Help a 60-66 guy out..!

[**grumpy**]

Im usually on the 60-66 side but my buddy just bought a 59 Chevy shortbed fleetside.
Hes limited in funds and ability, but wants to get rid of the straight axle.
Whats the easiest, least expensive option for him?

Hes working in a one car garage, with no welder and usual basic tools. I know Im asking alot, but I told him Id ask.

Plus the goofball wants to sell his fleetside bed for a stepside!?!?? Im trying to talk him out of that...

[OKGMC4]

Originally Posted by **grumpy**

Im usually on the 60-66 side but my buddy just bought a 59 Chevy shortbed fleetside.
Hes limited in funds and ability, but wants to get rid of the straight axle.
Whats the easiest, least expensive option for him?

Hes working in a one car garage, with no welder and usual basic tools. I know Im asking alot, but I told him Id ask.

Plus the goofball wants to sell his fleetside bed for a stepside!?!?? Im trying to talk him out of that...

I don't know about least expensive...you'd need a welder to subframe it, mustang II it, or C4 it. That pretty much means a frame swap. There are a couple of guys here who have done that with 73-87 and 88-98 frames but you'd still need to fab and weld up mounts for cab and bed. Farming the welding out to someone else means more cost. Seems like modifying the the stock setup would be cheapest.

[hopped up]

no reason to ditch the straight axle. keep i+ that way,add disc brakes and drive
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[Dan in Pasadena]

Gawd, whatever he does don't let him get rid of the short Fleetside bed. Good ones of those are HARD to come by. And besides, they look SO damn good!

I agree, he should opt for a bolt in dropped axle & disc brakes. He can do an IFS later (if he still will want to) when he's more flush with cash.

[**grumpy**]

Those are basicly same options I gave him, minus C4. He wants it real low but real cheap. I said that the two dont usually go hand in hand...lol

Thanks fella's

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by **grumpy**

....He wants it real low but real cheap.

AND....he wants it bolt in! That's ain't happening.

If such a thing existed that didn't look like crap or handle like crap, we'd all have it already.

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

AND....he wants it bolt in! That's ain't happening.

If such a thing existed that didn't look like crap or handle like crap, we'd all have it already.

Well Dan Chassis Engineering does sale a bolt on kit for the Advanced Design Trucks but not ours.

grumpy,

I don't know of any bolt on for 55-59 trucks, but sgtusmc did a frame swap and it looks to be coming along pretty good. He is a cool guy and I would ask him about it if your buddy is really interested. Here is a link to his thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...hlight=sgtusmc

[Rude Dude]

There is nothing wrong with stock set up if he dont have any coin or fab skills like what was said earlier, a good rebuild and if he wants to change wheel bolt pattern 49-54 chev car front hubs fit these trucks and rear end from 55-64 chev car or 70 to 80 camaro also fit good. I did it to a 55 Big Window I owned a few years ago. He can upgrade brakes when he gets more money to disc brakes so many people get caught up with IFS which is better, but old suspension ride good when rebuilt with good shocks. I would check into dropped axle and flipping the rear over springs if he wants the low look. Driving it as you go build along the way and hanging with the nice folks who are into these trucks is the best part of it.

[OrrieG]

If he is worried about the stock brakes he follows too close. I grew up in these trucks and drove mine 10 years with the stock brakes, even in the mountains and on the freeway with a heavy loaded camper. I would look at updating the MC to a newer dual unit, make sure the bearing, wheel cylinders, etc. are ok. Plenty of options for the 6 lug wheels. Then decide what the final project will be, budget and start accumulating cash and parts. The way the economy is he can probably find some one elses half completed project with a clip or ifs, etc. for a low percentage of the parts retail price. Then he would have one to work on while driving the other.