my 55' 2nd series rebuild (suggestions welcome!)

[EODtech55]

lets start by saying i love trading and i started with a 2000 jetta that was wrecked i got for free, fixed all the body work, paint and put a new interior in in it total cost apx 200 with paint, that was traded straight across for a 99 ford ranger 4x4, that was then traded for a 96 toyota tacoma with a chevy 5.3L swap full roll cage pretty much a race ready-ish prerunner then traded that for my 55 (shes not goin anywhere now) so i pretty much got a 55 for $200 anwho the 55~



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Straight axle front end still with a leaf removed (rides awful i started a ifs thread for this issue)
350 w/ gear drive and a RV cam
turbo 350 trans with shift kit
adjustable 4link rear
air ride in the rear only
fully tubbed (gonna go to a smaller tub)
narrowed ford 9"
mickey thompson 15.5 tires in the rear
and thats pretty much it for now but there is a ton more to come im in the army currently deployed so there is alot getting done to the truck while im gone daddy needs a toy to come home to.

on the list of things getting done....
ifs prolly the no limit wrifs
camaro rearend w/coilovers
6.0L with a turbo kit
and new paint od green whole truck has a military theme to it

[Chevette]

Heck of a deal. Looks like a good truck. Good luck with your build.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Nice horse-trading, but a question: Is your intent to build this to keep it longer term or are you just on your way to another flip? Doesn't matter to me, I'm just wondering if vintage Chevy trucks are your main interest like they are ours?

I was gonna tell you the straight axles; when fully refurbished, can be quite good. But in front of an air bagged four link it wouldn't make a lot of sense. Well, maybe at a drags trip I suppose! Lol.
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[Kim57]

Welcome.
Looks like a nice clean truck and sounds like it will be a nice build.
Kim

[EODtech55]

dan- yeah im keeping this one...and to be a 100% honest youre correct before i got this truck i would see a nice ine on the street and say "that a pretty sweet truck" but no intrest in spending the time and money on one but since i got dorthy thats all changed but the over all intent of the truck is street rod i guess something i can drive to the beach or take to the strip and i will keep her for a long time

[Daze57]

EODtech55

Very nice truck you have there sir i am sure you will do it right !!

We welcome you to the forum and thank you for your service to our country

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by EODtech55

dan- yeah im keeping this one...and to be a 100% honest youre correct before i got this truck i would see a nice ine on the street and say "that a pretty sweet truck" but no intrest in spending the time and money on one but since i got dorthy thats all changed but the over all intent of the truck is street rod i guess something i can drive to the beach or take to the strip and i will keep her for a long time

They're addictive, I can tell you personally. My dad had a '59 long Fleetside I helped him with (handed him wrenches, I was a little boy). I had a '57 small window years ago I lost in my divorce and I knew I would EVENTUALLY get another to replace it. I ALWAYS wanted a '55 big window and now that I've got it I'm keeping it barring bankruptcy (or a stupid high offer - then I'd build another!)

[EODtech55]

true it is very addicting! i have a slight rat rod thing i wanna do, nothing crazy, and i constantly catch my self looking for items i work with to incorporate in the truck i cant wait till december when i come home the truck will be done and i can take it to shows. sry to here about your 57' i got my 55 under similar events the guy just didnt want his ex to get the truck and still wanted a toy.

[dubie]

I'd say buy a Camaro clip and weld it on for some IFS, disc brake and power steering. Plus, it'll drop the truck to the right height

[Speedbumpauto]

Why would you swap out the 9 inch for a Camaro rear? Nine is WAY stronger unless, by chance, you get a real 12 bolt and they're getting pretty rare cuz the muscle car guys all covet them. I personally took out a blazer rear and put a narrowed 9 inch in. Just thinking.

