Chassis for late '50's Highway Hauler - Suggestions?

[impcon]

What would be a good chassis in your opinion to place under a late 50's/very early '60's GM tandem axle truck? I'd use a 348 engine but I really would appreciate some suggestions as to transmission, frame, front axle and rear ends. Any suggestions will be appreciated. I was thinking of the Ford C600 frame and chassis - I'd have to extend the frame to add the second diff but I am not sure if this would look correct. The wheels on the C 600 are the style that I will use but is the rest of the chassis comparible? I am not hung up on total authenticity but I want it to look as close to stock as possible.

[highway]

I would say the C600 frame sounds like a nice start. Another possibility would be the Dodge L700 frame with the same modifications you have to do to the Ford frame.

[ARTEMIS1759]

I would say the C600 frame sounds like a nice start. Another possibility would be the Dodge L700 frame with the same modifications you have to do to the Ford frame.

I have the L700 kit and I would have to agree. This is probably the best route.

[impcon]

I guess that I should have mentioned that the truck is a conventional cab and it will be a tandem axle job. If I am to use the Dodge chassis, I'll have to have two frames and differentials. The truck will be married to a gravel trailer - ideally a tandem and not a tridem and it wont have a sleeper. I'll have to do some measuring once I get the cab for the project. I am still open to any ideas and suggestions... thank you both for your thoughtfulness. it's appreciated.

[highway]

Your quite welcome, Gary.

[cowboysevens]

well since its a conventional, why dont you go down to hobby shop and get a IH 4300 transtar kit , use the chassis and part out the rest on evilbay to make some money back? it is a nice set up with steerable front axle and purdy decent detail. or you can order from my atomic there either $29 or $39 delivered to your door. hope this helps

dennis

[mistermodel]

I'd get a dodge L700 fot the transmission ,wheels, and some other small parts.For the chassis I'd try a titan/astro kit,good suspention parts,wheels,and fuel tanks.I think there may be an early 60's chevy dump on a astro frame on this forum here someplace

Kevin

[Longbox55]

What year truck are you planning on building? If you're going for a '63-'66, any of the frames suggest should work fine, though I would suggest the the AMT Diamond-Reo, which has the wheels you're looking for plus the correct tandem setup. Doing a '60-'62 could be an issue, as they used an IFS front axle, rather than the I beam on other trucks. I know of no kit with that front end, though it could be scratchbuild withough too much issue.

BTW, a 348 would be accurate through '65.

Edited June 22, 2010 by Longbox55

[impcon]

What year truck are you planning on building? If you're going for a '63-'66, any of the frames suggest should work fine, though I would suggest the the AMT Diamond-Reo, which has the wheels you're looking for plus the correct tandem setup. Doing a '60-'62 could be an issue, as they used an IFS front axle, rather than the I beam on other trucks. I know of no kit with that front end, though it could be scratchbuild withough too much issue.

BTW, a 348 would be accurate through '65.

Thank you for the information - obviously you know your big trucks. What I am going to build is a '59 Chevy like this - except I want it to be a tandem because the truck that I am replicating was to the nest of my recollection, a tandem as it pulled a tandem axle gravel trailer. The truck looked so sweet coming down the highway and it was always clean and sparkling in it's dazzling red paint and white grille, front bumper and trimmed wheels. The picture below could almost be a picture of that same truck except I am sure that Ron's truck was a tandem.

The truck was definitely a 348 and it served in daily duty hauling gravel from the Birds Hill gravel pits north east of Winnipeg, Manitoba. I lived only about five miles from that pit and a friend of mine drove loader there loading trucks. The truckwas already old as this was back around 1972 and the only truck that was even close to that old was a lovely navy blue with white pin striping B Model Mack that I also want to replicate. Any information that you may have on these old Chevys would sure be welcome. Again, suggestions are surely appreciated and welcomed.

[The Modeling Hermit]

One of my uncles drove a '60 Chevy dump truck, and I agree that they do look cool. A thought that came to mind was to use the Ford dump truck chassis, which would give you the suspension. Then I read the post about the Astro/Titan chassis giving you the more correct wheels. I may have to get one of the resin bodies, and try to replicate my uncle's truck. I might also add that you might want to get a dealer brochure, and possibly a repair manual. I keep these around for many of my projects.

