Project Haulin' Bananas!!! 1957 Chevy Truck, LQ9/4L65E

[BulldawgMusclecars]

This is a project that has been in the planning stages for nearly 2 years, and the owner, Mitch, is now ready to get started! Its a really nice, bright yellow '57 Chevrolet truck with a very traditional 327 with double-hump heads, and a Th700R4 transmission. It still has the straight axle front suspension, and even a generator! First off, we'll be removing the engine and trans, and the front end sheet metal, for a suspension swap.

Many of these trucks have received GM A/F/X frame clips, Mustang II IFS, and others, but for this one we're going with '87-'87 C4 Corvette. We're using a suspension crossmember from Flatout Engineering, and a 'Vette clip I purchased at a swap meet a couple of years ago.

http://www.flatout-engineering.com/Corvette_Front_Installation_kit.html

We'll be using RideTech ShockWaves on the front and rear, with the stock rearend and rear leafs being replaced with a 12 bolt housing and a RideTech 4-link.

Once the suspension is squared away, we're starting on the engine and trans swap. Mitch picked up a low mileage LQ9 a couple of years ago, and we'll be swapping it in with prototype BRP/Musclerods mounts that we're working with them to design. They probably already have a header that will fit, so we should be good to go there. We're also planning a cam swap, an LS6-style intake, and a nice front accessory drive (brand yet to be determined). We'll back it with a built 4L65E and a mild lockup stall convertor.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/01/IMG_0464-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/01/IMG_0462-1.jpg

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https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/01/IMG_0468-1.jpg

[BulldawgMusclecars]

The Flatout crossmember should be here in the next couple days, and the RideTech stuff should be here late next week, but we still have some disassembly to do in the meantime.

[BulldawgMusclecars]

The front crossmember came in yesterday, while I was out of town. It appears to be very well made. I'll get pics when I get back to the shop later.

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Looks like your starting out with a pretty nice truck to begin with...

[BulldawgMusclecars]

Yes, its a very nice truck...the owner just wants the performance to match the appearance. We won't be doing any paint/bodywork, or anything like that.

[BulldawgMusclecars]

The Flatout Engineering crossmember for the C4 Vette front suspension:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/01/IMG_0750-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/01/IMG_0751-1.jpg

[BulldawgMusclecars]

This one doesn't seem to be as popular as the other builds we are doing...oh well, maybe that will change as it gets a little further along. Today we pulled the front sheet metal, and got the old engine and trans out. The trans is a TH-700R4, but I'm not sure what the engine is as of yet. The casting number is obscured pretty badly, and the number I think I see (4343207) isn't corresponding with any of the decoders that I have access to. Usually I can just Google a casting number, and it will come up...but not this one. It does have double hump heads, though.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/01/IMG_0762-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/01/IMG_0763-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/01/IMG_0764-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/01/IMG_0765-1.jpg

[tflyboy77]

I love the old truck threads. Keep it up.

[RobNoLimit]

I'll be watchin', love them old trucks.

[BulldawgMusclecars]

Thanks guys! Jeremy is disassembling the front suspension now, so we should be getting the mockup started soon.

[BulldawgMusclecars]

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/01/IMG_0766-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/01/IMG_0767-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/01/IMG_0768-1.jpg

[neki67]

This one doesn't seem to be as popular as the other builds we are doing...

Might be true but I it most certainly has my interest!

[twosaturns]

I think this will be very popular, better to have lots of pictures in quick succession than page after page of high fives.
I'm following you on facebook too, so I get lots of updates!

[BulldawgMusclecars]

We'll be moving fairly quick on this one, since there won't be any paint/bodywork involved (though the customer will probably have his painter re-do the inner fenders and core support; they look like they were painted with spray cans that don't quite match). I'll probably bring in the custome's LQ9/4L65E later today.

[BulldawgMusclecars]

I met with the truck's owner yesterday, and he agreed that we might as well pull the cab ( since the front clip is off, and we'll have to pull the bed to do the rear suspension and new fuel tank), too. That will give us the opportunity to fully box the frame, and have it powdercoated before we put the truck back together.

[ehummelman]

Glad Mitch agreed to go ahead and do the frame while it's all apart. Aside from it being yellow, I love that truck. It's going to be super nice when finished.

[BulldawgMusclecars]

Glad Mitch agreed to go ahead and do the frame while it's all apart. Aside from it being yellow, I love that truck. It's going to be super nice when finished.

Me too! Its going to come out so much nicer that way. Jeremy has removed the stock front crossmember, and added a 2x4 tube section forward of it for strength. The section where the IFS will go is now boxed. Pics tomorrow! Time to go home.

[zipsimons]

me likey! my next project is definitely a truck!

