Roadkill's 58 Chevy Stepside

[Roadkill58]

Thanks Baldeagle SR and ChuckDriver.

The wife really loves that car. The color is crystal red metallic tintcoat (option color).

The car was already loaded with every option we would have ordered.

The interior would look good in my truck.

The drive train would look good in there too

[tpimuncie]

Nice!

[Roadkill58]

Thanks tpimuncie.

I thought it would free up some time for the truck.

Hand washing, leather treatment, vinyl treatment, wheel cleaning eats up a lot of time.

Also the Monte carlo SS needs a new transmission so we can give it to our niece. Not sure I'm going to like that job.

Has anyone here replaced a transmission in one?

[tpimuncie]

Them mounts look super cool! great job

[_Ogre]

roadkill, i've always liked your build, those engine mounts look good, but from an engineering stand point they are very weak
the curved part on the bottom has little strength, it could be cut out and still have the same resistance to bending
triangulation is where you get strength, welding some flat plate as a gusset inside your artwork will give you a lot of much needed support

[Roadkill58]

Thanks tpimuncie.



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[Roadkill58]

Thanks Ogre.



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[papastrk]

Not to criticize but Ogre is right on motor mounts. The cutouts on vertical sections weakened them a great deal.

[Roadkill58]

Ogre I always listen to what you have to say.

Let's see...Ogre has very nice truk...Roadkill's truck not finished.


Next time the frame is on the rotisserie I will add some gussets to the motor mounts.

Thanks for the input guys.

I always welcome advice from others that have been there and done that.

[_Ogre]

listening to ogre could backfire on you one day or so mrs ogre says to ogre jr

[Roadkill58]

A couple weeks ago I met a guy with a 55 Chevy stepside (very nice).
The truck has one of the cleanest camaro clip conversions I have seen.

He asked what year truck I was building and after I told him he said he had some parts I might need.

Drove the 71 over to his shop and picked up a bed with tailgate (minus fenders and bedwood). A passenger side front fender, a hood, a core support for 58 GMC. Also a chrome grill.

I noticed he had a huge metal lathe in his shop so I gave him a lunchbox full of tooling. I don't have a lathe at the moment so the tooling found a good home.

Just like the guy's on this forum local truck guys rock too

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[Roadkill58]

Set the free bed on the chassis for mock up. bolted on some fender and the tailgate.

Looks like the bed floor will need to be raised about 3 1/2" inches.

There is only about a 1/2" of clearance between
the tire and the bedside and about 3" or 4" between the
tire and fender with the wheels that are on now and that is with 1 1/2" adapters
(4 3/4" to 4 1/2" bolt pattern).

I better start looking into some wheels to replace these.
The wheels need to be a minimum of 16" in the front to clear the tie rod end
(2" drop spindle).

I had to notch the trans crossmember to clear the brake booster.

Next is removing the factory crossmember (the one the bellhousing bolts to) so I can
mockup the auto trans (for when I get tired of banging gears if that ever happens).

I'm going to use some of the crossmember on the engine test stand.

[Roadkill58]

I pulled the transmission and motor off the chassis.

Removed the bellhousing crossmember.

Installed motor and automatic transmission.

Relocated transmission crossmember and drilled holes in chassis.

I was able use the same trans mount from the muncie on the automatic.

Next is fabricating some 1/4 inch plates with drilled and
tapped holes to weld to inside bottom of frame rail.
This is so I can box the frame rails.

When I decide to go with the automatic this is one step that
I won't have to do at that time.


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[Roadkill58]

I've been looking at wheels for the 58.

I like Ogre's and ChuckDrivers and Dubie's steel wheels.

I like these too.

[Kim57]

Those are nice.
Ive always liked the ones on the left and if finances allowed I would have put ones like them on mine.
Kim

[Roadkill58]

The "injectors" only come in 15" rims.

I could use them on the 71.

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[Roadkill58]

Roadkill58;

Made some progress on the truck today.

Moved crossmember to correct location.
I used my assembly manual for the correct measurements.
If you don't have one of these get one!

I don't know what page of the assembly manual I was on but it wasn't the
right one.

Get an assembly manual and then learn how to read.

Crossmember is now back in original location. Lucky it was only tack welded.


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[Roadkill58]

I'm in Reno Nevada at Hot August Nites and saw this truck at the cruise on Thursday night.

I my 58 looks as good as this when I'm finished I would be happy.


Today at the swap meet I found a lead on a grill for the 58 GMC.


I like the way the airconditioning lines are run.

Stopped by Power Brake's booth and got a disc - disc prop valve and the residual valves for the 58.

This will save a half days time if I had to go downtown Sacramento.

More pics later.

[Joe Pass]

Nice....

[Roadkill58]

You are welcome Joe Pass.

Here are more from Fridays Parade in Reno.

TPIMUNCIE: I thought you might like the fleetside.

I know I like it

[Roadkill58]

Replaced the disc/drum prop valve with the disc/disc prop valve.

Worked on the exhaust pipes also.

Cut to fit at manifold and weld flange to pipe.


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[Roadkill58]

The rams horn manifolds are from the bay.

Thank you Roger1 from the tri-fives forum for the link.

Compared to some stock ones I have.


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[Kim57]

Looking good.
Kim

[Roadkill58]

Thanks Kim.


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[Roadkill58]

There were a lot of trucks at Hot August Nites this year.

Here are some of the ones I thought were worthy of posting.