58 Fleetside

[Tchia65]

Originally Posted by 71'tahoe

TJ
Exellent build man! Can I ask you for the hieght of the frame at the front and rear of the cab with your truck aired out in post 37? Truck looks killer man!

Greg

I sneaked into the yard to measure my back space and measured the frame distance while I was at it. From the bottom of the frame to the ground is 4.5 inches in front of and in back of the cab. Hope that helps.

[71'tahoe]

Originally Posted by Tchia65

I sneaked into the yard to measure my back space and measured the frame distance while I was at it. From the bottom of the frame to the ground is 4.5 inches in front of and in back of the cab. Hope that helps.

Thank You. I does help! I like how you did the guages! I like Auto Meter Gauges. Ill be using them with my build also! Keep up the good work!

[michaelnolimit]

Tj everything looks great. I love the stance. Couple things I just wanted to point out to everyone on the board.

1. The axle center line is 36.5 inches from the tip of the rear frame rail. If your at 36 There may be enough adjustment in the bar to shorten it to pull the axle forward the half inch. But since your tacked in you may want to just move the bracket forward.


2. On the front suspension the upper control arm needs a larger washer between the nut and the poly biscuit. If you dont have them I can get them to you. Let me know.

3. Fuel injection pumps we offer. They go inside the tank after you drill a 4 inch hole in the top. the pump comes with everything you need to bolt it into your tank. they go for 289.00. any questions regarding the pump call us.

4. And for you guys experiencing some squeeking coming from your poly bushings you can drill and tap a 1/4 28 hole were the center of the bushings meet. Insert a grease fitting and pump them full of grease.

other than that everything looks great cant wait to see the finished product . I love fleetside chevys that has to be one of the nicest beds ever produced. Im jealuos of all you short fleetside owners. happy cruising

[Kim57]

That looks real nice.
Kim

[Tchia65]

I like the big chrome V put have thought about smoothing the dash and going cockpit style. I just need to put about 10,000 miles on my truck next spring then I'll be tearing it down again next winter when I'm in Virgina. I believe "speedway special" was roadster of the year a few years back, I remember seeing it at Pomona.

[Spackle100]

Yeah, I like the V too. I have thought about keeping the V and making a custom bezel out of wood (varnished finish) or sheet metal painted to match the body color.
Ahh man, I'd like to see some those roadsters in person!

Originally Posted by Tchia65

I like the big chrome V put have thought about smoothing the dash and going cockpit style. I just need to put about 10,000 miles on my truck next spring then I'll be tearing it down again next winter when I'm in Virgina. I believe "speedway special" was roadster of the year a few years back, I remember seeing it at Pomona.

[Tchia65]

Thanks Micheal.

#1. I actually did install the rear at 36.5 from the back. I had heard several different opinions. I finally throw the bed on and made my own decision before tacking it in.

#2. I will need some washers. Intially I was sent coilover arms. I sent them back and when I got the airbag ones they were short on washers so I bought these from fastenal.

#3. A buddy gave me new Walbro 255 with AN fittings, and my cell already has 10 AN's in it so I'm gonna go the external route.

#4. I looked at the bag alignment in the front. Think you were right. Looks like the top of the bag is a little too inboard.

I need to get this thing on the road. I have to put 10,000 miles on it next Spring and want to make sure the bugs are worked out. Thanks for all your help.

TJ

[Kim57]

Looks like a nice set up.
Kim

[hotrodrookie]

Looking sweet. I like the way the whole tank mount is removable and how the pump and regulator are tucked in close to the bottom of the tank, very clean. Im running an internal pump so i can't help you there..
What type of radiator are you using? I have a ls1 camaro rad w/ fans I thinking about using.

[Tchia65]

Originally Posted by hotrodrookie

Looking sweet. I like the way the whole tank mount is removable and how the pump and regulator are tucked in close to the bottom of the tank, very clean. Im running an internal pump so i can't help you there..
What type of radiator are you using? I have a ls1 camaro rad w/ fans I thinking about using.

