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Projects 1954 Chevy 2dr post , Gambino taildragger kit

Discussion in 'Traditional Customs' started by ballom, Feb 27, 2018.

  1. ballom
    Joined: May 25, 2011
    Posts: 16

    ballom
    Member
    from langley

    Hey everyone my name is Matt from Vancouver B.C. I am a redseal auto tech and have been in the trade for 8 years. I Also have a decent amount of welding experience just so everyone knows where I stand. I have a bone stock 54 Chevy 2dr post that I am going to be bagging , I have already replaced the floor pans and body braces. I have a fresh 235 with dual carb aluminum offy intake and split Fenton exh. I will also be running a T5 tranny , I have the adapter plate and clutch disc. As far as front end goes I am still on the fence about doing a mustang ll or fabbing the stock front end for bags. My plan for now is to get the rear done and engine/tranny in as to hopefully be driveable in the summer.
    This is my first time doing any suspension fabrication and any help from someone who has done a gambino taildragger kit will be much appreciated.

    Step one is going to be doing the notch and then setup the rear suspension




    [​IMG][​IMG]

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  2. Notsofurias
    Joined: Sep 22, 2012
    Posts: 89

    Notsofurias
    Member
    from Clovis,CA

    Hey Matt nice looking ride ! Have you already bought the kit ? Sounds like you have some good experience so it shouldn’t be too difficult to tackle. The guys at Gambino’s should be able to help you with any tech questions you might have. Not sure if you plan on running the original rear end, drive line, etc.. If your not make sure to get your measurements before removing the rear end. Not sure with the chevy’s but you might have to look at tunneling the floor for drive shaft clearance as well. I’m sure someone else who has way more experience will hopefully chime in and help you out ! Good luck !!!


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  3. ballom
    Joined: May 25, 2011
    Posts: 16

    ballom
    Member
    from langley

    Thanks ! Yea I have the kit already . I picked it up on my road trip to santa maria last year. I have a rear end from a 4x4 S10, so I will be running an open driveline and from the looks of the other threads I read tunneling will be a must.

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  4. johnnyknuckles79
    Joined: Dec 21, 2013
    Posts: 13

    johnnyknuckles79
    Member

    Sweet looking ride, will look great laid out. Yea call Alex he's cool and knows his stuff. I'm about to buy his "Supreme Kit" for my 53. This will be the second car I've owned with one of his set ups in it.
     

  5. autoworx1
    Joined: Oct 1, 2006
    Posts: 314

    autoworx1
    Member
    from kansas

    Yes, tunneling is a must. I used the Slam Specialties, SS5 bags up front. I made room on the lower arms to accept the bag so they would not rub. After going to all the trouble I think they would have cleared without. I'm sure Alex could confirm this? I have a 7" power brake booster mounted in the original location under the floor. The power booster almost sits on the ground when the car is laid out. I'll be honest though, without "pancaking" the front cross member, you cannot lay frame with stock front suspension parts. I'd consider buying the 2" dropped uprights but it would sit my brake booster solid on the concrete.

    If you have not purchased valves/solenoids yet I would strongly encourage you to look at the Aire Jax manual valve. It is super smooth, reliable and requires zero power. It is a very nice set-up that allows you to monitor each corner of the air-ride with individual ports right of the valve manifold.

    Good luck with your car. It looks good already!
     
    Last edited: Feb 28, 2018
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  6. ballom
    Joined: May 25, 2011
    Posts: 16

    ballom
    Member
    from langley

    Thanks I will contact gambino and see what they say , The parts I have are
    -rebuilt 235 with speed parts
    -rebuilt T5 tranny
    -s10 4x4 rear end
    -gambino taildragger kit with bags
    -fatman dropped uprights



    I don't have any other airride stuff. I am also planning on doing the dual master ( get rid of the jam jar ) what master did you use a corvette ?


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  7. autoworx1
    Joined: Oct 1, 2006
    Posts: 314

    autoworx1
    Member
    from kansas

    Yes, Corvette with 7" dual booster, '67 Nova rear, 700r4. The 235 with t5 will be a lot of fun to drive.
     
