Bill,
I just went out to get a reference on my mostly complete 55. I got it as someone elses incomplete project, so it was never totally assembled. It did have the hood and core support and inner fenders loosely attached with a few bolts, but no front fenders were included. This is why I guess I am having a hard time visualizing how the fenders to core support area lines up. The engine and hood and radiator (hanging) are still in place, as well as the cab and bed. This is the truck that has an original 6 cylinder. It does have riveted core support brackets, but they are slotted. I removed the core support by loosening the nuts on the carriage bolts, and slid the core support forward about 2" and it came out. I did get some dimensions off the truck, referencing the 1/2" hole above the front axle, located on top of the framerails. I get from the centerline of the 1/2" reference hole to the centermost point of the slot on the core support bracket 17-1/2". This verifies the dimension in the assembly manual. In the assembly manual, it shows 33.76" from the "Front of Dash" line to centerline of the radiator bracket. It is hard to reference a "Front of Dash" point on an actual truck. I took the 16-1/4" to the centerline of the 1/2" reference hole to the "Front of Dash" line and subtracted that from the 33-3/4" (33.76)+-1/16". That should be almost exactly 17-1/2" difference, or the distance from the 1/2" reference hole to the centerline of the radiator bracket.
Something else I picked up on the assembly manual is that the front axle centerline is actually behind the 1/2" reference hole located on top of the frame. They show a distance of 16-1/4" to the reference hole from the "Front of Dash" line, yet the front axle centerline is 15-3/4" from the "Front of Dash" line, a difference of 1/2". The front axle is 1/2" behind that reference hole. On my truck, the straight axle looks to be almost in line with the front brake lines that come out of the side of the frame rails. Anyway, more interesting info that I have found.
My other frame that I am modifiying is at a different location at a shop, so I can't get up there today with everything going on. I also thought about undoing the front clip (it's not welded on yet, just fitted together) and again checking a few things. I still can't deny that my jig was made and installed on the '58 frame without any thing removed or altered in any way. I am really unsure of the 1" discrepancy in the location of the core support.
Last edited by Oleblue55; 12/31/2008 6:11 PM.
