My Pro Street '56 GMC Pick'em Up

[BC Toy chest]

I'm just throwing photos up here of my stuff, aint even gonna explain what I'm doing... being lazy I guess, later when I am near completion it will make since, Lord willing I live long enough to complete it. If you see something that makes you say it don't look done you're right, you'll see updates later.

[BC Toy chest]

Looks and feels like there is no end to this project

[BC Toy chest]

Spreading some info for a friend if anyone is interested in the SoCal area. If it grows maybe it will spread out to other states.
There is even talk of doing a mini type Power Tour in the future if there is a large enough response.

Drive Your Junk Car Cruises/ Drive Your Sh#t Car Cruises
https://www.facebook.com/driveyourjunk

About.


This is a page for people that would like to get out and drive their classic trucks/cars. We will post information on upcoming cruises/shows, meeting places and times. Everyone is welcome, just be a legal driver, registered and insured classic car/truck.


Description
This group is all about driving your classic vehicle (motorcycle, car, truck). This is not a club, there are no fees, meetings, mandatory events. NO DRAMA!! Meet up and cruise to a predetermined destination, pretty simple and a good way to network with like minded people. E-mail driveyourjunk@gmail.com

[lowdownstar]

BC I am trying to build a pro street 56 and i am running into a few things, so if you don't mind me asking what is your tire size? and do you know how wide your rear end is, on your truck! i don't want any miss understanding lol


Thanks Ray

[sgtusmc]

Man every time I see your rear set-up. I wish I went that route. Looks sick with them meats!

[BC Toy chest]

Originally Posted by sgtusmc

Man every time I see your rear set-up. I wish I went that route. Looks sick with them meats!

Hey these projects are never really done, it's not too late to do some home work and a 'lil mock up fitment and see how it looks. With your stance and that killer back bumper, fatties out back would make it look pretty sinister

[BC Toy chest]

Originally Posted by sgtusmc

Man every time I see your rear set-up. I wish I went that route. Looks sick with them meats!

sgtusmc check this out. Nice and FAT! Of course you don't have to do the full cage but you can still stick some meat back there.

[BC Toy chest]

Originally Posted by lowdownstar

BC I am trying to build a pro street 56 and i am running into a few things, so if you don't mind me asking what is your tire size? and do you know how wide your rear end is, on your truck! i don't want any miss understanding lol


Thanks Ray

The tire size is 31X18.50-15 Mickey Thompson Sportsman the actual section width (side wall to side wall) is 17.6" & tread width is 14.8" . I can not remember my actual axle housing width but my axle flange to flange measurement is 47 9/16" . My rear end is a Chrysler 8 3/4 rear end. I don't think you can get the M/T Sportsman any more only the Sportsman-Pro. The Sportsman-Pro are a softer compound for better traction at the drag strip. And the tire was a fraction of an inch wider but not enough to make a difference. Check with M/T. My rims are 14x15. I think you will like the M/T Pro Street radial tire better because it is very good in wet weather conditions. Back spacing is going to be based on how narrow you want to make the rear end housing, and how wide you want to go with the tires. I do know of a guy that had to notch his frame and and another one back-halved his truck frame with a narrower pro stock style frame/four link set up because they wanted to go with the super wide 33X21.50-15 tires. Just be sure to measure and re-measure and then check it again before you cut anything . I hope this helps.

BC

[lowdownstar]

Originally Posted by BC Toy chest

The tire size is 31X18.50-15 Mickey Thompson Sportsman the actual section width (side wall to side wall) is 17.6" & tread width is 14.8" . I can not remember my actual axle housing width but my axle flange to flange measurement is 47 9/16" . My rear end is a Chrysler 8 3/4 rear end. I don't think you can get the M/T Sportsman any more only the Sportsman-Pro. The Sportsman-Pro are a softer compound for better traction at the drag strip. And the tire was a fraction of an inch wider but not enough to make a difference. Check with M/T. My rims are 14x15. I think you will like the M/T Pro Street radial tire better because it is very good in wet weather conditions. Back spacing is going to be based on how narrow you want to make the rear end housing, and how wide you want to go with the tires. I do know of a guy that had to notch his frame and and another one back-halved his truck frame with a narrower pro stock style frame/four link set up because they wanted to go with the super wide 33X21.50-15 tires. Just be sure to measure and re-measure and then check it again before you cut anything . I hope this helps.

