my '59 short bed build
 

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...

Re: my '59 short bed build
 

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

Re: my '59 short bed build
 

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.

Re: my '59 short bed build
 

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

Re: my '59 short bed build
 

i'm in the Heights.

Re: my '59 short bed build
 

i got all the sheetmetal partially hung :smoke:

Re: my '59 short bed build
 

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

Re: my '59 short bed build
 

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.

Re: my '59 short bed build
 

What gas tank is that from?

Re: my '59 short bed build
 

pretty sure its for an 80's blazer

Re: my '59 short bed build
 

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.

Re: my '59 short bed build
 

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.

Re: my '59 short bed build
 

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...

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going 4x4 with axles from an '87 chevy! :metal:

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Jeep springs came today for the front!

Re: my '59 short bed build
 

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

Re: my '59 short bed build
 

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

Re: my '59 short bed build
 

Rated for a 4” lift on a 1976 Jeep cj5 ;)

Re: my '59 short bed build
 

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

Re: my '59 short bed build
 

If you weren’t so far away😀

Re: my '59 short bed build
 

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

Re: my '59 short bed build
 

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

Re: my '59 short bed build
 

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.

Re: my '59 short bed build
 

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.

Re: my '59 short bed build
 

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?

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

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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.

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

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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.