1958 SWB C4 Fleetside - NZ Build

[_Ogre]

just saw this build thread, another 4 eyed beauty
i have to admire the hoops you guys in other countries jump thru to build classic american cars/trucks
here we are used to 2 day free shipping and get pissed if something takes 3 days to come

nev68 is building a right hand drive 56 truck in south africa using jag components
it can be a lhd only in stock setup, modified he has to convert to rhd SA 56 build
amazing work converting the dash and truck to rhd
he's out of work and hasn't posted in over almost 2 years, hopefully nev68 is still at it

[QBRacing]

Finally my welder is coming around in the next few days. he wanted to flip the chassis to weld the underside so I had to remove the cab and wellside and annoyingly the rear diff I just installed .grrr.

figure since it's all pulled down now I might as well hit the chassis with a wire wheel, metal prep it then give it a quick etch and either some fresh paint or even por15 if I have enough left

here's some pics....
my son's 49 Fleetline, my 71 SB efi Nova and the 58 cab...
then the workshop where the magic happens
my freshly rebuilt c4 corvette rack

q

[QBRacing]

a little more progress today.

Used the marine clean, metal prep and POR15 on the Flatout Engineering C4 rear brackets.

Man I love that stuff. it looks smart as.....

had a little left in the paint tray so started hitting the chassis rails. (ild already power washed them a while back).

welder coming over tomorrow to get the front sorted.

yay

[Scottish58chev]

Awesome progress, look forward to seeing it done

[_Ogre]

por15 is recommended to be top coated due to lack of uv protection
seeing as i rarely park truk on mirrors i didn't top coat truk frame 15 yrs ago with no noticeable uv degradation

[QBRacing]

so I finally got traction on the front end today

started by tacking each of the plates into place then stood the chassis up on its side to get good welds

then we flipped the chassis upside down and lined up the c notches which were weld in.

then we mounted the subframe so he could weld down onto the underside of the chassis

then we righted the chassis and welded the top of the subframe in

unfortunately we had to stop there as I had to goto a day surgery but he's left his gear here and assures me he will be back Friday to finish the job off

[QBRacing]

while I was at it I snapped some pics of the chassis rail damage I need to fix...

In the first pic you can see it took a hit side on and all the holes cracked and split. on ran right along the top of the c channel and it is right where the c notch needed to go.

we decided ages ago to cut it out rather than drill the end of the cracks as it just spider webbed every which way.

and here is my replacement patch for it too.

[QBRacing]

well that sucks.

my certifier who has to inspect the welds before I can linish and paint the front end is fully booked till the end of April. Grrrr.

todays job was Ito get in and removed the rear leaf hangers and use an orbital wire brush to clean down the rest of the chassis. Then I coated everything I could in por15

dunno what I'm going to do for the next month but I might arrange a media blaster to hit the c4 suspension bits so they are super clean and purdy for when I get to put everything back together. better get in and order the nolathane kits I suppose.

pics of the chassis. top sides and bottom all black...

[QBRacing]

The other day I decided to clean the C4 Corvette suspension.
I tried engine clean and oven clean with a powerwasher but bit the bullet and had someone come blast it instead

all I can say is ... best 400 bucks ever....

[murd969]

Looks good. I would have paid $400 for that as well.

[ChuckDriver]

That turned out nice!

[corvettruck]

Nice to have clean parts!!
Looks great

[QBRacing]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

I have reinstalled all the C4 Suspension bits tonight so the chassis is finally rolling under its own weight. now I need to get the cab on and the steering column ordered I suppose. Cant wait.

Here s a short video showing it all done and installed.

[Scottish58chev]

Seriously impressed with how fast you have got to this stage, i'm 3 years in and still not back on my wheels lol. Good job man.

[Advanced Design]

That looks really good! Soda blasting then clear coating the aluminum components gives them a very nice look.

You mentioned you still have to replace the ball joints. Is that just to have new ones? Or is it necessary as a part of the kit application? Just curious.

[QBRacing]

just to have new ones ... I ordered them ages ago with new hubs as well. figured I might as well do them then they are done for another 10-15 years...

[QBRacing]

This won't be a long update as I haven't really had the chance to do much with the truck over the last month.