BC

Yes sir that will help me big time, here is what i am working on. The frame is setup nice but my rear end is 58" wide but i do have the room for a 14" wide wheel but my back spacing is going to be alot different then most. I better make sure "sure to measure and re-measure and then check it again" today i will be tubbing the new bed sides so lets hope that works out.lol

Thanks again Ray

[Kim57]

Originally Posted by lowdownstar

Yes sir that will help me big time, here is what i am working on. The frame is setup nice but my rear end is 58" wide but i do have the room for a 14" wide wheel but my back spacing is going to be alot different then most. I better make sure "sure to measure and re-measure and then check it again" today i will be tubbing the new bed sides so lets hope that works out.lol

Thanks again Ray

One thing to consider on back spacing is the type of brakes you will run in the rear. On a 15" rim some disc brakes wont fit if you have to much back spacing.
Kim

[BC Toy chest]

Lowdownstar I just want to throw out a heads up. I was told by a guy that owns a '73 Chevy step-side I saw at a drag race in the parking lot with some big meats. The '73-'87 Chevy step sides have the same basic configuration as our trucks. He had his stock width 12 bolt rear end and he had the M/T 31X18.50 -15. He has some way positive-offset (special order) 14" wide CenterLines. He said the one down side was that to stuff all that tire under his truck with the stock width rear end, that the offset was eating up his rear wheel bearings due to the load/ placement of the offset of the rim. He said he was replacing bearings about every other year. How true this is I don't know would be nice to get input from others on here.
I had a similar problem when I use to run those deep dish rims with the way negative offset on the front of my truck when I was a kid. I was replacing the front wheel bearings once a year. Not trying to sabotage any ideas you may have, just want to give you something to consider.

[lowdownstar]

Are you kidding me, I can't thank you enough for all you do. I was wondering about that myself. How much rim is to much and how much off set is to much for what i am trying to do. The truck has a 9" ford rear end and the rear is 58" wide i have no clue as to what is stock. the frame is 34" wide at the rear tires and it was at one time setup for the big tires and i was told the last guy who own the truck put a wider rear end in it and smaller tires. Right now i have a 10" rim with a 29-12.5-15" with more BS then it needs. the tires sit inside to far. I can't understand what they were thinking when they did that. anyway it looks bad and i need to make it right.


Ray

[BC Toy chest]

Originally Posted by lowdownstar

Are you kidding me, I can't thank you enough for all you do. I was wondering about that myself. How much rim is to much and how much off set is to much for what i am trying to do. The truck has a 9" ford rear end and the rear is 58" wide i have no clue as to what is stock. the frame is 34" wide at the rear tires and it was at one time setup for the big tires and i was told the last guy who own the truck put a wider rear end in it and smaller tires. Right now i have a 10" rim with a 29-12.5-15" with more BS then it needs. the tires sit inside to far. I can't understand what they were thinking when they did that. anyway it looks bad and i need to make it right.


Ray

I see. Did they move the leaf springs inboard or did they relocate them under the frame or do you have a
coil-over shock 4-link set up?

Please do not get me wrong, I can not tell you how to spend your money and far be it from me to tell you how to build your truck. You did say you like that fat tire/pro street with the deep dish rim look. I don't really know how else to achieve that look without cutting the housing and axles. I strongly encourage you to go with the look you want because if you don't you will never be totally satisfied with your ryde, if you just settle. Now if this is a daily driver then it makes the task difficult but if you don't mind parking the truck for a while and taking your time on it then it is very do-able.

Don't let lack of funds scare you. If it's something you really want to do just take your time. I went thru a foreclosure once when I was newly married, but was still able to hang on to the truck when it was nothing more then a raggedy daily driver. When I first rebuilt my truck I could only afford to get the parts when money allowed. Family and the house note came first. When I saw the truck that pushed me over the edge to make me want to build it the way you see it now, I did what ever it took to get it rolling the way I wanted it to look. I even recycled cans and bottles and scrap metal after doing my day job to add to my trucks piggy bank, lol.

