I am building a truck from pcs and the frame I have did not have the little ears on it that the rad support bolts to. I got some but not sure which year it was from (55-59). Are they all the same? I mounted my cab using new mounting hardware and when I set my front clip on, the nose seems to be too high in relation to the cab. It's like I need to raise the front of my cab an inch or so but I don't think it is designed the way. Please help!! Jeff
The rad. mounts on my 55 1/2 are 1 5/8 inches from the top of the frame to the top of the mounts. Do you have your body shims in place at the front cab mounts?
I'm not sure what shims are supposed to be at the cab front. My kit came with one rubber gasket and one shim, both together stack up to less than 1/4 inch. It appears to need another 1/4" or so at least to be right.
The assembly manual just states shim as required. I don't know if they just shim enough for the cab to clear the rivet heads on the top of the frame or if there is some other magical formula. Mine has about a 3/8 inch stack on each side.
One more question, do your rad mounts have the "captured nut" or the long slot? I have seen both styles and not sure which one goes with the 55. I have the nutted ones and they don't seem to be in the right place.
That's what I was afraid of. Do you have stock suspension under yours? My frame has the mustang II front end and I am wondering if I need the old tranny crossmember for strength or if I can cut it out. Anybody know?
This project is 100% stock. I believe you need to keep a crossmember near the rear of the engine. If you cut out the stock member to make way for an automatic trans you will repalce it with a tubular type trans mount crossmember. Have you seen the book "How to Build Tri Five Chevy Trucks"? It's a good book to have around.
I have a tubular crossmember already, but it doesn't look like it offers near as much support as that big stock one. I have heard of that book, I guess I will order one. Thanks for your help Jeff
I've been trying to order the How to build a tri five book you referenced and they are discontinued. Anybody got one they want to sell or loan out for a few weeks??? Thanks Jeff
[updated:LAST EDITED ON Jul-29-05 AT 09:32 PM (CST)]I got mine from the publisher phone # 866-601-5199. Barns&Nobel.com and Amazon.com both list new and used editions.
