1957 chevy longbox to shortbox

[billrobbobjo]

Hey guys, been doing a project I have picked up this last summer, came to a halt while I was in school, summer is back and back at it. First thing i did was cut the frame, shorted it like 53chopbox did. My truck had a lot more rust on it than his did so i took it a bit different direction. Tell me what you think. First attempt on going this far on a rebuild.





http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=323615

[billrobbobjo]

Here is more of the work I have done.

[billrobbobjo]

Over the last month I put a new 235 in. Old one was frozen.

[billrobbobjo]

Then I redid all the breaks shoes, break lines, drums wheel cylinders, and repacked the bearings. Then in the last week i started to shorten the box down to size.

[billrobbobjo]

Where I am at now is finishing the box and making it completely a box, looking to find out if anyone knows a good place to find where the holes are to be drilled for the fenders on a short box, I have a rough drawing I took from a 70's short box side step but if anyone could find a place that would be sweet. Fixed the side columns on the side of the box as well where it was rusted out on the back, will get pictures of that soon. Hope you enjoy my build so far. Stay tuned the front fenders were welded to the cab! haha

[Rednek13x]

looking good buddy! you will have to check out my build thread on here, havnt updated it in a while though.

BTW, nice looking cherry picker!

[dubds10]

Cool project & looks good. I just hope you did more welding & plating on that frame because it doesn't look structurally sound in that one pic at least. Always get a Certified welder to do frame work because if you ever need an safety inspection done it can fail if not done right. Good progress tho so keep moving forward ��

[billrobbobjo]

Here is a bit more sorry for the delay, got a few more things done, bought a plate for the frame and boxed it in. did some Dent poping and a few more things.

[billrobbobjo]

Heres a bit more

[billrobbobjo]

This is some before and after pictures.

[billrobbobjo]

Here is what was done this weekend, Painted Box, Fenders and bolted on with temp wood just to be able to drive it around, Have Chrome strips but going to redo at a later time.

[Kim57]

Looking good.
Kim

[billrobbobjo]

Well heres an update, did a bit more this last weekend. First time using a paint gun, I don't think it turned out to badly for a temporary paint job to have some fun with. Back to the 50's here we come!

[Kim57]

Looks like it turned out pretty good.
Kim

[billrobbobjo]

Thanks Kim, still got a lot more to do haha, but i gotta have some fun first!

[billrobbobjo]

Here comes the spring. Getting ready to bolt on a new front axle from a crown vic. We will see how this goes.

[_Ogre]

definitely document the crown vic ifs install, many of us will watch

[billrobbobjo]

Will do, I will take a lot of pictures. Planning on starting next weekend. Wish me luck haha!

[bowt1ed]

Hey billrobbojo,
Are you interested in getting rid of that fender mounted spare hardware? If so, let me know - I'll send a PM.

Thanks, Jim

[_Ogre]

fyi... the long box fender and short box fender has a different shape for the spare tire
they are not interchangeable, if you cut the box down, the long bed fender will no longer work

[billrobbobjo]

Over the last couple days I have been cutting and pound to get the front axle off. Here is what got done cut my steering shaft to re use. Cut out the cross member and removed the axle.

[pugs]

me personally I would put a braces on the frame up front and in the area of the axle centerline to keep the frame from spreading when the front cross member is removed.

[billrobbobjo]

I thought about it but if you measure the distance which is 34 inches across, as the new axle will rest between, there are little center nipples that hold it center, So i measured where the axle sat on the frame which was 27 inches from the front of the frame, Which is also center with one of the rivets from cross member and because of the nipples on the axle to line it up. As the axle rests under the frame it causes the frame to 34 inches across the front.

[Rude Dude]

I agree just by experience brace across the frame before you remove the crossmember !! I had one pull in on me on side almost an inch had to rent a porter power to get it back into alignment.

Originally Posted by pugs

me personally I would put a braces on the frame up front and in the area of the axle centerline to keep the frame from spreading when the front cross member is removed.

[Zooms_58_Fleetside]

Great work! Very interested in how this turns out. I have a Camaro sub frame sitting in my back yard, to do my 58 Fleetside. I really don't want to cut the frame to add IFS. I know everyone says the track width on the Crown Vic front ends are wider which is why some guys don't use them, but you can make that up with wheel offset.