My 54gmc build

[troy54gmc]

I guess its time to try and start a build thread. ive been posting for awhile but didnt know how to do build thread. so here goes. First ill give you the history of the truck.
I picked it up off of craiglist for $750.00 the only hitch was i had to drive about 9 hours round trip to pick it up, i live in Surprise AZ and it was in Safford AZ.
The truck had everything except for engine and tranny which was ok seeing how im going to put my own engine and trans in it. The body was i guess normal wear and tear condition for a 1954 not alot of rust thank god just in the cab corners and usual spots. I originally bought this to build with my son who was 13 at the time for his first vehicle. Since then he has told me he would rather have a car instead of a truck ( a little piece inside me died) So i guess im building it for myself now.
Me being a broke civil servant makes my plans for the truck very low budget but high quality, doin all work myself. The build plan is sub the front, four link the rear, airbags all around with 22's in rear and 20's up front, 383 stroker motor with 700r4 trans, hp around 400. Basically want to build a very nice truck that is reliable and i can drive the hell out of it.
The way i plan to build is im goin to do all frame and suspension work first, then engine and drivetrain, then body work and paint and interior.
I found this site when i first got it home and you guys have been very helpfull with every aspect of my build so far and i know you like pictures so i have taken many. So with out any further to do here are some picts..

The first 2 are when i picked up the old girl.

[troy54gmc]

This is when i got it home.

[troy54gmc]

some more. sorry i can only put 3 pictures at a time or computer kicks it out.

[troy54gmc]

oops forgot picts.

[troy54gmc]

Like i said earlier, i wanted to drop the front end to the ground so the original suspension had to go. I researched all the frontend possibilities that i could afford and decided to go with a 1975 nova sub frame. Again due to $$$ restaints. I read these subs are to wide for the ad trucks but alot of guys are running them, so i hoped i could make up the difference in tire backspacing. Besides i got the whole nova sub for $75 bucks. here some picts.

[troy54gmc]

The Nova sub.

[troy54gmc]

Ok after getting sub cleaned up with the wire wheel magic i had to decide how to mount it. Not ever having done anything like this before i went back to this website to do research. After goin over tons of builds i decided to go with kustombrads idea of mounting it. I really didnt like the look of leaving the sub frames under the original frame, so off they came. I just gotta say when your cutting the frame off of your truck and your really not sure how things are goin to turn out it is very SCARY. But i measured everything about 100 times and out came the cutoff wheel and hacked the sucker apart..

[troy54gmc]

Found out real quick that the original frame and new frame didnt exactly line up so i had to pull a magyver move and make it fit.

[troy54gmc]

So i got the frames together now. i left a 4inch piece of the nova sub sticking out and slid it into original frame. i then drilled 3 holes on each side and put 6, 1/2 inch grade 8 bolts in just for backup in case any weld ever breaks, hopefully these will keep front end on if that ever happens.

[troy54gmc]

Gotta take a break and pick up kidos from school. ill finish up the rest of the build thread tonite. Let me know what u guys think so far...

[troy54gmc]

Ok im back. now that i had both frames bolted together i put all the sheetmetal back on to make sure everything lined up.

[troy54gmc]

Allright everything lined up perfect. time to weld and brace the new front end.
First mocked it up with construction board.

[troy54gmc]

ok. then made the real thing using 1/4 inch plate.

[troy54gmc]

more

[troy54gmc]

ok with frontend all welded time to move on to cutting off front horns so front sheetmetal will fit.

[troy54gmc]

almost done.

[troy54gmc]

horns all welded up. i got lucky the old trans crossmember off of the nova sub frame worked great for a new crossmember to bolt front sheet metal to. it was a perfect fit.

[troy54gmc]

with the frontend all done except for the airbags new hardware and drop spindles. set the truck on the ground to check out new ride height. this is without springs fully compressed. with 17" dodge charger wheels on it just for mock up.

before and after....

[troy54gmc]

moving on to the rear. found out truck was hit on drivers side and original rear frame is tweaked just a bit. so out came the cutoff wheel again and made a new one out of 2x6 square tube.

[troy54gmc]

here are the pictures. got a f--d 9" on craiglist. did the old wire wheel magic and started to mock up new rear frame with construction board. angles on the 2x6 took awhile to figure out. finally went with 60 degrees.

[troy54gmc]

new frame tacked into place.

[ratty 46]

I'm digg'n your build bro. Keep it up.

Ratty 46

[troy54gmc]

got some more welding done. grinded down and ready for fish plates. hopefully i can get the rest welded up this weekend and get ready for the 4 link install.

[troy54gmc]

well thats all i got for now. hope you guys like the pictures... let me know what you all think of the progress so far. until next time.......Troy

[troy54gmc]

well i thought i found the wheels that i was gonna go with today online. these are intro flagstaff wheels. i called to get prices today on 20x8 front and 22x10 rear and almost fell over when i heard the price. $800 a piece for the front and $1000 a piece for the rear, yes i said a piece not a pair. and they take 4 to 6 weeks to custom build.

Dang. guess i have to save alot longer, or start selling things i dont need anymore around the house. Anyone want to buy a arm or leg. ha ha ha just kidding...