can anyone tell me if there is a simple suspension upgrade for my truck? i want to eventually make my truck a comfortable driving vehicle ( power steering, ac, etc) so do i need to change the whole front end, or just replace my leaf springs and shocks?
Suspension is easy. New springs and even new springs that lower the truck are available from Eaton and others. Power steering on a stock front end and column is going to be more difficult. A/C can be had to fit your original engine, although a 228 GMC may be working pretty hard with that. I know A/C on the 216 Chevy makes the engine work pretty darn hard, but the 235 handles it okay. Don't know what engine you have, but maybe the long 228 will work out just fine with the A/C. If you have a 270, you're good to go. Andy
Another "G"~ That 228 will handle it and any Chevy that gets in it's way. Just think how cool it'll be in that cab, and how well that compressor will work going 300 mph! Welcome 50G! Watch these bowtie guys- they really wish they had what we have- it's okay, they're still a good bunch. I'm doing the same thing that you are, less the power steering. I like a truck to turn like a truck- but that's just me. A 70 Chevy ps unit and column fit these with a bit of work and a bit more time. Pictures please?
sorry guess i should have told what engine i have. i have a chevy 250 with a power glide auto trans in my 1950 gmc truck. i cant decide what i want to do to the truck, just fix it up like it is, or kinda customize it some. i really just want a comfortable driving truck. ive seen the s-10 frame swaps, and i ve seen the mustang II front end added. i just dont know what to do.
Ah, I was once there, too. Ran the gauntlet. I want the same thing and realized that all original stuff is good. My mods will be disc brakes, 12 volt for wipers and maybe tunes, (but the best sound will be coming through the floor and firewall~) and a new ass end because my wife says my butt looks to big in this. Also, as Nate has said _many_ times, THE RIGHT TALL TIRES!!!! (radials, of course) I know it'll be just as sweet as that dream I had last night! (I still can't get over that I would dream such a realistic dream about driving my truck! Guess I've missed my moonlit nights of setting in it making driving sounds...) Anyway- grab a comfy chair and do some reading. LOTS of great ideas here! And not too shabby of folks, either!
disc brakes what is the stuff i keep reading about if i do go disc on the stock front end about tires rubbing or not having clearance of some sort? and btw i already have 12 volt system. i ll work on the pics. also, ive been told i will probably need to change to a turbo 350 trany and a different rear end to have comfortable highway speeds, is this true? what could i expect out of a 250 engine?
Making A Driver You've got a good start allready ~ work on the stock front end to eliminate ALL play in king pins , tie rod ends spring eyes and you'll find it not only rides quite well but corners pretty decently too . There are swaybars available for the AD trucks and they work well . You'll be wanting a tube shock conversion and add some stiff gas charged shocks as these old trucks are heavy . if you then put on the correct size radial tires (archives) it'll drive like it has power steering , you've got to experiance it to belive it . Disc brakes are a good idea as it updating the rear brakes to Bendix . IIRC , it's quite simple to slap a Turbo 350 tranny onto a Chivy 250 I-6 but I'd think a 700R4 might be better , we used to have some Park Ranger pickups so equipped and I liked them anyways , they'd clip right along @ 75 MPH easily on overdrive and still had good pickup in street traffic . Since your rear end is allready changed to open driveline it'll be a snap tp upgrade to a 3.72 or 3.55 one but I'd change the tranny first as more gears mean better flexability in the power application , this is the key to tractible horsepower and drivability . How about some pix ? .
The 6 lug disk brake kit that I installed on my '57 GMC came with a set of spacers to hold the wheels about 3/16" away from the hubs for more clearance. But my truck didn't need them. Could have been because I was using mid 70's rally wheels with different offset than stock wheels.
Here's the fix! The above comments brought to you by our beloved and trusted master. I'm not sure why you want to go swapping out your front end. I thought about it for getting it lower, but Eaton can take care of that for me while I make sure I have brand new springs at the same time. Cost prolly works out about the same. New springs, tierod ends, disk brake swap, misc. compaired to all the hoodie you'll have to go through to make a new front end fit and work... Either way you go, you'll have to remove the front end to either rework it or replace it. Nate says these trucks are heavy, but go to the "photos" part of this page, look up mine, (Zig) and see the photo that shows my daughter in action. I guess everyone has an idea of what "heavy" is, too.
do i need to do this??????.....my long term plan is to make it really great to drive. i am planning on eventually putting in a 350 motor, auto trans, power steering, and just want it to drive good.
Fellow hot rodders of old trucks- isn't the main reason for an IFS so you can bag it and drag it? Also, maybe (maybe) a car-like drive? An I-beam with leafs may be a little more truck-like of a feel, but... 50G, I want the same thing and have been where you are now. (Ask anyone) I plan on driving my 228 until I need to replace it. (if that ever happens) At that time, I will replace the engine with a 350 (maybe), and ram horn headers that allow that V8 to co-exist with stock steering. Nate, (and my memory of buzzing around in my long gone '50 pickup) have convinced me to leave it refreshed original. (sway bar if needed, but I don't take corners on two wheels anymore,so-) Anyway, you'll decide what's right for you. I like stock because I can do the whole dang thing myself! Good luck with your project, and read all the posts on this subject. There are m-a-n-y!
When I got my truck I was going to update it with IFS and 350/350, etc. The more I researched it, the more I realized I would be falling into a severe money pit and decided to go all original. Aalso an easier and quicker build for my kids whose truck it really is. Got to keep them involved and excited and the stock rebuild is easier on their attention spans as well. Andy
Not To Mention : These really are good car like drivers when the stock susupension s in good shape and you have the correct tires on it . If it drives poorly and the steering wheel doesn't unwind after a corner all by itself , you have a problem , not a design fault ! Remember the original sales slogan : If it drives like a truck , it's NOT a Chevrolet ! . truer words were never spoken . If you're wanting to air bag it etc. then of course , you must destroy it and add IFS , be aware you'll prolly sell it at a $ loss within 5 years of doing this . Sad but true .
