57 P/u 77 camaro core support issues

[Rusty Hooker]

Does anyone know how to get around the issue with the Camaro steering box and the stock core support? The one pic I have got from here (the shiny grey chassis) shows the support brackets but I interfere with the box. Help me, I'm melting.

Thanx
Rusty

[Maximus]

If done properly, the original core support bracket and frame horns (nose pieces?) can be installed and do not interfere with the mount for the steering box. Someone on the fourm might have the measurement, I did mine like 5 years ago. But if you look at by build (link in my signiture) you can at least see my frame together with the nose pieces welded on to the end of the camaro subframe...

good luck, but dont worry, all is not lost...

[Indian113]

I e-mailed metal monkey to see if he has his done yet,if he has maybe he will post some pictures.
Rusty Hooker if you want I can e-mail you all the pictures of that frame I have. Pm me your e-mail add.
That frame belongs to a friend of mine,I haven't seen the finished truck yet.

[55metalmonkey]

I just finished that job today, I'll take pics tomorow and post them. I used a 72 subframe but they are not that much different i don't think. if you check on the shiney grey one the left mount is notched to clear the PS box, I did mine a little different. will post details soon

[NW Task Force]

I was wondering how everyone is getting their measurements for "grafting" the original frame horns onto the Camaro/Firebird subframes. The job looks fairly simple, but somehow the original frame horns must be welded on the same "plane" as the original frame (behind the added in subframe). The length and height must be accounted for. Does anyone have some measurements taken for where the frame horn "graft" takes place? I was originally thinking about welding on some simple 90* elbow brackets and calling it good. I guess I didn't account for the bumper brackets..........thats another project! Seems to me that "grafting" on the original frame horns is the only way to achieve a simple bolt-on process.

[55metalmonkey]

I'm working from the cab back forward so I
-mounted the cab and centered it,
-put on hood,
-assembled the fenders and core support as a 3 piece clip
-hung it on the bolts by the cowl,
- closed hood
-jacked up the front sheetmetal untill the body line was straight from headlight to cab back,
-welded in the core support brackets,
-capped the camaro subframe ends with 1/4 plate,
-lined up bumper to the proper height( or what looks right anyway)
-made brackets 3 1/2" x ? and welded them in. not sure of the lenght

I measured everything to be symetrical but never really used calculated measurements for heights and lenghts, just what looked right with the body lines.

[PDW HOTRODS]

When I did mine, I had my frame on jack stands, and I measured from the floor up to the frame at the very front of the frame, at the core support mounts, at the cab mounts, and at the bed mounts. I also measured front to bach from front of frame to cab mounts, core support mounts to cab mounts, centerline of axle to cab mounts. I did the complete job without moving the truck frame just in case the floor was not perfect. Measure everything and more than you think you need and write it all down , and don't lose the paper.

[Rusty Hooker]

Thanks guys. Will put the body on and go from there.

[55metalmonkey]

here are some pics, I don't have the PS box bolted in but you can see the clearance. I used the original brackets and a piece if 1.5" steel in the front. mine might be slightly higher than some because I made my own rubber mounts/ pads from 1/2" urethane rubber so my cab and core support might be 1/4" higher than others but there should be tons of clearance. if you already welded it all in and its in the way you could either notch it to clear, or if thats not an option then you might want to look for a new or used General Motors Saginaw 605 power steering gear with cast part number 7819688. This steering gear box was original equipment on several late 70's and early 80's GM, AMC and Jeep products. They are considerably smaller than a stock Chevelle or Camaro power steering gear which provides more clearance. Also added some pics if the subframe cap before I welded in the bumper bracket but you can see how it should/ will go. Also keep in mind that everything is still roughly ground and nothing has been sandblasted yet.
Hope this helps, if you need more detailed pics let me know.

[55metalmonkey]

Took another look at my rad support, It looks like it will be close but I have lots of metal to play with, the area marked in yellow is where I might have to notch. I'm just waiting for the new PS box to show up to be 100% sure.

[Rods57]

Here is a shot of mine, there is a guy here that has done 38 of these and he has a jig. his name is Jay do a craigslist search in idaho for 1955 and you will see his add.

[55metalmonkey]

Nice frame, hope mine looks that nice after the sandblasting and paint,

With mine I did't keep any of the original frame forward of the graft I just capped the end and made new bumper brackets like the one indian posted in another thread.

[Rusty Hooker]

Thanks for all the input guys, nice work. Have to wait till the front end is reassembled before I can hang the body to know where I sit. Could you please tell me or show me the thicknesses of the 4 body mounts, as mine came with none, and for the love of Pete the interweb dun't tell me jack. I need these to be able to put the cab etc back on the see where the rad support goes. That would be awesome. And some pics. First is shop lights, second is natural light. Two scoops of gold in gloss black.

