55.2-59 My 56 build

[Jason 56]

Hi everyone, I’m new to the forum . I bought a 56 step side in August. I bought the truck for the body which is in good shape. The mechanics of the truck was another story. I believe the person who brought it to this point wasn’t very mechanically inclined, but have excellent bodywork skills. I bought it with a 350 and 700R4. I had to drive 9 hours one way to buy it and contemplatied what to do with it all the way home. I ended up junking the old frame and started over with new steel. Put an ifs with rack and pinion and 4 link rear end. After months of tinkering I nearly have a rolling chassis. On to the remainding bodywork which I don’t particularly care for, but I’m ok at it. Just looking for others working on the same style truck to bounce ideas off!

[Jason 56]

Tear down and start of frame

[Jason 56]

More frame construction... not sure if there’s anything I can do to rotate the pictures. Sorry

[Jason 56]

This is the hacked up frame I discarded. I later found some lawn mower blades welded on for support

[Jason 56]

Initial test fit of the body after mocking up new frame. At this point everything was just tacked in place. I ended up cutting the ifs off 3 times before I got it right. Checking to make sure when are centered in wells and ride height. It was a guessing game until this point.

[Jason 56]

My 3rd time removing the ifs. I finish welded the front end after this try. Felt I finally had it right and needed it finished for engine and trans mock up.

[NorCalGal]

Your sideways pic have to do with the direction you are holding your camera while taking the pics. It took me awhile to figure it out myself.

[whitedog76]

I see you’re using some Pro-touring spindles. Have you gave any thoughts to brakes yet? I have some myself, haven’t decided on anything yet.

[Jason 56]

Originally Posted by whitedog76

I see you’re using some Pro-touring spindles. Have you gave any thoughts to brakes yet? I have some myself, haven’t decided on anything yet.

The front end is a helix kit that came with all the brakes

[Jason 56]

Received my shocks the other day and made the brackets for them. Also made a support bracket for the mustang ll front end to prevent damage under hard braking. Got my pictures rotated correctly so no more sore necks!! Sorry

[whitedog76]

Originally Posted by Jason 56

The front end is a helix kit that came with all the brakes

Mine are actually Helix spindles also. I was thinking of doing something a little different than the normal Granada/GM caliper setup.

[Jason 56]

Originally Posted by whitedog76

Mine are actually Helix spindles also. I was thinking of doing something a little different than the normal Granada/GM caliper setup.

Let me know what you do... I may be interested in the same setup!

[mr48chev]

Originally Posted by NorCalGal

Your sideways pic have to do with the direction you are holding your camera while taking the pics. It took me awhile to figure it out myself.

Yep You can EDIT those photos so they are upright though with little effort. It seems to happen a lot when guys use photos off a phone rather than a camera.

First time I ever saw a later truck frame section cobbled onto a stock TF frame as a subframe job. I agree with you that that is a mess but not as big of one as another TF truck on here that they notched out the stock frame to clear the uprights on the crossmember.


Actually your old frame wouldn't have been all that bad if they had overlapped the frame splice about ten inches rather than just three or four.

[MD2020]

My neck's hurting
nice start