55.2-59 1959 Fleetside Short Bed Project - Page 2 - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

BAM55 · 12-13-2018, 06:16 PM

Go check out the h.a.m.b board and see if you can find info on this. They do a lot of traditional rodding over there and someone may know something.

dsraven · 12-13-2018, 06:47 PM

how low are you trying to go? you don't wanna drop it too much with a sold axle or it will be bottoming out all the time. what about a smaller diameter tire?

dsraven · 12-13-2018, 06:49 PM

got some pics with the wheels on and the new front axle stuff? too late already, thr truck is dissassembled into boxes now? lol.

BLAC · 12-13-2018, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dsraven

got some pics with the wheels on and the new front axle stuff? too late already, thr truck is dissassembled into boxes now? lol.

Haha no it is still one (incomplete) piece.

Here it is sitting on the ground, I just think it should be sitting lower. Granted there is no motor or trans in it and the tires are pretty small on 14's so it looks a little funky.

But if you look at the axle directly it looks like the truck would be really low, but the body is up too high.

dsraven · 12-13-2018, 08:04 PM

I think you will be surprised when you load an engine and trans in there and drive it around a little until the springs get "set". it could make all the difference. of course, a set of wheels and tires would also help. any idea of the diameter you will go with for tires? I have some 235/55r17's on mine. dan from pasadena has the same size on his truck. here is a link to his build. check page 108 for a pic with that size tire to see if you like it. those tires are 27.2" tall. I may end up with some 235/60r17's just for the extra height. it will affect the highway cruising rpm, and fuel mileage, a bit

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...63698&page=108

here is a link to a tire size chart with a visual comparison tab and several other tabs. maybe come in handy for you.

https://tiresize.com/comparison/

BLAC · 12-13-2018, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dsraven

I think you will be surprised when you load an engine and trans in there and drive it around a little until the springs get "set". it could make all the difference. of course, a set of wheels and tires would also help. any idea of the diameter you will go with for tires? I have some 235/55r17's on mine. dan from pasadena has the same size on his truck. here is a link to his build. check page 108 for a pic with that size tire to see if you like it. those tires are 27.2" tall. I may end up with some 235/60r17's just for the extra height. it will affect the highway cruising rpm, and fuel mileage, a bit

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...63698&page=108

here is a link to a tire size chart with a visual comparison tab and several other tabs. maybe come in handy for you.

https://tiresize.com/comparison/

His truck looks great! I think I want to find some FJ cruiser 17" steelies to roll around on for a while, but they are tough to find

Ill keep that tire profile in mind once I track a set down

**joedoh** · 12-14-2018, 07:23 PM

Quote:

looks like a fine roadkill skinner!

dsraven · 12-14-2018, 10:16 PM

after it is all back together and you've had a chance to set the springs, if you still don't like the ride height, you could get spring mounting pads welded to the underside of the axle and that would gain you a little. the problem is the axle may bottom out on the oil pan or the frame if you get it too low.

BLAC · 01-04-2019, 04:06 PM

I found a set of fender emblems and a hood emblem

Time to get to work on the cab corner and the rear c-notch + axle flip... so i pulled the bed off.

I decided to pull of the individual panels since I will be doing some bodywork on them and it makes them a bit more manageable when they aren't one huge unit.

How its sitting with no motor on a dropped axel:

Time to break down..

BLAC · 01-04-2019, 04:06 PM

Anyone in the LA area have any leads on a set of the 20" dodge steelies?

BLAC · 01-06-2019, 02:20 AM

Or the 17" Fj Cruiser's

BLAC · 01-10-2019, 05:05 AM

a 6.0 LS followed me home

dsraven · 01-10-2019, 10:54 AM

mom, it followed me home. can I keep it?
darn 6.0's, they think they own the place, lol.
nice snag. trans too?

BAM55 · 01-10-2019, 01:58 PM

Nice, now if only I can get one to follow me home.

