57 GMC, frame swap, 4wd, 454 big block, 4 speed

[Old57]

I started fitting my core support, inner fenders and driver side fender. I was having trouble getting the inner fenders to mount to the core support and be lined up with the cab, then noticed that the EZ Chassis Swap mounts had my cab leaning down in the front. I asked a guy to get me some measurements on a stock frame for the body mount height difference in the front and rear mounts. With his measurements, I figured out that I needed to add 1/2" shims at the front mounts, then everything started lining up and looking right. I trimmed the driver inner fender to clear the steering box, and I'll shape it nice when I take the front clip back apart for blasting and priming. Also, the EZ Chassis mounts for the core support was a good fit for the passenger side, but I had to rework the driver side mount quite a bit, and rework the driver side of the core support to get everything bolted on. I messaged Ed at EZ Chassis Swaps to ask about the core support mounts not clearing the steering box, and he knew about it and said I'd have to modify everything to work on the 55-57 trucks. He never mentioned anything like that when I ordered the cab and core support mounts from him. I'd think that if the mounts weren't correct, they'd be revised before they are sold as being right. If I was to do this again, I'd make my own mounts. The EZ mounts are really pricey, especially when they don't fit right anyway. It's nice to start seeing what the truck is going to look like now. It'll come up 3 or 4 inches with wheels and tires... Going to be a big boy.

[Old57]

This evening's mock-up progress on the 57... I got the front clip fit up to the cab and frame. I need to install the hood, fix the passenger side fender, and make both fender bottoms match the door and cab, then I can get it all media blasted and sprayed in epoxy primer like the cab. Nothing just goes right together, haha!

[izzy_Britton]

nice build. looking good. wish i had the time to work on all my projects. lol

[joedoh]

holy geeze that is a big truck! haha looking good!

[mongocanfly]

yep....coming together nicely. ..

[Black_Sheep]

Lovin' it...

[Old57]

Thanks guys

I had a little bit of time this evening, so I set in the 88-98 Chevy truck bench seat and marked for the mounting holes. It fits in great, and I'll get it recovered sometime. I think I might shorten the bottom mounting brackets 1 1/2" or 2". Its much more room and comfortable than the stock bench, but I'm 6'-4", so I sit up pretty close to the roof now. I also mounted the wiring panel on the inner firewall.

[Old57]

I had a chance to get a little more done this afternoon. I got rid of the drum brakes on the 14 bolt rear end, and installed rear disc brakes.

[Black_Sheep]

Originally Posted by Old57

Thanks guys

I had a little bit of time this evening, so I set in the 88-98 Chevy truck bench seat and marked for the mounting holes. It fits in great, and I'll get it recovered sometime. I think I might shorten the bottom mounting brackets 1 1/2" or 2". Its much more room and comfortable than the stock bench, but I'm 6'-4", so I sit up pretty close to the roof now. I also mounted the wiring panel on the inner firewall.

Don't GMC trucks have a brace between the firewall and the column drop like a Chevrolet does? I'm still trying to learn the minor differences between the 2 makes.

Great color for the dash, especially with a black interior...

[Old57]

Originally Posted by Black_Sheep

Don't GMC trucks have a brace between the firewall and the column drop like a Chevrolet does? I'm still trying to learn the minor differences between the 2 makes.

Great color for the dash, especially with a black interior...

Yes, it had a brace between the dash and firewall. I drilled out the spot welds and removed it, because I'm using the hanging pedals and brace from the 73 donor truck.

[Old57]

I went through all of my parts to better organize stuff for the future progress. I didn't realize that I had so much stuff that I'm not going to be using. Starting to get a pile of it together... not looking forward to dealing with the "Craigslist Hagglers" haha

[Dieselwrencher]

Nice work on your truck, I love it!

[Old57]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Nice work on your truck, I love it!

Thanks! I feel the same about your truck too!

[Old57]

This afternoon, I cut 2" out of the mounts on the 88-98 Chevy truck seat. The seat fits great in the cab, but I'm tall and my head was close to the roof of the cab, so I cut the mounts down. I sprayed some black paint on them after I welded them together. I'll probably have them powder coated later on when I re-cover the seat in pleated black vinyl.

[Advanced Design]

Wow, cool build and nice work! Catching up and tagging along for the rest.

[Old57]

Thanks guys

So I decided on the color for the interior... it's a cream/almond color, but called antique white. I have most of my wiring ran in the cab, and have all of the new switches, etc. to install in the dash. After I get the lower front fenders fit to the cab and doors, I'll pull off the doors and hinges, then prep and mask everything to paint the interior. I sprayed the glove box door and the heater control cover to see how it would look. I like it, and it looks better out in the sun. The lights in the shop don't show the color as good.

[joedoh]

exciting!

[Dieselwrencher]

Nice work! Yeah, it is getting harder to sell stuff on cl. Fyi, social media sale sites are just as bad. Probably worse. Lol

[Old57]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Nice work! Yeah, it is getting harder to sell stuff on cl. Fyi, social media sale sites are just as bad. Probably worse. Lol

You're right on that... Its usually not worth the time and hassle to deal with it.

[Old57]

Not much of an update... been busy with Thanksgiving and work, but I did pick up a set of wheels that I'm going to use for the truck. A set of stock 16" steel wheels. I'll have them blasted and primed, and paint them the interior color, along with the grill and headlight bezels. I'll be using these wheels with a set of late 60's/early 70's Chevy 3/4 ton dog dish caps.

[Dieselwrencher]

Very nice!

[OutlawDrifter]

As I've aged I no longer care much for aftermarket wheels. Some have their place, Keystone Mags, Torque Thrusts, Slot Mags, Cragars, etc. Nothing looks better on a clean ride than a set of painted steel wheels with a good center cap!

[Old57]

Originally Posted by OutlawDrifter

As I've aged I no longer care much for aftermarket wheels. Some have their place, Keystone Mags, Torque Thrusts, Slot Mags, Cragars, etc. Nothing looks better on a clean ride than a set of painted steel wheels with a good center cap!

I completely agree! I was just thinking the other day how I must be an old man now, because I don't care for most custom wheels, I like bench seats, and I like the trucks sitting up stock height or higher, haha! It took me a while to find a good set of hubcaps and these stock wheels. I want the tall and skinny tire look. I'm tempted to even go with the replica tires that are bias ply, like a Super Lug 9.00-16, but I'll probably go with a radial tire. I'm not sure if I can fit a 35"-36" tire like the 9.00-16 and clear the fenders yet, so I've been looking at 255/85-16, which would be a 33" tire.

[Old57]

Something like this tire maybe...

https://simpletire.com/cooper-lt255-85r16-73440-tires

[joedoh]

capnduane that interior is gorgeous, it was hard to imagine/envision what a black/antique white interior would look like.

Originally Posted by Old57

Something like this tire maybe...

https://simpletire.com/cooper-lt255-85r16-73440-tires

I think we would get on like kin, I like the tires, not obnoxiously wide. I would love to have an old 60-66 4x4 on pizza cutters for the 6 days a decade the roads are impassible here.