55.2-59 1958 Saab story

[Father&son56project]

Josh, the pics and details on your build are first rate (as are the suggestions and input you are receiving). This is shaping up to be a perfectly documented build, so keep posting as much as you can. I look forward to watching you guys problem solve your way through this project!

[gottattooz]

I trimmed away the fresh air duct and got it to sit lower. Then the wiper cowl got in the way, so I marked and removed it. It's pivoting on something on the sides of the dash and I can't see what it is.

-Josh

[dsraven]

Place an old sheet or similar over the saab part and lower the body till it gets caught. Pull on the sheet until you come to the spot where the sheet wont move because it is pinched. That will be the tight spot.

[dsraven]

Have you checked how the front wheels will be for centering in the wheel openings of the fenders yet? Just wondering because it seems like the old body is mocking up quite a way back. Would hate to see you spend a bunch of time only to find the front axle line is gonna be too far outta whack to make it look right. I seen a guy doing a 4 headlight truck and his old truck firewall lined up with the trailblazer firewall.
Keep postin, its great to see how fast you are getting things done.

[gottattooz]

Originally Posted by dsraven

Have you checked how the front wheels will be for centering in the wheel openings of the fenders yet? Just wondering because it seems like the old body is mocking up quite a way back. Would hate to see you spend a bunch of time only to find the front axle line is gonna be too far outta whack to make it look right. I seen a guy doing a 4 headlight truck and his old truck firewall lined up with the trailblazer firewall.
Keep postin, its great to see how fast you are getting things done.

I marked the center line of the wheels with a plumb bob and a sharpie. That's why centering the rear wheels was so important. Once I get the dash as low as I can, I'll fit the front fenders and make sure there's clearance. I promise I'll post pictures.

-Josh

[gottattooz]

Originally Posted by dsraven

Place an old sheet or similar over the saab part and lower the body till it gets caught. Pull on the sheet until you come to the spot where the sheet wont move because it is pinched. That will be the tight spot.

I know it's the dash board mounts. I've cut away almost everything I can on the panel truck and it still hits. If I peel the dash pad off, I can see if I can modify how it mounts and make it skinnier.

-Josh

[6DoF]

seams like you could cut out a lot more firewall above that pinch weld seam on the panel ... no?

[gottattooz]

Originally Posted by 6DoF

seams like you could cut out a lot more firewall above that pinch weld seam on the panel ... no?

I'm getting there. It's probably going to have to be removed, but I'm trying to cut out a little at a time. I'm trying to avoid removing the dash pad, but I'm just delaying the inevitable.

-Josh

[dsraven]

behind the dash pad etc there is a metal sub structure that is 2 parts bolted together in the middle and the heater, stereo. steering column etc is all hung off this. the drivers side is an alloy casting that the speedo cluster slips into and bolts up along with supporting the heater ducting etc. on mine I had to narrow that to fit inside the old truck body. unless you cut into the old truck to accommodate that extra width you will likely need to do the same as well as narrow the dash pad. I would send you a pic but i'm not home right now. I narrowed the structure and fabbed some mounts to bolt that to the inside of the old truck cab.

[gottattooz]

Phew! I got the cab to sit on the dash like I wanted without modifying the dash support brackets. I drilled out the door welds for the wiper cowl cover and removed it. From under the dash, I could see scribe marks where the metal corners were sticking up, so I beat them in with a sledge hammer. I set the body down and voila!! I'm so relieved.

-Josh

[gottattooz]

I rolled it outside to get a good look at the stance. I put the driver's seat in it and my dad took a picture of my seated position. And also pictures of how the dash meets the windshield frame.

-Josh

[gottattooz]

I turned it around to mess with the front fenders. I cut away the necessary sheet metal to clear the fenders and held the fronts in place with Jack stands and zip ties. I'm gonna have to relocate the battery and move the radiator back a bit, but I'm loving the look. The grey fenders are from my dad's 1959 Chevy pickup when I rebuilt that for him 12 or so years ago.

-Josh

[dsraven]

Woo hoo! Good on you for getting the job done in a short time.
It kinda looks to like the front axle center line could go ahead some but that's just me. Most of these trucks get the front axle moves forward an inch to inch and half when they are lowered. That's a personal preference thing so if you like it and the tires dont rub then you're good to go.
I see the seating position us further back than a regular cab would allow. Mine too. I extended the cab on mine to accommodate that.

[dsraven]

Curious what your rocker height is.

[gottattooz]

Originally Posted by dsraven

Curious what your rocker height is.

I didn't measure the rocker height. Odds are I'll raise the ride height and probably stagger the wheels. The front wheels are right up against the rims, so I'll probably raise the suspension and run a smaller diameter rim with a low profile tire.

-Josh

[dsraven]

Did t notice with all you have going on. Is yours AWD or 4x4 or just RWD? Mine is AWD 4x4 so tire outside diameter needs to stay the same.q

[gottattooz]

Originally Posted by dsraven

Did t notice with all you have going on. Is yours AWD or 4x4 or just RWD? Mine is AWD 4x4 so tire outside diameter needs to stay the same.q

It's been converted to rwd

-Josh

[dsraven]

Will you, or did you, flash the computer to eliminate the 4x4 stuff, body module for accy that wont be used like rear side door locks/windows etc? I haven't done any of that yet other than parse out and remove a few circuits. My plan was to get the frame swap done, then start at the back and work forward, finishing to final epoxy primer. Box is done, now the cab work will start if I ever get the summer projects jar emptied.
Nice work you do with great ingenuity. Thinking outside the box instead of looking for a kit or a bolt on. Great documentation on the site too, it makes me wanna clear out my shop of other "gotta do's" and get back on the 57.

[gottattooz]

Madkidd owned it before I bought it. He swapped in the lq4 6.0l and has it dialed in perfectly. He also converted it to 2wd. As for the door circuits, like when I did the Jeep body swap, I just used the wires for the door speakers and the side turn signals. I just coiled up the extra wires and zip tied it up out of the way. I'd like to get rid of the air bag system, because it always says "service air bags" on the dash until you clear it with the trip meter button.

-Josh

[gottattooz]

Oh and current rocker height is 7 inches all the front of the front door and 8.5 inches in front of the rear wheel.

- Josh

[gottattooz]

I cut 11 inches off the front frame rails. I set the front clip on. I had to lower the back of the truck body because it was pitching the nose of the truck too low.

-Josh

[gottattooz]

I cut the lower radiator mount brackets off and welded them back on the frame. The placement is perfect and it's low enough that I can make brackets off the header panel to hold the top of the radiator. Plus there's plenty of room for electric fans and a trans cooler.

-Josh

[gottattooz]

And I took the grille teeth off the core support and bolted them back on the bumper bracket. I slotted the core support and slid the mount bracket through and clamped it to the frame. I love the look. I'll probably have to cut the bottom of the teeth off to get the bumper to fit where it needs to go, but that'll be decided later.

-Josh

[6DoF]

well that came together!!

[dsraven]

you're flying man! it looks mean with those teeth.
are you able to turn the front tires without rubbing on the rear of the fender opening?