BLAC · 01-10-2019, 02:24 PM

Haha I was looking online REALLY frequently and when I saw the add go up for this one I snagged it before it was even an hour old

just gotta set up some alerts, good deals don't last long in our neck of the woods!

Question for y'all, I didn't buy the trans the guy had with it so I'm still looking... I have my eyes on a TR6060 from a 2011 Camaro with 25k miles on it... anyone ran one of these transmissions?

**DA68** · 01-11-2019, 10:29 AM

Lookin’ good, man. Where did you find that front axle? I’m getting ready to send mine to Sid’s to get stretched, but thought I’d ask.

BLAC · 01-11-2019, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DA68

Lookin’ good, man. Where did you find that front axle? I’m getting ready to send mine to Sid’s to get stretched, but thought I’d ask.

I actually got really lucky and found it second hand but seemingly unused. Its made by CPP.

A guy had a shop install it then decide to go IFS, I'm not sure he even drove on it since the brake pads and rotors are unscuffed

wally_245 · 02-01-2019, 02:52 AM

Nice truck, definitely subscribing. I work in Culver (across from the giant hole in the ground that used to be Culver Studios).

BLAC · 02-01-2019, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wally_245

Nice truck, definitely subscribing. I work in Culver (across from the giant hole in the ground that used to be Culver Studios).

Awesome, you are just a couple blocks from me. Ill have updates soon =)

Mains52 · 02-20-2019, 09:58 AM

Sweet Truck. Coming along nicely!!

FAKKY · 02-21-2019, 11:14 PM

In for a penny :0
Nice truck.

What was the 6.0 out of ? Year etc.

I wonder if you could "shorten" the front leaf hangers by an inch to drop it further making the body closer to the ground.

BLAC · 03-01-2019, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FAKKY

In for a penny :0
Nice truck.

What was the 6.0 out of ? Year etc.

I wonder if you could "shorten" the front leaf hangers by an inch to drop it further making the body closer to the ground.

Thanks! the motor is from a 2002 Denali

BLAC · 03-01-2019, 07:43 PM

getting ready to mock up mounts for the motor and trans (I bought a 6-speed TR6060 from a 2011 Camaro SS)

Got the inner cab corner shaped and welded up, then coated in rust encapsulator

Outer cab corner cut, shaped and ready for welding

The corner I bought was too thick through this area in the door jam so I took a slice out of it and patched it in.

**Dan in Pasadena** · 03-02-2019, 05:36 PM

I would also say if you want to get lower to wait til the engine, trans and all fluids are in it - then drive a bit to let everything settle.

If it's STILL too tall for you skip all the shenanigans with flipping the main leaf or screwing with the spring mounting pad and just go with Posie's Super Sliders. They offer up to 3" lowering (I think) BUT remember that dimension is from original stock height and your stock springs have ALREADY settled inches since new.

Having said all this, why go through all this work and expense and later lose it all by switching to IFS? I was going to do exactly the same you're doing until I realized the cost of the dropped straight axle, Super Sliders and power steering kit would almost be the same as a good quality IFS kit.

PS: My engine is an LQ4. Is yours or an LQ9? Mine's from a 2011 (if I remember right) N Series Isuzu delivery van and has the 4l85e trans behind it.

BLAC · 03-04-2019, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

I would also say if you want to get lower to wait til the engine, trans and all fluids are in it - then drive a bit to let everything settle.

If it's STILL too tall for you skip all the shenanigans with flipping the main leaf or screwing with the spring mounting pad and just go with Posie's Super Sliders. They offer up to 3" lowering (I think) BUT remember that dimension is from original stock height and your stock springs have ALREADY settled inches since new.

Having said all this, why go through all this work and expense and later lose it all by switching to IFS? I was going to do exactly the same you're doing until I realized the cost of the dropped straight axle, Super Sliders and power steering kit would almost be the same as a good quality IFS kit.

PS: My engine is an LQ4. Is yours or an LQ9? Mine's from a 2011 (if I remember right) N Series Isuzu delivery van and has the 4l85e trans behind it.

I am definitely going to wait to do anything until I get the motor and trans in the truck and everything is settled.

I was going to just jump into the IFS but I got a practically brand new CPP dropped axel, disk brake conversion, power steering box, new leafs, shocks, and all hardware for $550. I just couldn't pass on the deal.

Mine is an lq4, but the only difference is the pistons and i'm going to do a forged rotating assembly anyway

12-13-2018, 06:16 PM	#26
BAM55 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Inglewood, CA Posts: 324	Re: 1959 Fleetside Short Bed Project Go check out the h.a.m.b board and see if you can find info on this. They do a lot of traditional rodding over there and someone may know something. __________________ BAM 55/58 Chevy Truck Project Fixing a mess of a clip installation

12-13-2018, 06:47 PM	#27
dsraven Registered User Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: calgary alberta Posts: 8,342	Re: 1959 Fleetside Short Bed Project how low are you trying to go? you don't wanna drop it too much with a sold axle or it will be bottoming out all the time. what about a smaller diameter tire?

12-13-2018, 06:49 PM	#28
dsraven Registered User Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: calgary alberta Posts: 8,342	Re: 1959 Fleetside Short Bed Project got some pics with the wheels on and the new front axle stuff? too late already, thr truck is dissassembled into boxes now? lol.

12-13-2018, 08:04 PM	#30
dsraven Registered User Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: calgary alberta Posts: 8,342	Re: 1959 Fleetside Short Bed Project I think you will be surprised when you load an engine and trans in there and drive it around a little until the springs get "set". it could make all the difference. of course, a set of wheels and tires would also help. any idea of the diameter you will go with for tires? I have some 235/55r17's on mine. dan from pasadena has the same size on his truck. here is a link to his build. check page 108 for a pic with that size tire to see if you like it. those tires are 27.2" tall. I may end up with some 235/60r17's just for the extra height. it will affect the highway cruising rpm, and fuel mileage, a bit http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...63698&page=108 here is a link to a tire size chart with a visual comparison tab and several other tabs. maybe come in handy for you. https://tiresize.com/comparison/

12-14-2018, 10:16 PM	#33
dsraven Registered User Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: calgary alberta Posts: 8,342	Re: 1959 Fleetside Short Bed Project after it is all back together and you've had a chance to set the springs, if you still don't like the ride height, you could get spring mounting pads welded to the underside of the axle and that would gain you a little. the problem is the axle may bottom out on the oil pan or the frame if you get it too low.

01-04-2019, 04:06 PM	#34
BLAC Registered User Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: Culver City, CA Posts: 62	Re: 1959 Fleetside Short Bed Project I found a set of fender emblems and a hood emblem Time to get to work on the cab corner and the rear c-notch + axle flip... so i pulled the bed off. I decided to pull of the individual panels since I will be doing some bodywork on them and it makes them a bit more manageable when they aren't one huge unit. How its sitting with no motor on a dropped axel: Time to break down.. __________________ 1959 Apache Fleetside Short Bed Last edited by BLAC; 01-04-2019 at 04:11 PM.

01-06-2019, 02:20 AM	#36
BLAC Registered User Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: Culver City, CA Posts: 62	Re: 1959 Fleetside Short Bed Project Or the 17" Fj Cruiser's __________________ 1959 Apache Fleetside Short Bed

01-10-2019, 05:05 AM	#37
BLAC Registered User Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: Culver City, CA Posts: 62	Re: 1959 Fleetside Short Bed Project a 6.0 LS followed me home __________________ 1959 Apache Fleetside Short Bed

01-10-2019, 10:54 AM	#38
dsraven Registered User Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: calgary alberta Posts: 8,342	Re: 1959 Fleetside Short Bed Project mom, it followed me home. can I keep it? darn 6.0's, they think they own the place, lol. nice snag. trans too?

