1957 Chevy truck re-rebuild

[Kim57]

Nice work.
Kim

[Baldeagle SR]

That should work out nice.
Rich

[Stepside Jim]

Finishing on the rear stabilizer mounting points the axle mounts are next.

Once the sides and the middle plate was cut I wanted to slightly wrap the sides towards the front. I used the same technique by using the cutting wheel to score the metal so it would bend clean around to the front.


I prefigured to interlock the pieces together when cut. I ground the tabs down just a bit more so I could lay more weld into the void.


The corners are welded and filled and the mid plate is holding everything together now.


I know there will be stress on the mount so I did a full weld to ensure nothing moves later.


Now tack welded in place and the welds are smoothed and looking good.


Stabilizer bar...Check.

[_Ogre]

Originally Posted by Stepside Jim

Stabilizer bar...Check.

nice fab work stepside.

[ChuckDriver]

Awesome work!

[Stepside Jim]

Hey, thanks everybody. I'm we've all been there... the times when we lay on the creeper looking up at our handy work, what a great feeling.

Then lay there too long then the oldness kicks in when you finally decide to get something done and your back aches from laying on a non-forgiving creeper too long.

I've got just a few more items on the list then everything comes apart to get ready for paint. Unfortunately, the warm weather is fading away and it looks like most of the painting will be next spring, oh well, gives me time to get all the interior vinyl cut and glued and few other odds and ends taken care of for reassembly time.

[Baldeagle SR]

That is some nice work,
Rich

[Kim57]

Very nice.
Kim

[The Haberdasher]

Nice and Clean...

[Kim57]

Looks real nice.
The front fender gills look good.
Kim

[papastrk]

I really like the stance and ride height. Really nice! You have most definitely got that wire welding figured out. You have really made some nice, clean mods that were well thought out. This is definitely one super nice truck!
Barry

[Stepside Jim]

Thanks Kim, for those who stop by the shop, they are a conversation piece.


A huge thanks papastrk, I really appreciate it.

Well, about 2 weeks ago I was ready to tear the truck down, now, 2 weeks later, I'm still on tear down mode. The reality of it all is, as I start the tear down I find small items that need refinement, small items that I certainly don't want to deal with later.

One item has to do with the seat belts. One belt is retractable, this one is fine. The other is not retractable and wants to fall between the seat and the center counsel. This is a hassle I don't want to deal with. If I leave the seat belt laying on the seat I fear puncturing the seat if I sit on the belt when getting in, I need a seat belt holder.....

Finding yet one more purpose for the stainless steel rod, here we go.

By bending one piece and cutting another to length I placed a couple nuts in between to give me the spacing I want.


Yeah, the weld is ugly, but the left side shows it can be saved.


After some grinding and filing then polishing. Then threading and bending, I have my seat belt holders.


And the holder doing it's job.


I will probably cut a stainless plate where the holder attaches to the counsel and get more decorative nuts also. Seat belt holders... Check.

[Kim57]

Those came out nice.
Kim

[The Haberdasher]

As usual, you nailed it StepsideJim.

[BC Toy chest]

You and Kim57 must be related, you guys make every thing, lol. GR8 JOB

[Rods57]

Originally Posted by BC Toy chest

You and Kim57 must be related, you guys make every thing, lol. GR8 JOB

You know its like they are Truck-gyver!

[Stepside Jim]

Thanks everybody... hey Kim, we've been grouped together, certainly an honor for me.

[Kim57]

Originally Posted by Stepside Jim

Thanks everybody... hey Kim, we've been grouped together, certainly an honor for me.

Me too.
I've never thought of my self as any kind of guru at this.
Most times it's the lack of funds and just having the time that gets me making what I need.
Kim

[Stepside Jim]

Still on the tear down...... I'm struggling with wanting to finish the tear down but at the same time there's a couple items I still want to fabricate before the truck is totally finished. I know if I don't build these last couple pieces now I will be unhappy with myself come assembly time. Nobody seems to sell after market Traction Bars for a 1957 Chevy Truck, so here goes.

