical and all). Currently, I am test fitting the brake and steering wheel assembly.
Here are some past pics.

[gabe2000]

Removing body

[gabe2000]

Test fitting

[gabe2000]

Test fitting

[dsraven]

how do you plan to connect the dots between the red front clip and the firewall? making it a rigid structure? plan to use the new style body mounts at the front and rear of the cab? new style gauge cluster to eliminate tech issues?

[dsraven]

here is another thread with trailblazer underpinnings. you may be able to solve some problems by using the envoy/trailblazer power brake and pedal set up and that would also assist you with hanging the steering column and mounting the drive by wire accel pedal.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=653590&page=2

[gabe2000]

Yes. Pretty much its plug and play electrical wiring. The cluster its going to be challenge.!!! Don't want to $1000. In this Dakota cluster. Heres the front end of the radiator support: I have an idea to not cut the original radiator support and make it seat on the trailblazer frame.

[gabe2000]

I am not working on this part yet.

[gabe2000]

I have two question: why are pictures posting side way. 2nd: I don't LMC truck weatherstripping rubber seals for windshield or doors. I know Steelerubber products are good. But too expensive. Any other company out there?

[dsraven]

your pics never came through.
I am using the inline 6 in mine. it is too long to fit the original rad support and have clearance between the engine/rad with the a/c condensor. I ended up fabbing my own rad support and the filler under the grille. not that tough. use the envoy/trailblazer rad and hoses. use an electric fan on the back side of the rad. make your own rad support mounts on the dropped envoy/trailblazer frame. the frame needs to be dropped to clear the rad support and be the correct height for the front bumper anyway.

[dsraven]

for doors soffseal is good. buddy used lmc stuff in his 54, doors wouldn't close, not enough squish in the seal. pulled it off and used soffseal, works great.
adjust door with no seal, install seal, should close.
for the glass try a local glass shop, they sell the seal like this for industrial applications like back hoes and other machines. it's sold by the foot and the filler is also sold by the foot. may be able to source a chrome filler if that is what you like. the ends of the seal can be glued together at the ends where they touch. best to get them to install the windshield because they are a bugger to get in due to the curve. ask for the old guy in the shop because he may have done a window like this back in the 70's or 80's when they used the same style of seal in the chevy trucks.

[joedoh]

most TF/trailblazer swaps I have seen reuse the trailblazer firewall so I am interested to see your approach.

plug and play wiring is the easiest, you will love going from unfired to fired in an afternoon.

[dug224]

Originally Posted by gabe2000

In 2017, I brought 1956 chevy truck short bed stepside. This is my 2nd project but by no means am I a professional or expert. I am self-taught by y'all guys on Google. Finally I have time to work on the truck.

I was inspired by Dug`58, Dsraven and others to do this trailblazer frame swap. I sold 56' frame and brought 2002 trailblazer for $1500. After reading other trends, I decided to use the Trailblazer complete body and engine wiring. That way I'll dont worry about Pcm wiring and wiring headaches. I'll be use the same powerful inline engine. I am worrying about the instrument clusters functions. Any ideas? When the time comes.

The plan: complete restoration of the cab only (body, mechanically, electrical and all). Currently, I am test fitting the brake and steering wheel assembly.
Here are some past pics.

Gotta agree with JOEDOH on his unfired to fired comment. You are taking, in my opinion, a better route. When I started mine, I had nothing to go buy except the "Lingenfelter's 1955 Chevy Stepside". Was too blinded by all the fun to step back and really think it all the way thru. Reality set in when I was a bit too far down the road to start over and I had an opportunity to buy a late model low mile wrecked Trailblazer SS (mentioned in my thread) for, I think, about $1,800. Would have been a straight body swap. Still having all the fun I can stand but I would have been driving it a few years ago had I gone your route. By the way, my truck stops and handles really well. Hard to keep the one wheel burnouts from occurring. Looking good!!

[dsraven]

hey gabe,
any progress that you can post pics of?
mine seems to get back burner'd by other stuff that's a priority. maybe soon I can get back on it. would love to see how your's is coming along though. maybe inspire me to say "no!" to the other priorities.

[57tailgater]

Pics corrected for you.

[57tailgater]

Last one.

[dsraven]

hey, thanks t/gater. that makes it so much easier.

[dsraven]

reviving an old thread to see if there is still a project going on, if it is done, maybe stalled or maybe sold unfinished?