Paul,
When I installed the rearend in my '51 I used a rearend out of a '84
camaro (disc brakes) and leaf springs out of a '79 firebird. Believe the
rearend to be a little wide but intend to counter that with offset wheels.
The one learning experience I did have was that the "new" leafsprings are
much more foregiving than the stock ones. So you can't just mount them in
the same location as the old ones. After making new shakle hangers for the
rear (new springs 2 1/2" wide) ,tacking in the front shackles, setting the
rearend in place, putting on tires, and then adding the approx. bed
weight(me and the old rearend) I discovered that the rear shackles rolled
clear around to where they were only about an inch from the frame. Needless
to say that it wouldn't take much of a bump in the road to bounce the back
end of the leaf spring off the frame.Sooooo, took every thing apart,cut and
ground all the welds, moved the front shackle forward 3 1/2" , tacked it in
place AGAIN ,put everything back together and tried again only to find that
I fixed the spring problem but created another. You see this rolled the rear
axle about 4 degrees from where I wanted it, and of course , thinking that I
had it right the first time, I had it welded to the new mounts that I made.
Soooooo, took it all apart again, cut off the axle mounts, ground everything
down smooth, put the axle mounts on the springs, set the axle in place, and
"TACKED" it to the mounts. Now I can align the pinion angle of the rearend
with the tranny as soon as I get all that mounted. All of this took one full
saturday at about 95 degrees but it still felt good once I was done. Still
have to mount the sway bar and shocks but that'll come after I get the
pinion angle set.
Speaking of pinion angle, I've heard one theory of "up to 6 degrees"
and another of "about 2 1/2 degrees" , this is the one I chose to accept.
Would sure be interested in knowing what it says in your video from no limit
when you get a chance to view it. Anyway I've chattered long enough. Hope
this info. might save someone some work somewhere along the way.
P.S.-- Whenever possible, use clamps instead of tack welding to test
fit. Saves time and sweat:)
Jeff Davis
'51 custom
>From: Paul Blosser <paulblosser@earthlink.net>
>To: Jeff Davis <jsd51@hotmail.com>
>CC: oletrucks@autox.team.net
>Subject: Re: [oletrucks] Wow -- I'm making some headway now!
>Date: Wed, 14 Jul 1999 23:47:13 -0500
>
>Hi Jeff,
>
>The first time I tried to fit the engine/transmission in, the trans
>wouldn't
>squeeze through the hole between the transmission tunnel and the old
>crossmember. One of the other list members (I think Grant Galbraith) said
>he
>had to remove his stock crossmember. The trans crossmember I got was from
>Heavy
>Chevy. I also have a universal motor mount kit if you need one (the
>crossmember
>that hangs below the engine). I decided to go with Chassis Engineering
>mounts
>because they mount inside the frame rails and there's nothing hanging under
>the
>engine. The front crossmember that the radiator bolts to is still there.
>
>I have the stock front suspension, everything has been redone, springs
>rearched,
>new main leaf, teflon between the leaves. I think it should ride pretty
>nice.
>
>How did you go about putting your rear-end in? I got a 12 bolt rear from a
>'63
>1/2 ton (6 bolt wheels) that I plan on putting in -- that's the next big
>project. I got a video from No Limit and this is one of the things they
>cover,
>but just wanted to know about your experience.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Paul Blosser
>School of Metaphysics
>1954 3100
>
>Jeff Davis wrote:
>
> > Great news Paul,
> >
> > I've got a 350/350 set up that I'm gonna install in my 3100 but i'm
> > still putting the engine together.Was wondering if I was going to have
>to
> > cut out the rear crossmember for the tranny. Did you order the new one
>from
> > Chassis Engineering ? Haven't gotten as far long as you have yet but
>figure
> > all this good info. will help in the future. Also if you don't mind I
>was
> > wondering what type front susp. you got. I put a front end out of a '77
> > pacer in my truck and it looks real good but just by eyeballing it, it
>looks
> > like the motor mount is going to be fighting the steering gear box for
> > space. Anyway, glad to hear someone had a full day of progress, Haven't
>had
> > one of them in a couple of weeks since I put in the rearend.
> >
> > Congrat's
> > Jeff Davis
> > '51 custom
> >
> > >From: Paul Blosser <paulblosser@earthlink.net>
> > >Reply-To: Paul Blosser <paulblosser@earthlink.net>
> > >To: oletrucks@autox.team.net
> > >Subject: [oletrucks] Wow -- I'm making some headway now!
> > >Date: Tue, 13 Jul 1999 23:05:58 -0500
> > >
> > >Boy, I had a great Sunday afternoon -- a whole afternoon to work on the
> > >truck! I had cut the old rear crossmember out about 6 or 7 weeks ago
> > >and I've been waiting for an opportunity to set the 350 engine and
>turbo
> > >350 back in the frame. Sunday was the day!
> > >
> > >I measured the placement of the Chassis Engineering motor mounts
> > >according to their specs, marked their placement on the frame with
>chalk
> > >then tried to set the engine in. I ended up pulling the motor mounts
> > >back out (just had them slipped into place) and took off the block
> > >hugger headers. I put a jack under the tranny and then got the motor
> > >back where it should be. It's still a tight fit and I need to pull it
> > >back out again for such things as the torque converter, but it is such
> > >a thrill to see the truck sitting there with a small block between the
> > >frame rails. I think I'll need to trim the lip where the firewall and
> > >trans tunnel meet. The trans mount is also under the trans and it loks
> > >pretty good, still needs to have holes drilled and bolted in.
> > >
> > >I wan't about to stop there. Since I had installed a power steering
> > >sector from a '73 Chevy pickup, I still needed to move the shock mounts
> > >from the front to the back of the wheel. Did some measuring, some
> > >eyeballing and voila', I'm ready for shocks. I bolted up the power
> > >brake bracket I got from No Limit (the holes don;t quite match up so
> > >this will come back off to be redrilled). I also had some help setting
> > >the front end back on so I could check the radiator clearance. It
>looks
> > >like everything will fit, although the power steering pump may be
>tight.
> > >
> > >The thing I discovered is I need to get a steering column in it (I've
> > >got a column from a van I've rebuilt and repainting), all of a sudden
> > >the front end of the truck is heavy and I can't turn it by grabbing the
> > >tire and yanking.
> > >
> > >I can hardly wait for another day like Sunday!
> > >
> > >Paul Blosser
> > >School of Metaphysics
> > >1954 3100 (with engine)
> > >
> > >oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
> >
> > _______________________________________________________________
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