Help Identifying Front Clip and Suspension Parts on 1956 Chevy Pickup

[oracle56]

Hello Everyone,
This is my first post but have been using the website for a couple of years now which has been of great of help. I have a 1956 Chevy Pickup that has an unknown front clip with a full tilt front hood (all metal). I was told this truck was from Arkansas and was originally a mint green color before painted the current white. I was also told this might be a front clip from a 69 Camaro. However there is a steering stabilizer and the size of the sway bar might be pretty beefy so I am not sure.

I was wondering if I might get some assistance in identifying the front clip and more importantly the suspension components so I can order some replacements (springs, rubber, ball joints, etc). At least if I can figure out what front clip is used that would go a long way in helping me in the future. Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

The upper control arms have stamped K10C6L on the driver side and K11C6L on the passenger side; however, I can find no reference to these markings on the internet. I would like to start replacing all the rubber and possibly the ball joints since the right side is starting to vibrate at higher speeds.

Here are some component model numbers I was able to find:

* Engine: Chevy 350 Casting #: 3932386
* Turbo 350 Transmission Casting #: GM 19 6281065
* Oil Pan Markings: V2R06N
* Rotors:
337220
GM78
MINTHICK
885
Rotor Width: 1 inch
Rotor Diameter: 11 inches
* Driver Side Upper Control Arm: K10C6L
* Passenger Side Upper Control Arm: L11C6R
* Steering Box: 691676 40
* Original Front Shocks: Delco 4984800 06746 (Spiral Type Shocks) - Replaced
* Original Rear Shocks: Gabriel Red Ryder - Replaced

[59chev]

Steering Box in the front would make it a Second Generation 70-81 Clip. In the First Gen camaro 67-69, the steering box was behind the crossmember.

[1958Warrior]

The way the frame widens out in front of the power steering box shows its not from a Camaro , maybe from a Nova or Chevelle .Widening out like that makes me think of it having bumper shocks.

Any pics of where it attached to the truck frame would be helpful also.

[1958Warrior]

The shadow from the radiator may be making the frame look wider than it is at that point.
A Camaro frame does turn outward about that point ,but where your arrow is pointing to there should be 2 access holes in the frame, unless they were welded up for some reason??



More pics would help.

[oracle56]

Hi 1958Warrior,
Looking at the driver's side frame rail, it does not appear to have the 2 access holes in the frame and I don't think the PO welded them closed. Below you can see the driver side picture of the frame and the second picture is the passenger side frame rail. I spoke to a mechanic colleague and he noticed that the tie rods are starting to have too much play. However, he said I would need to identify front clip so I can order the correct new ones. Let me know if I can provide any further information and I really appreciate everyone’s help.

[oracle56]

As additional information, do we know which front clip would have a steering stabilizer? Below you will find the picture of the steering stabilizer. It has the model number of 043 76 Dayton OH. I'm not sure if that is of any help or not. Thanks again.

[chevyhed53]

Had the exact same issue with my '56 stepside, trying to figure out front clip in order to get replacements. A couple of things I found: My steering column, which is original GM, has a 1"-round, 48-spline shaft, which indicated it probably came from a Chevelle. Measuring the diameter of the tie rod ends and the size of the pitman arm also helped a lot. My power steering box has a 3/4" 30-spline input, but beware of trying to use casting # on the box. Lares Corporation took over the Saginaw tooling from GM and while their tech people are very helpful, their numbers are no help in determining the origin of your setup. Also the shape of the idler arm was pretty unique to each different set-up. Hope this helps.

[dsraven]

http://www.raceny.com/smf2/index.php?topic=28124.0

check the pic here and compare. 67-72 chevelle front clip used on race chassis. looks kinda like it flares out at the front like yours.
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http://www.cardomain.com/ride/217670...olet-chevelle/

here is another off the net, just scroll down to the pic of the front end. if the frame were to be shortened right at the flare for the front bumper mounts it would look a lot like yours.
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http://www.chevelles.com/forums/16-b...rake-line.html

pick the one that says need a pic of brake line. pic is in there
this one shows the frame from the rear of the subframe. nice and clean. it shows the frame flare ahead of the steering box like yours has. dunno if they had steering stabilizer shocks or not. maybe an SS car did?

[dsraven]

http://www.chevelles.com/forums/12-b...y-chassis.html

this one has a good pic as well.
in general cars with standard steering were more likely to have a steering stabilizer but that doesn't mean that somebdy along the line didn't install one on a power steering car. the center link is probably the same.
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https://www.glasgoperformance.com/restorations/70-gto/

this one has some good pics of a 70 GTO frame. no stabilizer though

[dwcsr]

Its an early 70's Camaro clip. We did one some time back and had to ID it from the control arm bushing numbers.