[EODtech55]

the 9 thats on it now has been narrowed to the point the rear is tubbed from side to side the tires are prolly too wide i fear if i have a blow out the whole bed id gonna feel the wrath of those tires, here is kind of a bad pic but a rought idea whats currently goin on in the rear

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and with the front clip im gonna call rob here in a few mins and see about his WRIFS kit i also have heidt giving me a killer deal on their super ride 2 set up so choices choices

[Speedbumpauto]

I'm thinking the tub across the whole rear was to clear some of that suspension and bag stuff. You can avoid a lot of that by raising the bed floor a few inches.(mine's up 2") and you can use inner fender wells from a 67 to mid 70's fleetside for semi factory looking tubs in the rear. Going to a shockwave in the rear would get rid of a bunch of the clutter in the back and a parallel four link would mount on the axle tubes instead of up on the banjo like it does. That would also give you more clearance to the bed floor. Just some ideas to think about....but I've never done a bagged truck.

[G&R's57GMC]

I went with The NoLimit Wide Ride IFS and Fat Bar rear all air bagged on a Currie 9" on my '57 GMC.

[G&R's57GMC]

On the other hand a Camero, Firebird, Nova et. el. makes a solid set up also but requires a bit more planing and a locating templet and a lot of measuring . The templet gives location, bumper mount location when you add the frame ends. This has to be the best way to add a clip and get it right.

Of course one would not want to change cab mounts while the clip is being changed or remove the cab during the process as it is the main reference point.

From the project builds I found these Pic's.

[EODtech55]

that kit is exactly what im doin i ordered the wrifs yesterday and as soon as we get our hands o a rear end ill order the rear suspension. is your truck ack together now? if so hows the ride with bags in the front does it bounce alot?

[EODtech55]

quick update, ordered a WRIFS from no limits this week it should be getting picked up friday cant wait to see the new stance, still on the hunt for a rear end as soon as thats found im ordering nolimit fatbar rear 4 link kit. got some new ideas for the door panels but thats top secret but i guarantee they wont disappoint.

[EODtech55]

so got the no limit wide ride kit decided to just grab the fatbar kit at the same time so suspension is now all there picked up a rearend out of a local speed shop its out of a camaro (dirty right now but some degreaser and paint will change that)

[EODtech55]

Now i have a question time to start the motor...should i go with a slightly mod'd 5.3L or a LS1?

[Kim57]

Boxes of new stuff is just like Christmas.
Kim

[EODtech55]

you know it! too bad im 8000 miles away and cant play with them my self =(

[1-ton of fun]

Originally Posted by EODtech55

Now i have a question time to start the motor...should i go with a slightly mod'd 5.3L or a LS1?

Neither. Go with the 6.0 Ls motor
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[G&R's57GMC]

I say 5.3L stock out of a late truck.

Why , it runs on regular, gets great mileage and has plenty of power for a 3500# truck.

Remember it came out of a 5-6000# truck and performed great.

The Power to weight ratio change equals HP.

Start there and save the mods for later if ever.

[1-ton of fun]

Originally Posted by G&R's57GMC

I say 5.3L stock out of a late truck.

Why , it runs on regular, gets great mileage and has plenty of power for a 3500# truck.

Remember it came out of a 5-6000# truck and performed great.

The Power to weight ratio change equals HP.

Start there and save the mods for later if ever.

I'd say the 6.2l in my wife's escalade performs great, that thing screams in a big suv.
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[andyd00]

Originally Posted by G&R's57GMC

I say 5.3L stock out of a late truck.

Why , it runs on regular, gets great mileage and has plenty of power for a 3500# truck.

Remember it came out of a 5-6000# truck and performed great.

The Power to weight ratio change equals HP.

Start there and save the mods for later if ever.

Agreed. The 5.3 truck engine is cheaper, available in iron or aluminum. It has lower compression than an ls leaving more room for a turbo if u still wanna go that route. Also the 5.3 uses the exact injectors as the 6.0 lq4. So the duty cycle is lower, leaving room for upgrades without having to upgrade injectors. Also I want to mention a guy at our local track swears by them. His is completely stock except a 300 shot of nitrous that he races every weekend and the engine has yet to fail. His is an aluminum block. He also said they are so common, if it does blow, he can grab another at our junkyard for 500. Just my 2 cents.
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[EODtech55]

its been a while finally made a lil more progress. wheels, tires, rotors and rear end heres a lil sneek preview.
mb wheels 17x8s
mickey thompson sportsman tires 235/55/17
2000 camaro ss rear end
12" drill and slotted power stop rotors



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