57 frame

[50seven]

454 turbo 350 finally in the frame rails
Typical 79 or 80? Firebird clip (BBPontiac WS6 car with 4 wheel disc, quick ratio steering & big sway bars).
Don't think I'd do the camaro rear discs again real expensive All new brakes
Rear end is a real frankenstine firebird diff, S10 leafs, S10 front brackets, 84 chev 4x4 rear brackets (sectioned/channeled) with rearend perches moved inward to match. Still have to notch the frame over the diff

Thanks too everbody who I borrowed ideas from.

I've stll got such a long way to go. Going to mount the cab and do the steering and master cylinder next.

[kgmunro]

cool! what shape is the body in?

[Kim57]

Welcome
Looks like a good start to your project.
Kim

[50seven]

It was Driveshaft day today. Thought I had a show stopper. I had it all cut to length and ready to tack! The driveshaft has GM 1310 u joints and the diff had GM 3R u joints. Made a call to the local driveshaft shop. Apparently NEAPCO make combination U Joints

KGMUNRO - I did the sheet metal on the cab and fenders about 5 years ago. It's all sitting in primer ready to go. When I pull it out of storage I'll snap some pictures.

New addition to the shop 12 wk old Cooter resting by the shop woodstove

Got a gently used small Blazer tank doing a trial fit. A little tight I may reconsider?

[Kim57]

Looking good. Cute dog.
Kim

[C.shows]

wish I had that tranny cross member on mine!
looking good!

[50seven]

Busy Day

Pulled the sheetmetal out of storage. It survived fairly well.
Dropped the cab on the frame to setup the steering and check for any conflicts.

Gives me a little motivation seeing the cab on the frame. Now if I could just fire the motor

[50seven]

It was a big day yesterday drove the 57 out of the shop and around the block under it's own power

It's been a slow go on progress but ever little piece helps. The Aluminum rad from American Eagle off of Ebay was the final piece on making it mobile.

The 57 was one big rattle coming down the road but it sure was fun to see it move

[Kim57]

Looking good.
Kim

[ChuckDriver]

Congrats on the first ride! Keep of the good work.

[ambryatim]

Good Job so far!! Keep up the good work.
I have a question...did you use the stock style mounts on the engine?? I noticed that you used the camaro tranny cross member.....they are offset to the right (passenger side).

So, that would mean that your engine is favoring the passenger side as well..correct?? Or did you modify the tranny cross member??

Also, in post #7 it looks like you have modified your cross members behind the cab and in front of the rear diff...if so...how much did you have to raise it??

Thanks...Tim

[_Ogre]

it's a good day when you can drive it, if only out of the garage
like the gas tank wired to the front fender and battery siting on top too

how did you get the keys and permission to drive it from the new occupy truck tenant?



wouldn't want to piss the big one off

[50seven]

Thanks for the kind words

Ambryatim Questions
1) the clip is a firebird clip drilled to accept stock chevy clamshell style motor mounts. And yes it is offset to the passenger side maybe 3/4 - 1"? The differential is from the same car so no sense in messing with drive train alignment left or right I figure.
2) the steering column is out of a chevy powered RV very similar ro a van column. It was so easy to connect no cutting no nothing. ordered a flaming river u joint and idler for a D shaft and slid right together.
3) the cross member is a stock pontiac crossmember bolted directly to the underside of the bottom frame rail no modifications
4) the first cross member is modified with a "half pipe" cut into the existing crossmember. The pipe was thick like sch 80 and I raised it to the height of the frame rails maybe like 1/2"
5) the second frame rail is modified using two pieces of a 12" diameter pipe sch 40 pipe
6) I still have to Z the back frame rails over the axles but I want to put drop spindles in the front first to make sure I get just the right rake......

[ambryatim]

50seven....thanks for the answers. I have a 79 TA clip in mine and will be running 5.3/4l60E set up. I might have to clearance my cross members like you have on yours to make room for everything.

Still have the tranny cross member too....just kicking around ideas before I weld in my mounts and other things.....your answers are much appreciated.

Tim