[1958Warrior]

dwcsr is usually right on most things , and I respect his opinion , however I'm not entirely sure that that is a early 70s Camaro clip, Although he is right about sizing bushing, but a lot of GM parts are compatible between models, Ive had from 1974 on up Camaro subframes and all have the holes in the frame between the power steering box and A arm, Im not aware of any Camaro with a factory stabilizer. I know my 76 Monte Carlo had one, Heavier cars had them I think . Malibu/ Chevelle is what Im thinking.

I would Investigate it more , Take more pics of the width of the frame where the square tubing is welded on , measure the width from wheel mounting surface to wheel mounting surface .and post the measurements.

[1958Warrior]

Also , look for the part#'s on the pitman arm that can help narrow it down a lot
Bushings can be sized but center link and tie rods ends idler arm ,need to be more specific as to the clip .
Love Rock auto, has best prices on most parts, I use Oreilles part# and description then go order from rock auto, order everything I can think Ill need, just keep adding to the cart over a few days then pull the trigger and order to save on shipping ,usually 1/3 of what you'd pay down the street.

[mr48chev]

One piece spindles say second generation Camaro or 73 and up Chevelle or Monte Carlo or similar GM donors.
The 75 Monte Carlo chassis I put under my old 51 Merc had a similar stabilizer and fat stabilizer bar.

Good news is that most of the bushings and ball joints and other pieces are the same for that style of suspension from 73 to 77

[mr48chev]

I looked up the upper control arm bushings for a 74 Camaro and here is a list of all the rigs those bushings fit. http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...patibilityTab_ If it works.

Although the aftermarket doesn't cover it you might find that some models had slightly different durometer of rubber in the bushings from the factory on certain models. I don't know if they even show the difference in the books now but back in the early and mid 70's some Trans Ams took a different part number bushing than the base Firebirds did.

[1958Warrior]

Searching on Rock autos site for early 70's chevy 's with steering dampener which is what stands out as unique to the clip . Only cars that seem to have one is 73-77 El Camino, 73-77 Monte Carlo .
And clicking on the part # listed for those shows the dampeners are compatible with GMC Sprint and some Cadillac's
I haven't looked at Pontiac or Olds.

[mr48chev]

Big fat sway bar and a factory steering stabilizer, that truck ought to roll down the big roads real nice.

[1958Warrior]

Hey oracle56 look at your pass side motor mount Post a pic if you will do you have a indent on the frame right in front of it ,( I think I see it in the pic of your steering dampener), as in the pic I show?

[1project2many]

Originally Posted by 1958Warrior

Searching on Rock autos site for early 70's chevy 's with steering dampener which is what stands out as unique to the clip . Only cars that seem to have one is 73-77 El Camino, 73-77 Monte Carlo .
And clicking on the part # listed for those shows the dampeners are compatible with GMC Sprint and some Cadillac's
I haven't looked at Pontiac or Olds.

That matches what I remember. The only cars to receive the damper from Chevrolet were the Monte and ElCamino. I had a 74 Malibu when I was younger and I thought having a damper in the steering gear would make all the difference in the world.

[1project2many]

Also, the UCA on the truck does not have as much curve as the 64-72 Chevelle UCA. The 73-77 mid-size UCA (used part in pictures) has less curvature.

[1958Warrior]

The last pic I show is of a 1977 Monte Carlo frame , it all matches visually, wide horns, dampener ,the holes in frame are all the right size and right places, El Camino frame I saw had a horizontal slotted hole between the power steering and A frame.

But I think we all want to see more pics of oracle56's truck

[dwcsr]

After looking at more frames that I could bear I haven't go the year yet but I do know what it is not

Early Chevelle
78-88 Monte
Nova
74 Camaro

The horn just under the steering stabilizer is not the same on any of those nor are the chain down holes or production line hole

The A frames are very close to Camaro firebird of many years
The steering stabilizer could have been put on after it was built, I remember doing that as a fix for cars that had a load in the truck and got very loose steering. The frame bracket was often already on the car from the factory.

The one piece spindle and disc bracket could be due to a drop spindle add at the swap. The frame holes don't change nor does the front skid horn. Find a picture with those same holes you have your make and year

[Coupeguy2001]

Looks like the 1989 G body front clip I bought for parts for my truck. Also looks like the G metric calipers as well.

[55dude]

the caliper is too big for a G body, take the casting numbers off caliper and you will have your id.

[1project2many]

The closest frame I've found is a mid '70s G body.

I had begun to view 90's fullsize GM car frames but they seem to have more rather than fewer holes than the mid '70s cars.

I second the request for casting #'s. Both the caliper and spindle if possible.

[1958Warrior]

I believe its a 1977 Monte Carlo clip , check out some pics on the Lay it low site
Page 8, Post #160 , the side view like the 7th pic shows frame holes drivers side

http://www.layitlow.com/forums/16-po...project-8.html

and page #22, post # 424 , shows passenger side frame holes, like the 6th pic

http://www.layitlow.com/forums/16-po...roject-22.html

when compared to oracles pics all frame holes are the same, same location , has the factory damper, wide horns , looks like he has the indention in front of the pass. motor mount. oracle56 will have to confirm but I'm convinced.