Sooo, taking a deep breath and committing to building the last pieces I knew I wanted traction bars. I understand the design and the theory behind the slapper bars, ladder bars and the 4 link.

My goal for this truck is for it to be toy, I want burn outs, drifting, donuts, ect, I will focus on that. It will not be drag raced. The truck will have the electric cut outs for the exhaust and it will have line lock to lock the front tires.

I don't want to have to snap the accelerator to start a burn out, I want to lock the front tires and apply the gas and do a nice controlled burn out. This, along with the open exhaust should be fun.

Ok, I want to control wheel hop, this is my biggest concern. As for weight transfer, not my big concern. The ladder bars and 4 link not only control wheel hop but they also do a great job of weight transfer. Slapper bars are my choice.

I didn't run the springs under the axle so the usual slapper with the square tube under the leaf spring are out of the question. As a matter of fact I never much liked the look of all that hanging under the axle. Well I take that back, they look good under other peoples cars, just not mine.

These trucks also have long leaf springs, I figure they are a prime candidate for wheel hop.


My plan is to have a bolt on system to control wheel hop from the top leaf spring plate and send to twisting force to the bottom of the leaf spring mounting bolt.

Back to the torchmate, I started with cutting a top plate that will serve two purposes, attach to the leaf spring, and attach to the traction bar assembly.


Here the plate fitted and shaped. Somebody many years ago when they put this 10 bolt GM axle under the truck did a poor job of deciding on a resting plate for the spring to axle, this will be changed.


In the final design I wanted to strengthen the first plate, by stacking this next plate I not only spread the force of the traction bar to a larger contact area and I created a great way to locate and hold the u bolts in place.



As you all know from the rest of my build I'm willing to step out on the edge to set my truck apart from the norm. The traction bars will be no different. If I have this figured right I will be able to stabilize the wheel hop, I won't have much of anything hanging under the axle, it's one of a kind and it should raise an eye brow or two when done.


If I have it figured right it should work great, if it's a flop, I can simple unbolt and redo, nothing is welded permanently in place. Ha ha, for now.... traction bars... Check.

[BC Toy chest]

Originally Posted by Rods57

You know its like they are Truck-gyver!

Rods 57 you are so right.

[BC Toy chest]

Stepside Jim that is ingenious. I will be surprised it it doesn't work. I don't see how it couldn't. GR8 idea. I had a similar problem with traction bar placement and and wanting the traction bars not to be so obvious to the eye.
I went with the No Limit Engineering traction bars because my springs were on top like yours. Fortunatlly for me when I wanted to use a flip kit and get a slightly lower stance I was still able to use the same traction bars and hardware and just change out the leaf u-bolts.

Lord knows us truck guys can use all the help we can get. So many mods and hardware/ parts are not readily available over the counter. This idea of yours should fly and help out the folks that see this that have the same delima.
LOL maybe it's too soon for me to tip my hat to ya , but I think it will work just fine.... and if not you and Kim57 can put your heads together and come up with something

[Kim57]

Originally Posted by BC Toy chest

Stepside Jim that is ingenious. I will be surprised it it doesn't work. I don't see how it couldn't. GR8 idea. I had a similar problem with traction bar placement and and wanting the traction bars not to be so obvious to the eye.
I went with the No Limit Engineering traction bars because my springs were on top like yours. Fortunatlly for me when I wanted to use a flip kit and get a slightly lower stance I was still able to use the same traction bars and hardware and just change out the leaf u-bolts.

Lord knows us truck guys can use all the help we can get. So many mods and hardware/ parts are not readily available over the counter. This idea of yours should fly and help out the folks that see this that have the same delima.
LOL maybe it's too soon for me to tip my hat to ya , but I think it will work just fine.... and if not you and Kim57 can put your heads together and come up with something

Looking at it it should accomplish the same as any other slapper bar.
It is a great idea.
Kim

[Kim57]

That is very cool looking.
I hope they work like you planned.
Kim

[Baldeagle SR]

Nice design , I like that.
Rich
my build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...30#post6307530

[johnlq6975]

Your doing work that looks gret and motivates me