Customs 53 Chevy Full Custom: A Build Journal

[Hot Rod Pat]

Originally Posted by THE235KID

If you go back and read you will se how it is done. With the springs in their stock location you can't get it that low. We moved the springs, from the bottom ofthe frame, in and up. This alone gave 4 inches. With 3 inch dropped springs long shackles and blocks I can get as low as I like without any issues.

Not gonna lie, I'm probably gonna copy some (most) of your set-up on my 53 chevy. Thanks for building such a great car! I love the static ride height, no need for bags.

[3spd]

You really got me on this one. Im generall not a fan of early 50's cars but this one, man you got it right. I love everything about this car, it just looks right; the engine and no bags are just killer. I cant wait to see it finished.

Ryland

[Gambino_Kustoms]

Originally Posted by THE235KID

I love how the Gambino notch fits and doesn't require cutting into the passenger compartment.

hey thanxs for the plug good luck with the car

[chato0824]

man great work on the car so far. im working on my '54 also and im trying to make it my daily driver. its almost there. im running a 261 with dual carbs and fenton headers and i am wanting to do the t-5 swap. question is what year trans did you use? thanks and bad ass work.

[THE235KID]

Originally Posted by chato0824

man great work on the car so far. im working on my '54 also and im trying to make it my daily driver. its almost there. im running a 261 with dual carbs and fenton headers and i am wanting to do the t-5 swap. question is what year trans did you use? thanks and bad ass work.

I think it is out of an 84 or 85 S-10 6 cylinder truck. Don't quote me on that though. I'd have to check the ID tag to be sure.

(In your PM you asked about the bellhousing)I used an adapter for the trans to the original 53 bellhousing. I'm not real fond of the adapter. I plan on changing and improving on the design and producing them in the near future.

[HotRod60F100]

Awesome and informative build man! Keep up the great work!

[THE235KID]

Small update. I sold the old chassis so I purchased my rear springs from Posies yesterday. 3 inch drop super slides.

Also I scored this. A complete 55 Desoto dash. It's exactly what I pictured in my head. I was going to just build one but this came along and I couldn't pass it up. It will take some major surgery to make fit but will look killer in the end!

[Hot Rod Pat]

Looking forward to seeing how this turns out.

[AcadianKid]

Great Build. Keep it going

[THE235KID]

UPDATE:

I got the body bolted down today. Yesterday my new springs came in. Posies Super Slide rear leafs. The are the #203. 3 inches lower than stock with the stock pin location. (I based the rear suspension location off of stock springs)

They were an easy install. No major info there. The results were amazing. I thought I would have to use lowering blocks but after getting it back down on the ground, it was just right! NO BLOCKS!!! Just Altered spring perches, c notch and 3 inch dropped springs!

Once the car has everything installed (Bumpers, grille, gastank, front sheet metal) The front should come down about an inch and a half or two. The rear should come down another inch with all the weight on it and when the springs wear in.

Anyways... On to the pics! Pics are new and stock springs side by side, New springs installed and one before one after the new springs!

New springs!



Old and new side by side. Major difference in shape.



Ride hight with old springs








Ride hight after new springs

[THE235KID]

No scrub line issues either.

Who needs bags...

[skoh73]

Nice work! Yeah, I don't dig bags. I like the way you did it.

[THE235KID]

Thanks! All together I think it's about 7 or 8 inches lower than stock. Back in 57 (the era I'm shooting for with this build) not many cars were this low. Only a few. The Ericson 56 Chevy, The Grapevine, the Conway Ford all were really low. It's been fun coming up with a new design a solving the problems of getting this car low with no bags or juice.

[Honest Charlie]

Originally Posted by THE235KID

Thanks! All together I think it's about 7 or 8 inches lower than stock. Back in 57 (the era I'm shooting for with this build) not many cars were this low. Only a few. The Ericson 56 Chevy, The Grapevine, the Conway Ford all were really low. It's been fun coming up with a new design a solving the problems of getting this car low with no bags or juice.

I like it, looks real good there. I like your list also.

[THE235KID]

Thanks. The car should keep coming down as stuff gets bolted on.

Now I can finally get started on the metal work. Finish the chop, fix the remaining rust, swap the quarters, do the taillights, customize the entire front end ect ect ect.

Lots of welding to do! Lots of ideas to try and tons of grinding and bodywork coming up.

[lorodz]

great looking 53 keep it up

[JAWS]

Excellent work.

I fwanted to ask how you did your clutch setup. Got any pictures of it?

Sorry, didn't mean to hyjack stepback in the progress.

[JeffreyJames]

Such nice work. THere's definitely a way to get your car down without resorting to bags and you've shown this nicely. I'm loving this car!

[BadLuck]

what a great build thread... love the dash idea....

[THE235KID]

Originally Posted by JAWS

I fwanted to ask how you did your clutch setup. Got any pictures of it?

No pics of it yet. It is pretty much a stock setup. I used the stock 53 bellhousing and clutch assembly. I got an adapter for the t-5 so no extensive modifications had to be done. Just bolt it back up.

Originally Posted by JeffreyJames

Such nice work. THere's definitely a way to get your car down without resorting to bags and you've shown this nicely. I'm loving this car!

Thanks Jeffery!

Originally Posted by BadLuck

what a great build thread... love the dash idea....

I had sketched out an idea in my head. I was going to make one from scratch. When I saw the 55 Desoto it was exactly what I was thinking of building so I scooped it up.