57 Fleetside C4 build
 

Hi All, I figured I should start a build thread since been a member for a while. I picked up a 57 big back window custom cab with 58/59 fleetside bed that has been converted to C4 suspension front and rear. This was a started project by the previous owner. I have done a half dozen body off restos on 67-73 olds 442's and this will be my first truck. I know the truck looks pretty good in the pictures but the front floors, cab mounts and cab step areas needed work. I have been working on it the last 5 months and will get the thread up to date. Thanks Steve

Re: 57 Fleetside C4 build
 

This was the teardown just after getting it. I came with a lot of parts including a LT1/4l60E that I am not using. There is at least 5 different trucks that parts were collected from. Steve

Re: 57 Fleetside C4 build
 

After looking everything over and coming up with a plan I got started on the cab first. Someone had install step plates over the original, mudded over holes in the hinge and lock pillars and installed some pretty ugly floor patches. I will be installing, front floor patch panels, front cab mounts, cab steps, lower "A" pillars, Lower "B" pillars, right lower plenum and inner and outer cab corners. Plus made some patches for pieces not reproduced. Steve

Re: 57 Fleetside C4 build
 

Starting to patch up the cab in the left plenum, A and B pillar and step area. My welding is not the greatest but will not fall apart. Steve

Re: 57 Fleetside C4 build
 

While I was patching the cab up I was thinking about what powertrain I was going to use. I settled on a 6.0 LS with a 4L80E trans from Just Chevy Trucks in Maine. This is one of there Hypermax builds in which they install rebuilt 5.3 heads on a 6.0 for more compression, new roller cam, lifters, cam bearings, oil pump and timing chains. They dyno the engine, tune a pcm to your specs with a stand alone wire harness. My engine made 472 h.p. at the crank which should move this truck good. They also supplied the 4L80E completely rebuilt. They did the engine, trans, harness and all associated parts like pcm, fuel pedal (mine will be DBW)and gaskets all for $4500 delivered to my door which I think is a good deal. Steve

Re: 57 Fleetside C4 build
 

After getting the engine and trans settled went back on the cab. First was finalizing the B pillar and inner cab corner I test fit the step which did not go well. The step rocker was at least a 1/2" below the cab corner. Should have known when the inner cab corner was to high and cut it down. someone had done cab corners and put them in to high on the body. After replace the out cab corners was able to get it aligned much better. The first test fit of the right door went well an gaps not too bad. Steve

Re: 57 Fleetside C4 build
 

Some more pics. This of the left side same area plus the fuel filler hole. Steve

Re: 57 Fleetside C4 build
 

After the cab work needed to test fit the LS engine and trans just to Make sure it fits. It was tight but fits great. I used the Dirty Dingo slider mounts which raises the engine 1/4" over other mounts and I needed it to clear the rack. these mounts allow the engine to be slid where you need it. Steve

Re: 57 Fleetside C4 build
 

Looks like a great start to a project. Killer deal on the engine/trans setup. 472hp ought to move her along pretty mightily!

Re: 57 Fleetside C4 build
 

This is going to be a fun truck, good job. Have you set your radiator and electric fan in place? I had to alter my firewall a little and move the engine back about 2" so I have lots of fan and shroud room. Some radiators are thicker than others and some fans - shrouds are thicker/thinner too.

Re: 57 Fleetside C4 build
 

Thank You. I did not think I could go wrong for the price. A good friend used the same company for his 49 pickup only he used a 5.3/4L60E combo and runs great. Steve

Re: 57 Fleetside C4 build
 

I have 7" from the face of the core support where the radiator mounts to the front of the water pump pulley. The radiator fan combo I am looking at is 6.75" at its thickest point. It has 2 offset fans and hope where the middle of the assembly is shorter than the thickest part to make more room where the water pump is. Steve

Re: 57 Fleetside C4 build
 

looking good. we are running fairly similar setups. Im hoping to tack in my motor mounts and test fit the radiator this week. Do you plan on running either front or rear sway bars?

Re: 57 Fleetside C4 build
 

I wasn't planning on running sway bars. The guy I bought this from does a lot of these and he wasn't running sway bars on his builds. I don't know if you could get the stock corvette bars in there. Steve

Re: 57 Fleetside C4 build
 

nice work!

Re: 57 Fleetside C4 build
 

Thank You. This one is really testing my skill set! Steve

Re: 57 Fleetside C4 build
 

Test fit a second set of headers. I tried the shorty set from speed engineering and the #5 tube was too far in the way of the steering shaft. I bought a set of long tube headers from speed engineering and they fit perfect other than having to trim the right ear on the 4L80E trans and flexplate cover.

