Keep looking at my truck and keep thinking I want to go lower. Problem is I am as low as I can go on the front, already have interferance issues with the crossmember over dips and the like. The more I look at the amount of room under the hood the more I think I could drop the cab down over the ch***is by about 3". I know a channel job is a channel job is a channel job but would be interested to hear if anyone has done this and have they any pointers? How much room did you have in the cab after and what did it look like? Pictures would help. Anyway, here is where we are today..... Comments and ideas always appreciated. P.
Ha Ha Ha Ha! Truck mirrors are toast! Picture was taken in the summer so we have progressed a little since then... Currently looking for an old set of arms and mirrors to fit in with feel of the build. Forgot to mention that the truck currently sports a Camaro clip and it is the clip crossmember that bottoms out. P.
The 55' body style was late on production. GM used the same 48-54 body in 55 with a different grille. 1st series Early 55 - 48-54 body/frame there are differences in the front ends on various years but same basic cab 2nd series late 55 - 55-59 body/frame there are differences in the front ends on various years but same basic cab
it's a mute point but second series would only apply to 55 model year. in 56 they were all the same as are 57's It's easy to confuse idiots and experts when you give to much information I channeled just the cab on my 54 GMC 5 1/2 inches. just left the floor bolted in place cut the cab loose I was able to just drop the top top half of the cowl as I sectioned the hood and cowl to make it line up I had to take 5 1/2 inches at the bottom rear of the cab to clear the frame. in your truck I think you'd be way ahead labor wise to attack the frame and leave as much body in tack. check out front clips. the rear is easy to get down
That truck is perfect just the way it is, any lower and it's going to start to cross over into cartoon territory.
Muttley, Thanks fof the thumbs up. I dont want to make the truck any lower, I am just looking at a way of making it more drivable. As it sits at the moment I have about 3" of clearance at the crossmember. It currenty will ground out the crossmember on the crown of the road or under heavy braking. If I have two people in the cab it pretty much hits every single pebble... Therefore my thoughts were thus. Install the stock spindles, currently running 2" dropped. Drop the body 3" over the ch***is to give me the same visual drop as it stands at the moment but give me back the suspension travel I have lost. The other option I have is to take the clip off and remount it to lower the front with the stock suspension. Not sure what is going to be the most work, so looking at all options. And to please everyone I have changed the subject heading. P.
You might want to check out some mini-truck mags or sites. I know it's horrible to think, but those guys are doing some amazing things with frames and suspension. Many of them are doing stock-floor body drops using square tubing laying on the horizontal.
those trucks are made "channeled", the floor sits about 9" higher than the bottom of the doors. Do you really need to do more? I suggest you fix the clip so it's on right...it may be more or less work than a further channel job, but it is the right way to fix the problem.
I would think you just need to redo the front clip. Remove it and reattach it but stepped up higher. Z Then lower the body mounts accordingly.
You can probably do like chickengeorge says and do a stock floor body drop....basically lay a 2x3 square tube (something thickwalled) on the inside lower edge of the frame,weld it in place so its 2 inch width is the new frame height) and cut out the original frame above the new stuff. Do this just under the cab and it should drop the cab at least 2 inches maybe get 3....gotta make new mounts for the front sheetmetal or step the frame in the front to get everything to line up....oh yea..then you have to lower the bed also. I would just redo the clip and be done with it...or possibly just get stiffer front springs wound....ride would suffer a little,but it should not drop 3 inches from just a little weight in the truck and a bump or two.
Check out the current issue of Kustoms Illustrated. Mark Wojcik and Vic Collins are building a clone of the Barris "Kopper Kart" and you might be able to get some pointers from them.
My 57 truck, or should I say the Misses (RunAroundSue's truck) sits as low as anyones 57. It is not channeled anymore than the "factory" channel like Squirrel mentioned. It is clipped with a '78 Nova subframe. Anyone who has seen it will agree, it is a low as you can possibly go and still drive on midwest highways and roads. I have to agree with the others here and say it would be better to fix the frontend than try and channel the cab and bed anymore. Unless I missed it, I don't see where you ever said what frontend is under it now. I'm guessing a Mustang II if you are having crossmember to ground clearance problems. Another consideration, as those cabs are not all that roomy, is how well are you going to like that big transmission hump inside the truck after you channel it over the frame??
I know what a 55 first series and 55 second series Chevy pickup is, but there is no such thing as a 56 second series pickup. My post above was an attempt at humor, guess it fell short! Nice truck, by the way.
You didn't mention anything about your front coil springs. Are they factory or cut. Maybe they are worn out and/or you need to run stiffer springs or add spring rubber in between the coils.
Ah the curse of the internet, humour! I knew you were making a joke, mine was fairly lame I must admit but I thought it was funny hence the big old . Funny, I thought that all 55-57 were called series 2 so I learnt something today, just goes to show that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.... Shall we kiss and make up now? Good. And just in case that was another lame attempt at humour
If it bottoms out, it just means its low enough. My truck is the same way, and I actually dont mind it too much, just makes me keep my eyes on the road ahead a little more. I am just thinking of lowering the back end a couple more inches.
Any chance of a few pictures so I can see what your ride height is?? To answer the question the truck has had a Gen2 Camaro clip added at some time in its past. Has standard height springs and 2" dropped spindles to get it to the current ride height Was a Texas truck until 99 so if it looks familiar to anyone.... Managed to get it on the ramp today and have a good nose around underneath. Using the great thread on clipping a 55-57 truck it looks as if mine has been installed 'high', with the rear part of the clip still attached and sitting under the frame rails. So, looks like the clip will come off and be reattached as per the HAMB instructions which should enable me to get the at***ude I want and also the suspension travel required. Forgot to mention that I have already notched the rear ch***is and installed the axle on top of the springs. P.
take a look at this thread on another site http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=262874
Paul I'll definitely agree that your truck has got a perfect stance. I don't have any suggestions, but I'll be keeping my eye on this thread since I plan to lower my 57 to make it look less like a farm truck.
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