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Thread: 55 Gasser frame project

  1. #1
    Registered Member chevynut's Avatar
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    55 Gasser frame project

    Since we're on the last stretch with HEMI 55 frame I decided to work on the 55 Gasser frame today. This is the frame for Steve's brother, who has always wanted a gasser. It's a 55 2-door sedan and will have a BBC and T400.

    We're planning to use a Jim Meyer's ladder bar kit, shock bar, and crossmember. The rear will be a Dana 60 and will sit around 4.5" higher than stock height using coilovers. In front we're using an early 60's Chevy van i-beam axle, leaf springs, and as much else as possible.

    I cut off the frame forward of the steering box holes because we plan to use the stock box, if possible. I built the tapered frame rails today and they're ready to weld up. The ends of the frame rail will be radiused and smoothed. Then we will attach them to the frame with reinforcements, add a spreader bar, radiator support, and a tubular BBC engine mount.


    20141118_001.jpg 20141118_004.jpg
    56 Nomad, Ramjet 502, Viper 6-speed T56, C4 Corvette front and rear suspension


    Other vehicles:

    56 Chevy 2-door BelAir sedan
    56 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
    57 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
    1962 327/340HP Corvette
    1961 Willys CJ3B Jeep
    2001 Porsche Boxster S
    2003 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD Duramax
    2019 GMC Sierra Denali Duramax

  2. #2
    Registered Member 56-210Sedan's Avatar
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    what number will this one be?
    55 Belair 2dr Sedan 350/350 loving every minute of it.
    56-210 2dr Sedan c4 front/rear suspension, and not sure when the ride will roll.
    Marty

    http://www.picturetrail.com/56-210sedan

    http://saccc567.com/

  3. #3
    Registered Member chevynut's Avatar
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    HEMI 55 is #52 and the Gasser is #53. Then we have another full frame with an AME center section scheduled, and possibly another frame and clip that are in the works.
    56 Nomad, Ramjet 502, Viper 6-speed T56, C4 Corvette front and rear suspension


    Other vehicles:

    56 Chevy 2-door BelAir sedan
    56 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
    57 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
    1962 327/340HP Corvette
    1961 Willys CJ3B Jeep
    2001 Porsche Boxster S
    2003 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD Duramax
    2019 GMC Sierra Denali Duramax

  4. #4
    Registered Member carls 56 (RIP 11/24/2021)'s Avatar
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    very nice. cool to be doing (& making $$$$) in retirement.
    ARMY NAM VET, very proud!

    56 210 4dr

    drive and enjoy them while you work on them, life is to short.

  5. #5
    Registered Member chevynut's Avatar
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    Yeah Carl, it's nice to be able to work as much or as little as I want to. Sometimes I think I work a little too much, but I really like the fab work and frame-building. The nice thing is I get to work with my son a couple times a week since he works with me about 9-10 hours a week (one evening and one weekend morning) plus his full-time job. Making the extra money is nice too.

    We have the C4 stuff just about down to a science since we've done so many of them, so the gasser frame is a refreshing change of pace for me. I've had lots of guys contact me about doing C4 conversions for 55-57 trucks, 50's Studebakers, Chevelles, and other cars and trucks. I have a design almost completed for a 58-64 Impala front end but the tri5 frames are keeping me too busy to really work on others. The guy I was working with on the Impala design (he has a 62 bubbletop) just quit communicating with me, so he can figure it out himself.
    56 Nomad, Ramjet 502, Viper 6-speed T56, C4 Corvette front and rear suspension


    Other vehicles:

    56 Chevy 2-door BelAir sedan
    56 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
    57 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
    1962 327/340HP Corvette
    1961 Willys CJ3B Jeep
    2001 Porsche Boxster S
    2003 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD Duramax
    2019 GMC Sierra Denali Duramax

  6. #6
    Registered Member chevynut's Avatar
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    Well it looks like the van axle isn't going to work as planned. The springs are a little too far apart which I could probably deal with, but the worst problem is that the wheel mounting surfaces are at 63" apart which I feel is too wide. I have seen gassers use this axle, but it's certainly not ideal. We're looking for one from a 55-59 truck, which is also commonly used.
    56 Nomad, Ramjet 502, Viper 6-speed T56, C4 Corvette front and rear suspension


    Other vehicles:

    56 Chevy 2-door BelAir sedan
    56 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
    57 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
    1962 327/340HP Corvette
    1961 Willys CJ3B Jeep
    2001 Porsche Boxster S
    2003 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD Duramax
    2019 GMC Sierra Denali Duramax

  7. #7
    Registered Member chevynut's Avatar
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    Nov 2011

    Member #:115
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    Fort Collins, CO
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    A couple days ago I disassembled the Dana 60 so I could move it around and so we can weld on it. It still had the axles in it and was full of oil. I got it all apart but couldn't get the spool out of it. I'm not sure if it requires a case spreader to do that or what. Yesterday I removed the spring perches to prepare it for the ladder bar mounts. Jim Meyers should be shipping the ladder bar kit tomorrow. We still haven't found a 55-59 Chevy front axle for it......found several 3/4 ton axles but we need a 1/2 ton axle.
    56 Nomad, Ramjet 502, Viper 6-speed T56, C4 Corvette front and rear suspension


    Other vehicles:

    56 Chevy 2-door BelAir sedan
    56 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
    57 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
    1962 327/340HP Corvette
    1961 Willys CJ3B Jeep
    2001 Porsche Boxster S
    2003 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD Duramax
    2019 GMC Sierra Denali Duramax

  8. #8
    Registered Member chevynut's Avatar
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    Nov 2011

    Member #:115
    Location
    Fort Collins, CO
    Posts
    10,835
    We decided to go with a straight axle kit from Speedway. It arrived Saturday and it's all in a bunch of little pieces. Lots of assembly required.

    56 Nomad, Ramjet 502, Viper 6-speed T56, C4 Corvette front and rear suspension


    Other vehicles:

    56 Chevy 2-door BelAir sedan
    56 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
    57 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
    1962 327/340HP Corvette
    1961 Willys CJ3B Jeep
    2001 Porsche Boxster S
    2003 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD Duramax
    2019 GMC Sierra Denali Duramax

  9. #9
    Registered Member
    Join Date
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    Quote Originally Posted by chevynut View Post
    A couple days ago I disassembled the Dana 60 so I could move it around and so we can weld on it. It still had the axles in it and was full of oil. I got it all apart but couldn't get the spool out of it. I'm not sure if it requires a case spreader to do that or what. Yesterday I removed the spring perches to prepare it for the ladder bar mounts. Jim Meyers should be shipping the ladder bar kit tomorrow. We still haven't found a 55-59 Chevy front axle for it......found several 3/4 ton axles but we need a 1/2 ton axle.
    I run a Dana 60 in my 55 and both my drag Camaros and have never needed a spreader to disassemble a rear.

  10. #10
    Registered Member chevynut's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by markm View Post
    I run a Dana 60 in my 55 and both my drag Camaros and have never needed a spreader to disassemble a rear.
    Well I guess I'm glad I didn't take it out or I'd be putting it back in anyhow to make this into a roller. He's going to have the spool replaced with a diff and they can deal with it.
    56 Nomad, Ramjet 502, Viper 6-speed T56, C4 Corvette front and rear suspension


    Other vehicles:

    56 Chevy 2-door BelAir sedan
    56 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
    57 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
    1962 327/340HP Corvette
    1961 Willys CJ3B Jeep
    2001 Porsche Boxster S
    2003 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD Duramax
    2019 GMC Sierra Denali Duramax

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