When I got the truck it had a 68 Camaro radiator mounted on some decent aluminum adapters. I got a Griffin LS conversion radiator for a Camaro pretty cheap so I'm just going to use the same brackets. I couldn't find a shroud to fit the radiator the way I wanted so I'm just using a 16" high flow electric fan until I have time to make one.

[dicer]

I stupid question here. So when people do this lowering thing, is it lowered so the cab sits on the ground with no air in the bags? If not, I'd still be afraid of small rocks or what ever dinging the bottom when lowering it. Or a sudden loss of air while crusing down the hiway. I need some education here.

[Tchia65]

Originally Posted by dicer

I stupid question here. So when people do this lowering thing, is it lowered so the cab sits on the ground with no air in the bags? If not, I'd still be afraid of small rocks or what ever dinging the bottom when lowering it. Or a sudden loss of air while crusing down the hiway. I need some education here.

Yes it is only that low with the bags deflated. When mine is that low nothing is actually touching the ground, but I don't have more than a 1/2 inch of clearance. If you set up the system right there really no drawbacks, they can adjust better to loads, handle well, and ride much better than leaf springs. Plus for guys like me it lets us go low, but still be able to use it as a truck when I want to. If a bag ruptured while driving it would suck, but they are actually pretty tough. Big rigs use bags too.

[ratty 46]

Nifty build ... I'm in on it.

Ratty 46

[Tchia65]

Starting fitting the inner fender wells over the "A" arms and cutting the mounts for the bed. Trying to get the odds and ends dealt with.

[Kabwe]

Looking good Tchia65

[hotrod1]

What kind of motor mounts did you use? Did you use an adapter plate?

[hotrod1]

Oh, forgot to ask, but what about headers?

[Tchia65]

Originally Posted by Kabwe

Looking good Tchia65

Thanks Kabwe. Glad to see your build back up. I just need to get this thing moving, I'm driving it to Rhode Island in April

Originally Posted by hotrod1

What kind of motor mounts did you use? Did you use an adapter plate? Oh, forgot to ask, but what about headers?

You can see the mounts in posts #26 and #27. They were some generic ones that came with my suspension. I have a tendency to overbuild things and they were 16 or 18 gauge so I rebuilt them with 11 gauge plus I had to modify the crap out of the drivers side for the Rack spline. That notch is .250 tubing and 3/16 plate.

I found a pair of Corvette manifolds and cut the ends off and welded on a standard header collector but they don't clear my steering and the collector is too close to my lower "A" arm bushing on the drivers side. I waiting on these http://www.summitracing.com/parts/EDL-65763/ They should be here tomorrow, I hope they fit. Since my truck is so low I going to run the dual exhaust down the passenger side above the crossmembers and all my fuel, air, brake lines and wiring down the drivers.

[Tchia65]

Originally Posted by hotrod1

What kind of motor mounts did you use? Did you use an adapter plate?

Yes I used adapters and standard small block urethane motor mounts. It was either that or build stand offs off the cross member and wanted to keep it simple. I Did have to swap out to an LS1 oil pan though.

[Tchia65]

My transfer to Virginia is getting too close but I had to take some time away from the truck to remodel my kitchen so I can try to refinance and rent out my house. The Corvette manifolds I had hit the column and the steering shaft so I bought some Edlebrock street rod headers and they hit the double shear for my lower A arms on the passenger side. I figured I had to cut one of them up so I went with the free corvette manifolds, now everything fits, and sending the headers back will pay for my rear tires. Got the radiator modified and mounted, got the raised bed mounts welded on to the frame and the rear shock mounts tacked. Gonna try to make some head way on the exhaust tomorrow. My 16x10 rallys came in and clear the rear disc's and the offset looks like it will work, plus I picked up some baby moons for $30. Should be a lot more progress on this thing in the next two months since I'm supposed to be driving it to Rhode Island in April.

[ChuckDriver]

Nice work, those 16x10's look familiar!

[Kim57]

Very nice.
Kim

[Tchia65]

Frame got cleaned up and piss canned. Start putting it back together tomorrow. Hopefully I'm on the downhill side now.

[Kabwe]

Looking good my friend, looking real good.

[Kim57]

Looks like your making good progress on it.
Kim