77 to 55 thanksgiving
 

well...it was thanksgiving weekend, i was bored jumped into my 77 short steper, parked it in the backyard, looked at one of my 55's said to myself...let's do it. i planed on useing most of the 77, wireing, stering, brakes, as much as i can....this it to be a daily driver, and it's mine, so i might cut a corner or 2 ha ha....i'v seen others do this, and the truck looks like a 4x4 when done, im a lowrider kinda guy, so with some thinking , and a good welder, i think it will work?
snow's gona fall soon here, so this will have to be a fast build, all other things to be worked out can be done at the shop.......max.

Re: 77 to 55 thanksgiving
 

some pics

Re: 77 to 55 thanksgiving
 

looking good
I also have a 58 on a 73- 87 frame and it sits high. I had planned on putting 5x5 on 5 wheels on the front so that the wheels would tuck up front good and do the 5 7 drop that they make for the 73 - 87 frames. Let me know if you have any better suggestions to make them lower.

Re: 77 to 55 thanksgiving
 

well, what i did is use the 77 floor and firewall, im still welding it all up now, but it does have a nise ride hight, and it looks like a will be able to use the rad, emergancy brake, and with a little luck, the heater box, i'll know more tomorow, as for now, the floor and firewall is all cut, ans mostly welded, still need to fill in the rest, this is how it looks after today....max.

Re: 77 to 55 thanksgiving
 

Wow, you are creative Max! What are you going to use as a bed?

Re: 77 to 55 thanksgiving
 

That's the way i'm going with my '58 step side.

So what you are doing is channeling it over the '77 frame? Any idea how much drop that's going to give you?

You gotta keep us informed on this thing. And lots of pictures wouldn't hurt either.

Re: 77 to 55 thanksgiving
 

well, if all measures out right, i'll use the 77 box , i'll lay in some new steel for the floor, and im thinking of makeing the 55 fenders wider as to match the body, and it will fit my tires...i think!?
i'll try to get the rad support and notch out the front frame to set thr rad, and set the bumper tomorow, i'll post pics as i go...max.

Re: 77 to 55 thanksgiving
 

yes, it's a channeling deal, i'v done this to a lot of other rod's, but they all belong to someone else...this one's mine...hehe....so, as much as it takes to do this as a hobby, and yet use what i'v got for parts, and smarts, and still make it a daily driver, a lowrider, a budget build, and a lot of fun buildind....and i get to get rid of some parts out of the back yard!
i'll get the drop measurements, and lots of pics as i keep on going on the best, the smartest, and the most useful thanksgiving gift i ever gave myself.
.....max.

Re: 77 to 55 thanksgiving
 

wow, thats pretty cool!

Re: 77 to 55 thanksgiving
 

thanks buds56...it's a way of being able to drive my 55, and not rush the 55 prodject (my other 55), it's a rush job but it should work out ok...max.

Re: 77 to 55 thanksgiving
 

worked on the old girl for about 4 hrs today....

Re: 77 to 55 thanksgiving
 

looks good.....

Re: 77 to 55 thanksgiving
 

yup...you gota luv those canadian rust rods under mock-up....lol

Re: 77 to 55 thanksgiving
 

not much to show today, i have a cold, just did the rad and some of the floor, got the heater box to fit, and the motor will work with a little mod.....max.

Re: 77 to 55 thanksgiving
 

well, still have the cold, so all i did is some mesureing for thr rest of the floor, i have some cab corners for the 77 that i think will look good at the rear of the floor to tie it all in, i also got me l.e.d lights 2" for the front, so i fab'ed them to fit behind the clear len's for my front runing/signal lights.
i'll have mor pics tomorow....and as far as the drop on the truck, it's about a 4.5"body drop.......max.

Re: 77 to 55 thanksgiving
 

Looks great so far. I'm gonna have to keep an eye on this one.

Re: 77 to 55 thanksgiving
 

thanks james....lots more pics and "fab" atempts on the way......max.

Re: 77 to 55 thanksgiving
 

Wow that's cool! It looks like it's all going to fit nicely under the hood.

Re: 77 to 55 thanksgiving
 

thanks cal, so far so good, im thinking of fab'ing the 55& the 77 inner fenders together, if it works it will look cool, and help with the look....unfortunatly someone lifted my rad...so im gona see if i can find one, if not it will be the first part that i need to buy, and thats not to bad! :)....max.

