Project: Pro-Rat

[6DoF]

The Truck: 1955 Chevy 3800 9ft box
Engine: 1.9L VW ALH TDI
Transmission: LT-1 T56 6-speed manual
Front suspension: '86 C10 IFS, 1" rotors, air bags
Rear suspension: Custom 4-link, fabricated 9", air bags
Chassis: Custom, all round tube, with interior cage of some kind
Power options: None (manual brakes/steering/windows)
Exterior: as-is
Interior: Vintage air, tunes, new paint, custom seat(s)
Purpose: daily driver

So currently i drive a 2002 VW Golf to commute to work. i love driving the diesel with a stick and the fuel mileage, i however HATE that it is front wheel drive and is a VW Golf! the search was on for what to build. the wife n i have zero plans for kids so no back seat needed, must be somewhat practical, but ultimately have character and just be fun. i have always been a tri-five fan, and what's more practical then a pickup. found this beauty in NJ. i do intend to drive this a lot of places that a static drop truck could never go however, so air was a must. comfy/hot rod on the inside, rat rod on the outside, pro touring underneath.

before ya'll have the same reaction most of my friends did ... "this needs a loud V8! you are stupid!!" i already have a '99 wrangler with a 6.0L LQ4 on 37s that i occasionally drive to work, and the wife just bought a '16 'vette. i have "fast n loud" options.

[6DoF]

more on the truck, was a true barn find (on craigslist). not in the greatest shape, but exactly what i needed and with an awesome look.

[6DoF]

truck got moved into the basement for tear down during the snow season, since my shed/workshop is taken up with the chassis build.

[6DoF]

the parts ... bought a '95 Camaro for $1200, parted it down, ended up $500 into my T56 with all possible associated parts. got this c10 chassis for $350, i'll use the entire IFS and ended up falling in love with the wheels for this build as well. still trying to sell the frame and rear axle from the c10, no one wants them!

[pugs]

the suspension is abit on the wide for this truck, I had done a 56 on an 81 chassis years ago and the front wheels stuck out enough that I couldn't lower like I wanted.

[pugs]

from Pa here also and slowly working on a 56

[Chaddude]

Should be a interesting build. I would have never considered putting a vw motor in a old Chevy truck Good luck

[6DoF]

Originally Posted by pugs

the suspension is abit on the wide for this truck, I had done a 56 on an 81 chassis years ago and the front wheels stuck out enough that I couldn't lower like I wanted.

yeah, i noticed that as well. since i am building the chassis, i can put the x-member mounts anywhere i want. this means i don't have to section it to lower the frame, but it also means i will be able to section it more narrow. once i get the LCAs sand blasted and painted, i'll assemble everything and give it a quick eyeballed alignment for camber at what i will try to make ride height. then i can measure the width with camber change thru travel and compare it to the truck. i suspect 4-6" will be coming out of the middle of that x-member.

ultimately if the geometry is a little funny, it's all bolt-on. i'll just build my own later after it's all up and on the road.

Originally Posted by Chaddude

Should be a interesting build. I would have never considered putting a vw motor in a old Chevy truck Good luck

no one makes the adapter, so that'll be the fun part. in the end i hope to keep the truck as light as possible, it shouldn't be too much more then my Golf. even if i loose 25% mpg to the wind with the flat grill and glass, i'll still be pulling over 30mpg in a '55 truck.

[Coach529]

Following along. Looks like fun!!

[6DoF]

started in on the IFS to prep it for air. my goal was to get it as low as possible with all stock components, and with as much travel as possible.

the bags (front and rear): 26c Double Convoluted ... http://www.ridetech.com/store/air-sp...onvoluted.html

-completely removed the bump and steering stop pads from the LCA
-trimmed the x-member pinch seam back and welded back together
-UCA ball joint is the limiting factor in travel (bump stops set as functional limits)
-UCA pie cut to adjust travel. the arm was cut, assembled to IFS, i sat on the x-member until the LCA contacted the x-member, and re-bent the UCA to the ball joint limit. tacked, removed, fully welded.
-the factory LCA rubber bumps assemble into the UCA once the slot is opened up, with slight trimming of the rubber the limit can be tuned. i'll do this with the fully assembled truck and the bags at full PSI.
-upper bag mounts are nested into the factory spring perch and perfectly leveled to the frame mounts. the slots would allow me to place the bag anywhere from centered at the factory spring to 1" towards the front of the truck. the 1" fwd let me center the lower cup into the LCA and is exactly what i used.
-LCA bag cups are 9" ID, slots were accidental after copying the upper plate in 3D.
-i fully deflated a bag, taped the port, and bolted it to the x-member and cup. i put spacers under the cup edge to tip it out, stretching the bag with no air held everything nice and tight and aligned in place. this also kept the bag on it's bump stop. i then kept cutting on the LCA until it fell over the cup and landed on the x-member. the very outside edge of the hole is JUST short of no longer hitting the x-member, I got lucky so don’t cut too much. cup was tacked, pulled the LCA, trimmed to contour with the LCA, and fully welded.
-the cup is 3" deep, but if doing it again i would make them 3.5". then no spacers needed, this would tip the cup exactly where it ended up.
-12.25" of total travel before rubber bumps

I’m pretty happy with the look I got on the upper bag mounts. Should be pretty cool lookin in paint and right side up.

[6DoF]

started cleaning things up ...

[6DoF]

and the LCA set up. you can see where i cut and beat the old upper spring perch flat for more hand room inside the x-member. i cleaned and painted it all inside before i sealed it with the upper mount.

[6DoF]

pictures at full travel

[6DoF]

so that's where i'm at right now. i have the LCAs at work, going to try and get them sandblasted at lunch.

[6DoF]

SHOOT! i forgot about the builds section ... can this thread get moved?

[pugs]

stock 55 frame is wider so the ifs wont bolt up like it did in the stock frame

[pugs]

you keeping a long bed or gonna short the frame?

[pugs]

I just reread you post and see you are building a frame

[6DoF]

Originally Posted by pugs

you keeping a long bed or gonna short the frame?

i am 100% keeping the extra long bed!!

almost no one does a long bed build, and the fact that this one is the stock 9ft step side is just that much more unique. i think when laid out it should look really cool.

[pugs]

nice. im setting mine up on a lwb s10 chassis and will have a 7' flatbed on the back

[Kim57]

Should be an interesting build.
Kim

[RockinKees]

Nice!!
I'll follow along.

[6DoF]

i am very quickly convincing myself to build a tilt front end from all the stock sheet metal. i'm kind of shocked that i can't find ANY sort of "kit" or standard "what works best" for this. as often as it's done, it's very different every time.

[Clay54]

Here is an idea of the tilt if you are not already aware of it (post #6). Clay

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=567211

[6DoF]

Originally Posted by Clay54

Here is an idea of the tilt if you are not already aware of it (post #6). Clay

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=567211

that might be the only description of a tilt front with factory steel i've seen, thanx for the share! seams reasonable, now i just need to get in there and do it.