56 task force on 80 1/2 ton frame pictures

[56hotrodred]

That gas tank is a 20 gallon tank from No Limit. Its fits nice in the 1980 frame but I did have to move a couple of things around, like the rear brake line mount and I had to move the rear crossmember back.

One of the things I like the best about this tank and the way it mounts is that it sits up higher than most. Looking straight on the back, with the rear bumper on, you can just barely see it. That was important to me to get it up as high as possible.

[Kim57]

Frame looks good.
Kim

[angelobackwards]

Progress looks good. I too have a 58 on a square body frame. Rockers are still a little high after 5" drop in front and 7" in the rear. Prob leave it for now. Anyways good work, looks good!

[56hotrodred]

Hey thanks. I did I think a Belltech 4 inch front and 6 or more inch rear drop in rear. Can't remember for sure what the drop was right now!!! Old age I guess...

I used drop spindles in front and lowering shackles and removed 2 leaves in each side in back.

This is to keep costs down for now but am hoping to go Ridetech 4 link rear and a set of their upper and lower a frames with coil overs or air at some time down the road.

[angelobackwards]

Yeah I have the same intentions nice coil setup and 4 link rear. . Just trying to get it on the road first. How much did you take off the front horns for the front bumper. Also is your transmission pretty far from the floor? I have a good 8" from the floor to the trans, just wondering is yours is the same. Thanks for the info!

[56hotrodred]

Originally Posted by angelobackwards

Yeah I have the same intentions nice coil setup and 4 link rear. . Just trying to get it on the road first. How much did you take off the front horns for the front bumper. Also is your transmission pretty far from the floor? I have a good 8" from the floor to the trans, just wondering is yours is the same. Thanks for the info!

Ya that's my story also. Ridetech has some nice suspensions for the square body trucks now. I am looking at the middle of the road one for about 5 thousand if my memory serves... Much more important to get it on the road first and play more later.

I can't remember how much I took off the horns but I bet a have them lying around still. I will have look tomorrow. The th400 I had in there was fairly close to the floor if I remember correctly. Like an inch or two! It's been awhile since I had it at that mock up stage so I can't say for sure. Sorry I can't be more help there!

The more I think about it there may have been more than an inch or two considering how the frame drops and the 3 or 4 inches I had to raise the front cab mounts.

[angelobackwards]

Yeah after the $ I've spent already should have saved and just bought a frame, oh well now. Yeah I still need to set my trans angle it's at about 8-9 degrees. Using a CPP trans xmember. Think I'm gonna have to get some angle iron and weld on the inside of the frame to pick it up some.

Hope to see some progress soon. Thanks for the help and information.

[56hotrodred]

Originally Posted by angelobackwards

How much did you take off the front horns for the front bumper?

Sorry to take so long to get back to you but I have been absorbed with welding on the cab!!!

I can't seem to find the frame horn pieces that I cut off...

But here are a few photos of the front frame area where I cut off the frame horns. You should be able to see as a reference where I cut mine. This leaves about 1/4 inch space between the bumper and the front valance below the grille.

Hope this helps.

[angelobackwards]

Oh yeah that'll work. I'll be using those! Appreciate it.

[56hotrodred]

Now using those measurements will of course depend on where you placed the rear cab mounts. Everything meaning the cab and front fenders and of course rad support, will work forward from that point.

Do you have a picture of where you actually set your rear cab mounts?

I could check mine and see if we are close!

[angelobackwards]

Originally Posted by 56hotrodred

Now using those measurements will of course depend on where you placed the rear cab mounts. Everything meaning the cab and front fenders and of course rad support, will work forward from that point.

Do you have a picture of where you actually set your rear cab mounts?

I could check mine and see if we are close!

I used the original cab mount of locations for both front and rear. I'll try and swing a picture today when I get to the shop.

[56hotrodred]

Ya I would be interested in seeing your placement. I know the square body rear cab mounts are located in an upper frame crossmember while my Task Force rear cab mounts were welded on the outside of the frame. What amazed me was they were the correct width once welded on the frame. Had to build up the front cab mounts to compensate for the square body frame drop.

I believe I moved ahead about a half inch with my rear cab mounts trying to maintain some space between firewall and distributor on my mock up engine.

[angelobackwards]

Originally Posted by 56hotrodred

Ya I would be interested in seeing your placement. I know the square body rear cab mounts are located in an upper frame crossmember while my Task Force rear cab mounts were welded on the outside of the frame. What amazed me was they were the correct width once welded on the frame. Had to build up the front cab mounts to compensate for the square body frame drop.

I believe I moved ahead about a half inch with my rear cab mounts trying to maintain some space between firewall and distributor on my mock up engine.

Yeah my mounts sit up high as well. This is only picture I could really swing today. Cab is on to mock steering and brake pedal etc. hope it helps. Used stock locations. Using e-z chassis swap kit.

[dug224]

Really clean work. Enjoying level of detail.

[Kim57]

Looking real nice.
Kim

[56hotrodred]

Hey thanks Kim.

I finally feel like I am getting somewhere.

[rgunlock]

Just found your build thread and went through it. You're doing a really nice job! I've got a '59 lined up as my next project and have been considering a squarebody C10 chassis so its nice to find similar builds in progress.

[56hotrodred]

Hey thanks Rick. Its been a long haul and now I am putting together a spreadsheet on all my expenses!!!

I did not go the cheap way as I had with all my other builds over the years.

This one is for me to keep and I am only going to do it this way once so it is what it is! Its still going to hurt though... next build back to donor vehicle(s) and used parts. I'm on a small ranch in the country so I have room to park stuff.

With that said this truck should be a really nice driver and I plan on driving it.

Always wanted to cruise the West Coast Highway and this one might be the vehicle to do it in. It would be fun to hit as many car shows and Friday night parking lot get-togethers as we can on the way.

I used the C10 chassis because it was close, cheap and already stripped. My original frame was bent a bit. I think I payed $500.00 for it. I have seen them go a lot cheaper with the body on.

It looks like Ridetech, at least I think its them, came out with several suspension options for the square bodies. Looks like really nice stuff. Anything you want to make it ride and drive like a fancy car. Air bags, adjustable coil overs, 4-link whatever you want!!!

There is also a place on line that sells a kit to mount the Task Force bodies an a square body frame. Cant remember who it is right now but it was about $700 or $800. If you can fabricate then you don't need it but it looks like a pretty good option for some.

However if you have a good original frame there is probably just as much, if not more, aftermarket parts available. I don't regret what I did but am not sure if I would do it again.

My cab is now at the body shop to get dash and firewall painted and rest in primer then I get it back. Hope to put all body on frame, get it running and back to body shop before I go down to Arizona around Christmas. Then it should be done in body shop when I get back up here in March/April.

Anyway thanks again for the nice words. Just holler if you have any questions.

Barry

[Purcell69]

That is a nice build you have going there. Keep up the good work!

-Joe

[Kim57]

Cab looks beautiful.
Kim

[dsraven]

looks great!

[Rickysnickers]

That looks really nice. Well, done job this far!!

[dsraven]

are you gonna have room for the distributor plug in?

[Rickysnickers]

Very nice work! If you do not have a fuse panel, then what is the big silver box mounted on the wall in, what i will call photo #2?

[56hotrodred]

Hey thanks.

Yes there are 8 fuses in the Ron francis Ramjet Fuel Injection System but they are designed to protect the right and left injectors, ignition coil/feed, fuel pump relay, ECM and the likes.

The American Autowire fuse panel provides the remaining bumper to bumper wiring and protects everything else in the truck.