1949 Chevy 3600 into a daily driver

[Coach529]

There is a little room there, but it does get tight.





I am not sure if I can get underneath the header unless I notch the frame a bit for clearance.

Might have to source some shorter shocks. The one I have is about 9" compressed.

[lower50's]

I used s-10 shocks and this is what my mount turned out like do you have 4" behind the a-arm?

[joedoh]

are you going to run a sway bar? I havent done it but I remember seeing guys run their shocks on the sway bar. otherwise I think you can just rotate the first header pipe slightly up and have room for a shock off the back of the arm. If you had tubular arms there might be room to run them down through the upper, just spitballing.

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Alternative would be shock waves in the front.

thats not a very good alternative for a bagged truck that lays out, shockwaves only have 4" of lift and that is maxed out, meaning it will ride like a square wheel only 4" raised from full droop. shockwaves make more sense on a ride that has good ground clearance already and needs a 2" drop when parked to look more sinister.

[xpickup]

Coach529, here is how I did Ken's steering. I ended up having to use 3 joints with a stand off on the middle one to get it by the fender well headers. You might have to cut down the end of the steering column to shorten it up to the edge of the fire wall. Then that would get your joint back a little further. Steering can be a ***** sometimes.

Shannon

[Coach529]

[QUOTE=joedoh;7550455]are you going to run a sway bar? I havent done it but I remember seeing guys run their shocks on the sway bar. otherwise I think you can just rotate the first header pipe slightly up and have room for a shock off the back of the arm. If you had tubular arms there might be room to run them down through the upper, just spitballing.[QUOTE]

I have a sway bar for this front end.....but I am not sure right now if I will have room.

Tubular arms are not in the budget......

I hope to get the toe set tonight so I will have a better idea...

[Coach529]

I had a breakthrough couple hours in the shop and ended on a positive note.

I set my toe in and decided the front of the LCA would not work. I needed to go on the back of the LCA......but had to clear the headers. I kept thinking about straightening out the shock a bit, rather than leaning it back towards the frame. I took some 2" flat and bent it up and put a quick gusset on side to brace it and tacked it on the frame.





First I bolted the shock to the side of the LCA but I was not happy with the minimal clearance. I then made a quick mounting tab and tack it to the LCA and that gives me almost 2" of clearance when the spindle is on the stop. I might bump the bottom of the shock out towards the ball joint another inch or so.



I plan to gusset the other side of the mount as well as build another mounting tab on the LCA.

[Coach529]

Not the best picture, but it gives you an idea.



The #1 cyl exhaust pipe is right where I need to mount a upper shock bracket. Off of memory it is only about 2"-3" above the frame. I tried fitting the bracket I built last night under the header and it would not fit. That bracket is about .75" too short.

[Coach529]

First thing I need to get my toe out set so I know exactly how much room I have to work with.

After that I can come up with a plan.

Earlier in the project these little obstacles were really fun, but now they are a real irritation. There is very little info out there regarding this crossmember, on bags, etc. Feels like I am reinventing the wheel......


One thing I am tossing around now is a small notch in the LCA allowing clearance for the shock in the front. I have room, but I am not sure if I have enough. Simple sketch below.....Obviously not to scale.

[ptc]

Looks like youre gonna have to revise that #1 cyl pipe, cut it and move in inwards until you have enough room to get your shaft by it. then just tweek the pipes back together where they collect and weld em up.

see my photochopp

[Coach529]

Originally Posted by ptc

Looks like youre gonna have to revise that #1 cyl pipe, cut it and move in inwards until you have enough room to get your shaft by it. then just tweek the pipes back together where they collect and weld em up.

see my photochopp

It would actually be beneficial to shorten up all 4 pipes 2", but that eliminates my steering column path.

[Iplumb]

I don't know if was brought up before but what about just some center dump headers?

[Coach529]

Originally Posted by Iplumb

I don't know if was brought up before but what about just some center dump headers?

I have a set of center dump block huggers, but unfortunately they will not work with this massive Danforth Crossmember.

I am pretty set on keeping these headers unless I run out of options.

[Advanced Design]

I feel your pain on overcoming the obstacles Coach. Have the 4th set of engine mounts in mine and still not 100% happy.

I wouldn't notch the control arm as I don't know what it will do to the strength of it. Obviously reduce it though don't know how much.

There almost looks like there is room with the shock mounted in front. Like you said, set toe and re-evaluate.

You don't want a shock so short that it bottoms out before the suspension bottoms out on the control arm snubber.

Keep the faith, you will get it figured out.

[Coach529]

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

I feel your pain on overcoming the obstacles Coach. Have the 4th set of engine mounts in mine and still not 100% happy.

I wouldn't notch the control arm as I don't know what it will do to the strength of it. Obviously reduce it though don't know how much.

There almost looks like there is room with the shock mounted in front. Like you said, set toe and re-evaluate.

You don't want a shock so short that it bottoms out before the suspension bottoms out on the control arm snubber.

Keep the faith, you will get it figured out.

I am not going to lie....it is a bit discouraging. It is fun to spend and evening in the garage and end on a good positive note. Ending with your brain filled with questions is a a huge drain.

Step by step.....first up set the toe.

[Coach529]

Current punch list, although I am sure I am missing some stuff!!

[youngrodder]

well you should have that list knocked out by next weekend.

Marc

[Coach529]

Originally Posted by youngrodder

well you should have that list knocked out by next weekend.

Marc

Don't think I am quite that motivated........

[joedoh]

punch list!

[Advanced Design]

Hey Coach, congratulations on finding a solution to your shock mount! Looks good. It is really rewarding to solve these fabrication problems.

[Coach529]

Quiet Saturday, which almost happens.

Wife went to an auction with our youngest, and the oldest was away at some training for work. That only left me and my 12 year old at home and he was preoccupied with some homework. Only dad in the garage.......PERFECT!!

Picked up some steel and went to work.

The beginning of a column support.....



20 minutes later



I did not think the dowel rod was going to hold up long term....so it was replaced with some 3/4" rolled steel bar.



Pinned with roll pins and started welding.



Motor back out and the modified motor mount was final welded, as well as the shock mounts.



After all that.........it got a coat of paint.....

[Coach529]

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Hey Coach, congratulations on finding a solution to your shock mount! Looks good. It is really rewarding to solve these fabrication problems.

It is always nice to knock a problem off the punch list!!

[Coach529]

End of another weekend. Today was a shop cleaning day, but I did end up getting all the painted suspension parts back on Henry, as well as get the motor and tranny back into place.

I never did show a picture of the painted column support.



Bolted the headers on while air out......which brought up another obstacle.



Looks like I will need to get creative with the exhaust. I had plans if running right below the frame and exiting out wither the running board or the fender in front of the rear wheel.



Plan right now is to get a 2-1/2" dia ,mandrel bent 45 degree and cut the flange off the collector. If I can get it that welded in parallel to the ground and pointing towards the inside of the truck slightly I should be able to make it work.

[Advanced Design]

You are really making progress and no doubt will resolve the exhaust challenge.

[lower50's]

Well one thing with the dowel it will collapse in a crash. Nice welds by the way. As for the exhaust why not leave the headers and cut the pipe to mach the header? I try not to modify a bought part if I can help it.

[Coach529]

Originally Posted by lower50's

Well one thing with the dowel it will collapse in a crash. Nice welds by the way. As for the exhaust why not leave the headers and cut the pipe to mach the header? I try not to modify a bought part if I can help it.

I hear you 100% of modifying a bought part.....but I really do not think I can make the transition without cutting the collectors.

I had planned on doing the exhaust myself, but I may have to reach out to a local guy to at least get some advice.