My “FREE” 56 truck build!
 

Got me a free truck! Brought it home, tore it down and here we go.
It’s a 56 Chevy short bed step side. A family member built it in high school about 35 years ago. It’s been sitting for a LONG time. Here’s some pics to get it started.

Re: My “FREE” 56 truck build!
 

can't beat that price...welcome aboard

Re: My “FREE” 56 truck build!
 

Pulled the cab off. Flattened out the steering box lip, removed shock towers. I’m starting to dislike rivets.

Re: My “FREE” 56 truck build!
 

Pulled the cab off. Flattened out the steering box, removed shock towers. I’m starting to dislike rivets.

Re: My “FREE” 56 truck build!
 

This is my goal for stance. (Example below) I could use some advice. Planning to bag it I think.

Here is my plan:
I have a 420 hp small block from my old 32 roadster ready to run.
4 spd Muncie m22 and found a forward mount shifter to allow a bench seat.
Ford 9” posi of some sort. Probably source from curry.
4 link rear with watts link or panhard. Possibly a triangulated 4 link.
Stock looking exterior and interior. Love the classic look, with some modern convenience like vintage air and carpet dynamat etc.
Bench seat with shoulder belts and a middle seat belt for the little one.
Flat blue or black paint with steel wheels and whitewalls.
Disks all around, power rack and brakes.
Classic wood stained bed, raised a little for dropped suspension.
Rear mounted gas tank or or fuel cell.

Re: My “FREE” 56 truck build!
 

You have a good foundation to start with! When I started my project it was only a body. Good luck with he build and post tons of photos.

Re: My “FREE” 56 truck build!
 

Who the heck gave that away? Seems like it was nice at one point. Still looks good! This will be fun!

Re: My “FREE” 56 truck build!
 

Free is always nice!

You should talk to Nate and Dave at PoterBuilt Fab in Apache Junction, they have some killer suspension setups for the 55-59's!

:uhmk:

Re: My “FREE” 56 truck build!
 

That's an awesome truck for a starting point and you can't beat the price.

Re: My “FREE” 56 truck build!
 

After staring at the frame and all the work its gonna need to bag it and set it up like I want I decided to build a frame from scratch. Starting with some 2x6 square tube narrowing down a bit in the front and grafting 2x4 in the rear for the drop. Welders series MII and rear 4 link. Any input on the frame will be much appreciated as I’ve never built one from scratch before. I do have some friends and family that I can recruit for help that are experts in this. Better bone up on my welding skills. Many pics to follow..... Love this site. I’d like to do porterbuilt front and rear, but holy crap, big bucks!!!*

Re: My “FREE” 56 truck build!
 

is that a giant sunroof?

cant beat free!

Re: My “FREE” 56 truck build!
 

Man this thing has got old school all over it: gold anodized valve covers, T-bolts holding them on, twin carb intake, Centerlines, large sunroof, drum brakes and a solid axle and two tone paint. What's not to love, this thing would have been the hot rod truck of my high school back in 1980. Cool project.
Rob
PS. I just noticed it also had a tilt front end? Yea, someone was on their game back in the day.

Re: My “FREE” 56 truck build!
 

Little update.. got the chassis table done, and flipped and level. Had my son do half the welding. He did great. Got the 2x6 tube cut to length for the chassis rails. These two pictures are both taken the same way, wtf one rotated??? Grrrrr

Re: My “FREE” 56 truck build!
 

Little update.. got the chassis table done, and flipped and level. Had my son do half the welding. He did great. Got the 2x6 tube cut to length for the chassis rails. These two pictures are both taken the same way, wtf one rotated??? Grrrrr

Re: My “FREE” 56 truck build!
 

awesome... I know this too well with the frame table... great to see your son is involved.. Looking forward to your build. I moved the front wheel center forward an inch and the rear about 1/2 an inch to center the wheels in the wheel/fender opening, it will track a little straighter and give the front end a little better handling due to the weight shift with the front end... I still have all my frame measurements documented as when i built my frame if needed.. welder sieres is a great place to get your supplies as i got it from them as well

Re: My “FREE” 56 truck build!
 

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1514601682

Wait a second...is that a sunroof?

Re: My “FREE” 56 truck build!
 

yup. That will be a fun little repair. I have a spare cab waiting with a good roof skin.

Re: My “FREE” 56 truck build!
 

Your build log on trifive inspired me to try this frame build. Looking to do something very similar. If you have those dimensions that would be awesome and serve as a sanity check... Your's looks great.

Re: My “FREE” 56 truck build!
 

Yep not a problem, I'll see if I can scan them tonight and I'll send them over, Mike

Re: My “FREE” 56 truck build!
 

are you going with the same width of frame or changing it to fit a certain donor geometry?

Re: My “FREE” 56 truck build!
 

grab yourself a digital level. they are awesome. you will be surprised how "off" you will find a bubble level can be.