[Rods57]

Looks good, love the flake.

[OrrieG]

Originally Posted by Rods57

Here is a shot of mine, there is a guy here that has done 38 of these and he has a jig. his name is Jay do a craigslist search in idaho for 1955 and you will see his add.

Jay has it down to a science. Everytime I go out there he tries to sell me on a slammed GMC to compliment my 59 4wd.

[WillieWelder]

I have this link from the HAMB. He shows how he did the the core support on page 4. I hope this helps you. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...ht=camaro+clip

[55metalmonkey]

I read that one too before I started, lots of good info. I was planning on reversing / recycling the original body mounts like it was done on the H.A.M.B. but mine were too far gone to do that. I finally got my steering all the way in tonight, was waiting on new tie rod ends. I did end up notching the left core support 1/2 X 3/4 to clear the box.

Rusty, did you ever get a measurement on the body mounts?
I belive the originals were 3/8 for the ones on the rear cab and 1/8 (vitualy nothing) onthe fronts....I asked that same question a while ago and got a few different answers. For mine I went with 1/2 urethane rubber in the rear and 1/4" in the front and on the core support. it might not be 100% accurate to the original but it works and have no issues with any kind of clearance

[59weasel]

55metalmonkey...PM sent.

[Rusty Hooker]

Originally Posted by 55metalmonkey

I read that one too before I started, lots of good info. I was planning on reversing / recycling the original body mounts like it was done on the H.A.M.B. but mine were too far gone to do that. I finally got my steering all the way in tonight, was waiting on new tie rod ends. I did end up notching the left core support 1/2 X 3/4 to clear the box.

Rusty, did you ever get a measurement on the body mounts?
I belive the originals were 3/8 for the ones on the rear cab and 1/8 (vitualy nothing) onthe fronts....I asked that same question a while ago and got a few different answers. For mine I went with 1/2 urethane rubber in the rear and 1/4" in the front and on the core support. it might not be 100% accurate to the original but it works and have no issues with any kind of clearance

Funny thing. I'm going through all the parts I got looking for my diff perches and what do I find? A full set of body mounts new still in the bag. I also found some big rubber mounts that are about 3" tall, which I guess are the rad support. If they are, and please correct me if I am wrong, I will have zero clearance issues. Any one got a pic of the factory core support rubber?

Thanks for all the info, you guys rock!

[NW Task Force]

I'm in the same boat............... 57' Chev with 77' Camaro IFS setup. Still wondering what is the best way to bolt on the stock 57' frame horns to the camaro front end? It seems to me that the radiator will be sitting up high if the stock frame horns/radiator core support mounts are used. I am planning to have the small block sit down into the factory camaro motor mounts. Should I bolt up the inner fenders and core support and roughly install to find out where to graft on the 57' frame horns? Also, I noticed my original 57' core support frame horns have a small "upward" slope to the frame.......anyone ever notice this? The picture I provided shows the start of the frame slope shown by the blue arrow.

[Indian113]

This is a frame of a friend of mines 57,hope the pictures help

[NW Task Force]

Originally Posted by Indian113

This is a frame of a friend of mines 57,hope the pictures help

Thanks! The core support mounts look simple and the bumper brackets are very basic. I'm tempted to just go "custom" and fab something up for mounts...........just not sure.

[Kim57]

Here's what I ended up with on mine. It's a Chevelle clip but should be similar to the Camaro.
Kim

[NW Task Force]

Originally Posted by Kim57

Here's what I ended up with on mine. It's a Chevelle clip but should be similar to the Camaro.
Kim

I am still wondering how folks are getting away with keeping the custom core support mounts lower than stock height and still have the inner fenders/outer fenders sit correctly to the cab, body lines, etc. ???

[55metalmonkey]

Originally Posted by Rusty Hooker

Funny thing. I'm going through all the parts I got looking for my diff perches and what do I find? A full set of body mounts new still in the bag. I also found some big rubber mounts that are about 3" tall, which I guess are the rad support. If they are, and please correct me if I am wrong, I will have zero clearance issues. Any one got a pic of the factory core support rubber?

Thanks for all the info, you guys rock!

Sorry, no picks of that part. I came to the conclusion that I will have to get the cab mounted proper and then will likely have to make/ acquire a custom set so it all lines up proper. The truck is out to paint right now so I will have to start lining up all the panels soon. it will be a few weeks before I can get any pics. I'm just so busy lately I have barely made much progress in the past 2 months