  8. pattatat
    Joined: Feb 20, 2008
    Posts: 3

    pattatat
    Member
    from Denton TX

    Following this thread...
    I'll be down a very similar path that you are taking - 235/T5, bags, new rear end etc...
    Looking forward to your progress
     
  9. ballom
    Joined: May 25, 2011
    Posts: 16

    ballom
    Member
    from langley

    Update ! Notch is in and frame is cut . I'll post more photos soon. I have been posting to my Instagram go checkout @yota_ventures on Instagram , I made a photo thread on there so that's the most current photos

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  10. ballom
    Joined: May 25, 2011
    Posts: 16

    ballom
    Member
    from langley

    Gambino just posted some how to videos on his IG stating to mark and measure the notch and then take it out and weld it completely on the bench. We drilled some holes and plug welded it aswell for some more added strength, Thanks to my buddy Karl from @japhands_kustoms for the help.

    Here's pics of them before we cut the frame and a shot from last May when me and a buddy drove to the santa maria cruise in nationals and then hitup gambino on the way home. [​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]

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  11. chop job
    Joined: Feb 16, 2013
    Posts: 596

    chop job
    Member
    from Wisconsin
    1. WISCONSON HAMBERS

    Nice work can't wait to see more.
     
  12. Nice set up
    You might want to look at using a jag clip off a series 3
    The right width for 49-54 chevys and it’s a bolt in, the shocks are mounted outside the spring perch so doing bags should be easy
    And you keep your 5-4.75 bolt pattern get big girling front disc brakes and power steering, parts are not expensive for the jag neither and they can be bought for next to nothing
    I did this swap on my 50 it was really easy.
     
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  13. cracker head
    Joined: Oct 7, 2007
    Posts: 968

    cracker head
    Member

    I had a ‘51 fleetline that I put a mII on. Only way to go. Rear was a competition engineering or some other brand bolt in rear 4 link. Project never got finished and traded it for something I could finish with out relying on anybody else so I can’t tell you how it drove/rode. Look in my album and see a pic of it...

    If I ever get another Chevy I’ll do it all over again.

    No just throw that 6cy away and put in something that will fly.
     
  14. ballom
    Joined: May 25, 2011
    Posts: 16

    ballom
    Member
    from langley

    For now I'm just going to bag the stock front . At this moment I just want to have it rolling for the summer so motor and tranny need to be done and rear finished. I was in the shop tonight putting the links on [​IMG][​IMG]

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  15. ballom
    Joined: May 25, 2011
    Posts: 16

    ballom
    Member
    from langley

    Time for some updates, I spent some time and built a trans crossmemeber for the T5. I cut 11" out of the stock one and then plated the sides and fabbed up a tube crossmember. After I got that sorted I installed the new clutch and pilot bushing.

    I used and old school trick to replace the bushing that I learned at the beginning of my apprenticeship. I filled the pilot bushing full of grease, then had a punch that fit perfectly into the bushing and used the power of hydraulics with a couple good hits to pop it out.

    After installing the transmission and driveshaft I finished up mounting the rear shocks and put in the bags, lowered the car onto some blocks and gave it a test. Everything looks good so far. I plan to run the new brake lines next then pull the rear end out paint it and finish welding a few things.



    IMG_20180416_220441.jpeg IMG_20180510_203642_099.jpeg 20180519_164547.jpeg 20180519_154933.jpeg 20180605_224339.jpeg IMG_20180605_232002_803.jpeg

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  16. ballom
    Joined: May 25, 2011
    Posts: 16

    ballom
    Member
    from langley

    chryslerfan55 likes this.
  17. Nice job on the trans crossmember, makes the T5 easy to drop out if you need to.
     
    Kwillis, chop job and chryslerfan55 like this.
  18. Yep, some fine fabricating there mister
     
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  19. StefanS
    Joined: Oct 7, 2013
    Posts: 1,287

    StefanS
    Member
    from Maryland

    Any updates? I'm thinking of putting one of these kits in my 51 but I don't know how they hold up on a daily driver
     
  20. gimpyshotrods
    Joined: May 20, 2009
    Posts: 23,263

    gimpyshotrods
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    They hold up just fine.

    I have customers with 100k+ miles on them.
     
    chryslerfan55 likes this.
  21. mista
    Joined: Nov 24, 2015
    Posts: 137

    mista
    Member
    from Finland

    People want more pictures!! This is nice projet.
     
    chop job likes this.
  22. buzzbrother
    Joined: Jun 2, 2009
    Posts: 70

    buzzbrother
    Member

    I know this is an old post, but Ballom how did you find the center line for the notch? What measurements did you take?
     

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