Newby… kind of, got questions

[72&04HD]

Been here since 2006, but not very active in the truck scene.

I had a 1955 3100 about 15 years ago, had fun with it but sold it to a friend and bought a 1972 C-10. Kept that truck for many years and always wished I had my 55 back. Well now it's time to get back into one, but this time it may be a 57 with big back glass.

Description from what I saw:

The truck in question is a nice looking 1957 3100 with an older restoration. It has a gen2 Camaro front clip, everything looks complete and the installation appears correct. PS PB with 4 wheel disc, 10 bolt rear end, not sure on gear ratio. 350/350 combo, nothing special in the motor, it moves the truck down the road. Interior is missing arm pads, sun visors, and rear view mirror. Front glass is good but could use new weather stripping, all side glass needs replacing, rear glass is good and new. Still has gas tank behind the seat and seat appears NOS. Body is very straight, not show winning straight, but nothing I would turn away from. Paint is red and shows well, no scratches, no bubbles, still shines nice.

Here is the bad from what I saw:

Front passenger suspension hits very hard on small bumps at less than 40mph, I'm thinking a new shock will fix this?

All side glass needs replaced

Power steering pump is leaking, but still functions without issue

Due to the Camaro front clip, the engine sits very low, and being that the motor is from a truck it has a deep oil pan which has come in contact with some bumps and actually hangs below the front crossmember. Because of this, the transmission crossmember was lowered about 5 inches and the exhaust routed above it. I'm thinking new motor mounts to raise it up, remount the transmission crossmember and reroute the exhaust under it. New oil pan and all should be good.???

Some idiot cut out the dash to install a stereo, not a hard fix and I have an idea to remedy that

My biggest issue, I'm 6'2" with a 36 inch inseam and can barely get my foot on the brake pedal beacuse it's so close to me. I can't recall, but didnt the trucks have the brake pedal that went into the floor vs hanging off the firewall?

Sorry for the long post. Just need some advice since I've been out of these for so long

[Kim57]

Original brake pedal went through the floor.
Sounds like you have one mounted to the firewall.
You may be able to gain some room with a shorter actuating rod as long as it still has enough movement to operate the brakes or moving the booster away from the firewall with a spacer.
Pics would help.
Kim

[Coupeguy2001]

Sounds like your truck weighs more than the Camaro did, or they cut the coils.
1. I would remove or inspect the springs to determine that they have not been torched, cut, or modified. If they look normal,

2 What you can do is drive it without the shocks for a couple miles and see if the front end bottoms out. If it does not, they may have used the wrong shocks up front.
If it still bottoms out, it's a spring issue. you have only a couple options. None of them are cheap.
3. You can try to find a set of springs on Ebay with a spring rate for a Camaro with a small block, and see how it rides.
4. If it still bottoms out, you can try to find springs for a big block, and see how it rides and how high it sits.
5. If you think you don't want to cut coils, you can get dropped spindles and go from there.
Then you have standard shocks for the vehicle the suspension came out of.
6. You can buy coilover shocks. With these, you can raise or lower the vehicle, change the spring sets to get the ride you want, and totally tune the ride.

Lowered engine:
1. The frame section that holds the engine is lowered, but is normal for that frame stub. The problems associated with raising up the engine, is that you will have to make custom mounts to get the engine up where you want it.
Then a new crossmember for the trans, then new exhaust, fuel line changes, radiator hoses, power steering hoses, electrical for the alternator and the distributor, and water temp. If it has air conditioning, you may have to modify the hoses and hard lines for the compressor, then new shift linkage, then remounting the rear end to get the 2 degrees angle for the drive shaft.
2. Engine scrapes.
If you have a late block with a one piece seal, you might find a corvette pan. THey are shallower, and might fix your problem. Most of them have windage trays for them , so be sure you get both pieces.

If it has a 2 piece seal, you might try an 84 or 85 corvette pan.