53 GMC Chassis Engineering front end install with 8.8 explorer rear end - Page 2 - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**oldman3** · 04-01-2011, 09:35 PM

Nice looking truck, enjoy.

72Mountaineer · 04-02-2011, 11:06 AM

What was the reason to take the pieces out of the bed? For tire clearance? How wide was the Ford diff, brake drun face-to-face-?

semn49 · 04-02-2011, 12:16 PM

Were the motor mounts already welded to the upper buckets or did you locate them?

Very nice cool build.

53chevyforever · 04-08-2011, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by semn49

Were the motor mounts already welded to the upper buckets or did you locate them?

Very nice cool build.

Mounts were already welded and I used a universal tranny mount...it would not be hard to move the front mounts if needed...Tim

53chevyforever · 04-08-2011, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 72Mountaineer

What was the reason to take the pieces out of the bed? For tire clearance? How wide was the Ford diff, brake drun face-to-face-?

Yes...I plan to install mini tubs..I have 275/60/15 tires on eight inch rims...and can go bigger if I want...the width outside of drum to drum is 59 1/2 works great and are cheap in the salvage yards...most are 3.27 or 3.73 ratio. Tim

53chevyforever · 04-08-2011, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldman3

Nice looking truck, enjoy.

Thanks...I was in west plains two years ago and bought a seat from a mopar guy for my 73 plymouth duster...his name was bill and they call him small block..in the construction business...small world...Tim My wife is from paragould arkansas.

jsalvie · 05-13-2016, 03:09 PM

The 8.8 ford rear end has an off set differential housing...... Did you cut the axle to center it or are you running it off centered? If you are running it off centered are you experiencing any vibrations?

53chevyforever · 05-15-2016, 08:18 AM

I left it offset no vibration. ...my friend has one also.

jsalvie · 05-15-2016, 08:32 AM

Are you running a Sbc350 and th350 tranny? Off set with no vibration...... Sounds good.

53chevyforever · 05-15-2016, 08:36 AM

350 chevy and 700r4 don't worry it will work fine

solidaxel · 04-03-2011, 10:40 PM

Tim,
You did a lot of work on your truck, you can be proud of your accomlishments and the truck is good for another 50 years!

You ended up with a great ride enjoy it !
Bob

Gabbyp · 04-05-2011, 02:45 PM

53chevtforever. I noticed in your photos that you are using lower a-arms instead of the stock MII a-arm and strut what is in the shown in the Chassis Engineering catalog. Did you modified the crossmember your self or was it a special order from Chassis Enginering. Either way your truck looks great.

53chevyforever · 04-08-2011, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gabbyp

53chevtforever. I noticed in your photos that you are using lower a-arms instead of the stock MII a-arm and strut what is in the shown in the Chassis Engineering catalog. Did you modified the crossmember your self or was it a special order from Chassis Enginering. Either way your truck looks great.

Yes..using the a arms that are beefed up...seems to work well...you can order either way...thanks ....Tim

53chevyforever · 04-08-2011, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by solidaxel

Tim,
You did a lot of work on your truck, you can be proud of your accomlishments and the truck is good for another 50 years!

You ended up with a great ride enjoy it !
Bob

Bob...thanks for all the help...and I am having fun with it...still a few quirks...but will work them out...I have installed two different mechanical temp guages from classic and one read 30 degrees hotter than it is and the other did not move...it is pure heck to remove and change that guage..not rich enough for the high dollar ones yet...

solidaxel · 04-09-2011, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 53chevyforever

Bob...thanks for all the help...and I am having fun with it...still a few quirks...but will work them out...I have installed two different mechanical temp guages from classic and one read 30 degrees hotter than it is and the other did not move...it is pure heck to remove and change that guage..not rich enough for the high dollar ones yet...

Tim,
Did anybody mention STEAM in your system, or air pockets in the cooling system?

Do you have a overflow on your rad.?
Heat and cool it 5 or 6 times but make sure your overflow tank is full when it is hot and let it sit overnight and see how much water it takes out of the O F tank.

Do you have a Inferred gun to check actual temp of things, engine, rad,. heads?

