Another damn '55 straight axle build

Hey guys I've gotten far enough along on my car I thought I would share some pics. I am doing an axle on my car from scratch. Here is the front cut off, I cut 4-1/2 inches ahead of the frontmost part of the front body mount.

 

Here is a pic of bullnosing the frame rails.

 

Made the stub with center on 31-7/8 to match the centerline on the '57 truck axle I'm using.

 

lovin it, man!

 

Sweet!

I may have to build one for my next commuter!

 

gotta follow this! keep posting

 

I trimmed down the stub a little to where the spreader bar stuck out where I wanted it to. Then I sunk the stub in until it hit the downturn in the frame. I left it level on the bottom, pie cut and folded in the sides and left the top open, then filled the gap with a few pieces of 1/4 inch, then welded them to the old frame and new stub. I am using a wedge piece to cover that, and to blend the frames a little more gradual.

 

I made sure the rear suspension was loaded and measured between the front and rear leaf spring mounts on the frame to make sure they were square. Then I verified that the rearend was square in the car between those two mounts. Then I dropped a line off of the front mount and set the centerline at around 117-1/2, the factory WB is 115"

 

Looks great. Nice work.

 

And here is some pics of what I did today, I made some shock mounts and some motor mounts to match. I will try and get some more pics as I go. If you all have any questions or want any more pics, just ask.

 

wow very nice work love the wheels that's going to be a bad boy.....

 

Nice piece! Lot better then that Jeep hotrod I was looking at before I read your thread. I almost barfed on my keyboard with that one! Keep us posted man!
Jay

 

Looking Goood !!!! Keep posting.

 

Very nice!

 

Haha, fixed it Rusty, that would be a damn limo at 155". Hey DBLGUN, I talk to you over on the TLB site sometimes.

 

Here's what I got done today. Motor mounts tacked in place, shock mounts welded in, started mocking up the brakes so I can figure out how I'm gonna do the steering.

 

"Another damn '55 straight axle build"....never get tired of straight axle builds.
Man that's looking good!

 

Damn '55 Chevys!

 

Here's some pics of the car today. Got it sitting on the wheels and got the headers on it without any drama. I've got a really good idea for the steering box so we'll see if it works.

 

I'm liking this one a lot! HRP

 

I'm liking this one a lot! HRP

 

Coming together real nice

 

I will be interested in what your steering setup will be. I used my stock box on my big block 56 but had to lower the steering box to clear the headers. Cool car!!

 

Chevy, I ran into the same problem when mine was still on the a arms. I just put on my chassis headers cuz I knew I was gonna do an axle soon. I am using a 525 saginaw manual box with rear steer. I have some buddies using them in a front steer configuration but I don't like the way they look. I will get some pics when I get it all mocked up.

 

NOW, Your cookin !!!! LOL

 

Here's a pic of the car with the frontend set up on it today. I stretched out the wheelbase some and it looked a little spooky when I first set it up on the car, but after I got everything lined up I think it looks bitchin.

 

Agreed! Nice. Where did you get the leaf springs?

 

Thanks Kurt, they are just the standard Speedway swill. We will see how they hold up.

 

Been working like crazy but have had time to do a little. I made me a short shaft, reverse rotation 525 saginaw box. I had to reverse the rotation to mount it inside the frame with the pitman arm pointed backwards and the steering arms on the back of the spindles. This is gonna work sweet as hell were I am gonna mount it.

 

Here is the setup I came up with to move the frontend forward and flip it.