those of you with 55-59's

[a58chevy]

Is anyone still running the stock steering and straight axle with a V8? Mine has the original 283 (warmed up a bit) and I'm having trouble finding any headers that fit the stock set up! Also I want to put a TH350 in it. What needs to be done with these trucks? It's a manual right now.
Do I need new motor mounts with the auto, new crossmember? I know the driveshaft might have to be re-sized. Also what about shifters? I don't have any experience with aftermarket auto shifters. Would i need to fab up something to make a strip style shifter mount in easy reach?

Looking to eventually make this a pretty serious street/strip truck with a gasser style (hence keeping the straight axle).

[Knothead]

There should be plenty to choose from for a small block. I have a big block and selection was limited. If you are removing the rear cross member there is plenty of clearance to run full length headers.

[a58chevy]

my header problem is i have a set of hedmans, but they didn't fit with the steering box.. they had to be heated and bent inwards and had to beat some of the pipes for clearance. I guess I got what I paid for ($99).

[Caveman49]

I'd like to hear a bit more on this too....I'm dropping in a 350 with a 350 turbo and am interested in knowing what headers will fit without all the mods

I was considering shorties, but really prefer long tube.

[Knothead]

I went with SANDERSON full length for Big Block. I think they carried them for Small Block specific for '55-'59 trucks ? Again I remember finding several header mfg. carring them for Small blocks during my serch for mine.

[GATORBUILT '59]

For my small block (when my truck was a stock setup) I used '89 Trans Am headers

[MrSinister]

There is a set of crager headers listed on ebay that are specific for stock 55-59 with manual trans. ebay listing 310037659662

[1956cameo]

I have a 54 chevy with a 283 (I know not what you were asking about) and the only exhaust manifolds that i could get to fit were the stock cast ram horns. Thats not what you want but at least they do work if you had to use them as a plan B. Of course this was almost ten years ago when i did this set up. My truck has a powerglide and we had to remove the stock trans mount and graft a new one on to hold the trans. You should be able to use stock motor mounts on a 58 but you will need to have to original mount brackets off a truck originally equipped with a v/8. Dont know if all v/8s have the bolt holes on the front for this, but I bought a 55 chevy bel-air that had a 350 and it was bolted up with the original 265 brackets. Of course if this is going to be some high power street machine than that approach most likely wont be adequate and you will want to modify and use more modern mounts. Not 100% sure what you are looking for on shifters. My truck has the Lokar auto shifter that mounts directly to the transmission. Bolts right up, comes with linkage and all. Kit was about $70 back in 1999. With that all i had to do was fabricate a raised floor center for the cab. Hope something here helps.

[1956cameo]

I have a 54 chevy with a 283 (I know not what you were asking about) and the only exhaust manifolds that i could get to fit were the stock cast ram horns. Thats not what you want but at least they do work if you had to use them as a plan B. Of course this was almost ten years ago when i did this set up. My truck has a powerglide and we had to remove the stock trans mount and graft a new one on to hold the trans. You should be able to use stock motor mounts on a 58 but you will need to have to original mount brackets off a truck originally equipped with a v/8. Dont know if all v/8s have the bolt holes on the front for this, but I bought a 55 chevy bel-air that had a 350 and it was bolted up with the original 265 brackets. Of course if this is going to be some high power street machine than that approach most likely wont be adequate and you will want to modify and use more modern mounts. Not 100% sure what you are looking for on shifters. My truck has the Lokar auto shifter that mounts directly to the transmission. Bolts right up, comes with linkage and all. Kit was about $70 back in 1999. With that all i had to do was fabricate a raised floor center for the cab. Hope something here helps.