I had the same problem and kept blaming it on the sending unit !!
I made up a bleeder sleeve for the upper rad hose with a valve on it and bleed it until I had all the air out of the system.

Make sure your rad cap is in GOOD condition and enough pressure not to blow your rad!!
You will overcome!!!!!

53chevyforever · 02-29-2012, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by solidaxel

Tim,
Did anybody mention STEAM in your system, or air pockets in the cooling system?

Do you have a overflow on your rad.?
Heat and cool it 5 or 6 times but make sure your overflow tank is full when it is hot and let it sit overnight and see how much water it takes out of the O F tank.

Do you have a Inferred gun to check actual temp of things, engine, rad,. heads?

I had the same problem and kept blaming it on the sending unit !!
I made up a bleeder sleeve for the upper rad hose with a valve on it and bleed it until I had all the air out of the system.

Make sure your rad cap is in GOOD condition and enough pressure not to blow your rad!!
You will overcome!!!!!

Here are some pics of my interior that was just finally finished...now when rich l can paint the truck....

shaunatk · 04-08-2011, 01:28 PM

Looks awesome! Can't wait to reach that point in my build

53chevyforever · 04-08-2011, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shaunatk

Looks awesome! Can't wait to reach that point in my build

Well...I am tired and old and broke...haha....but having fun now...still like some...but at the point now can drive and take my time...

Root2812 · 02-29-2012, 03:42 AM

I really love your truck. Your interior is nearly dead on to what I want to do. I'd love to see some more pictures of that. Also when you installed that bolt in IFS how did you get it positioned? Did you have to measure or did it locate using existing holes or marks?

crawdadfox · 02-29-2012, 12:34 PM

Great looking rig!

av8tr33337 · 02-29-2012, 04:17 PM

Is that the third row seat(Back seat) for a safari van or a front seat????, and where did you get the door panels??
I only hope mine turns out that nice. Great work!

53chevyforever · 02-29-2012, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by av8tr33337

Is that the third row seat(Back seat) for a safari van or a front seat????, and where did you get the door panels??
I only hope mine turns out that nice. Great work!

It is the third row seat I think...and I took a pic that I saw on the internet
to my upholstery guy...and he copied it pretty close...if you will send me your email I will send a copy of the pic I took to him...Tim

av8tr33337 · 02-29-2012, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 53chevyforever

It is the third row seat I think...and I took a pic that I saw on the internet
to my upholstery guy...and he copied it pretty close...if you will send me your email I will send a copy of the pic I took to him...Tim

Thanks

av8tr33337@yahoo.com

dsl30263 · 02-29-2012, 09:16 PM

You did a really nice job! Good looking truck!

**oldman3** · 02-29-2012, 10:45 PM

Very nice.....Jim

04-01-2011, 09:35 PM	#1
oldman3 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: West Plains, Missouri Posts: 7,559	Re: 53 GMC Chassis Engineering front end install with 8.8 explorer rear end Nice looking truck, enjoy.

04-02-2011, 11:06 AM	#2
72Mountaineer Registered User Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Where Mountaineers are free Posts: 406	Re: 53 GMC Chassis Engineering front end install with 8.8 explorer rear end What was the reason to take the pieces out of the bed? For tire clearance? How wide was the Ford diff, brake drun face-to-face-?

04-02-2011, 12:16 PM	#3
semn49 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: The Range, MN Posts: 103	Re: 53 GMC Chassis Engineering front end install with 8.8 explorer rear end Were the motor mounts already welded to the upper buckets or did you locate them? Very nice cool build.

05-13-2016, 03:09 PM	#7
jsalvie Registered User Join Date: May 2016 Location: Pittsfield Posts: 4	Re: 53 GMC Chassis Engineering front end install with 8.8 explorer rear end The 8.8 ford rear end has an off set differential housing...... Did you cut the axle to center it or are you running it off centered? If you are running it off centered are you experiencing any vibrations?

05-15-2016, 08:18 AM	#8
53chevyforever Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: texas Posts: 180	Re: 53 GMC Chassis Engineering front end install with 8.8 explorer rear end I left it offset no vibration. ...my friend has one also.

