Roadkill's 58 Chevy Stepside

[Roadkill58]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

what is the outside size of your tires?
i run 15'' rims with a 28 tire
your 16'' tires look small in there
maybe its all the light behind it, no inner fender

25 3/4" P225 /60/16 Goodyear Eagle GA

Moved crossmember forward 3/4" and tack weld in place.

reposition top hats as well. Install A-arms and spindles.

I have 4 3/4" clearance at bottom of crossmenber.

Spindles aren't cinched down real tight.

[papastrk]

The measurement I settled on with the 55-57 fender is 20 1/8". I think this is exactly what you ended up with. It looked right on mine, but I was worried that I had moved it too far forward after seeing your initial measurement. I used a 225/70-15 tire. Thanks for the replies.

[Roadkill58]

Originally Posted by papastrk

The measurement I settled on with the 55-57 fender is 20 1/8". I think this is exactly what you ended up with. It looked right on mine, but I was worried that I had moved it too far forward after seeing your initial measurement. I used a 225/70-15 tire. Thanks for the replies.

I don't think I would run anything more than a 70. It might change the way it looks in the wheel well.

I have a set of four that were given to me (the ones on front now).

The others are off of IROCs that I scrapped out. Shouldn't have to buy tires for a while. Not really the rims that I want.

[Roadkill58]

Thanks everyone for your input. I really appreciate you taking the time to comment.

Just wanted to get this IFS install right the first time.

Thats why I invited all of you to chime in.

I have been around cars and trucks even before I was old enough to drive (legally) and I still learn something new everyday.

[_Ogre]

i like it roadkill, you work fast.

i run a P235/70R15 tire which is 28'' diameter, 225/70r15 is 27.4 diameter
225/60-16 is 26.63 diameter, according to the tire charts
i guess thats why mine look like the fill the tire well more

[Roadkill58]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

i like it roadkill, you work fast.

i run a P235/70R15 tire which is 28'' diameter, 225/70r15 is 27.4 diameter
225/60-16 is 26.63 diameter, according to the tire charts
i guess thats why mine look like the fill the tire well more

Looks like I was off on the tire measurement. Should have aired it up before I measured.

I'm not that fast. I still have to weld the crossmember and hats.

Didn't work on the truck today.

I rode my motorcycle to the hobby shop to get some parts for the rockcrawlers I'm buiding (once they are all together I will take them apart so the kids can build them) for my nephew and niece.

Of course I still need more parts. Might get another ride in tomorrow.

My wife and sister are going to Reno this weekend so I get to work on the truck without interruption....maybe.

This rock crawler is my custom build.
My friend makes the chassis and battery tray. I made the stainless tubing suspension arms.

The burnt orange one is mine and blue one is my wifes. I need to make a little iphone out of styrene and glue it to her hand.

[Roadkill58]

Today I removed the a-arms and spindles.

Measured everything one last time and welded the crossmember and top hats in.

[Kim57]

Looks nice.
Kim

[Roadkill58]

Originally Posted by Kim57

Looks nice.
Kim

Thanks Kim.

[Roadkill58]

Friday and Saturday were productive days.

Saturday I hung the a-arms and spindles on the frame and mocked up the power rack.

Installed the tie rod ends on the rack and tried to put the IROC 15" wheels on the front.

They won't clear the tie rod ends.

The IROC 15" wheels have 4 1/2" backspacing. I don't think the backspacing is the issue.

I think it might be the 2" drop spindles.

The 16" wheels clear the tie rod ends.

I'm glad I found this out before I bought wheels.

Today I rode the motorcycle to Sonoma Raceway with some friends to watch the NASCAR race. The Fongmonster got us some free tickets right at the start-finish line!


.

[Kabwe]

looking good buddy.

[_Ogre]

nice welds

[Roadkill58]

Originally Posted by Kabwe

looking good buddy.

Thanks Kabwe.

[Roadkill58]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

nice welds

Thanks Ogre.

I'm getting better at mig welding.

[Kim57]

Looks nice.
Kim

[Roadkill58]

Originally Posted by Kim57

Looks nice.
Kim

Thanks Kim.

Today is going to be order day. Patch panels for hinge pockets and things to make the doors stay on.

Any suggestions on who to order from?

[Roadkill58]

Yesterday afternoon it quit raining so I decided to work on the truck.

I wanted to pull the cab off the frame, but realized I didn't have anything to put it on.

Went out to one of my scrap piles and found some stuff that would work.

So I'm welding up the cab dolly, and I get a warm and tingling sensation.
Not because I'm getting something done, but because my feet were wet, and the concrete was wet.

Today I used the lift to remove the cab from the frame. I didn't have the best rigging, and ended up removing the front wheels to roll the frame out from under the cab with a floor jack.

Not sure how much the cab weighs but the rear end is way higher now.

Dolly works great. Rolls around real easy.

[Roadkill58]

As soon as I remove fifty more pounds of dirt I can mount the master cylinder to the frame.

Also buid a transmission mount, and box the frame.

Almost forgot motor mounts too.

[Kim57]

It's got to be nice to have a lift.
Kim

[Roadkill58]

Originally Posted by Kim57

It's got to be nice to have a lift.
Kim

Yes it is.

I put the ramps on the side and lay down som 4x4s and drive my garden tractor on for service and sharpening blades.

I have a 6' mowing deck for the big tractor so it gets on the lift to get its blades sharpened as well.

Use an air/hydraulic bottle jack to do brake work at a comfortable height.

I could go on and on.

Walls and a roof would be nice too.

[Roadkill58]

Today I decided to mock up the power master cylinder.

CPP said it would not work with a stick shift.

I like it when people tell me I can't do something.

My dad used to tell me "can't never did anything."

He always wanted me to think positive.

I'm not sure the clutch arm goes that far in normal operation.

Looks like enough clearance to me.

I could use a hydraulic release bearing if I have to.

The master cylinder says DOT 3 only. Would it hurt to run DOT 4?

[Kim57]

Looks good on there.
Kim

[Roadkill58]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

i like it roadkill, you work fast.

i run a P235/70R15 tire which is 28'' diameter, 225/70r15 is 27.4 diameter
225/60-16 is 26.63 diameter, according to the tire charts
i guess thats why mine look like the fill the tire well more

Ogre what backspacing does your front and rear wheels have?

[Roadkill58]

Originally Posted by Kim57

Looks good on there.
Kim

Thanks Kim.

Not sure if I will run that bell housing. I need to fab up a trans mount.

[_Ogre]

i use 7x15 rims up front and 8x15 in back both have 4'' back space
though i would use 4.5 on back, i have less than 1/4'' clearance to the fender on one side

where did you attach the front of the torque arm to?
i used an x-member that you appeared to cut out.