Don't give up. I had my rear end cut down to my specs by Moser Engineering. I later bought 1 rim then about 2 months later I got the other rim, them three months later I bought the rear tires, my transmission was all apart, my motor was done, I had no front wheels or tires, went to the bone yard found salvageable parts, the next month I ordered something from No Limit Engineering, then started shopping around for a good radiator, had to ask the wife to increase my allowance for the next three months, hahaha . When I went to the chrome shop I did it one piece at a time..... and so on and so on. When I completed the truck I drove it for 10 years with some minor changes along the way and now it's all apart to fix the metal and paint it and other mods. I'm not in the poor house yet and I aint rich, so with the little bit of skills I have this is what I got . I don't know if I will ever live long enough to see my El Camino get done, But starting late last year I go out side and do just one thing a day to that car, even though I spend more time on my truck. I keep hope a live, lol.
I hope I did not offend you. Only trying to encourage you.

Call Greg Moser http://www.moserengineering.com/ 260-726-6689 He can help you way better then I could and he is affordable. They also have a booth at many of the NHRA national events.


"Johnny Cash One Piece At A Time" makes me think of what I went thru as i was working on my truck. At least my parts fit, haha

Johnny Cash One Piece At A Time - YouTube

I have shown it before and here it is again. When I first saw this Red Pro Street '57 Chevy truck back in '89 I knew right then and there..... Yeah that's it that's what I want to do to my truck.

[lowdownstar]

You and me work a lot a like lol i do the scrap metal at work as well. I take as much over time as they will give me and over the years my health went to **** from it, so now i do as much as my body will let me, i just lost 80lbs and been working out trying to save whats left. Anyway yes the truck has a 4 link in it, i am going to post a couple a pictures of where i am now so you can see what i am working on. I would love to cut the rear end down and i hope to some day, right now i just want to get it up and running and have it setup for the big tires, "tubbed" I was hopping or should i say trying to get away with it without having to go that far! but you are right take it one step at a time and keep moving forward. I am going to reuse these tires and wheels for this year, and get the bed ready for when i do have the money to cut the housing down. Thanks and no you did offend me, you just help me see the truth, i knew it, i just wanted to get away with doing it the wrong way 'cheap". And you are right i will be better off in the long run. so today i am going to weld up the sides and get rid of the latch openings and fix the tail gate. maybe start on the tubbes i have them just have to figure out how to make them work. Thanks and yes i love that red truck too....

[BC Toy chest]

Originally Posted by lowdownstar

You and me work a lot a like lol i do the scrap metal at work as well. I take as much over time as they will give me and over the years my health went to **** from it, so now i do as much as my body will let me, i just lost 80lbs and been working out trying to save whats left. Anyway yes the truck has a 4 link in it, i am going to post a couple a pictures of where i am now so you can see what i am working on. I would love to cut the rear end down and i hope to some day, right now i just want to get it up and running and have it setup for the big tires, "tubbed" I was hopping or should i say trying to get away with it without having to go that far! but you are right take it one step at a time and keep moving forward. I am going to reuse these tires and wheels for this year, and get the bed ready for when i do have the money to cut the housing down. Thanks and no you did offend me, you just help me see the truth, i knew it, i just wanted to get away with doing it the wrong way 'cheap". And you are right i will be better off in the long run. so today i am going to weld up the sides and get rid of the latch openings and fix the tail gate. maybe start on the tubbes i have them just have to figure out how to make them work. Thanks and yes i love that red truck too....

OHHHH YEAH, THIS IS NICE. Just think man, most of the work has been done , you are saving a boat load of $$$$$$, coz all you have to worry about is narrowing the housing and getting the axles, wheels and tires you want, opening up the bed sides. I guess you have adjustable height coil-overs and you all ready got disc brakes. Your tank and fuel lines seem to be done. Yeah you're cookin' with gas now bro . You will not be out of much money compared to those who have to start with a totally stock frame & suspension.