05-15-2016, 08:32 AM	#9
jsalvie Registered User Join Date: May 2016 Location: Pittsfield Posts: 4	Re: 53 GMC Chassis Engineering front end install with 8.8 explorer rear end Are you running a Sbc350 and th350 tranny? Off set with no vibration...... Sounds good.

05-15-2016, 08:36 AM	#10
53chevyforever Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: texas Posts: 180	Re: 53 GMC Chassis Engineering front end install with 8.8 explorer rear end 350 chevy and 700r4 don't worry it will work fine

04-03-2011, 10:40 PM	#11
solidaxel Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Cactus Patch So. Az Posts: 4,749	Re: 53 GMC Chassis Engineering front end install with 8.8 explorer rear end Tim, You did a lot of work on your truck, you can be proud of your accomlishments and the truck is good for another 50 years! You ended up with a great ride enjoy it ! Bob __________________ 53 TuTone Extended Cab 350 4-Spd 3:08 (SOLD) 53 Chevy Moldy pearl green ZZ-4 4L60E 9" 3:25 55 GMC 1st Black Mll (ZZ4) ZZ6 TKO 600 5 sp 3:73 62 Solidaxle Corvette Roman Red (327 340hp 4spd 3:36) C4 & C5 suspension tube chassis LS 3 4L70E 65 Corvette Coupe 327 350hp 4spd 4:11 78 Black Silverado SWB (350/350) 5.3 & 4L60E 3:42 2000 S-Type 3.0 (wife cruiser) 2003 GMC SCSB 5.3 4L60E 3:42

04-05-2011, 02:45 PM	#12
Gabbyp Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Salisbury North Carolina Posts: 23	Re: 53 GMC Chassis Engineering front end install with 8.8 explorer rear end 53chevtforever. I noticed in your photos that you are using lower a-arms instead of the stock MII a-arm and strut what is in the shown in the Chassis Engineering catalog. Did you modified the crossmember your self or was it a special order from Chassis Enginering. Either way your truck looks great.

04-08-2011, 01:28 PM	#17
shaunatk Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Franklin, OH Posts: 60	Re: 53 GMC Chassis Engineering front end install with 8.8 explorer rear end Looks awesome! Can't wait to reach that point in my build __________________ Current project: 1946 GMC 1/2 ton on S10 Chassis, powered by a 5.3L LSx with a 4L60e Build thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=431631

02-29-2012, 03:42 AM	#19
Root2812 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Barnum, Mn Posts: 795	Re: 53 GMC Chassis Engineering front end install with 8.8 explorer rear end I really love your truck. Your interior is nearly dead on to what I want to do. I'd love to see some more pictures of that. Also when you installed that bolt in IFS how did you get it positioned? Did you have to measure or did it locate using existing holes or marks?

02-29-2012, 12:34 PM	#20
crawdadfox Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New Orleans Louisiana.....a great place to visit but you wouldn't want to live here!!! Posts: 883	Re: 53 GMC Chassis Engineering front end install with 8.8 explorer rear end Great looking rig! __________________ Down......with the sickness!!

02-29-2012, 04:17 PM	#21
av8tr33337 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Derby Kansas Posts: 564	Re: 53 GMC Chassis Engineering front end install with 8.8 explorer rear end Is that the third row seat(Back seat) for a safari van or a front seat????, and where did you get the door panels?? I only hope mine turns out that nice. Great work! __________________ av8tr33337 AKA Bartman Email av8tr33337@yahoo.com Bartman's Ad-S10 Chassis Swap http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=415418 My First Youtube Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6hSt...eature=channel More Pics of the 51 Project http://s668.photobucket.com/albums/v...hassis%20Swap/ 1951 3100 Pickup Last edited by av8tr33337; 02-29-2012 at 04:25 PM. Reason: clarity

02-29-2012, 09:16 PM	#24
dsl30263 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: 30277 Posts: 31	Re: 53 GMC Chassis Engineering front end install with 8.8 explorer rear end You did a really nice job! Good looking truck!

02-29-2012, 10:45 PM	#25
oldman3 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: West Plains, Missouri Posts: 7,559	Re: 53 GMC Chassis Engineering front end install with 8.8 explorer rear end Very nice.....Jim __________________ my build thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=459839 Jimbo's long bed step build:http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...t=464626<br />



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