57 Chevy BelAir Gasser Build

Roger that! Thank you.

 

Thanks guys for the help on that, great info!

 

This boost memory kit is a good addition to have, it locks your guage at highest boost seen, much easier to see exactly what you had versus trying to watch guage and the road at the same time.
https://www.goodvibesracing.com/Gauges.html#Boost_Memory

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I like the ones that say vacuum & boost.

 

Got idler back and installed. Just mocked up for now so not too worried about belt tension, blowers not even bolted down right now but how's this fitment and belt length look?

 

Nothing wrong with that!

 

That's about as far inward as I like them. You do know that you can buy a belt that when rotating shows all the Koma Sutra positions moving as fast as your little hart & RPM can handle!

 

Looks ok, I would torque the blower down and check belt tension.

 

Something to think about at 2 AM, my BDS has a BDS Blower belt guard, if I want to simply adjust belt tension I have to take off top part to get to the Idel tensioner bolt. No other complaints on a BDS set up or customer service.

 

I always thought the Surfers Top Fuel car was cool cuz they didn’t run a idler pulley, they just had it right!

 

Hi all,

I'm prepping to order up a front straight axle. I'm pretty sold on Bill's stuff at WAC Customs. I like the '55-'59 truck width of this factory drop beam axle I have currently and will stay with that width upon ordering, I like the wheel placement. I bought all the Speedway disc brake conversion parts and installed them already on the truck axle. So... What I'm thinking is going with the '49-'54 Chevy car spindles on the new axle and just swapping the inner bearing and seal and I'll just have to order the other caliper brackets but the rest of the kit installs the same. I know a lot of guys swear by the Ford spindles for steering options, including Bill so I'm looking into that, but it will back me up on brake parts already purchased.

1. I'm interested to see if there's any close up pictures of installed steering complements anyone could share in a similar application with both Ford and Chevy spindles, and their thoughts...?

2. Interested in feedback on the different axle tube thicknesses offered at Bill's.

3. Bill also offers just the fabricated ends that the customer can install and weld into their own axle tube. With being located in WA State, that might save on shipping and I can source moly tube locally. Weighing options...

Thanks...

 

Have you seen his welding? If you can compete with that go for the ends, but why? Just buy the hole damn thing! I am doing a '57 Chevy truck axle and springs under my '57 150, got any parts to sell like steering box & arm?

 

Bill has it perfected at this point. You'll forget about the shipping cost once it's unwrapped and in your hands.

 

Very cool! Yes he's a dynamite fabricator, I love his products. I'm a welder and have been in the trade for 25 years welding all kinds of materials so I'm confident I could work with the parts but there's a lot to be said for having the completed product in hand, he'll have it dialed in and aligned perfectly. That's probably the route I'll go, just thinking it through. I'll find out costs and all that.

 

Haha I don't doubt that!

 

Why are you abandoning the truck axle ?

 

I'm not liking the geometry of the dropped spring mount location. The added height of the straight axle spring perches will allow for the setup I'm going for with the springs I have. The distance is too far as it sits, and I didn't want to built a lot of drop into my spring hangers.

 

With all the fabrication you're doing I can't imagine why you couldn't fabricate mounts or brackets that would make the '55-'59 Chevy truck axle and springs work? There have probably been more Tri Five Chevys done using that axle than all other axles combined!
Sure seems like a waste of time and money to switch to another axle at this point. And I personally prefer the '55-'59 truck axles to any tube axle for looks.

 

To be honest I didn't like the look of the truck axle under there like I thought I would. To each their own on appearance preference. It's no more work to switch as I haven't built any mounts yet, and all the fab will be simple either way. I like the straight axle look the best and the only parts swapping to run the new brakes I already have is negligible. There's no waste in time or money, one truck axle was bare the other, complete drum to drum was cheap. I'll sell them easily. If I had already built and assembled the the front end, during, etc and the necessary drop spring mounts, I might feel differently. Really not a big deal at this point.

 

I think the truck axle looks a little heavy under a car.

 

^^^^^^^ You usually have good taste, except this time but we still love you!^^^^^^^

 

Uh, that was meant for saltflats, you we can't help!

 

That's value - added input, thank you!! I'll be sure to reference this post later, if needed!

 

Hands down, the best there is.
Now, you guys that like the traditional look of "I did everything myself", cool, you should do that, myself, I have my guilty pleasures and when my mind is made up the cost is not at the forefront, with that, there has to be adjustments in other areas of my life.
Sticker shock be damned!

 

You know what they say "If we were all the same we would all be married to the same gal"

 

Well you got to drill the holes in them man

 

Definitely a cool look all drilled out.

 

Maybe I can save and drill out the truck axles and set one aside to gasser-out my '55 nomad?? It needs to get chopped up anyway.... Kinda like the "4-Speed Clover" or "Wompin Wagon".

 

The only reason I am not going a WAC is that I am trying to make it look like it was built in the '60's. The mistake I made was going with new, stock front truck springs, they are really long and that makes hanger location a challenge. I will live with that mistake until it proves that I can't live with it after the build. I have asked a couple times if you have any leftover parts, do you have a truck steering arm that comes off the box? I am also in WA, near Wenatchee.

 

Yea longer springs I can see might be a challenge on most cars. I thought about a few different springs but settled on this set from Speedway. We'll see if that proves to be a good decision or not, but I can mock up everything and adjust mounts and shackles accordingly after the big block goes in and all the weight is sprung.

I don't have any parts like that available.