Edited June 23, 2010 by Kodiak Island Modeler

[Longbox55]

For reference for a '59, you would need the '58 manual, as the '59 is ony suppliment that covers the changes from the model years, which isn't much. Unfortunatly, at this time, the '58 manual isn't available online, only the '55 (which had no tandem option) and the '59 suppliment are available. However, the '55-'59 GMC manual is available, and will get you pretty close to what the Chevy would be like. GMC Maintanance Manual.

I do have all of the manuals for Chevrolet, '55-'60, if you need to see anything specific, I could scan it in and post for you.

[impcon]

One of my uncles drove a '60 Chevy dump truck, and I agree that they do look cool. A thought that came to mind was to use the Ford dump truck chassis, which would give you the suspension. Then I read the post about the Astro/Titan chassis giving you the more correct wheels. I may have to get one of the resin bodies, and try to replicate my uncle's truck. I might also add that you might want to get a dealer brochure, and possibly a repair manual. I keep these around for many of my projects.

Thanks for the input. I guess that my majpr concern with the chassis is getting front suspension and rear diffs that appear to be period correct. I never thought about parts books or manuals - I have them stored away with all of my shop manuals in the back of my shop. Thank you for the reminder..

[impcon]

For reference for a '59, you would need the '58 manual, as the '59 is ony suppliment that covers the changes from the model years, which isn't much. Unfortunatly, at this time, the '58 manual isn't available online, only the '55 (which had no tandem option) and the '59 suppliment are available. However, the '55-'59 GMC manual is available, and will get you pretty close to what the Chevy would be like. GMC Maintanance Manual.

I do have all of the manuals for Chevrolet, '55-'60, if you need to see anything specific, I could scan it in and post for you.

Hm.. yes.. I axtually have some truck books that i forgot about. See - that;s why you guys get paid the big bucks I do believe that I have some GM truck parts books and I am sure I have a shop manual. Yes,, I do believe that I do. Funny - but I never thought of them.. I'll check out the online source forst before venturing back there to start digging through a literal mountain of boxes of shop manuals and parts books. Still, I welcome ANY input and ideas.... Thank you..

[mistermodel]

I'm going to chime in on this again.A '55 chevy truck cab with some '58 impala fenders for the basic shape for the fenders,of coarse with lots of work also.

Still think a staight frame from many rigs over a L700 or C800 is the best.I searched for a simular '55 conversion ,but didn't find what I know is there.I'll look later and post a link for yeah

Kevin

[impcon]

I'm going to chime in on this again.A '55 chevy truck cab with some '58 impala fenders for the basic shape for the fenders,of coarse with lots of work also.

Still think a staight frame from many rigs over a L700 or C800 is the best.I searched for a simular '55 conversion ,but didn't find what I know is there.I'll look later and post a link for yeah

Kevin

Kevin - I have already purchased a resin '58 Chevy cab so I think that I will have that part of the project under control OK. My issue now is to find an appropriate tandem axle chassis for the truck. I'll use a 348/409 engine out of a car but I am going to have to do some researc for what kind of transmission the truck will have to have. When I came up withthe idea for this project and decided to do it, I didn't think things through all the way but that is OK. I am determined to do it - and that's that. My modelling skill level is still - well, compared to a lot of you guys, I'm still in sandbox - a lot of you guys have graduated and moved on to college sort of thing. Cutting and widening fenders is something a little beyond me right now but you do have me thinking about trying it. I probably have a scrapper '58 in my stash - I just have to dig it out and I have a couple of '55 Chevy pickups here. If the resin cab is junk, then I guess I will have to look at alternatives but for now, I am gathering materials, parts, information and ideas. If it turns out well, I'll definitely be buying several more of those cabs to do somemore building as I have several ideas in mind and I love the design of those trucks. But feel free to shoot me any ideas and suggestions - I am wide open to anything except failure with this. By the way, thank you to all who have taken the time to read this post and make suggestions. No ideas have been discarded atthis point, I assure you so your efforts have not been for nothing. Respectfully as always, Gry

[Longbox55]

For transmissions, you've got 4 choices, SM420 4 speed (MPC '67-'72 Chevy trucks have these), New Process 5 speed, Spicer 5 speed (AMT semis seem to have these, particularly the Kenworths), and the Powermatic. You'll also need to fab up a power divider, I beleive the transfer case from an AMT monster truck, like the destroyer Ford, Thunderbolt 1 Blazer, or USA 1 could be adapted to this use. A note on the manual I linked, the GMC Tandem is similar to the Chevrolet, but the Chevrolet used a frame mounted power divider, with separate driveshafts to each axle, rather than the axle mounted version that the GMC has.