Texan593 Nice truck Thanks for posting the video.How about a picture of the engine

Here's the engine pic DD...Thx for the comments!

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WOW Texan...but you have a big smile on your face now! Good job

Thx gator. I "did" have a smile but it now has turned to frustration... The TH400 Tranny underneath is stuck in 1st and won't upshift. You can see my thread on this subject HERE Maybe you can chime in on that thread if you have any tranny suggestions. I'm ready to shoot the Friggin thing!!! I was hoping it would be ready for the local car show next weekend but I guess thats not happening!

Texan 593 I posted on the forum you provided the link for.I think the valve behind your modulator is stuck.

havent posted in awhile - not gotten much done. this week am putting 81 trans am subframe in my 57 short bed step side. it will have 94 chevy 4.3 vortec tbi engine with 4l60e trans. wheel base same as before.
PROBLEM: i am putting qa-1 coilover shock/spring kit instead of the original coil springs. i dont know which spring rate to order - 250, 300, 400, 600?
any body out there can help me?

sorry - the 4.3 liter is a v-6.
any help?

one of the other web sites directed me to the qa-1 web site but i dont know how much help there. the only truck on their reference chart is a 48 chevy with small block listed as 1950 # on the front and 1450 # on the rear.
their spring reference chart shows for 1701 - 1900 # using a 350 # spring rate. for 1901 - 2100 # they list a 450 # spring rate. i was thinking it would take the lower 250 # spring.
any of you subframe guys ever check your front - rear weights?
anybody with coilspring fronts tell me what your spring rates are and how they ride?

My 57 pickup weighted in at about 3245 lbs. and the rear axle weight was about 1200 lbs.
But I never weighted just the front axle, but it must be about 2000 Lbs. My truck has a SBC 350 w. a 350 turbo trans it has the full stock frame with Fatman Fabracations Mustang II front end w/tubular A arms , and no other goodies added to increase the weight.
I would say your weight to be 1900# / 2000# depending on the weight of the sub frame and engine trans combo your installing.
Can you put it all together and weigh it before you buy the coilovers then swap springs?
Gene

I am building a pro street 58 apache ,progress is slow but it is coming along. I have the motor and trans set in truck. I started at front and working back. Has disc brakes in front,alston ladderbar at rear,getting ready to install power steering,new front leaf springs that will drop front 4-5 inches,top has been chopped 4 inches,motor has been dynoed at 428 HP and 415 torque at 5000. You can see truck under oldmanchopper journal,I haven't posted any new pics since it arrived and I need to but perfection takes time!!!!

Welcome aboard oldman.
If you look at the pics I've posted you can see the don't have to be perfect.
How did the fender corner from brothers fit? I have to replace one of mine and they are local.
The vin tag on my 57 is inside the drivers door jamb. whoever chopped the top probably cut out that section.
Good luck with your build and post pics.
Kim

Oldmanchopper Nice truck.What kind of time are you looking to run on the drag strip.I am taking my 58 to Wendover Nevada for a car show on the 15th and 16th of June and staying over on Sunday the 17th to run it down the drag strip.2 years ago I ran it down the same drag strip and ran a 16.02 and 16.03 back to back runs.I had 3.90 gears and a open differential.I now have 4.56 gears.a powertrax locker,traction bars and a line lock to help launch the truck off the line.I will post pictures and times when I get back.This picture of the body tags shows you were your vin # should be.The silver one is the vin tag.The vin # should also be on the top of the frame somewhere under the cab or bed.I am not sure were.A mirror and a flash light should be all you need to find it.Keep us posted on your progress

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Have all vin tags and found numbers on frame about 12-15 inches in front of steering box. I may run it down the strip just to see what it does,but it will be street driven.If I want to go fast we have a pro-mod that runs in the 6's

I went to the fathers day car show in Wendover.On Friday evening at the burn out contest I burned up a set of tires.Took them from just at the wear bars to steel belts in three 20 second burn outs.On Sunday I went to the drag strip.The wrangler tires are a hard rubber and I could not get them to hook up.I lost 3rd and 4th gear on the third pass so 15.21 was the best I could run I took a ride on a flat bed home

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Sounds like great fun DD. you should have gotten some pics of you smokin the tires and posted them.
Kim