Long term project Chevy stepside shortbed -55

[chevythechief]

Hello fellow Chevyheads!

After lurking around this forum constantly every evening, trying to get som inspiration and ideas, I´ve formely from this day, will put my preciuos Chevy on the world wide web with this build tread.

Some presentation first....

My name is Patrick I´m in my mid 30:s and lives over the "pond" besides you all in Sweden. I´ve always had a weak point for Chevy stepsides, preferbly from the beginning of the 50:s.

The project will be longtime, due to money and time, I´m currently working abroad, in Turkey, 2 and half week per month, so I can´t be in the garage the time I would like to spend there - that´s all the time.

I´lltry to upload some pictures when I have figured out HOW too??!!

I may be excused for my non perfect english, but I´ll hope you all understand my "swenglish"..

//Patrick

[chevythechief]

Some picture from the pickup of the pickup...

- 383 Chevy SB
- th700
- Camaro front clip gen? Maybe you all can help me vith identification of year...pictures later
- 10 bolt rear end with leafs
- former California car, in traffic until 1984 i think the reg.plate says
- little restoration done to the frame, painted black
- Pontiac tilt column
- etc, etc

[Kim57]

Welcome
Looks like you have a real project on your hands./
You'll find the guys on this forum will be able to give you a ton of info to help you along.
Your "swenglish" is just fine.
Kim

[chevythechief]

Thank you Kim57!

This is sure the best forum for tips and trix..

By the way...I´m a subscriber on your build thread, it has already given me a lot of inspiration.

[Kabwe]

It looks like you have a pretty nice project going on. Well its a 55 Chevy Truck so you can't go wrong.

[oldman3]

Don't worry about the english, we on this side of the "pond" aren't the best at it ourselves. We can make out just about everything. Welcome from Missouri, and keep posting pics. People will help out a lot on this site....Jim

[chevythechief]

Hehehe! It´s kind of funny.... all the replies are from my top 5 subscribing list her on the forum - Kim57, Kabwe, oldman. Thanks for replying and the encouragement. I´m pretty sure that I will get the "know-how" and the inspiration here och the forum.

I´m not a proffesional on sheetmetal, fabrication and stuff like that. But I know how a wrench and welder works, so I hope I will make some progress with the "CHIEF" (nickname of the truck). Learning by doing some wise man said...

[chevythechief]

Found one more picture of the truck. I´ve many times wondered about the rear suspension? Do I only have bad luck when I´m thinking or what?

The rear axle is welded to two struts that sits in a linkage on welded to the frame. The rear axle can only travel upwards (y-led) but not up and down independent of each other, like a 4-link or IRS. Hope you know what I mean....swenglish explanation. Hahaha.

I bought at Vette c4 IRS and I´m thinking of installing it in the future, but for right now and the cruising next summer the 10 bolt will do,

[Kim57]

Looks like somebody made their own traction bars.
A vette rear would be very nice in your truck. I had a C-3 in mine until I got worried about how much power a big BB would produce and decided to go with the pro-street theme.
Kim

[chevythechief]

Yes Kim, I thought the same, somebody made their own traction bars. Why are they used? To align the rear axle better than original schackles while acceleration?

I really can´t decide if I would go the prostreet way or the rockabilly/patina way with the truck.. Maybe a hybrid of both..

It´s a Dana 36, the IRS, and I´m not sure how much torque it will hold up to.

Time will tell which decision i choose.

[OKGMC4]

I have a dana 36 in mine and made all the brackets at home. I figure it held up to a 330hp corvette engine and more in modifired vettes, it should be good enough for my 5.3l engine. Anything stronger and I may have paid more to get the dana 44. I do believe that it will provide a better foundation than what is in the truck now. Your rear swing arms remind me of the home made power steering I cut out of mine...I just wasn't sure it would do what I wanted. Good start for a truck by the way!

[chevythechief]

I´m thinking of bagging the truck, air suspension that is. Due to the budget I dont have a treasure chest of which I can dig into and by a fancy ridetech kit or similar.

So...I search the internet and of course eBay and found these... What do you all think? Good prices or a expensive headache?


http://www.ebay.com/itm/2600-FBSS-AI...ht_3172wt_1037

[chevythechief]

Originally Posted by OKGMC4

I have a dana 36 in mine and made all the brackets at home. I figure it held up to a 330hp corvette engine and more in modifired vettes, it should be good enough for my 5.3l engine. Anything stronger and I may have paid more to get the dana 44. I do believe that it will provide a better foundation than what is in the truck now. Your rear swing arms remind me of the home made power steering I cut out of mine...I just wasn't sure it would do what I wanted. Good start for a truck by the way!

Thanks man for the input and encouragement, and nice work on your truck... Subscribed!!

[ChuckDriver]

Nice project! Hopefully you will get more time soon to work on it. It looks like you've got a 57 fender on the right front!

[G&R's57GMC]

Welcome to the club from the west coast !

Have fun with your build.

As for suspension this is what I'm using, Front & Rear is from NoLimit.net its their Wide Ride front kit with air springs also available with coilovers. The rear is a Currie 9" hung from NoLimit's Fat Bar 4 link with air bags also available with coilovers. Their kits are a bargain when you read what is included in them.

If your on a budget you can use the air bags with a fill valve for each bag then at a latter date install a pump ,tank,control valves etc.

Check them out at http://www.nolimit.net

BTW the brake mount and Gas Tank are from NoLimit also.

Here's a couple of pics of my chassis.

[chevythechief]

I´ve looked into Nolimits stuff, and its just like you say - a lot of things are included in their kits. I will have to think this over....can´t though really decide if I go the IRS or my current back suspension.

By the way thanks G&R's57GMC, you´ve got yourself a relly nice bild too...

[chevythechief]

Ok...long time since I last posted. The poor "Chief" has been neglected due to heavy workload at my employer.

I started to do some "cancer removal" this week and I probably will be ready with one side om the cab in the end of the coming week. I`ll try to snap some shots of it and update in a few days.

All my replacement sheet metal has arrived from LMC. By the way how is the over all fitting on these parts?

[chevythechief]

How the hell do I upload pictures??!! I forgot since the last time Who can help me?

[Kabwe]

You can attach a pic or link to one. If you want to attach you can hit the reply button scroll down to where you see the manage attachments button and upload the pic from your computer. If you want to link to a pic. You need to upload your pics to a web pictures hosting site such as flickr, photobucket etc then copy the link to the photos between this code [img]link here[/img].

[chevythechief]

Thanks Kabwe...I'll try

[chevythechief]

Some work done during the week

[chevythechief]

Thank you Kabwe for guiding my old grey brain cells back

Tomorrows work and a couple of columns I bought today...

[Kim57]

Looking good.
Now be sure and keep the pics coming.
Kim

[chevythechief]

Originally Posted by Kim57

Looking good.
Now be sure and keep the pics coming.
Kim

Hehehe, I will do my best with the uploads.

Thank you Kim!

[oldman3]

I agree with Kim, keep the pics coming...Jim