Hi everyone I am new to the boards and just saying hi.

[ShamrockCustoms]

Well, for the rearend, if you 're looking to swap it out, measurements need to be taken from the mounting flange on both ends to determine overall length. The thing is, that measurement has a fudge factor. You can have it a little shorter and use a wheel with more backspacing or a little longer and use more backspacing on the wheels. This is only 1-2" factor tho. I cant recall off my head the precise measurement but its somewhere around 58".
Most truck rears will work pretty well.

for the front suspension, there are lots o' options. several companies make mustang ii style front ends that are wider for the 55-59 track and use extensions on the rack to correct for the widened track. these seem to work really well as ou can just drop it in the original frame and is lots less work then a full clip from a car.

a very good source of info the book by Truckin magazine titled Tri-Five Chevy Trucks. It has lots of good info and building our trucks. you can find it at amazon or probably on ebay too. barnes & noble might carry it too, think it saw on in the irving store. anyway, hope this helps!