'55.2 to '59 Frame...issues?

[MoFire]

So I recently bought a '55 (2nd series) big window, step side 3200 long box. And the body is in amazing shape. I also bought a '59 Apache last year but once I tore into it, it requires way more body and metal work in the cab then my skills are currently at.
QUESTION: Can I switch the '55.2 cab and mate it to the '59 chassis and short box with no issues? (I've pulled the cab off my '59 so I know it's easy to do).
I think I read somewhere that the '58-'59 short bed frames are 3" longer than the 55.2-57 short bed? Is this true?

If so, is the 3" just at the front of the frame that I can cut off? Or are all the body, box and running gear mounting holes not going to align?

Thanks!

[dsraven]

you may be able to find a dimensional pic online for the AD truck, they have a tapered frame, front to rear, so it wouldn't be a direct fit for sure because the TF trucks have partallel rails. there would be a drawing of the AD frame in a GM assembly manual, they are fairly cheap and available on Ebay or from some of the truck parts places like Brothers or LMC. the AD trucks start to taper around the trans mount area and are narrower in the front.
maybe one of these pics is readable enough for dimensions on the TF truck. the 58-59 frames are a bit longer in front of the front spring hangers to accomodate the longer fenders and also the rad support brackets are slightly further ahead. the rest of the frame on the TF trucks are basically the same from there back.

[56hotrodred]

Looks to me like he is not going to AD frame!

Maybe I missed something but...

[MoFire]

Great info, thanks for the manufactures pics. A little small to read but I'll dig around on google later, working night shift sucks. Hopefully it's just at the front so it's an easy measure and cut, might even pull both cabs and boxes to get a side by side comparison and measurements next week when I'm back home.
And yes to be clear my truck is a '55 Second Series

Second pic (black/red) is my '59. I have the complete truck, this was after I took it off a '91 4x4 chassis and swapped it back to its original chassis, takeing off the front clip and digging deeper is when I found all the car cancer.

[mr48chev]

That's been hashed over on here more than once. I'm thinking that your assumption is correct in that the extra length is in the ends of the frame rails beyond where the front shackles mount.

You might just slide under the front of one with a tape measure and measure from a few reference points and see what the actual difference is.

You can also save the prints that Dsraven posted to you computer and expand them to help see the fine print.

[OrrieG]

If you are keeping the whole clip no cab issues. If you are mixing and matching early and later TF cab and clips the only difference in the cab is the hood hinge and battery box bolt locations. There seems to be a lot of 58-59 trucks that kept the original cab but got a 55.2-57 front clip.

[MoFire]

Mr48chev: Good call on going underneath first for measurements, and yes I planned to view the pics from dsraven full size on my home computer vs cell phone.
My apologies if this has been gone over before, and I mean no disrespect but I just joined and don't have the time to surf through hundreds of pages. Don't get me wrong, it's a great forum and loads of great info on here and seem like a great bunch of people. Just wish maybe the moderators would separate the AD and TF trucks, would make the specific info surfing faster. But then it's nice for both crowds to share info and experience!

OrrieG: not switching clips, like I said have both complete trucks. Although the 55.2 does have a '57 hood from previous owner! My thoughts were to take my 55.2 cab, whole front clip, and rear fenders over to my 59 chassis and box sides (59 rear fenders & tailgate are really rough) So I end up with the big window, short box, step side I've always wanted

Reason for my madness is I'm thinking of getting the Porterbuilt front & rear dropmember systems, and I know those units use the factory rivet holes for locating. My caution is if the length isn't simply in the front of the frame "horns", then the rivet locations might mess the geometry up for the PB units. So hopefully I can use the info from the gents above when I get back home and if luck is on my side the extra frame length is in the front tips, but then I've got no luck! Lol

Thanks again all! still surfing the pages and finding answers and new thoughts on ideas and how-to's for my project.

[lynx5653]

I would try to find a cab and keep both trucks whole

[MoFire]

Not interested in a cab. I'm keeping the 55.2 and selling the 59. Want to swap the chassis and beds, then sell off what I don't want. The joys of rodding

[MoFire]

Well look at that, after more surfing I found the same discussion as above, figured I'd post the links here for anybody else surfing these pages in the future.

Cheers!

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=686160

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=702382

[dsraven]

check the diagrams for the different ywar and i thnk you will find the face of dash to axle centre line is the same. the spring mount is the same but the rad suppoert location is different and the frame is a bit longer out front. I found out when putting a 57 onto a 58 frame. these frames are just basically a trimmed section of channel with a taper at the front and a bump over thwe axle. it is easily buildable if yoy wanted to.you need a good readable copy of the diagram from the assembly manual.

[ChuckDriver]

The different length is only in the front frame rails. The 58-59 are longer, changed with the quad light front end.