Hot Rods 56 Chevy 3100 - Ma New "Shop Truck" / Daily Driver

Not Mine...Buddy's working on it for someone. .

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56 Birds

 

Nice truck. I got a 55 3600 project.

 

Ahum.....stepped on the gas "a Bit" at the readlight back there...with the Wife in the truck...

Ripped the Driveshaft off the Yoke (Got all the bolts out)

Ordered a New one from Hawaii Spring Supply...Hopefully I'll get it today...
Adding some more leafs back...

 

Got the New Shaft Today...went for a long drive...

 

Wheel Hop Forensics - WTF Happened?
That 454 Chevy aka. "front lowering kit" put a kink in the rear springs...

Yellow Arrows = Springs I took out (for better handling!?)
Put'em back afterwards...
Maybe not a good idea?...But the Ride was really Nice!!
Orange Arrow = Spring end that bent the top leaves (Weak Spot)
I think the pumpkin wound up so much that -
the drive shaft hit the cross bar in the frame -
You can see the Scuff marks in the post above...
Angle was so off that it just ripped the joint out of it...

 

Any Good Ideas how to Beef it up and still handle well?
1. I would like "Bolt On" Leaves. (if makes sense)
2. Aftermarket Brand?
3. CalTrack doesn't make a setup for 56 Trucks...
Note: Axle Below Spring!!

 

Yes, Cal Tracs are designed for leafs under the axle. You need something like this. Yes, it's OT and for a 4x4 but it gives you an idea of what could work.

 

Thanks 57tailgater! I can probably build something like that...
Just found this...

Since I need new leaves too - CalTrack's website say they can custom build leaves...
I'll compaire $$$ for that to building new springs localy plus a home made torque arm.

 

YW. I didn't know Cal Tracs had that style - cool! Looks like you have options then. Me and a buddy built a set up similar to Cal Tracs for his '53 Ford pickup but his springs are under the axle. It works well at the strip. Good design, adjustable and kicks in depending on your adjustment.

 

1. I'm Building my own Track Bars!
2. Hawaii Spring Supply can re-arch my springs back to shape...

What about Cal Tracks...?
I Called Calvert Racing to inquire about the "custom made setups"
"Yes we have a setup for a 56 Chevy Truck...It's $549 bucks!..."
(I live in Hawaii so I asked about shipping "FedEx"...Ok sounds Good)
And then....
Oh that's just the Caltrak device, If You need Springs? - we don't make 2" wide Springs.
And "You have to send us tour bolt on Shock mounts so we can weld them on to our plate..."
"So $549 for just the caltracks?"...
They sell for between $369 &$399 without U-Bolts by Jegs and others...
So I said I just had new U-Bolts made..."They said we can do $499 without U-Bolts"
[I GUESS I GOT A SPECIAL DEAL HUH!?]

I'm Making Something like this...for like $100...Note to self - Need to fill Argon!...been out for a while!
It's spring above but the front bracket looks good - Or a triangle?

 

I'll definitely look in to this setup too!

 

As far as your question about the pic you found in regards to the triangle, I'd do a triangle to provide more strength. There will be a lot of force on that point even tho you have plates on both sides. You'll need to see if the plates will work with the spring mount as well. My buddy's go in between the spring and the mount. One up above appears to be outside the spring mount. May want to double check your pinion angle too.

 

Thanks Man!...
Yeah, I Like the Torque Arm below (In Compression) the axel better.
And a Triangle is definitely stronger (That Thingy DOES LOOK FLIMSY!)
Every joint will be Double Shear!
Pinion Angle?
(With the truck in my drive way ~10 deg. ish) it was 5 degrees both at the transmission and back.

Anyone have a good source for Left and Right threaded toque tubes with heim joints...Fab Shop Parts seller...?

 

2 weeks ago...Me and the Wife drives over to the Swap Meet at Harley Davidson by the Airport.
When we get there, I turned in to the parking stall / Full Right...
And the Steel braided Power Steering Pressure hose blew out in the middle!
Good News - Sold a Bunch of stuff!!
Later I Took the PS belt off and drove home...
Got some Adapter fittings, Made a new hose Steel Braided AN-6...
Drove it for a day or two, Blew the hose out of the fitting...!
Made a new AN-6 Hose - Blew the hose out of the fitting right away...
Chevy Pump with a Mustang II Rack
And then I found out that using a Chevy PS Pump with a Mustang-II rack is not a good idea...
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/using-a-mii-power-rack-with-gm-pump.756559/
But that's what I Got!
So I ordered the BORGESON Shim Kit and BORGESON Pressure hose Kit...
TBC.

 

Any updates?

 

Steering Rack:
Borgeson Hose Didn't fit...(Some Japanes Metric on the rack side)
HydraAir (In Honolulu) Replaced one side fitting to make it fit...
I didn't clock it right but it works fine with some finagling...
Borgeson Shim Kit (very easy to use)
Started Low till i got the right pressure ~900-1000PSI.

Engine Rubbing FireWall...Again:
And then the Drivers side Motor Mount snapped again...Found that the trans mount was toast too!
This truck had some "Funny" things made to it before...One day they'll all be fixed!
- Got new Motor & Trans Mounts - Energy Suspension 3.1122G

- These are SOLID-Steel Reinforced!!! Doesn't wiggle like the O-Realy Rubber ones.
- Fond that the Driver side Motor mount bracket was Off...
- Couldn't reach to cut it out with any tool I have (With the engine in the Car)
- Bought a used Miller 375 Plasma Cutter locally and cut it out...Nice Unit! (waiting for new consumables)
(Took almost a day with my messed up shoulder / neck) but it's out.
Trans is on my car Jack and Engine sitting on a 2x4 on the Cross member.
- Hoping to feel good enough to weld it in (May have to make a new one) over TX Giving
Or this Weekend...
Other than that - Fun Fun!

 

If it makes you feel better….I Love your truck!

 

I would install a torque strap to keep from breaking the mounts.

 

What Lo-buk said. Easy to make with a length of stout chain and a couple brackets and a turnbuckle. Don't want it too tight and cause vibration, just tight enough to prevent the engine from straining the left mount.

 

New "Carburator"....And new Instruments. (Speedo didn't work = No Safety!)