[SRD art]

Man that looks like a great kit. One of the older guys in my class just bought a Mustang II set up from another company for his 51 GMC and it required a ton of fabrication and welding. It was a little over his head and others had to step in and help. That one you have looks a lot more user friendly.

[BulldawgMusclecars]

Man that looks like a great kit. One of the older guys in my class just bought a Mustang II set up from another company for his 51 GMC and it required a ton of fabrication and welding. It was a little over his head and others had to step in and help. That one you have looks a lot more user friendly.

This truck build has been in the planning stages for nearly 2 years (yes, before I even had my shop, and worked from home), and we went over every option for the front suspension. Personally, I never liked the Mustang II suspension in anything other than maybe a full fendered 30s car, and especially not in a truck application. This kit seemed like a perfect alternative. We actually decided on the front suspension before finding the kit, and had planned to fab it ourselves, but we couldn't do it for any less than the Flatout kit (especially as a one-off). We're very pleased with it so far.

[BulldawgMusclecars]

Here are a few shots of the suspension in the works:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/02/IMG_0814-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/02/IMG_0815-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/02/IMG_0816-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/02/IMG_0817-1.jpg

[CornHusker4Life]

You do great work. Completely impressed.

[BulldawgMusclecars]

Thanks! This project is going to be a lot of fun. The truck already looked great, but with a cammed LQ9, headers, C4 IFS, RideTech ShockWaves, etc. its going to be a completely different vehicle!

[BulldawgMusclecars]

Talk about tucking some rim...lol. This think is going to be LOW!!! Don't worry, these are just some mockup wheels we had on hand.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/02/IMG_0821-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/02/IMG_0822-1.jpg

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https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/02/IMG_0826-1.jpg

[796spdbu]

Very cool project! wha wheels are you going to be installing?

[BulldawgMusclecars]

Not sure yet...Rushforths have been mentioned as a possibility.

[SRD art]

Thanks! This project is going to be a lot of fun. The truck already looked great, but with a cammed LQ9, headers, C4 IFS, RideTech ShockWaves, etc. its going to be a completely different vehicle!

I'll say, 55 year old technology replaced with new style. I wanna ride! Too bad you didn't get some before and after shots fromn a slalom!

[BulldawgMusclecars]

That probably wouldn't have been pretty! You'll get to see it in action at the Peach State though, I'm sure! Mitch will probably be the only person there flogging his tow vehicle out on the course (he has a #s matching '69 Z/28, too, which he ran last year!).

[BulldawgMusclecars]

Its been a long time since the last update, but we've been waiting on parts and finishing up a few other projects. Since the last pics, we have also removed all the underhood wiring, the gas tank (under the seat), and the stock heater assembly and steering collumn. This truck will be getting a smoothed firewall (we've been doing a lot of those lately!), along with a full re-wiring (amazingly, there isn't a single fuse block in the whole truck!) and Vintage Air.


This afternoon the FedEx truck showed up, and that usually means we have some goodies from RideTech! Today was no exception. We got the parallel 4 link kit, as well as the rear ShockWaves. We're still waiting on the front ShockWaves, as well as the tank, but we'll be getting started on the installation on Monday. I'll get pics then, since my camera battery is recharging. As usual from RideTech, everything looks great!

[BulldawgMusclecars]

Wow, looks like I owe you guys some pics! We've made a little more progress:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/03/IMG_1015-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/03/IMG_1016-2.jpg

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https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/03/IMG_1024-1.jpg

We plan to smooth the firewall.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/03/IMG_1019-2.jpg

The trans tunnel will likely have to be enlarged to clear the 4L65E at the new ride height.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/03/IMG_1020-2.jpg

Rear suspension is out, along wih the leaf spring mounts and old shock crossmember.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/03/IMG_1023-1.jpg

The dash is stripped, ready for rewiring and a new HVAC system and instrument cluster.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/03/IMG_1022-1.jpg

[BulldawgMusclecars]

The new RideTech 4 link. There was some misunderstanding in our order (not RideTech's fault), and we got the black powdercoated bars instead of the polished stainless ones we wanted. That is being handled, but we're going to go ahead with our mockup with these. Like any RideTech stuff, its very high quality.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/03/IMG_1013-1.jpg

The rear ShockWaves.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/03/IMG_1014-2.jpg

[CruizinKev]

looks awesome Joe! :twothumbs

[Jedrattle]

I know this thread is over 2yrs old but how did this turn out?

[toastermagnet]

Any chance you know what the Rack is from??? I am after one for my 56 truck project with C5 front suspension.

[BulldawgMusclecars]

The project was never finished.

- - - Updated - - -

C4, just like the front suspension.