Re: my '59 short bed build
 

The bed isn’t bolted on yet; it must have been bumped. The frame is straight.

Re: my '59 short bed build
 

So I pulled the bed this morning, cut off the rivets holding factory spring hangers on, and I started drilling holes and bolting up the spring hangers from the 87 Chevy. I’m flipping the rear shackle to put the Shackle in compression instead of tension using a drop hanger kit and drop shackle combined to make a flip shackle lift shackle situation. Hoping to get it all mocked up with the factory 87 rear leafs so I can estimate how much lift I need to level it out and get the rear springs ordered.

Re: my '59 short bed build
 

Also I picked up a rebuilt np205 transfer case. Just need to get the 4l80e picked up and I can get the trans and transfer case in the truck and measure for driveshafts...

Re: my '59 short bed build
 

Here it is with the spring hanger bolted on and the shackle and shackle hanger clamped on for mock up

Re: my '59 short bed build
 

Mocked up the sheet metal to see how it’s all laying out...thinking about the 4” lift springs for the rear. And maybe a 1” block with adjustable pin locations to be able to set the rear axle back 1”. Might put in a stock shackle to make up for the 1” block for axle setback.

Re: my '59 short bed build
 

Looking good. I have been wanting to do that same gas tank and your picture has me convinced. Tank ordered. Keep up the good work.

Re: my '59 short bed build
 

I had some 4 x 4 square tubing left over from my carport build, so I cut 2 mock up 4 inch lift blocks to put under the rear springs to see where that with the truck stance. I do not plan on driving with these in it, it is just for mock up purposes to figure out how much is a lift needs to be built into the new springs.

Re: my '59 short bed build
 

4” is clearly too much. Lol.

Re: my '59 short bed build
 

Looks good, has a nice rack to it. lol

Re: my '59 short bed build
 

i ordered some 2.5" lift rear springs today, hopefully that sets it just right. should have them by the end of next week. i'm sure i'll install them the day they arrive and post pics. ;)

Re: my '59 short bed build
 

i managed to get all front suspension bushings switched out for poly bushings. these little guys actually pressed into the stock front shackle hanger holes in the frame:
https://www.suspension.com/9.9176

then i was able to use the cj5 front shackles, and 1/2" bolts with grease fittings on them, so now all the pivot points on the suspension are poly-bushed, and greaseable!

Re: my '59 short bed build
 

Very Nice!
I would like to see the set up when you have time for pictures.

Re: my '59 short bed build
 

Some pics of the front shackle setup, now with all poly bushings!

Re: my '59 short bed build
 

fixed the sideways pics...

Re: my '59 short bed build
 

just got a delivery notification for my rear springs! hopefully i can get those on tonight and finalize the stance, and move on to mounting the steering box, and getting a single wheel/tire ordered for test fit. thinking about going with a 17"x9" wheel and 35x12.50r17 mud tires.

Re: my '59 short bed build
 

Got the rear springs in. Thinking the stance is looking pretty good. Ordered one wheel and tire in the size I was thinking of running to test fit. Going with a 35x12.50r17 and 17x9 wheels with a 4.75” backspace.

Re: my '59 short bed build
 

For reference the wheels/tires in the pic are 31x10.50r15’s with a whole lot more offset than I plan to run.

Re: my '59 short bed build
 

Front to back looks good to me in the pic. Yep, you're going to need more tire to fill those wheel wells though! 2" more on either side of the existing tires looks like it will work out.

Re: my '59 short bed build
 

Looks nice. 35" gonna just clear the car port.

Re: my '59 short bed build
 

today i got the steering box mounted using the mounting parts from the c10 2wd box kit, with a box for a mid-seventies 4x4 chevy truck, which turns out to be the same box as the 2wd, except for the output shaft.

i mounted the box ~3" forward of where the instructions said to put it, to make it line up with the steering shaft that came attached to the axle. now i just need a 3/4" dd to 1" dd u-joint to have the steering shaft hooked up. I already have a dropped pitman arm on order, and i need to order all new tie rod ends to wrap up the steering. oh and ps hoses i guess too. then steering will be done.

Re: my '59 short bed build
 

Steering box mounted!

Re: my '59 short bed build
 

got the u-joint i needed...steering is sorted out from the column to the box!

Re: my '59 short bed build
 

so i got my test wheel and tire setup, and the tire hits the pitman arm on right turns before lock...so i ordered a different wheel with 1.25" less backspace...

the new wheel came today, hoping i have time tomorrow to get the tire swapped over, then i can see if this one clears the steering...this one is a procomp gloss black steel 17x9 with 3.5" backspace to replace the procomp matte black alloy 17x9 with 4.75" backspace

Re: my '59 short bed build
 

just a quick question, and maybe it's just the angle of the pic, back in post 38 it shows the front spring shackles with a spacer/stabilizer bolt in the middle of the shackle. it kinda looks like the bolt is really going to limit the amount of travel the shackle has and may be bottoming on the frame before the spring even comes close to any bump stops. is there enough travel for the suspension setup? if not those nice new bushings are gonna be split out pretty quickly.

Re: my '59 short bed build
 

i keep eyeballing that exact issue and wondering if i should get a longer shackle, or one with the brace offset downwards...i likely will do that to avoid issues down the road as you suggest might happen. there are some really neat 'boomerang' shackles that have a bend in them to allow for more travel before the shackle bottoms out - i've been really considering some of those for the front.

thanks for the input! :metal: