55.2-59 my '59 short bed build

[1-ton of fun]

so i got this '59 project over a decade ago and made little progress, until recently. i have been distracted by other projects, houses, and having kids...

a few years ago, the frame was stripped down, and painted. then we took apart the front leaf springs, removed 2 leafs, and then cleaned and painted the remaining ones, and reassembled them with a poly liner between leaves. we also changed the kingpins, and added a disc brake kit up front.

in the pics you can see the new rear leaf springs and explorer rear axle assembly ready to go in. we got that mounted up and set the bed back on, and like that it sat for the next couple years...

[1-ton of fun]

so then fast forward to this year...i decided to use my good cab on this truck, abandon my 55.2 project for lack of parts to build two, and the '59 front end was in better shape.

i brought home the other project truck, and took its cab and motor, and put them in the '59 frame

[1-ton of fun]

then picked the best 2 doors out of the 6 i managed to accumulate over the years and mounted them up. got the door latches working after cleaning them out, and soaking in WD40.

[rgunlock]

Looks like you've got good parts to start with. I'll follow along. What part of Houston are you in?

[1-ton of fun]

Originally Posted by rgunlock

Looks like you've got good parts to start with. I'll follow along. What part of Houston are you in?

i'm in the Heights.

[1-ton of fun]

i got all the sheetmetal partially hung

[1-ton of fun]

then started block sanding and priming, and block sanding...

[1-ton of fun]

The gas tank arrived today via UPS, and I got it about 75% of the way mounted before the storm hit. Just need to finish up the top straps and drill a couple holes in the front end of them and the crossmember then I can paint the pieces and bolt it up for good. It doesn’t hang down any lower than the rear fenders.

[tdishon]

What gas tank is that from?

[1-ton of fun]

Originally Posted by tdishon

What gas tank is that from?

pretty sure its for an 80's blazer

[1-ton of fun]

ok, so i changed directions on this build, so if anybody needs a front axle for a 55-59 cheyv truck, with disc brakes, and new kingpins, upgraded center link, sway bar, and lowering leaf springs and toyota PS box, DM me.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by 1-ton of fun

ok, so i changed directions on this build, so if anybody needs a front axle for a 55-59 cheyv truck, with disc brakes, and new kingpins, upgraded center link, sway bar, and lowering leaf springs and toyota PS box, DM me.

What are you going with now? MII, Flat Out IFS cross member or a clip?

I came THIS close to buy-in a dropped axle and all the trimmings from Sid before I realized the price would match the price of an MII....which I then bought from Clairslist only to switch to a Flat Out IFS crossmember. Glad I went that way.

[1-ton of fun]

i have decided to keep the suspension leaf springs front and rear, but switching from lowered 2wd to lifted 4x4.

on Saturday, i picked up a rolling 87 chevy 1/2 ton 4x4 chassis. the body had already been removed, so i wasn't dragging home a lot more than i needed. i removed the axles, and cut the frame up into 3' sections to be able to dispose of easily. i only paid $550 for it, so pretty cheap way to see if this fits, and if so, i may switch over to 1-ton axles alter for better off-road durability.

front springs:
i did a bunch of internet sleuthing, and found that springs for a 1976 jeep cj5 have a similar width and length to the stock front leaf springs, but come in a variety of lift heights and spring rates. i have a pair of 4" lift springs coming tomorrow so i can test fit them, and hopefully get the front live axle mocked up in the frame and see where that puts me for tire clearance.

for the rear:
still not sure how i will handle the rear yet...i keep thinking that i might be best to remove the stock '59 rear leaf spring hangers, and bolt on the ones from the '87 frame, so i can use '87 chevy springs, and that opens up wide range of spring options there as well...
although it would be easier to just get stock width springs made in the right height and bolt them on, but that's custom springs vs. off the shelf options.

i'll post pics once i get the springs...

[1-ton of fun]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

What are you going with now? MII, Flat Out IFS cross member or a clip?

I came THIS close to buy-in a dropped axle and all the trimmings from Sid before I realized the price would match the price of an MII....which I then bought from Clairslist only to switch to a Flat Out IFS crossmember. Glad I went that way.

going 4x4 with axles from an '87 chevy!

[1-ton of fun]

Jeep springs came today for the front!

[1-ton of fun]

Ok...so I got the front axle swapped and one of the Jeep springs underneath the truck. I think this might work out...

[mongocanfly]

Wow..that's slot of arch in those springs...are they lifted jeep springs?

[1-ton of fun]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

Wow..that's slot of arch in those springs...are they lifted jeep springs?

Rated for a 4” lift on a 1976 Jeep cj5

[mgchevyparts]

Originally Posted by 1-ton of fun

pretty sure its for an 80's blazer

I have the same thing in my 59 (which I didn't build) Fits quite a few Blazers/Suburbans from the 80's. I was shocked the first time I put gas (a few weeks ago) it's the 30 gallon variety and you can't see it from behind the it's perfectly hidden under the bed without mods to the floor

[regan56]

Originally Posted by 1-ton of fun

ok, so i changed directions on this build, so if anybody needs a front axle for a 55-59 cheyv truck, with disc brakes, and new kingpins, upgraded center link, sway bar, and lowering leaf springs and toyota PS box, DM me.

If you weren’t so far away😀

[1-ton of fun]

Originally Posted by regan56

If you weren’t so far away😀

i can get it as close as southern Colorado! the rest of the way would up to you tho!

[1-ton of fun]

Here’s how the front sits with a fender mocked up. The rear frame is on jack stands, with no rear leafs in it currently. I still need to swap the leaf hangers to the ones from the ‘87 to see how much lift the rear will need to level it out

[rgunlock]

Looking good. I assume that's the 87 front axle on it now. Are the tires sticking out far from the fender?

My original plan for my '59 was to build it as 4wd, and I may still do it. I've got axles from a '78 I was considering using.

[dsraven]

you probably know already but try to do the lift part of things using frame spring hangers rather than a block between axle and spring. it keeps the axle from twisting and changing the pinion angle when under load. bigger block equals bigger change of angle and corresponding ujoint failure.
what is the track width of the truck with the wheels/tires you plan to use? are the tires gonna stick out past the fenders by a bunch? local laws dictate the amount of tire allowed to be visible past the fender width? just asking because a buddy went through this. depends on the constable and attitudes etc but could be costly if taken to task.
keep posting up pics, it keeps the rest of us interested in doing something on our own trucks.

[dsraven]

I know it is only mock up and also just a pic, which can be distorted, but it looks like the body line on the cab is not in line with the box. have you checked the frame for straight and sag? just a bad pic?