'70 Stepside Gasser

[PA-IndianRider]

Boy, looking around the forum and checking out the pics of projects underway has got me itching to get started on the '70 C-10 stepside I'm starting to build. Being my wife & I will be building/using the truck for cruising and some "drag racing" we have decided to build it with the "classic" gasser look.
Along with a nasty "383 stroker" we are going to use a fiberglass "tilt front end" - chop the roof 4-5" and give it the GASSER "stance" of the 60's.
Currently the truck has been lowered 4 in the front & 5 in the rear. I have thought about going "wild" and using a "straight front" axle but have been thinking that it would NOT be very "driver-friendly" on the street.
Has anyone else done a project like this or can suggest a better way to get the high up in the front "stance" I'm looking for ..... without using a straight front axle? Thanks for any suggestions/advice.
John - Pittsburgh, PA
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[cdowns]

as someone that had a falcon gasser back then i can tell you its not driver friendly at all even at 1/4 mile at a time they were hell on wheels just getting them whoaed and turned into the return roads was an adventure at times designed for one thing front to back weight distribution turning and braking was more of an afterthought
99.9% of the pieeyed guys that build gassers dont use or drive them but for on and off trailers

[c10addict]

to the board!!! I too am from Pittsburgh.. Sewickley area actually... Cant wait to see the truck running around the area..

As far as raising the front end you can probably use taller coil springs in the front...
I am thinking you have to measure the suspension all the way up and then take in to account some dampning.. I have a set of stock 73 to 87 disc spindles you can have if you want them.... Just let me know..

[stllookn]

I'm going to use the air shocks from an early 70's El Camino to raise the front of my Longhorn to make it ride level. I will have to remove the existing front shock bolt and use the front shock mounts from a 73-87 as I recall...don't remember since they are in my "throw-away" pile. Sure glad I held off on that trip to the recyclers...LOL! This will allow me to adjust the front end to wherever I want it or just run it stock if I like. These "new" replacement shocks are inexpensive and come with all the air lines, fittings and Schrader valves. I believe they were only about $50 for two of them from CSK (Checkers, Schucks or Kragen).

[special-K]

Hey,Welcome to the board!!!Sounds cool.Ouhtn`t ride any worsr than a 4wd.I know a guy that`s building a gasser-style 55-59 truck,I forget what year.To me,that`s drag racing!!!

[Palf70Step]

They are cool, but as cdowns said thy are not really very friendly for"driving" (other than a short straight strip). I had a 64 Malibu set up like a gasser many years ago (1973). Tube front axle, skinny tires and jacked up. I felt like I was tipping over even pulling it into a parking space. But it sure as heck was FUN when I stomped it on the straights (bored & stroked BB)

[corn]

I really like the gasser type vehicles. I origionally planned on going that route with my 69 but was told the gassers ended in 68 & I would be scorned if I did it (just kidding). I think the term is "street gasser" now & I say... GO FOR IT! Not all gassers had straight axles. Tall springs in the front will do the trick. There was a glass front clip on the swap page the other day, dont know if its sold or not...

One question... You sure you want to chop the top?...

[PA-IndianRider]

Originally Posted by corn

One question... You sure you want to chop the top?...

I MAYBE BE "UNSURE" about the "staright front axle" but one thing I am sure about is "chopping the top". I have been thinking about chopping the roof on this truck long before I even owned it. My nephew owned it prior to me for over two years and has done most of the "dirty work" already. He has already done front & rear suspensions.... in addition to lowering it he replaced all the brake lines & hoses, front suspension parts, converted the front brakes to discs, sandblasted, cleaned & paint the entire undercarriage, etc, etc.... so even before I ever thought about owning the truck I thought about how cool it would look with a 4 to 5" chop. So when he got burned out on the C10 project I got a great deal (cheap) to "keep the truck in the family" so I jumped at the opportunity. One of the first things I did was to do some "junk yard days" and spent a few "hot Summer days" yanking a 4 bolt 350ci chevy small block, hood and cut off the "entire roof" from the "junker" to use on our hot rod pickup. So I am VERY commited to chopping the roof. My next door neighbor is a "certified welder" so that will be a BIG help. As for "raising" the front end.... I am still undecided about doing it... like I said before the "entire" front suspension was rebuilt & the front and rear lowered with "new springs" etc..... I will probably wait until I can get a break in the weather here in Western Pa. and get the tires (skinnys in the front....biggies in the back) I plan to use on the truck to see what it looks like before I make a final decision. I have always LOVED the gas class racers of the 60's .... but even without the straight front axle or as a matter a fact.... raising the front end... this truck is going to scream "drag racer" no ands, ifs or buts about that.

[special-K]

It`s the skinny tires,not the straight axle that makes them shakey.Heck,trucks had Hotchkis suspension for decades,only the beam was dropped.If you look at alot of old pictures they really didn`t run such skinny tires on the later cars.That was mostly on the small bodied Anglias,Fiats,Austins,Willys,etc. and altereds.
I don`t think anybody wants to build a gasser as a practicle vehicle,though.Just like pro-street or any other ground pounder.I built a pro street`70 Stepide and sold it at the first show without a sign because I knew from driving it to the show it wasn`t what I wanted.Someone saw it,loved it,and had to have it.So I sold it while fresh.