1954 3100 C4 Tube Chassis Build

[STOCKISH]

That may work for yours but I couldnt do that. The front crossmember that holds the radiator support, etc., is too close to the front of the control arm for me to get a bolt in there that was long enough for me to feel good about. I felt it was safer for me to do it this way.

[FarmerSid]

That gives me something to think about..............hmmmmmmmmmm. I may have the same problem. Glad I asked. Your frame rails and rad cross member are the same as stock right?

[STOCKISH]

Yes, my frame dimensions were taken from the factory assembly manual. The Flat Out kit I designed mine after is done the way I did mine too. Probably for the same reason. Have you started a build thread yet?

[FarmerSid]

Thanks Josh. Maybe I'm over thinking things. Worried about strength. There's 2 1/8" of the 1/2" rod sticking out of the cross member and going through the LCA pivot point plus approx. another 1" for a washer and nut. I'm just having a hard time believing that much rod/bolt sticking out of the cross member is going to be strong enough. I maybe wrong but that's what's bugging me. Flat out has been doing it that way for ages now so maybe I shouldn't be worrying about it as much as I am.

Your'e really pushing for a build thread aren't you..LOL!

[STOCKISH]

Yeah, I figure if they havent had any issues doing it this way for so long it is probably ok. I think the Flat Out kit gives you new bushings and uses either a 9/16 or 5/8 rod. But I figured the factory bolts were only 12mm so I should be fine using 1/2 hardened steel rod. That way if I ever have anissue with a lower control arm buhing I can just go to the parts store and pick one up. That is how Im trying to do this whole build. No special one off parts that could fail on a road trip and have to get it towed. I can just fix it in a parking lot somewhere instead.

[STOCKISH]

I was just out looking at mine. I think I have enough room with an angle drill to drill mine a little bigger, tap, and use 9/16-18 grade 8 bolts. I will just replace the lower control arm bushings and drill the center sleeve out to 9/16. The steel rod I had for this was so hard we were having a very hard time cutting threads into it.

[FarmerSid]

Just finished putting a new starter and wheel bearing on our 05 Montana SV6 and grabbed a beer and eyed the frame rails on the 51 on the other side of the shop. The front bolt will be a bit tight getting in but maybe I should halt the fab work on the cross member till I am ready to install it.

You want a set of upper shock mounts I have made? They are ready to go. If that helps you out my little southern buddy. I can measure the thickness at work tomorrow but I'm pretty sure they are 1/8". I'm not ready for mine yet so you can have these ones.

Cheers!

[STOCKISH]

Your little southern buddy! LOL. Yeah please let me know how thick they are. I think the ones from Flat Out are 3/16. I believe its scribed on the side of the template I sent ya!

[FarmerSid]

Ya they are 1/8". The template does have 3/16" on it. Bastard! Gonna have to buy some material now. Don't know what I was thinking when I made them.

[FarmerSid]

Josh. Would you mind shooting some close up pictures of your cross member? Like to see how close the front LCA bolt would be to the frame. How high is the 2X4 part above the frame towards the front?

[STOCKISH]

Call me tonight around 830, I'll get you anything you need

[FarmerSid]

Get out and get anything done on the truck man?

[STOCKISH]

I went to a wedding early afternoon and took my son to his baseball game this evening, hopefully I'll mess with the truck a little bit tomorrow. How is that build thread coming along?

[STOCKISH]

Spent a few in the garage last weekend. Got the lower control arm mounts tapped for 9/16-18 grade 8 bolts, new lower control arm bushings here and ready to install once I get the arms cleaned and ready. And thats where the progress ends and moving backwards starts....
I decided I didnt like the way the rear half looked. It worked ok but didnt look as clean as I wanted it to, so I hacked it off. This is where my need to make everything "just right" usually makes me crazy until I give up and sell stuff and move on. Not this time. I am just going to remake the rear half of the chassis again using the info I have from the last two failures Ive had. Still want to run this IRS but I have a solid axle that keeps inching closer and closer to this truck! Time for some more research to determine how to install this giving me the look I want at the same time. Hopefully progress this week.

[ccreddell]

This guy did some engineering that you wouldnt need to, but some of it may help. Start with post 995

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...306237&page=40

[STOCKISH]

Yeah, Kevin does some amazing work. My biggest issue was being able to mount the rear trailing arms in a way that looked clean with the shape and dimensions my frame was. I just didnt want to have to mount them to a bracket that sticks off the side of the chassis. I am either going to widen and straighten out the chassis slightly behind the cab or use some DOM and heims for the trailing arms. Was also wondering if I would have any negative issues if I were to change the length/angles of the rear trailing arms. Anyone have any feedback on that?

[DransportGarage]

Just subscribed. Not much I can say that hasn't already been said, except that I'm just screwin' around over on my build thread! A lot of trucks are gonna roll in this one's tire treads!

[Baldeagle SR]

Signed up for the ride. Very nice work,
Rich
my build
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=576185&page=5

[STOCKISH]

Thanks guys. Hoping to get back on this soon. The frustrations with the rear half of the truck have been keeping me out of the garage. Might throw this stuff on a stock frame before its all done with. Ready for it to be a roller.

[FarmerSid]

What are you having frustrations with man? Is it the dog bone brackets?

[STOCKISH]

Originally Posted by FarmerSid

What are you having frustrations with man? Is it the dog bone brackets?

It was man. My thought process was just not on the right track. I got out there tonight and redid the rear half of the chassis, again.....

With the way it it right now I can mount the dog bone brackets directly to the side of the frame without any funky bracket, therefore giving me the look I wanted. I wound up putting it back to stock frame dimensions like it was to start with. Seems like sometimes I overthink things and do myself more harm than good. Hope to have it all together tomorrow. Then a couple crossmembers and it'll be ready to paint.

[FarmerSid]

I hear ya on the thought process not being on the right track. You're not the only one. I'm getting good at doing things two or three times till I get it where it should be. It's only nuts and bolts and welding wire. Lets see some pics.

I'm not too far behind ya. I just picked up a C4 rear end.

[STOCKISH]

Sorry man, no progress today, been sick as a dog... hopefully soon man. Hows your build coming along? I looked for your build thread with all the progress pictures, maybe I missed it somewhere?

[FarmerSid]

Sick as a dog..........? Suck it up buttercup......! Even if I was in a full body cast, I'd be out in the shop working on the truck. Don't make them like they used to....! LOL!

[FarmerSid]

Forgot a few comments to your questions. Build is coming along great. Cab repair is coming along good. Started filling some of the million holes in the frame in prep for the Vette IFS and IRS. I took lots of pics. I posted them all in my build thread.......Keep looking.