My long term 57 project

[JamieLeggett]

What are your wheel and tire specs? Just got some wheel vintique 37 series 15x10's for the rear and some fat bfg's. The wheel and tire combo look similar to yours. On mine, im running a heidts suspension and not quite sure if I'll need to C-notch it yet.

Your stance looks about perfect, did you c-notch the frame?

Great looking project, keep it up.

[ChuckDriver]

Jamie, I didn't C-notch the frame. The rear end housing is 3in below the frame rail. It comes very close to bottoming out if you bounce up and down on the bumper.

My rear wheels are 16x10 with 4in back spacing The BFG's are 285/60R16. If I had the 15x10 I would go with a 295/50 for more width. Just for your info my rear end measure's 57 1/4in flange to flange.

[56 3100]

hi chuck looking good the dash looks wicked! any more pics of bed and rear wheel tubs?

[ChuckDriver]

Nope not yet. Hope to get to work on the tubs soon, but sure when I'll get to them. I be sure to update the progress for ya!

[not2oldchevy]

Perfect truck,would you tell me what your steering column is out of? Thanks Bill

[ChuckDriver]

It's from a 70's chevy van.

[Keevee]

The dash looks great, excellent work! The rest of the truck looks pretty darn clean and beautiful, love the cleanliness of the engine bay, love the wheels, the stance, everything!

[ChuckDriver]

Thanks KeeVee! It's been a long journey to get to this point, but I enjoyed every minute of it!

[daverod]

Nice job on the truck. Good to see you driving it. You must be happy.

[stepside83]

that truck looks great man, i really love the dash, i must of missed it but are you gonna paint it, or leave it how it is? i hope youll leave it it looks to col to paint it, sorry if i asked a question that was already answered but any way cool truck and keep us posted with any thing else you do

[ChuckDriver]

Thanks again for all the compliments. I do enjoy driving it a lot! Right now I don't plan on painting it. Just going to leave it like it is and enjoy it. I might put something on the doors, like an old garage, towing company logo or something. Any suggestions??

Next on my list is to get the rear tubs installed and some old bed wood!

[bjcaldwe]

Where did you get your rims from?

[stepside83]

i would deff put something on the doors, that would look sweet, man i wish i could find a truck it pretty good shape like yours if you put a sign on the doors be sure to post the pics of it

[ChuckDriver]

The wheels came from Stockton Wheel, in Stockton, CA. The fronts are 15x8 with 4in BS and the rear are 16x10 with 4.25in BS. I put 4in BS for the rears on an earlier reply, but I'm looking at the invoice now, so this info in correct!

http://www.stocktonwheel.com/

[jjjmm56]

Originally Posted by ChuckDriver

Thanks KeeVee! It's been a long journey to get to this point, but I enjoyed every minute of it!

Come on we all know at times you would rather rip your fingernails out with a pair of vicegrips. BUT it's all worth it in the end, great looking truck and a lot of great ideas.

[blackdiesel]

Hey chuck, Ive found a guy that well cut me out a 59 car dash for 100 bucks. do you think thats about right for a price?

[ChuckDriver]

Sounds good to me! I paid $125 for mine. And you have to remember that they aren't making these anymore!!

[OrrieG]

If it comes with the speedo and guages, chrome, etc. sounds like a really good deal. I would expect that the dash cluster and some of the rare chrome, heater controls, etc. are worth that.

[56hotrodred]

Nice build man.

I was wondering if you could show a few more shots of the radiator you have used and maybe some info on it like how much and where did you get it from. I only saw one picture of it from the front but could tell it was not a stock one.

Thanks.

56hotrodred

[ChuckDriver]

Here are pics of the suburban wheel tubs that I need to cut down and mount to the bedsides.

[ChuckDriver]

The radiator I had custom made by Griffin in Piedmont SC. It's 2 row aluminum, and I paid to much for it!! But I wanted it to fit right and not stick above the top of the support. It is sitting in a SS tray that is held in place by the support to frame bolts on the bottom. And another SS tray on top that is bolted to the support by 4 bolts that are hidden below it. The fan mounts are my own design that I first drew up on poster board and then had scanned. The file was loaded into a very large punch machine and the two pieces were cut from aluminum and then I bent them on a large brake. They are a tight fit over the top and bottom of the radiator. The fans are bolted to them using carraige bolts. The hoses are made from tubing that I painted with hight temp paint and clear. It runs cool and has never gotten above 190 even on the hottest days here in SC!

[56hotrodred]

Those pictures are great and very close to the look I am after. Thanks for posting them.

I have been looking at Griffin, another company called Be Cool and a couple of others.

None of them look cheap and tig welded aluminum, polished or natural, with double fans are ranging from over a thousand to almost $2,500.00.

The system I am looking at seriously is about $1,400.00 but comes with all accessories needed including fans, wires, relays, etc...

I really like the clean look of your engine bay and am also going in that direction. Your dash is really unbelievable I mean way over the top - I just the love it. Way beyond my current skill level!!!

Thanks again.

56hotrodred

[nickp51chevy]

Those suburban wheel tubes are a good idea. I might have to do it with my '51.

[56 3100]

you build is looking good chuck thanks for wheel tub pics. mine should be here soon.undecided on stock style aluminum radiator or cross flow like yours

[ChuckDriver]

Had her up on a lift last week doing an oil change. Thought you might like to see some pics!!