I have however ordered the new C5 Corvette front vented and slotted rotors and some C5 calipers to match. (I dont like drilled as ive had them split before). In the rear I opted to stay with a vented and slotted C4 rotor setup and simply replace with new brake pads and shoes as well as new hubs.
I have also ordered the four-wheel disc version of the under cab brake booster / Brake Master System.
finally i ordered the 64 to 68 Mustang EFI fuel tank including 600 horsepower fuel pump and 0-90 ohm GM sender unit.

This should all be here in New Zealand by the end of March.

Until then today I decided to get in and do some work on the cab. i laid it back on to the rear panel and hit the underside of the cab with a rubberised underbody sealant to further protect it from the crap weather we sometimes get over here in New Zealand

[QBRacing]

I'll do a write up next post.
too hard on the phone
just a few pics of what I've done recently

[QBRacing]

Ok - Update time again.

Youtube link for those that cant be bothered reading the below :P

As I mentioned a few posts ago I have ordered some new stuff which was delayed in leaving and isn't now due to June. Grrrr. Being that I cant leave well enough alone I have ...

1) removed the rear x-member in preparation for the new tank and once thats fitted I will b able to remount the rear xmember at the rear.

2) decided I didn't like the missing gear box x-member so I located the brackets that had been cut by the previous owner, trimmed them up and had a flat plate welded to them. I have bolted them back in and once I make the gusset it will be a removable brace to strengthen the middle of the chassis.

3) began fabricating the front brace for lack of better wording. Because I removed the old engine x-member (didnt have too but wanted too) I have decided to brace between the old front leaf mounts and k frame back to one of the old rivet points. mainly to add so strength to the front again and keep everything aligned and square.

4) replaced the upper and lower ball joints and installed the new hubs. I have made up the bracket to adapt the c4 spindle to the c5 caliper and once thats test fitted it can be painted.

----

thats about it I think... Now I just have to wait until June for all my parts to arrive.

Q

[Advanced Design]

Nice work and good progress. Hopefully early June for parts? Spoiled here with two day shipping from Jegs.

[QBRacing]

Finally received all my parts from the freight forwarder including

C5 front vented and slotted rotors
C5 front Calipers
C5 front Pads
C4 rear vented and slotted rotors
C4 rear hubs
C4 rear pads
C4 rear shoes
CPP brake master and booster setup
66-68 Mustang (Tanks Inc) EFI tank
Gm 0-90 sender
600hp fuel pump
body mounting stuff......

Video of everything that arrived

Next week I will be looking after a garage for a mate while he is on holiday so i will have access to a hoist. I plan to do the tank and rear brakes then to make it a bit easier.

You know me ... im sure to a make a video if something doesn't work as planned.

[QBRacing]

forgot the pics for those that don't want to watch youtubes

[QBRacing]

Went to go and mount the C5 rotors and calipers today and hit a snag ......

Never checked when I received the front kit when i was shipped it last year and its an 84 C4 Corvette front end ..... NOOOOOOOO. Im 90% sure I asked for 85-87 but ive changed ISP's and cant find my old emails to hit Don up about it.

Regardless of that, I located an 85 LH front spindle (probably the only spare one in New Zealand and it was free) so I snapped it up. now to find a RHS one...

-----------

As you can see the 85 is slightly different to the 84. (refer attached image)

The 85 has 14mm mounting holes vs the 84's 12mm holes
The 85 slightly rebates from the hub mounting face vs the 84's flat face.
I know it not much but those 3mm are needed for the bracket/spacer to mount the C5 caliper which is 8-9mm thick.

If I cant find one local I guess Ill have to scour craigslist and ebay.

If i can find someone local with some 86-87s then ill just grab them as they are the same as 85s but with ABS holes (which i can blank).

So Annoying.

[QBRacing]

So Don at Flatout has come to the rescue for me again .... He has shipped a RH 85 spindle to my forwarder and ill see it in about a month, sigh.

Made this video to show everyone how easy it actually is to do a big brake upgrade from a C4 Corvette to C5 Corvette brakes (reading the corvette forums about the upgrade could make a man could go crazy) .....

I designed some brackets to hold the fuel tank in place and if I get time this weekend I might try to fit it all up (but a have access to a hoist next week so it may wait till then

Q

[murd969]

Brakes look good. I did C4 to C6 Z06 brakes. They are much better than the C4 stuff.