55.2-59 Anyone seen these before?

[Phungki]

So I have two braces that run from the top of the firewall down to the frame. I haven’t seen them before and wondered if anyone else had.
It’s a 56 GMC

[mongocanfly]

Yep...never seen em go to the frame though..

[Phungki]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

Yep...never seen em go to the frame though..

So what’s the purpose? Why on some trucks and not others?
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[mongocanfly]

Good question...it's obviously for support/reinforcement...

[Foot Stomper]

2 ton trucks had them. No half ton trucks had them.

[sack54]

Those bars are called Kudu bars ,they were installed to fix front end hop.For better steering. They work but also crack the metal on fire wall,by top mount. I have 1956 GMC 1/2 ton Napco 4x4 . Some builders remove them,others reinstall. This was GM's fix for the hop. A lot of 1/2 tons had them .Maybe the ones without never returned for the recall .These were used on 1956 and 57 only I have tech sheet if you want copy Email me ,two pages

[Phungki]

Originally Posted by sack54

Those bars are called Kudu bars ,they were installed to fix front end hop.For better steering. They work but also crack the metal on fire wall,by top mount. I have 1956 GMC 1/2 ton Napco 4x4 . Some builders remove them,others reinstall. This was GM's fix for the hop. A lot of 1/2 tons had them .Maybe the ones without never returned for the recall .These were used on 1956 and 57 only I have tech sheet if you want copy Email me ,two pages

Ah thank you. It is a 1/2 ton. It did crack the firewall so I’ll be welding and grinding that down I suppose. I would reinstall them if I thought I would have room after the engine swap but I’m doubtful. I had wondered if it was an aftermarket thing for service vehicles. The truck bed has a number on both sides but I don’t know much about it’s prev life. Neither did the previous owner
Thank you for that info. I knew someone on here would know
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[sack54]

My truck has a v8 So they may fit back on.

[Old57]

My original 57 GMC 100 (1/2 ton) with factory Pontiac 347 had them, and a plate at the cowl that they bolted to. My cowl was cracked all the way across in the shape of the reinforcing plate. I removed the braces and the plate, and replaced the front of the cowl with new sheet metal, and I left them off when it went back together.

[Phungki]

Originally Posted by Old57

My original 57 GMC 100 (1/2 ton) with factory Pontiac 347 had them, and a plate at the cowl that they bolted to. My cowl was cracked all the way across in the shape of the reinforcing plate. I removed the braces and the plate, and replaced the front of the cowl with new sheet metal, and I left them off when it went back together.

I kinda like the look but once I fix the crack I might not want to run the risk of it cracking again . Got plenty of time to ponder that
Thank you
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[_Ogre]

to the frame?
my 59 3800 chevy panel truck had rods going from firewall to core support
my 56 6400 had them too, i believe all 1 ton up had them

[Old57]

Yes, large tubing supports from the front of the cowl and down to the frame just like the picture up above. It was a GMC thing, but not all of them had them. I saved mine and a friend that was doing a restoration took them off my hands. I didn't want to put them back on because of how it cracked out the whole front of the cowl above the firewall, plus it rusted behind the plates sandwiched in the cowl.

My 57 GMC had the small brace rods from the hump in the firewall and out to the core support, and also the large tubing supports from the cowl to the frame. It was original and had the Pontiac 347 V8 too.

[Old57]

I found a picture of mine when I was taking it apart, and it shows the small brace rods on the front clip, and the large braces on the cowl to the frame.

[sack54]

Originally Posted by sack54

Those bars are called Kudu bars ,they were installed to fix front end hop.For better steering. They work but also crack the metal on fire wall,by top mount. I have 1956 GMC 1/2 ton Napco 4x4 . Some builders remove them,others reinstall. This was GM's fix for the hop. A lot of 1/2 tons had them .Maybe the ones without never returned for the recall .These were used on 1956 and 57 only I have tech sheet if you want copy Email me ,two pages

tech sheet

Originally Posted by Phungki

Ah thank you. It is a 1/2 ton. It did crack the firewall so I’ll be welding and grinding that down I suppose. I would reinstall them if I thought I would have room after the engine swap but I’m doubtful. I had wondered if it was an aftermarket thing for service vehicles. The truck bed has a number on both sides but I don’t know much about it’s prev life. Neither did the previous owner
Thank you for that info. I knew someone on here would know
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