Re: My “FREE” 56 truck build!
 

check your PM

Re: My “FREE” 56 truck build!
 

Same width as stock.

Re: My “FREE” 56 truck build!
 

I have one. I use it along with the bubble level. It’s great for angles.

Re: My “FREE” 56 truck build!
 

yup, I used mine a lot installing the MII front end. great to get the frame perfectly level side to side and at the rake angle you want, then it works great to get the crossmember level side to side and fore to aft. I used it in conjunction with a 4ft level (used to span the width with the digital level sitting on top) to check for level with it sitting on the control arm lower pivot bolts (they were sticking out the front side). that way you get actual and don't have to worry about the shafts being level with the top or bottom of the crossmember. I also used it on the lower control arms to ensure they were level fore to aft and side to side when I was mocking up the assembly. it comes in handy to get the anti dive angle dialed in on the upper control arm shafts as well.
keep posting up pics, it is incentive for the rest of us.

Re: My “FREE” 56 truck build!
 

Little update. Got the frame rails done and got the m2 front tacked in. I only had to retack twice :)

Re: My “FREE” 56 truck build!
 

Gonna have to clearance for the arms and rack. Expected. Not quite so much though. Welders series instructions were off a bit so had to adjust the spring hats a bit. It was a pain to get the angles correct. I don’t like how the hats are joined to the frame so I will add some reinforcements.

Re: My “FREE” 56 truck build!
 

Any recommendations for bags? Thinking about the super slam 6”. Not sure if I need to go 7” ?? Most of my builds have been light. This truck won’t be. 🤪

Re: My “FREE” 56 truck build!
 

Man.... lookin good jon....REAL good! you may have to run some air bag spacers as for the super slam 6 bag need to right around off the top of my head 7" height from top to bottom for a good ride that should put you right around 80psi

Re: My “FREE” 56 truck build!
 

are you using a digital level to get the angles? if not, I recommend that. put it across the lower control arms, front to rear, and they should be level at your desired rake angle you want. it's important to get the frame set at the rake angle and level side to side first, then do the front end angles with the digital level. for side to side on the cross member you can use the lower control arm pivot bolts, just leave them sticking out the front side enough so you can put a straight edge across them and make sure they still are in the hole on the back side of the cross member. using the top or bottom of the cross member is sort of guessing at that angle because the pivot holes may not be perfect with the edge of the cross member due to the bending process or whatever, if you get my thought process. I am sure you have that figured out by the pics, looks like a well thought out process you have there. maybe useful info for somebody else who reads the thread though.
when I started mine I used a 4ft bubble level on the frame. got it all good and used the level both ways to check for differences in the level, then sat my digital level on top. it was out a couple of degrees. it doesn't seem like much until it comes time for an alignment and they do those to tenths of a degree. hmmm

Re: My “FREE” 56 truck build!
 

boxing the upper pivot mount would be a good idea

Re: My “FREE” 56 truck build!
 

looks like you have it done already but hard to tell in the pics if you have an anti dive angle built in to your upper control arm mounts. I used 4 deg on mine as recommended to me. I also have my upper arms sloping slightly down towards their pivots when the lower arms are level side to side. that way the tire will angle in at the top as the suspension travels upward so the tires won't rub. they may angle out a bit before angling in again on the downward stroke but the tires would be dropping out of the fenders at that point anyway so less of a concern.
keep the pics coming, you have me curious now. nice job so far. it's the first welders series MII I have seen on here, maybe I just gotta look better?

Re: My “FREE” 56 truck build!
 

dsraven is on point! great advise and yes definely box in the upper mount... I rather any day be over built and more weight added than less weight, lighter and a crack somewhere down the line... we're not buildin race cars here...lol

Re: My “FREE” 56 truck build!
 

Yes, the first thing I bought was a digital level. I'm wearing it out. I based everything off the lower arm bolts being square and level. I built and leveled the chassis table with the digital meter as well. Thanks.

Re: My “FREE” 56 truck build!
 

I plan to box everything. I will probably extend the shock tower sides down along the outside of the frame for some extra contact area to spread out the spring forces. They are a bit high and have limited side contact at the moment.

Re: My “FREE” 56 truck build!
 

Yes, 4deg anti dive angle. upper arms slope a bit down towards the center as well. Thanks.

Re: My “FREE” 56 truck build!
 

Thanks. You're my inspiration, so if it all goes south, well.... haha.
I'm making some spacers for the top of the bags to get them in the right place.

Re: My “FREE” 56 truck build!
 

hahaha , thanks my brother... check your e mail,I sent you an e-mail yesterday

Re: My “FREE” 56 truck build!
 

Looking really good so far.
Any chance you would know what Mecum Auction that truck was from? I like the paint color.

Re: My “FREE” 56 truck build!
 

I'm not sure what you mean by Mecum Auction. I got the truck from a family member. ?? Or am I missing a joke here???...