52 Project

[buildinga55]

Your truck is looking good. I was wondering when you get a chance if you could tell me your rear end width and the size of the wheels and backspace. I am looking to put the widest rear wheels on mine, but I am not tubbed or anything. I have not measured my rearend, it is a 10 bolt I think from a Camaro. Thanks

[pgf545]

Originally Posted by buildinga55

Your truck is looking good. I was wondering when you get a chance if you could tell me your rear end width and the size of the wheels and backspace. I am looking to put the widest rear wheels on mine, but I am not tubbed or anything. I have not measured my rearend, it is a 10 bolt I think from a Camaro. Thanks

I will have to get back to you on that. I won't be going back down there until next weekend.If I can remember I will through a tape on it and write down the measurements. I know for sure that we are going to have to narow the rear end a little more....I did a sanity check on Sunday and the current configuration is about 2 inches per side to wide. Also I think we are going to have to tub it because the fenders are approx 12 inches wide and the tires are about 12 1/2 inches wide. I will let you know what I find out.

Bernie

[marc70chevy]

good lookin truck, and really interesting thread

[pgf545]

Thanks Marc....it has been a long term project but I knew that going in. I have learned alot and made some mistakes but it has been fun. If nothing else it has been entertainment for this board...hahaha.

Bernie

[bensimmons_05]

you made a great choice with those tires. Nitto makes two models in that size: the 555R and the 555

The R is the drag radial. Ive been through two pairs of them on my back tires of the trans am.. they last about 5 miles and they are WORE OUT. They hook like you would not imagine, but the rubber is so soft they are gone in a matter of a couple thousand miles. they are excellent tires but they just wear out too fast for something that isnt at the drag strip all the time.

I was so happy when they came out with the 555 in the 315/35/17 (which was actually fairly recent).

So like I said you picked the right ones, I know youll be happy with them.

[CAL 58 GMC]

Man i'm seeing color Bernie! It looks great!

[pgf545]

Thanks Cal, It really looks good in person. The color looks much darker than in the pictures. You can look at samples all day long but you can't really tell the color until it get on a panel....

Bernie

[Ellington]

I am new here and I just looked through all 16 pages on your truck. I am aquiring a 1947 international truck with a flatbed on it from my father in law and seeing what you have had to do to your truck is making me realize what I am going to have to do to mine. A lot of work that is for sure. I wish I had the room that you have. I just hope to get it running and driveable at first then later on start putting stuff together to fix it up. i will probably leave it a flat bed unless I can find a bed for a decent price, if there are any out there. I plan on getting rid of the straight 6 and putting in a 350 in it. I am sure the list of things that I will want to do will grow longer by the day too.

Can't wait to see you the truck done.

[pgf545]

Thanks for looking at my thread. Yes it is a lot of work but we are not in a huge hurry to finish it. We have been busy with other things and just trying to get over the winter blues. Maybe now that summer is coming we will feel more like getting after it again. It is a blessing to have the room I have to work in. That is my dad's toy shop. It was a present to himself when they built their new house, and I get to play there...lol. Good luck with your truck.

Bernie

[BIG CHEVY 3600]

My son just bought a 74 IH Scout II. I have been trolling the forums for IH sites. There are a few but very little activity there.

[Groyd]

Thanks for the info on the door fitting. Looks like we had similar problems.

I had already tac welded in the cab corners before we fit the door. It was appropriate since the first time I had ever welded anything into place that we had to cut it back out, HA!

[pgf545]

Thanks Groyd, I am a trial and error type body man...lol. I seem to do things more than once but I guess that is how we learn. My dad is starting to get around a little better and was walking a little last weekend without a cane. Maybe in a few weeks he will feel like getting out in the garage and messing with the truck. I will post some pictures if anything fun happens...lol.

Bernie

[Kabwe]

Glad to hear that your Dad is feeling better.

[tobins 52 gmc]

Bernie ,glad to hear that your dad is feeling some what better and looking forward to him getting back on that horse .good luck Robert

[CAL 58 GMC]

Hey Bernie, I'm glad to hear that your Dad is feeling better.

[franky69c10]

Look'n good

[pgf545]

Ok just so you guys didn't think I dropped of the face of the earth I am going to post a few pictures. With my dad down a little we haven't been doing to much. The heat really takes it out of him. His stamnia is real low and he can only get out for a few hours before he gives up. I went down last weekend and sat the rusty bed on to mock up the fenders so that we could get the rearend narrowed. Today I got everything measured and boxed the axles and housing to send back to Moser. They will go back this week and hopefully we will get it back in the next week or two. I also got the spark plug wires cut and the ends put on and dressed real nice. Other than that not much. Hopefully he will get to feeling better soon and we can work longer than a few hours. Enjoy.

Bernie

[buildinga55]

I really like the wheel setup. Do you know your rear width and wheels size and backspace? I have read there are many that have got away with a pretty wide wheel without rubbing. I would like to get a wide wheel with a lot of lip like your example. I have not tubbed my truck.

Thanks

[CAL 58 GMC]

Sweet Sweet Sweet!!! It's really looking good! Who's 68 Chevelle is that?

[Kabwe]

Looking great man.

[pgf545]

Buildinga55, I am having the rear end cut down to 57 inches flange to flange. I am going off memory here but the rear tire width is about 12 1/2 inches total and it has 5 inches back spacing. I am not sure but I think he told me that the rim is 12 inches wide but if I had to guess I am thinking it is 11 just by looking at the pictures I have. I am shooting for about 71-72 inches total width.

Bernie

[pgf545]

Cal, that Chevelle belonged to a neighbor but dad ended up buying it. Now it is taking up space in the shop and it will eventually be sold. It is going to need a quarter but I don't think I am going to mess with it. Will probably just sell it like it sits. We got it running and he had the wheels powder coated and bought new tires, we also put new brakes on it even though they are still drums....scary...lol. Right now it is just sitting and he is not in a big hurry to get rid of it so who knows. I have to many other projects going on to mess with that one also.

Bernie

[wigadore]

At the beginning of the thread you had a crossmember that was at the rear of the truck to attach your shocks to. When you put in the gas tank it seems to have disappeared. Can you explain or show a picture or two of how you now have the rear shocks mounted with this new gas tank? Thanks Bernie.

[pgf545]

Originally Posted by wigadore

At the beginning of the thread you had a crossmember that was at the rear of the truck to attach your shocks to. When you put in the gas tank it seems to have disappeared. Can you explain or show a picture or two of how you now have the rear shocks mounted with this new gas tank? Thanks Bernie.

Wigadore...it's still there. In the post on the first page it is just laying in the frame. Here are a couple of pictures of it once I got it installed. I thought I had some pictures of it with the shocks on but I guess I didn't take any. It is a shock kit that dad got from either Brothers or CPP. It was supposed to bolt in but since we boxed the frame I cut it and welded it in. It uses bolts at the top that bolt through the shocks and the mount and on the bottom it used the spring perches with a stock type mounting bolt. If you have anymore questions let me know or I can take more pictures next time I am down there.

Bernie

[tobins 52 gmc]

Bernie ,the rear cross member is there a reason for the hump .Caus mine was a little twisted and i removed it . Thanks Robert