62 chevy torsion bars to airbag conversion

[superpieboy]

Hi everyone

I am just throwing this topic out there! I have a 62 chevy and want to put airbags on it, here is the truck [IMG][/IMG]


has anyone done the coversion on a stock 60-62 front end? my chevy p10 ice cream truck has the torsion bars and i would like to put bags on it, and i would like to use the setup i have minus the torsions . is there a kit or plate available for the lower A-arms ect.

i have looked all over the web to not be able to find any info on this year truck.

thanks for you help
jeff

[63 & 64 Bowties]

I'm sorry I can't help, but just wanted to say; really cool truck. You planning any kinda door art or graphics?

[superpieboy]

i have not decided on paint yet, i want to keep it looking like an ice cream truck, its and original ice cream truck, the ice cream company that had this truck was called cap'n frosty and had huge decals on the side, of course they were painted over some time again, i found them after i was sanding the paint off on the sides, two layers of paint and there the decals were, some careful sanding exposed the decals enough for me to tell what the old ice cream truck used to be.
here is a photo of a same truck from the web, the guys name is jason (owner)

his truck looks way cool and is giving me inspiration.

[63 & 64 Bowties]

That thing is sick. I knew someone who actually had a working soft-serve ice cream truck years ago. They made some serious bucks with that thing. The most money was made at fairs/carnivals/church picnics. You ought to put you a soft-serve machine with generator in there and set up at car shows selling ice cream. Talk about unique....

[soba_03]

Ok I have a 61 Burb, It's got the same Front end. I know that you can get Drops for the front and I also know that the Torsion bars will allow you to crank it down as well. However it's not and UP/Down thing it's one or the other.

What did the guy use that has the other truck pictured? Did he use the stock suspension?

Good Luck..

[superpieboy]

that one is a 64 or 65 the same goes for this other truck pictured, they are all with the coil fronts,






i thought about using a 63 or newer front arms with the coil set up, the local wrecking yard is always getting them, back in the day old school guys made something work without changing things over.

i thinkk that this picture i found on the net is of a used to be torsion setup, they made there own plates ect






jeff

[PrerunnerRob]

Use the search for a swap for the front ends of these trucks. I believe the front end of up to 87 will bolt in, getting rid of the torsion bars.

[superpieboy]

the thing is that i spent 2 thousand on wheels and tires and do not want to change the hubs out, they are 6 lug and any conversion would leave me with 5 lug.

jeff

[PrerunnerRob]

Originally Posted by superpieboy

the thing is that i spent 2 thousand on wheels and tires and do not want to change the hubs out, they are 6 lug and any conversion would leave me with 5 lug.

jeff

Nope, I have bags and 6 lug. All you have to do is buy yourself a set of 6 lug rotors from a vendor on here.

[Frizzle Fry]

63-70 were all 6 lug for the 1/2 tons as far as I know.

[protrash64]

You can bag this front end. My buddy who is also a member here has a bagged 62 Pick-up. He pulled the torsions out......actually pressed them out........then he used the regular top plate and cup in the lowere a-arm. I have ridden in this truck and it has been parked on my driveway on the concrete!!! You just have to do some work before you get to bag it.

I believe his "handle" on here is kyle4381.

[Imperial Kustom]

I have a '63 clip under mine now, but I did 'bag the stock '62 clip before that. I wish I'd held onto that! So many people I have met want one! Anyway, to go low, box the stock lower comtrol arms, and add a mounting plate in the middle. depending on how low you want it, you can move it up or down about two inches, then weld it where you want it, and add gussets. Then build a top plate that bolts to the crossmember ends, and presto! If you want to lay out, cut up the crossmember ends and raise em, the amount you need. usually two inches or so. I think I cut mine about 2, or 2 1/2 inches.

[kyle4381]

Here are a couple of pics of my 62 with the torsion bars removed, bags, and 2 1/2" drop spindles.

[superpieboy]

thanks for everyones help on this issue, i have a good idea now what i need to do, i can get a top plate a cup, weld it onto the lower a arm, press out the torsion bars.

i can build a lower a arm plate and weld that onto the lower plate were i think it will sit the way i want it, and cut some of the cross member,add a plate ect.

has anyone ever torched a torsion bar into, after unloading the tension of course.

i think that i will work on the lower a arms and build the top plate, it looks like i woould not have a lot of clearance for the bag when its deflated, so i will have to cut some off the cross member, also lowering the lower plate into the lower arm, or what about welding the lower plate to the bottom of the a arm, this would give me about 2.5 inch's more of clearnce, then i would not have to trim from the cross member...

the only thing that concerns me is the lower ball joint, it looks like it is connected to a plate on the lower arm that also has the rubber cushion attached. i would like to do with out the plate, i will have to get a picture of the 62 front end and post it here so i can better describe.


i dont want to be too low, if theres such a thing. with this step van i can add 4 inchs to the lower body and this will appear to be lower that actual. take a look at the step van above you can tell that they added to the lower body.


thanks
jeff

[kyle4381]

I cut mine off with a torch and then cleaned it up with a grinder before having them pressed out. It would not hurt anything to just leave the rest of it in the a-arm.

[superpieboy]

that a very nice truck kyle, i coould only hope that my ice cream truck would be as nice as the trucks i have seen on this sight.

i have about 1 and 1/2 years into this once forgot about ice cream truck, oh check this out i just added pictures to the photo gallery, everyone can see the condition of this truck / van was in when i bought it.

jeff

[superpieboy]

Originally Posted by kyle4381

I cut mine off with a torch and then cleaned it up with a grinder before having them pressed out. It would not hurt anything to just leave the rest of it in the a-arm.

this sound better to me, at this time i dont think that i will be entering comps or shows, i could atleast get the bags in and functional, while still being able to ride, then cut the torsions out.

thanks kyle
jeff

[preciador6]

Any progress on this P10? i have a 71 gmc p10 original bread delivery van

[LVPhotos]

Seen this is old post, but here is a guy on hydralics. They are cool kats. www.lasvegasicecreamtrucks.com/‎

[Angrywood]

I too got a 62 I’m looking at bagging both the front and back. I’m not every experienced on working on trucks but am definitely learning from you guys. Thanks for that.

My question is how hard is it to swap my 62 for a 63 front suspension. Would it be easy to do at home without a lot of specialty tools?

I am in the mean time going to lower it with the torsion bars. Anything special I should worry about before I start cranking?

Thanks
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[Captainfab]

If you are going to swap the entire front suspension, why not use a '73-'87 suspension? That way you will have disc brakes.

[Angrywood]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

If you are going to swap the entire front suspension, why not use a '73-'87 suspension? That way you will have disc brakes.

I have thought about it just, don’t have the money or the know how to do the job with converting over.
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