My 55 Chevy 4X4

[marc55]

Did some welding on the frame and wire wheel to get ready for some paint. Not going to crazy on detailing the frame just want to clean it up and paint it.

[marc55]

Painted the frame this morning. The hardener maid it a little more glossy than I wanted but at least it will look nice before the first wet day I drive it. I finally feel like this is a turning point in the project and now everything is forward progress. So far I have 168 hours into this and a little over half way on my 2 year goal to completion.

[Bishops Trucks]

I love the look of those trucks as 4x4's. I should have bought my Dad's '57 from him and put it on my '71 4x4 chassis. I will be watching your build. Nice work so far.

[marc55]

Thank you. This body style has been my favorite since I was a kid. The lines of this truck look so good it is one of the few that in my opinion need no body modifications. This truck has been on my list of dream cars from day one. I like cars but have always had a truck. A couple years ago a divorce wiped me out (tools and truck). My very supportive girlfriend convinced me to build a truck. We got lucky and found this on CL. I feels good to get back into this kind of stuff.

[marc55]

Put my front springs on and new bushings.




Cleaned up the diffs for some paint.



Found a broken spring on the rear. Don't know if I want to go stock replacement or get 2.5" lift springs to get rid of the blocks.

[marc55]

not much going on. I got the diffs painted. My broken spring is cutting into my sand blasting budget so I have been spending some quality time with my wire wheel.

[marc55]

Back in business. Found some springs on Craig's List. Cleaned them up, new bushings on the way. What a pain getting the old one's out. My girlfriend was tired of listening be complain about the wire wheel she has the sand blaster coming to the house on Wednesday. That's a good woman.

[marc55]

The dustless blaster came to the house yesterday and did the cab. I also got the rear leafs installed.

[hopped up]

Dustless blaster? Huh? Never heard of this. You must have great neighbors ,you have a lot going on in your driveway. That's the kind of build I love. Great work so far

[63 & 64 Bowties]

I used to have some videos from one of the companies who sell those dustless blasters. I can't find it. But, those things are amazing. No heat, no dust, and very fast. They're way too much money to buy unless you're planning on starting a blasting business.

[marc55]

The blasting was loud and took about 4 hours. The plastic caught most of the glass beed but it still went everywhere. I was very impressed and the the blaster was a good guy. No need to neutralize or decontaminate afterwards. My neighbors are tolerant. I do my best to work on weekdays when most people are at work. Now their going to get to listen to me hammer and doll.

[marc55]

The radiator was an e-bay special from super-raditor. Everything was $220. I know it's not a griffin but I will take my chances. I think it also has a lifetime warrantee. The quality was fine by me.

The sway bar is the stock setup from 70s chevy. I just added a brace to it. I am looking for a rear sway bar right now. Not sure how I want to set it up. I am thinking about putting it up high and running the links down.

[marc55]

Got the cab in epoxy primer yesterday.

[marc55]

Started to work on some of the rust. Passenger inner cab corner was rusted out so a mocked up a new one





The driver inner hinge pock also needs some attention. Started to cut out for a new one

[marc55]

Finished out the hinge pocket areas today.

[marc55]

Thanks I will. I am lucky there is not much rust in this thing.

[_Ogre]

your sway bay needs to have links in it, as installed it will not work. your suspension will not move at all.
both ends are locked in rubber mounts; one end should be locked in and the other end should have some kind of link to allow for differences in the pivot point of the spring ends
as installed you have a triangle locked from the 2 sway bar mounts and the spring pivot



most sway bars can be mounted 2 ways on a straight axle, secured to the axle with links to the frame or secured to the frame with links to the axle
independent suspension requires the sway bar secure to the frame with links to the individual A arms

this is a stock task force suburban front sway bar: sway bar on axle with links to frame



sway bar on frame with links to axle



most sway bar links are of 2 types; straight and dog bone
i tried to find an example of a link that would work with your set up and did not find a cure

[marc55]

The front sway bar is actually the factory setup for the frame. It is fixed at the frame and where it mounts to the axle it can rotate when the suspension moves up and down. I did add some bracing to the frame but i don't think that would cause any problems with the sway bar. I could definitely use some advice for a rear sway bar set up, because of the lift I will need to run longer links. I don't know if I should put the sway bar up high by the frame and run the links down or do the opposite. Since you will see it either way I would like it to have a custom look to it.

[_Ogre]

i did some searching around the net. that is a factory 70 sway bar setup. my bad

at first look, my instincts and education, tell me it won't flex; 3 sides of a triangle won't move at all
sway bar, spring and frame, the only thing that can give is the rubber bushings
the aftermarket figured it out too and came up with this sway bar correction kit

[marc55]

Thanks for the pictures. I found a sway bar on crags list that I might be getting tomorrow and will be trying to fit to the rear. It has the dog bone style links.

[marc55]

Got the floor in primer yesterday and today I painted the floor. The truck is going to be some form of metallic silver. I know it is just the floor but I couldn't do flat black so I went with a dark metallic color. Still deciding if I am going to use it on the firewall.

[mvitale27]

Looks real good. You got lucky with the small amount of rust repair you had to do.

[marc55]

I found a sway bar on CL for $25. It is wider than my springs but I am thinking I can mount it to the top of the spring pads and mount the dog bones to the frame.

[marc55]

Not planning on doing much offloading with mine. Having to do a body lift to fit the frame it id a little top heavy. I decided since it is all apart I would put one on for better road handling. I figure I would make it a bolt on so if I don't like it I can just unbolt it.

[marc55]

Not much to report this week but I have a good excuse. The best girlfriend ever took me to Maui for my birthday. I am thinking though going to work on the sway bar when I get back. Until then aloha.