[Kabwe]

lowdownstar,

You've been holding out on us as far as the pics. I agree completely with BC take your time and do it the way you really want. Lord knows I don't want to spend a ton of money on my rides either but certain things can not be helped because I have to have the look I want or it is all a waste of time and effort. Its easy to build something you don't want, its much harder to take your time and do it the way you want.

[Tanman]

Bc you are doing an awesome job. Keep up the great work. I cant wait to see this one when you are finished.

[1Bad62Pro/Street]

Nice work Bud!
Hmmmm... Suicide Doors on your list to do? Teehee

[BC Toy chest]

Originally Posted by 1Bad62Pro/Street

[FONT="Courier New"][SIZE="2"][COLOR="Navy"][B]Nice work Bud!
Hmmmm... Suicide Doors on your list to do? Teehee

Thank you 1Bad62. I was looking at all that work you did for the suicide drs. That is some gr8 work. Afraid not that is a little beyond my skill level, lol. I really did consider it but I saw all the work involved and said that's for another project. There are so many different ideas and mods on this site. I would have to have at least 4 55-59 trucks to do all the different styles/themes I would like to have.

Kabwe and I know a guy that is trying to do everything to his truck. I kid you not. His truck will be part Kustom ( it all ready has a chop top), part pro street, part NASCAR truck series/pro touring, part rat rod. He says, we will never see another truck like it. I hope he's right

[BC Toy chest]

Originally Posted by Tanman

Bc you are doing an awesome job. Keep up the great work. I cant wait to see this one when you are finished.

Thanks Tanman, and looking forward to seeing more of your truck. I like those wheels and that stance.

[Tanman]

Thanks
Posted via Mobile Device

[chevyrestoguy]

Brian-
It's good to see you back on your truck! I like Pro Street vehicles, and your truck is right up my alley.

Hopefully, there will come a day when we both quit being spectators and start become participants at shows! My '64 is coming together (hopefully done before Bakersfield in October), and the '55 is going to be next after that's done. Since I put it aside, I have got some new ideas brewing in my head on the '55.

[BC Toy chest]

Originally Posted by chevyrestoguy

Brian-
It's good to see you back on your truck! I like Pro Street vehicles, and your truck is right up my alley.

Hopefully, there will come a day when we both quit being spectators and start become participants at shows! My '64 is coming together (hopefully done before Bakersfield in October), and the '55 is going to be next after that's done. Since I put it aside, I have got some new ideas brewing in my head on the '55.

Thanks chevyrestoguy. Not trying to make your head swell but u know your '55 truck is my favorite on here.

I have had the truck in a few shows but I guess I only posted pictures on here of the cruz nites. LOL when I'm at a show I'm usually running around like a chicken with his head cut off trying to see everything and take pictures of other really kool rydes. Some of my worst pics of the show are the ones I took of my own truck, lol.

One thing I will be working on as I near completion is getting my truck to run cooler in heavy traffic. I have a U.S. Radiator and a mechanical fan with a shroud and a pusher electric fan. My compression is about 10.7:1 and a long stay in heavy traffic it starts to climb. cruising at a steady 25-30 mph in moderately heavy traffic It does fine. On the open Hywy it won't go over 175°. I am afraid of depending on an electric fan by it self (but might try it with a better one) coz I had a bad experience with a friends car whenthe electric fan relay went out and the shop I use use to manage we saw our share of burned up engines and trans when the electric fans failed. I am going to make a more efficient aluminum shroud for starters, and do some more home work on that Lincoln Mark VIII electric fan.But I know "me"..... once my truck is fully up and running again, I will put the fan issue on the back burner, and just want to drive it then, I'll want to spend my money on new gears for the rear and a Holley 830cfm no choke with annular discharge. Or maybe I will try the Edelbrock AVS 800cfm. I may have to come to your house for tuning issues, your motor looks like it's ready to kick some serious butt. Lord knows I can use all the help I can get

[BC Toy chest]

The never ending project. Been lazy about giving explanation on what I'm doing just follow the pics. It will make more since later. Doing some mock up fitting too.

[BC Toy chest]

The never ending project. Been lazy about giving explanation on what I'm doing just follow the pics. It will make more since later. Doing some mock up fitting too.