Hot Rods Save me from buying a clipped mess???

Here you can see a 55 chevy truck. The small block in front of the truck is hiding the clip, but I am wondering about the steering column that is running to the steering box that seems to mounted on the outside of the frame, or maybe on top of it. My question is, how would the inner fenders have room to bolt up in stock configuration? The clip is from a 78 caprice wagon and although it looks to be too wide in this pic, I saw it in person already and it looked fine. Sorry for the junk picture, it is from the advert. The steering is all hooked up and seems to work fine, but the PO swears all the body parts were on the truck when he bought it, but I am not buying that.

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Same dimensions as 71-81 camaro..
Only difference is 5 on 5 bolt pattern and heavier duty parts...we use caprice stuff on our off topic dirt track cars...
Pm me if you want more info...
That way we won't run afoul of the rules...
Ryan is the man...we gotta keep him happy !

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Any ideas about the column? Usually they come straight out of the firewall and this one is wide right, shall we say

 

It was very common on those to move the steering box to the outside of the frame with a V8 conversion even with the stock steering. You may have to go with a more modern column if you want to get the steering inboard. Should be a cinch if the caprice steering box is where it was from the factory. Got any better pictures to look at?

 

I would never use a clipped front end on any vehicle. How do you even know if the welds are safe? Is it welded on in correct alignment? Put a lot of time and money in a PIS and what do you end up with? An expensive *******ized PIS that wont resell for much of anything.

There. Did I talk you out of it?
I like 55's. Good body? Put a new frame under it.

 

Thanks guys for your thoughts. Body is excellent, brand new fenders at both ends even...price is a major steal. I wouldnt have the budget for a $10k ch***is that's for sure, but a new doner frame from some other vehicle is doable if this one ****s out. I am going to see it again tonight.

 

We put a Volare front clip on our 56 f-100. It looks great and handles like a car. Plus sits really low.

not all clips are a horrible thing. a lot of them are. I have seen some *****chy welds. check everything multiple times with a tape and make sure its straight and solid

 

The inner fender probably needs to be nipped a bit to fit around the steering shaft/box. If the clip is sketchy, it can always be fixed and done right. It's just steel.....

 

I'd never even remotely consider buying a clipped car that was not all together and driveable. you have no idea if the guy who did it had a clue as to what he was doing or not.

 

The PO says all of the front end was on the truck (with this clip) in the past, so if the front inner fender isn't modified, I will have a bad feeling about it for sure. Things are cheap for a reason...

 

If this truck has been fitted with a Caprice clip, there is no way in Hell that the steering box should be outside the frame rail........if that is what you are saying.

On a Caprice clip, the steering box should be ahead of the crossmember and inboard of the left front frame horn. The position of the steering column is pretty much dictated by the cab width. There might be a. Slight outboard angle to the steering shaft from the base of the column to the steering box because of the difference in width of the truck you have and the car the frame clip came from,

The integrity of the clip, from an alignment and weld quality perspective should be able to be determined by inspection of the welds and the correct positioning of the clip by measuring from key reference points.

Ray

 

Which points are best to measure from?

 

I would want to see the front sheet metal on the vehicle. I've seen many clipped vehicles where the front wheels were not centered in the fender opening and it totally ruins the look for me. That being said I would not hesitate buying a correctly done car.

 

Caveat Emptor. Personal story. I built a clipped '57 Chevy big-back window and used a Firebird clip. It rode and drove good as new, stopped on a dime because of the disc brakes and gave nine cents change. Don't be misled. You can have a welder check the welds; and it is easy enough to verify alignment of the clip to the parent frame with a plumb bob, framing square and mason's string. Make damn sure the core support and front frame horns, that align the front fenders and hold on the bumper, have been placed accordingly. Even if you have to do the complere installation over, to make it right and according to Hoyle, keep in mind that: 'Parts is parts', and old trucks that aren't rust buckets don't turn up for sale every day. If you're getting a deal, you're ahead of the game. Just read enough on the 'how to' of doing a clip to know what works and what won't. There should be a book, or two, that covers this subject from A to Z, that can be had on Amazon; and you can use Google and find more info. Those who forgot, or don't know, the use of donor clips on older pickups has been done long enough to be a 'traditional' method. Major rodding magazines covered it back in the late seventies and early eighties. Now, it's simply another way to build a safe, daily driver. Safe being the operative word, here, considering current driving speeds on major thoroughfares. As to the steering, incorporation of one or more needle-bearing universal joints like those manufactured by Flaming River, or Borgenson, to direct the steering shaft to the steering box is usually necessary. Capturing the bottom of the shaft where it exits the column will also be needed, as this function was a part of the steering box originally affixed to the shaft, that must be cut free. I can't tell from the picture, and don't know off the top of my head, if a Caprice is rear-steer, or front steer, but either should work with some shade tree engineering. As to t******* the inner-fenders; with independent front suspension on a truck that came with a beam axle it's necessary because you need the room for the up and down movement of the A-arms. As to whether you should buy it, or not: that depends on you. I don't want to ***ume legal liability, for steering you into, or away from the deal. I suspect you lack the knowledge needed to finish the job, alone. And, unless you get help, the result could lead to a great deal of dissatisfaction. However, this should be a take away to use in the future: Knowledge is power. Read more, and widely. Know about the 'why' and the 'how'. Certainly all of us need to do that. Good luck on what looks to be a pretty decent old truck that, with some TLC could be a helluva beater. Just sayin'. Carl

 

If it has a caprice front clip and the box was moved to the outside of the frame I wonder what was used to linkage,if my memory is correct only the 60s to 87 trucks had the steering box outside of the frame.

 

Get someone in the hot rod/street rod community who still builds cars to take a look at it to ***ess the workmanship and fitment. Just because a project is clipped does not spell doom. No one here can evaluate this by photo -it needs eyes on. What you get here from one poor picture is free advice that is only worth what you paid for it.

If you are not qualified get it looked at by a competent builder.

 

Nothing wrong with a properly done clip. Mine has over 90K on it without a problem

 

This is what I was getting to in my post above. If this is the case, I'd p*** it up or bend over and spread 'em to the tune of a new & improved clip.

 

Since the steering wheel says "Kingswood" I got a feeling its a kingswood wagon and not a "78 Wagon" like I was told. I cant seem to find any info on the kingswood steering setups though, but I did see their track width, which seems pretty wide.

I was able to see a picture of the truck before it was taken apart, and luckily for me, it was a 'rolling shot' so I know that the body parts should line up somewhat well. When I get the truck in my possession I will start a project thread up.