My 55 Chevy 4X4

[marc55]

I am lucky my friend has a 82 blazer with a 4" lift and I took some measurements. Looks like my frame all stripped has about 1 1/2 rake forward. I am going to start with the mounts that came with the truck and go from there. Like OrrieG said measure, tack, and shim. The only way to tell is to put it all back together. The truck was not assembled when I got it so this is a good time to do the fitting. I want to run as little of a body lift as possible and might have to slightly channel the bed to match the cab. Once I get the cab back on the frame it is not that much work to hang the front end. It beats watching TV.

[AK56]

I was reading another build thread on here and that mentioned EZ chassis.
Here's their link for a kit
http://www.e-zchassisswaps.com/kit.php?category=5

[6BT 56]

Yep thats the one I was thinking of . Not saying thats the way to go but it's nice to see there is a kit . But you are right , tack measure and shim and it will come together .

Have you read Luthers thread ? He put his 55 2nd on a dodge chassis . He just droped it on and started moving stuff around till it looked rite . Turned out well.

[marc55]

I have been all over this board in the last 8 months. I wish the e-z swap site show a picture of the kit. I just need to get on it. Trial and error. My days off are during the week and it is hard to get help. Moving the cab by myself is a pain. I think my system with the lift will work well. I am going to start tomorrow with putting the cab on the frame.

[marc55]

I got the front fenders and the cab on the frame today. It is all sitting fairly good. It is about 3/4 inch low on the passenger side. It also has about 1" rake forward. I figure with the engine it will drop almost 2 more inches. I think I am going to shim the front of the cab up about 1 1/4'. The core support will also be easy to make once I get my cab placement. The fenders are just thrown on and the gap are not that bad.

[marc55]

Finally getting some stuff done now that x-mas is dead. Made my front core supports and set the cab height. fender height is within 1/8 of each other and side to side is exact.

[marc55]

I also decided to upgrade the front body mount. The other on was just a piece of water pipe. I wanted something a little more stable.



I shortened the frame for the rear bed mount but I still need to lower the mounting point about an inch lower to get the cab and bed parallel to each other

[ATTACH]1195295[/ATTACH]

[marc55]

This was a surprise when I put the grill in. The inner hood brace spot weld was drilled out and I welded it back the the original holes. Hopefully this is just a matter of moving the brace to take the twist out.


I forgot to take a side pic before I put the truck away. It is a little higher than I wanted but I could not get the back of the cab any lower than it is. About a inch High from the front of the rocker to the back of the rocker but when the engine is installed I think it will squat down just right.

[Russell Ashley]

I'm no body man but I think I'd make a template from the drivers door and compare it to the passenger door to see if the problem is the door or the cab. It could be that the cab has gotten pushed in at that point.

[marc55]

The dent on the door was not that bad and nothing was bent on the inside. I took a 2x4 and 3 lbs hammer and started beating on the bulge. Then I use a doll and hammer on the very edge.

[marc55]

Got the bed set in place. In order for the bed wood to clear the frame and match the cab I shimmed the front by 1" and had to lower the rear mounts by 3/4".

[marc55]

WOW I can't believe it's been 2 month I have been bust with house chores and some wood working projects. I have scored some parts from CL and getting the project going again.

241 transfer case



and a fuel cell for the rear. just need to finish the bed supports before mounting

[marc55]

I finished with the bed supports and started to mount the gas tank.

[BC Toy chest]

Sweet, like what I see keep the photos coming, nice work.

[marc55]

Thanks for the comments. I ordered it off of E-bay last week and I am happy with the quality. I have not drilled the mounting holes yet my steering column should get here today and I want to check the clearance first. Right now the bracket is lined up with the dash mounting holes and I have room to move it more to the right about 3/16 more. It does line up with the hole in the floor from the original break pedal.


The column should go through the floor towards the top of the hole or that is where I am going to aim for. I will post pics when I get the column.

[marc55]

Just got the column today.





I am just holding it but here is the shot throughout he floor. The clearance is fine.



I can play with the floor position because my steering box is forward on the frame and it will just be a shaft and universal joint by the firewall. I am planning on using a universal pivot floor mount.

[RockTonka]

Cool, that's going to work well. I jumped a different direction today and pulled the trigger on a manual set-up...I think it'll work out OK. Keep up the progress...you've got some fun parts to keep ya motivated.

[marc55]

knocked out a couple little things today. The inner front bumper needed some help. Just used some Rustolium.

I have read several debates about por15 chassis black and rustolium. I was wondering what people are using. I was just going to brush on some Rustolium. It sounds like the Por 15 needs a lot of prep work. I just want to pressure wash and wire wheel my frame.




Also made the lower brackets for the gas tank

[Mr.Jones]

Good looking seat!

[marc55]

Started to make the rear mounting brackets for the seats. I cut off the factory quick release and split the factory bracket.

Then I added material to weld my support to.

Add some feet

This bracket bolts to the stock seat location and to the strongest part of the floor just need to make some bolt plates for the bottom.

[OrrieG]

Looks good, mine similar or the same out of a Tahoe, I designed it so the tilt removal features worked. Made slide out storage underneath.

[marc55]

That is nice. I almost went that way but I figured I will probably put all my stereo stuff under the seat and don't really need the access. The side panels look good also. Mine did not have them. I have been wanting to get a beed roller when I do I might make something out of aluminum.

[marc55]

Finished the front mounts today. Cut the stock mount and grafted in some 1/4 plate to match the stock floor mount location.


Fairly clean and very solid.

[Truck Guy99]

Tuning in to this build. Good lookin truck, just needs a little help. I'd go with the 350 engine at first for simplicity, then do an ls later on. If you have the cash to do an ls now, then go for it. But if your like me, you just want to make it roll under its own power while you save some cash for the big picture. Good luck, I look forward to the finished product

[marc55]

Thanks, I did a lot of thinking about LS or 350 700r combo. The wiring was my biggest concern. The more I read about LS swaps they do not sound very complicated. A junk yard pull out is not much more then rebuilding a 350. 80k on a used LS is nothing. I also have another project car waiting that will get a LS so the truck is also my guinea pig. My biggest cost concern is paint. I have pained about 4 cars but I want this one to be metallic silver which I hear is hard to paint. I don't know if I can do a quality paint job in my garage. This week will be a little test when I paint my frame.