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55 pickup 2wd to 4wd questions

I'm also considering doing a late 70s corvette manual brake master cylinder in place of the oe one.

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Looks to me like that older-generation inline 6 (235ci?) doesn't use a standard Chevy pattern.

Found this link about a T5 swap with what looks like an original bellhousing.

 
Couple random thoughts for a mild driver...


Pre hard body Nissan used a divorced t case that is compact and stout, like v8 and 33s stout


Also manual steering sucks, the electric power steering columns from 2008ish to 2014 ish junkyard cars are super simple 12v supply, revert to manual if electronics fail. Hide under the dash. Would be my choice for a vintage "is that a napco? " build
 
The rear is 55-57 gm or the ho33, maybe the same thing. Gm had theyre "own" rear for a while.

Please, pleasen please dont use a rockwel t221, they suck, they leak, they dont hold much oil at all.

Yes, sqrbdy brackets can work but dollars to donuts pre 72 brackets will work better.

A mail order engine crossmember and convensional trans cross will free up a shit ton of trans options.
 
We're in the collecting parts phase but I'll be posting pics when we start the swap.
Giggity!


This makes me happy, a late 50s chevy, 4wd, preferably fleet side on tall narrow tires with hubcaps, hidden upgrades, maybe straight 6 but overdrive, vintage under dash ac is on my short list:smokin:
 
So far we've taken a bunch of parts off of it and now understand why people frame swap them...

Picked up some sweet axles from Fishnbeer out of a 1st gen bronco

Front dana 44
4.10s, Detroit, chromo axles/ joints, new ball joints and high steer

Rear ford 9 big bearing
4.11s, Detroit, 31spline chromo axles, disk brakes with Eldorado calipers

Axles are over built for this truck but the price was risee.

Ended up picking up a adapter to run the sm420 to np231 or d300. I already had a np231 from a tj and was able to trade some parts for a new in the box sye.


Here's some pics
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Another nice thing was that this disc/disc manual mastercylinder bolted right in place of the drum/drum one.
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The sm420/np231 combo fit was nice and cleared the oe sheet metal. We're also prepping a old sbc I've been sitting on for years.
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This is one of the builds I check in on, great to see it coming together:smokin:

Details on the front axle install and steering?
 
Quick photo dump of what's been done so far and I'll try to explain later. Just chugging along with the build and my buddies been kicking ass on his first 4wd build.
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Also can anyone spoon feed me the right way to convert inline 6 generator wiring to a v8 internally regulated wiring? Just wondering if I can just use the wires off the external regulator to keep it simple.

Other newb question

With running the new HEI the battery wire should be on the ignition or directly to the battery? I'm thinking ignition to cut it off.

To lazy to search Google and now it's time to get back to work.
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So quick recap

We ended up keeping the original frame but now understand why everyone swaps out to the newer 4x4 style frames. We boxed the whole frame front to back with 3/16 plate and added a cut down tow hitch for a recovery point in the rear. Also have another hitch for the front but I want to mount the steering box before that.

We replaced the rear springs with Chevy 63s and out boarded the hangers as much as possible. The problem with the bronco 9" was that with the Eldorado disk brakes it was too narrow and almost rubbed the OE springs. So the parking brake was going to interfere with the cable/ spring.

Welded all the cross members to help with frame flex.

Kept the factory tranny crossmember, built new motor mounts out of 1/4 plate and a tcase/ transmission crossmember. Might have to change up the tranny cross member but it's bolt in.

Now I'm waiting on some borgenson steering parts and I'm going to start with the steering box mounts Sunday hopefully.

Was able to source some info off a tri 5 website for the wiring but still mapping it out at the moment.

Jimbo
 
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