Re: 77 to 55 thanksgiving
 

looks good

Re: 77 to 55 thanksgiving
 

thanks, hows your rig coming?...........max.

Re: 77 to 55 thanksgiving
 

not alot to report, but i got the 77 cab corners to work the way i hoped, and i got the 2" l.e.d. lights sealed into the 55 lights.......max.

Re: 77 to 55 thanksgiving
 

well, i got the passenger side done for now, the whole cab will go to the shop to finish welding, blasting, sealing, and a good coat of rockgard, i decided to cut the badly damaged rocker off, and spent time, instead of money on it...you gota love hammer and dolly.....max.

Re: 77 to 55 thanksgiving
 

well, i got most of the drivers side front and rear floor done today. i also fabed in the emergency brake pedel lever, and moved the master brake plate over 3" on the firewall, all i have to do now is cut the rocker off the drivers side, repair it, and weld it back oh to the cab....this way the new step i made will look done.....max.

Re: 77 to 55 thanksgiving
 

I am curious about a couple of things there Tig....what are you gonna use for seats to mount to your raised floor? And why did you move the master cylinder plate over 3"? Steering column clearance issues?? Oh by the way....nice fab work.;)

Re: 77 to 55 thanksgiving
 

well, as far as the seats go....im thinking of a set i took out of a rollover 05 jeep, i'll probably use some of the 77 seat mount hardware... i'll have to fab the seat mounts and make some plates for the floor, you know the same thing you would do for a race car, and as far as the master cylinder plate being moved over 3", it's to center the stering wheel to the dash gauge cluster point....this is the first time i'v tried doing all of this to a 55, but im hoping it all work's out for the best, and if not, i'll know what to do the next time.....nothing ventured...nothing gained, oh...and thanks on the fab'n :).....max.

Re: 77 to 55 thanksgiving
 

Thats a sweet looking ride you have their. Have any of you guys ever considered dropping a body onto a 58-64 belair frame with some mods?

Re: 77 to 55 thanksgiving
 

i havent herd of anyone that's done it yet, but that's not to say it hasent been done?

Re: 77 to 55 thanksgiving
 

Hey Max, good point. A P.O. installed a tilt column in my truck and it ain't centered......Urks me whenever I notice it. So then I distract myself with some right foot action on the juice pedal. Great results!:)

Re: 77 to 55 thanksgiving
 

if thats not a good way to distract yourself, then i dont know what is :)

Re: 77 to 55 thanksgiving
 

ok...this part's gona suck!

Re: 77 to 55 thanksgiving
 

i was told i should leave my truck as a rat rod....ha ha ha...hmmmmmm....:)

Re: 77 to 55 thanksgiving
 

Why not just chop the top off and make it into a roadster.
Kim

Re: 77 to 55 thanksgiving
 

thats a good plan kim57, but i whant to use it as a daily driver, and it snows alot here, i'll just keep fab'n and trying new things that i would never do to someone else's truck...lol.

Re: 77 to 55 thanksgiving
 

Find a donor truck and graft the top.......................

Re: 77 to 55 thanksgiving
 

unforturnatly most of the cabs around here are in the same shape...dammit!....but im looking around, and im not a patient person, so if i dont find something soon, i'll start the repair....i hate doing roofs!

Re: 77 to 55 thanksgiving
 

Too bad you are not closer, there is a 58 GMC small window cab sitting in a field that I have been robbing parts off of. Lower part is rusted where they all rust but upper is fine thanks to the high desert climate. I took the front clip for parts on mine. No room for the cab. GMC dash is uncut too but is welded in.

Re: 77 to 55 thanksgiving
 

feel like doing some cutting for me?....lol, it seems this is the most common rust repair on 55's around here...and it's not an easy one, if i find a wrecked cab, it's getting cut.

Re: 77 to 55 thanksgiving
 

I could with a battery sawsall, but shipping might be a problem, depending on where is was cut. Anyone know what a cab roof weighs????

Re: 77 to 55 thanksgiving
 

well, if you cut just the front part lets say 8" from the front to back all the way accross, and say 6" from the base of the front pillers...would that work?
i was able to find some more cabs close to me but they all are the same shape as mine, and i would have to buy the cab, no one wants to cut!...if that works for you, let me know how much you want for the work, and part, see how much the shipping would be, and i'd send you the funds, however way it would be the easyest for you .....max.