49 Chevy Project...Suspension????

[Jesse49chevy]

Have not been able to decide which way to go, should I clip a car and use the front end off a Camaro, Regal etc..? If i go with a Mustang II crossmember, what upper and lowers can I use, after a visit to one of my local salvage yards, I saw alot of choices, not sure if anyone out there has used a particular vehicles suspension? Saw plenty of S10s, Jimmys. I know I can order a Hub to Hub front end from a catalog, but if i can get the same ride by using salvaged parts and save money; why not?
if anyone can give me advise, I sure can use it....

[chebyshortbox65]

I'm using a 73 nova clip which is the same as 67-69 camaro and 68-74 nova its rear steer which is a pia but its a nice fit plus it lowers it some.looks like 78 g body fit nice and use s10 suspension parts I think a mustang 2 is nice but out of my budget.for the rear I'm running 60-72 Chevy truck trailing ARM susp I'm going to air bag it and it seems to look good
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[Jesse49chevy]

I just bought a 73 Camaro clip, steer box in the front, complete with disc brakes, rotors, calipers etc.... I paid 150.00 for it, so I feel im off to a good start. I am in the process of stripping the body off the chassis and starting from the ground up.
i appreciate the info, it gives me ideas and guidance on how to proceed.
good luck with yours and keep me posted.

[mknittle]

The 70s camaros work good, you just have to watch what offset wheel you use. I put one on my 52 I looked good to me but I didnt take any front pictures when it was mocked up. if it is too wide fatman sells narrower tube a arms.

[Jesse49chevy]

little off the subject question; I have an opportunity to buy a LT1 withn a 700R4 Trans, the engine has a carburator intake and a distributor, my question is; does the transmission require a computer? Im trying to keep it as simple as possible

[G&R's57GMC]

Short answer the 700R4 does not need a computer.

It could use a circuit in some cases to unlock the torque converter when applying the brakes. Other cases its done hydraulically in the trans. depending on year.

A kit is available to electrically do this for the later years.

Be sure to adjust the Trans pressure cable to center the valve. If its wrong say goodbye to the trans. See service manual for proper adjustment.

[B_Hix]

I have a 75 Firebrid front clip on mine. Added 2" drop spindles and and PST poly bushing kit - no issues. I'm told it's a little wider than some options, but I'm running skinnes on the front and have no rubbing issues and am very satisfied with the trucks stance.

[Hot Rod Todd]

I realise you are already $150 into the project, but I suggest you look at a Jaguar XJ front end from 1972-86. The series 2 has ventilated discs and it comes with power steer. The real win is that you can make brackets and bolt it in place like Jaguar did and get that nice Jaguar ride.

Down here the whole front end & steering is under $300, and fitting the front end is way less surgery that the Camaro front clip. Jaguar has the same 5 on 4.75 stud pattern as Chevvy too, tho the centre hub is bigger on the Jaguar

[Jesse49chevy]

Thanks for the info Hot Rod Todd, I will definately look into it.

[Jesse49chevy]

B Hixx: Wow!!! Sweet ride... man you just threw another wrench into my bucket of decisions, i thought i had made up my mind and was thinking of going with a sinister look, you know nothing flashy, shiny or glossy. but after seeing your SWEEEEEEET ride, man do i have to re-think my choice in paint. Although i have a long ways to go, I can see my finished product.....keep us posted on your progress...
again Awesome ride...

[mknittle]

Originally Posted by B_Hix

I have a 75 Firebrid front clip on mine. Added 2" drop spindles and and PST poly bushing kit - no issues. I'm told it's a little wider than some options, but I'm running skinnes on the front and have no rubbing issues and am very satisfied with the trucks stance.

That is anice truck! You answerad a question that I had about the drop spindles.
How far to the ground are the front of your running boards?

[Jesse49chevy]

DHiXX: what engine trans combo are you running in your truck?

[Jesse49chevy]

Guys, here is my project. Its a little rough, but for some reason I just see past that, my wife cant beleive I actually paid money for it, which at 500.00 bucks i feel i got a good deal. Yes, it needs alot of work, but again, i am a man with a dream and now a mission. I begin stripping the body off the chassis this week, and hopefully soon i too will be able to share pictures of a nice ride.

[Jesse49chevy]

anyone out there notice something special about this truck??
notice how the gas tank was NOT inside the cab, the gas tank is under the bed on the right, notice the hole for the spout up towards the front? its a 10-15 gallon tank. i intend to keep it in the same spot, i think it is pretty cool.
by the way, can anyone help me identify the truck as a 3100, 1st Gen etc???

[mr48chev]

Outside of the surface rust from being stripped and then left outside it looks like you got a pretty solid truck for your money.

48's came with 16 gallon tanks under the bed from the factory. Actually 47 and 48 did. The other Key to it being a 48 is the inside panel around the back of the cab to strengthen it for the center cab mount.

In the photo that is my current avatar I had a rear steer Nova stub with 72 Monte Carlo / Chevelle disk brakes on it. With 14x7 rims and 205-60-14 tires I had plenty of clearance. The truck drove great but I'd mount the subframe different if I did it again.

[Jesse49chevy]

Well heck!!! now i have to change my name to Jesse48Chevy... LOL... actually i knew it was a 48, but not sure why i put 49 when i signed up. But yes, it is a pretty solid truck, obviously the floor board needs attenion and I already bought a front clip (73 Camaro) i am looking at at LT1 with a 700R4 trans, not sure what rear end i can run. I will be doing all of the work myself in my garage, so i expect to have it up and running in a year or so (seems like forever) but if there is any advise you can give me or tell me why you would mount your subfame differently (how is it mounted now?) i would appreciate it. Its my first time taking on a restoration on my own, so...... a bit nervous.

[Amorget]

What year is the LT1 motor?

[Jesse49chevy]

1997 LT1 engine

[mr48chev]

You will have to be careful on your wheel and tire selection as MKnittle showed on his truck as you won't be able to run deep rims or too wide of a tire with that setup but it should ride and handle great.

One thing that worked for me in the past was to set the frame of the truck at the exact static ride height that I wanted it to set at on the shop floor (blocked up level) and then mock the subframe up to it at it's stock ride height from the bottom of the crossmember to the floor. When we did my 51 Merc in the school shop we slid under a student's Nova and measured from the crossmember to the floor to get the correct height.
Also set the frame level and set the subframe up level and figure out the angle that the upper control arm shafts sit at so you can use that angle when you splice the two together. I had to cut one apart and redo it once because a guy had the angles between the two wrong.

In theory the subframe rails that go under the body on the Trans AM should be on the same plane as the frame rails on the truck even if you cut the subframe rails off when you splice things together.

[Amorget]

Interesting, with a carb basically everything good about the LT1 motor is no longer that "special" and it's more of a typical SBC. Sounds like a good deal to me, though.

[Jesse49chevy]

thank you very helpful information....

[Jesse49chevy]

I think i got a good deal today, i bought a LT1 and a 700R4 transmission (running of course) for 600.00.