Another new guy

[57halfton]

I just signed on to this message board yesterday and have been reading alot of posts. I have an on going 57 Chevy 1/2 ton short bed project that I have been working on for about 14 years now and driving daily. I have spent alot of time on another forum (http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/55-5...ers-98267.html ) thats 55 to 59 Chevy pickups , there's alot of pages and alot of reading if you have time. I plan on taking my pickup in a different direction next winter, but I will try to post some pics of it now.

[chevy49]

great looking truck.any build pic's?

[57halfton]

Lots more pics , will post more soon.
Gene

[1 bootlegger]

Welcome, Nice looking truck

[kaycee]

NIIIICCE sweet looking ride ,what direction r u gonna go with it,more details on you truck what suspension do you run?

[CHIZZLER]

great lookin pickup.welcome

[ChuckDriver]

Beautiful 57! Keep the photo's coming!

[oldman3]

Very nice ride, like the look.

[Kim57]

Welcome
Very nice looking truck.
I used to post in that thread at hotrodders also.
Kim

[57halfton]

My truck has a FatMan fabrcations stage II Mustang II front end with power rack and pinion steering , disc brakes(non power) a 10 bolt Chevelle rear end with a No Limit fat bar 4 bar setup with air bags , an Ididit tilt steering column, and a No Limit 17 ga. gas tank. I haven't been very inpressed with all the mods iv'e done, it rides like crap and the front end has squeeked since day one. I have been thinking that instead of redoing everything that I would convert it to 4 wheel drive using later model solid axle running gear starting with another stock frame. I did a 57 4x4 conversion about 30 years ago on another pickup then my family out grew it so I sold it , now I want to do it again. heres some more pics.

[57halfton]

A few more pics.

[57halfton]

Woops !!!!!

[tmoble]

does it ride rough? any idea why? don't see anything obvious from the pics. What springs in the front?

[57halfton]

Aside from still being a rattley old truck ,all the after market suspension parts front and rear have polyurethane type bushings that makes for harsh ride. its not stiff and rides hard it just feels like its going to loosen the fillings in your teeth. I think it would be great if someone would produce after market suspension parts with rubber bushings.

[tmoble]

Did you ask your MII manufacturer about rubber bushings?

same with the 4 bar, never hurts to ask.

is the exhaust mounted solid to the frame anywhere? contacting the frame?

use rubber motor and tranny mounts?

[dicer]

So it isn't worth ruining the frames is it? I wonder how many others are dissatisfied with the mods? Must be lots, because I see alot of modded trucks forsale. Before I'd pay any price for any of them, I'd buy the parts to build a stock one from scratch.

[chevyrestoguy]

Here's my suggestion:
1): Replace the polyurethane bushings with quality rubber bushings

2): Replace the front shocks with a lower pressure gas shock

3): I don't see any rear shocks. I'd add some low pressure gas (or standard oil ones) for a more controlled suspension.

4): Check the spring rates of the front coils, possibly too stiff. Replace.

5): Replace the manual rack with a power unit.

6): Sometimes, a bag placed that close to the rear axle centerline will ride rough because you have to have a lot of air in it to be at a driveable ride height. Too much air in the bag equals a stiff ride. Right now, with the bag's current position, you're not taking advantage of leverage, which allows lower pressure in the bag but still gives good height.

The combination of the air ride rear suspension and the coil front suspension is part of the problem, too. Two completely different spring rates/reactions, and hitting a bump gives two completely different responses from front to back.

I think with a little bit of parts replacing and fine tuning, you'll be amazed at the difference. With the parts you currently have, your truck should ride pretty nice.

[57halfton]

I have checked with Fatman and Nolimit and they say no rubber bushings only poly , front end has springs from a Mustang II GT with A/C to set ride height with lower A arms parallel with the ground and has KYB gas skocks. The rear has Monroe shocks that came with the FatBar kit. Air bags are mounted as per NoLimit instructions. Has power rack and pinion steering and factory rubber motor and trans mounts and the exhaust has no metal to metal contact. Air bags have 35 psi in them.
I think if I did the lowered truck thing again I would use a front steer Camaro style clip and up grade the rear leaf springs and mounts and flip the axle to above the springs.
The roads around here are so bad nothin rides good, if I find some freshly paved smooth hiway it rides good, but theres not to much of that.

[solidaxel]

Bolt on a set of Bilstine shocks you will think you bought a new truck.
Our roads down here are pot hole and rough but my trucks ride very good.