01-10-2019, 01:58 PM	#39
BAM55 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Inglewood, CA Posts: 324	Re: 1959 Fleetside Short Bed Project Nice, now if only I can get one to follow me home. __________________ BAM 55/58 Chevy Truck Project Fixing a mess of a clip installation

01-10-2019, 02:24 PM	#40
BLAC Registered User Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: Culver City, CA Posts: 62	Re: 1959 Fleetside Short Bed Project Haha I was looking online REALLY frequently and when I saw the add go up for this one I snagged it before it was even an hour old just gotta set up some alerts, good deals don't last long in our neck of the woods! Question for y'all, I didn't buy the trans the guy had with it so I'm still looking... I have my eyes on a TR6060 from a 2011 Camaro with 25k miles on it... anyone ran one of these transmissions? __________________ 1959 Apache Fleetside Short Bed Last edited by BLAC; 01-10-2019 at 02:38 PM.

01-11-2019, 10:29 AM	#41
DA68 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 967	Re: 1959 Fleetside Short Bed Project Lookin’ good, man. Where did you find that front axle? I’m getting ready to send mine to Sid’s to get stretched, but thought I’d ask.

02-01-2019, 02:52 AM	#43
wally_245 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Thousand Oaks, CA Posts: 16	Re: 1959 Fleetside Short Bed Project Nice truck, definitely subscribing. I work in Culver (across from the giant hole in the ground that used to be Culver Studios).

02-20-2019, 09:58 AM	#45
Mains52 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Knoxville, Illinois Posts: 335	Re: 1959 Fleetside Short Bed Project Sweet Truck. Coming along nicely!!

02-21-2019, 11:14 PM	#46
FAKKY Registered User Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Redington Beach Posts: 1,317	Re: 1959 Fleetside Short Bed Project In for a penny :0 Nice truck. What was the 6.0 out of ? Year etc. I wonder if you could "shorten" the front leaf hangers by an inch to drop it further making the body closer to the ground. __________________ FAKKY 57 PANEL BUILD



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03-01-2019, 07:43 PM	#48
BLAC Registered User Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: Culver City, CA Posts: 62	Re: 1959 Fleetside Short Bed Project getting ready to mock up mounts for the motor and trans (I bought a 6-speed TR6060 from a 2011 Camaro SS) Got the inner cab corner shaped and welded up, then coated in rust encapsulator Outer cab corner cut, shaped and ready for welding The corner I bought was too thick through this area in the door jam so I took a slice out of it and patched it in. __________________ 1959 Apache Fleetside Short Bed Last edited by BLAC; 03-01-2019 at 08:23 PM.

03-02-2019, 05:36 PM	#49
Dan in Pasadena Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Glendora, CA Posts: 6,344	Re: 1959 Fleetside Short Bed Project I would also say if you want to get lower to wait til the engine, trans and all fluids are in it - then drive a bit to let everything settle. If it's STILL too tall for you skip all the shenanigans with flipping the main leaf or screwing with the spring mounting pad and just go with Posie's Super Sliders. They offer up to 3" lowering (I think) BUT remember that dimension is from original stock height and your stock springs have ALREADY settled inches since new. Having said all this, why go through all this work and expense and later lose it all by switching to IFS? I was going to do exactly the same you're doing until I realized the cost of the dropped straight axle, Super Sliders and power steering kit would almost be the same as a good quality IFS kit. PS: My engine is an LQ4. Is yours or an LQ9? Mine's from a 2011 (if I remember right) N Series Isuzu delivery van and has the 4l85e trans behind it. __________________ '55 Big Window Shortbed, Drive-It-&-Work-On-It slid down the "slippery slope" to a Frame-Off Rodstoration! LQ4/4l85e/C4 IFS/Mustang 8.8 rearend w/3.73's Dan's '55 Big Window "Build" - Well, Kinda!

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