Blueballz build thread
 

Ok so my first major truck build. Sold my 71 and spent much time hunting down a 55-59 big window. Missed a couple that went fast. Finally came across this one and jumped on it. 57 chevy big window from a farm in Montana. 235 inline 6 with 3 on the tree with overdrive. Paint isn't original but still has a "survivor" look to it. Needs all new rubber, new floor boards, a cab support, and window felt and gaskets.
My plans !:clap:
Complete air ride, rockers on the floor. Fbss. Already ordered scotts hot rods superslam for the front. Also ordered triangulated 4 link for the rear that I will be running both sets of bars parallel with bags over the outside bars and a watts in the back to keep it centered. Was planning on keeping engine and trans but scotts tells me the ifs displaces the inline 6s a lot so now the plan is to throw a rebuilt sbc in and retain the original 3 on the tree with overdrive. Fabing notches and some other simple stuff my self. Enough talking. Here's what I have so far.

Truck when I brought it home. One hell of a bumpy ride.

Re: Blueballz build thread
 

Sloped driveway jack stands... patent pending.

Re: Blueballz build thread
 

Notches done.

Re: Blueballz build thread
 

Looks like a nice truck to start with.

.

Re: Blueballz build thread
 

Looks like a cool project.
Kim

Re: Blueballz build thread
 

thanks guys. Yeah I'm looking forward to it. We've been getting so much rain that I havnt been able to do much outside. We needed it though.

Re: Blueballz build thread
 

:two:rain finally let up so I was a able to drop some old steel and get notches laid out. Would have finished em but work threw a job at me tomorrow so I couldn't burn the midnight oil. Hopefully I'll have enough day light to weld em up and do some more work out there. Also I will be adding reinforcement to all the joints of the notches and boxing frame rails once i see where my crossmember and tabs will be.
On another note after much searching I found a 1979-81 camaro or pontiac rear end. locking dif, 323 gears he tells me and disc brakes. Just as I was giving up and sourcing parts to convert over my dana 44.:two:. Do y'all think the 323 gears are tall enough for the 3 on the tree with a v8? It has 392s in it now.

Re: Blueballz build thread
 

Notches welded in. Got a new welder for this project and still getting a feel for it. It's burning pretty good though.

Re: Blueballz build thread
 

Looks good.
Kim

Re: Blueballz build thread
 

Nice work!

:uhmk:

Re: Blueballz build thread
 

looks real nice

Re: Blueballz build thread
 

:lol: love it.

Re: Blueballz build thread
 

got my front sheet metal off and ran into a few more obstacles. rusted door hinge pockets and noticed the current method of mounting the transmission hangs too low. And unfortunately the tailshaft doesn't have any mounting perch on it. Anyone know if it's ok to weld on a tailshaft? If so I can fab a little something up and get a universal trans crossmember.

Re: Blueballz build thread
 

scotts hotrods superslam kit came through. along with a mountain of paper. This will fill my recycle bin for a month! The product looks great though! Can't wait to install it. Still not sure if I'm going to be able to keep the manual 3 speed given its mounting set up. I may just put the 235 and overdrive trans up for sale and try and get a 700r4 and push the motor up about 2" in the engine bay instead of cutting the drive shaft.

Re: Blueballz build thread
 

Also starting to chew over some wheel options. Want wide whites, easy maintenance and longevity of coating. So thinking chrome but I love these blue artillery wheels with pin striping.

Re: Blueballz build thread
 

Nice looking parts.
Kim

Re: Blueballz build thread
 

ah the delivery gods have arrived!

great progress

Re: Blueballz build thread
 

Ok haven't posted ina while it's been slow goin. Got the front cross member and control arms mocked up with whee and fender and noticed I was only getting 6" of travel which would put my ride hight at about 3-4". Sent the control arms back to get the ball joint cup tweeked. They were able to get me about 1 more inch of travel. I guess that's it. Here's a few pics of the progress so far.

Re: Blueballz build thread
 

And pictures

Re: Blueballz build thread
 

Haha I just picked mine up last month and noticed they had a ton of paper in there. I have found other uses around the shop with that heavy duty paper. What are your plans for a rear suspension setup?

On another note, I just moved to Austin from Walnut Creek, you ever go to the cruise-in at Baja Fresh over in Pleasant Hill?

Re: Blueballz build thread
 

I remember hearing about that cruise in but I didn't make it in my 71. When I get this ****er rollin I'll have to check it out.

For the rear I had purchased a kit from Nfamus Metal Fab back in dec. They seemed to be blowing off my order and stopped answering their phone so after about 4 months I had to have my bank get my money back. So, buyer beware there. After finally getting my $ back I went with Thorbros. I'm planning on running a parallel 4 link set up but with the upper bars located on inside of frame. This way I can run bag over bar on the lower bars that will be located on the outside of frame. I have a watts link coming to keep axle centered. I can't wait man. Should be getting the rear kit in a bout a week. :chevy:

Re: Blueballz build thread
 

Creeping along. Got a little more done. Wasn't crazy about the bag notches they sent with the kit so I got some 6" sched 40 pipe and made some. Came out good I think. Front end is pretty much there, just need to hack out the massive crossmember with like 20 rivets and set up sway bar. I'm still waiting on Thorbros rear kit to come through.
I'm thinking about picking up a HF gantry crane to get this cab off. I'm sure I'll use it enough in the future to justify the purchase.

Re: Blueballz build thread
 

Looks good.
You can use an engine hoist to get your cab off.
Kim

Re: Blueballz build thread
 

Thanks Kim. Yeah I've seen some pretty creative videos and threads on using the hoist. I'll revisit that idea next time I'm out there tinkering. By the way I swung by your build thread and I must say, that is awesome sheet metal work sir.

Re: Blueballz build thread
 

I hate this website... I'm now looking at picking up a wrecked 2004 chevy 1500 to drop the 5.3 and 4l60 in my 57. I was looking up 383s and kept seeing everyone talking up the ls 5.3 conversion for reliability and milage and even power. Plus I never realized that I could get a whole powertrain will all accessories and belt for less than I'd be paying for a rebuilt trans and rebuilt long block.:mm: I love the simplicity of the old school stuff but this might be a fun route.
If anyone knows of any fitment or clearance issues I'd love a heads up.