Another problem I am trying to figure out is the aftermarket front fender alignment at where the fender meet the cowl near the windshield. It fits good at the back but is high at the front. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks Steve

Re: 57 Fleetside C4 build
 

I had the very same issue with the aftermarket fenders. It took some time to cut and weld to fix it to get it right... after all that work I still ended up going with originals just because the originals were a thicker gauge metal. but you can fix it... just time and patience

Re: 57 Fleetside C4 build
 

While it seems there's some definite fitment issues with the reproduction schtuff, I recently came across a good video showing how to align TF's panels. Maybe this will help some.

https://youtu.be/RgUwd9PdWiA

Re: 57 Fleetside C4 build
 

imo you got a smoking deal on your motor/trans setup, the more people getting into that type of tuning/conversion the better the pricing gets. i spent that much just on my ramjet 350
nice headers, i wish i had gone thru the trouble to find nice long tubes vs my block huggers

have you figured out your shift linkage yet? the left lever gives you more room but your going the wrong way. i can tell you what i did

Re: 57 Fleetside C4 build
 

Thank You.

Re: 57 Fleetside C4 build
 

I figured that out. I am putting in a ididit column when the time comes. I never saw a column with the shift arm on the left side like that. It came out of a 89 chevy van I think. thanks for pointing that out. Steve

Re: 57 Fleetside C4 build
 

heres a video from Jodaddy that really helps with the fenders

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vwg_loea5w

Re: 57 Fleetside C4 build
 

VERY nice build! Great work. :metal:

Re: 57 Fleetside C4 build
 

I had watched that video before. Very informative. Thank You.

Re: 57 Fleetside C4 build
 

Thank You

Re: 57 Fleetside C4 build
 

Working on getting the doors and fenders to fit better. Got the truck off the stands to see if anything changes. Getting a lot closer I gained on the fender to cowl gap and have it down to 1/8" on both sides. I am a little wide on the fender to door gap and the door fit seems good. It's a big give and take game right now but am much happier than I was. I am going to get the hood on next to see if I can get it better. Some picks of the progress

Re: 57 Fleetside C4 build
 

Your fitment looks pretty good on your doors. You can always add some rod then grind to get the gaps the way you want them to look. I have aftermarket doors and I had to grind and add metal to get the lines right.

Re: 57 Fleetside C4 build
 

Thank You for the suggestion. I am thinking of doing that on the one door that is a little wide. This isn't a Kindig build just want a nice truck to show and drive a lot. Steve

Re: 57 Fleetside C4 build
 

these trucks move a lot, any gap 1/8" will probably have chipped paint
if you don't plan on driving the truck much, carry on

Re: 57 Fleetside C4 build
 

to over come this issue ,if you add support to the frame, it will solve that issue. it would be a nice addition since your goin through all that work... thats if its your budget. but other wise its coming together real nice, inch by inch

Re: 57 Fleetside C4 build
 

Thank you for the suggestion. There is piece of 2" square tube across the front frame rails so that might help. Steve

Re: 57 Fleetside C4 build
 

I had a couple of my buddies stop over to put the hood back on and reistall the front seat. The hood fit better than when I got it as it stuck up 3/8" at the rear and side gaps were awful. I slotted the body side of the hinge down to lower the back edge and then just evened out the sides. Far from perfect but nothing will rub. I wish I could find a pair of rust free original fenders but probably not going to happen. Here are some pics of where I am at. Steve

Re: 57 Fleetside C4 build
 

your truck is lookin really good !!!!
you could utilize the rear sway bar if you flip it over and lay it across the top --over the gas tank -
also it looks like you did not c notch the frame for the rear axle ! --i like the stance that you have . keep up the good work and keep us posted sir !

Re: 57 Fleetside C4 build
 

Thank You. I will look into a sway bar but may leave as is. The person that started this truck does not use sway bars and he has done a lot of them. I like the stance but the back might be to high but won't know till fully loaded then will decide if need different springs. I wish I could try some original front fenders to see how much difference they make but don't have that option right now. Looking at the pedal locations now as the front seat is back in. Steve

Re: 57 Fleetside C4 build
 

SIR
You may want to look into a good pair of coil over shocks that are adjustable for rear ride hight
there are some good products out there -- there might be something that will work for you to lower your truck ----just sayin --check out flatout engineering --- this shop carries some really nice coil overs

Re: 57 Fleetside C4 build
 

Thank You. I do have QA1 coil overs on it now and hey are adjusted to the lowest spot now. I may be all right once all the weight is on it. They come off pretty easy to change the spring out. Steve

Re: 57 Fleetside C4 build
 

It helps on the gap and easy to do if you can weld. I have more on my buil page but here is a couple where I added the rod and made the new line. I have got it more even it more since the pic. Hope it helps.

Re: 57 Fleetside C4 build
 

Thanks for the pics. I am not the best welder in the world so don't know what I will do. Steve

Re: 57 Fleetside C4 build
 

i'd leave the gaps as is.
i think barnfind will find out that these trucks move a lot
as the cab flexes, that 1/8" gap will turn into a 0" gap