THIS PROJECT MAY DRIVE ME TO THE FUNNY FARM BEFORE I'M DONE
I need some good advice.
I don't know were to start on this project, I seem to be going round & round & coming up with nothing?
Here is what it was, a 1939 Chev 1 ton COE tow truck, (no boom) shorty 108" wheel base. (Cute little bugger)
OK, I found a 1980 GMC 1 ton step van P30 chassis with front suspension, so far just what I wanted. But no motor/trans, or rearend.
I need to say at this point that my plans are to build this as a 1 ton ratrod/hotrod, air bagged & slammed right on the ground daily driver. I just picked up my air bags for the front, probably not ready for them but the price was right so I will be attempting to put them in place of the springs next week.
I can't determine what rear end will fit inside my back fenders with duel wheels "OR" deep single wheels with wide tires & has the gear ratio I think I want, 350's or 370's? Every one says that a dually rearend from a flat bed or wide step van will be the narrowest rearend. Probably one just like the one that came off this frame. (Just my luck), the rearend was gone when I purchased my frame. I found a rearend today that measures 64" across. Adding stock 16" steel dual wheels & tires will still put the tires out side the fenders about 2". So it seems I will need to go with single wheels in back. No big deal, they can be deep & that will look good to.
Inside fenders are 80". Rearend is 64", leaving 16" left for wheels/tire., 8" on each side minus 1 inch =7" for good clearance. Am I thinking right or wrong? The best gear ratio I have found is 373 gears, but I really wanted around 355 gears.
I don't know if I'm thinking wrong, or going about it all wrong. My cab & bed are not on the frame, I planned on getting the suspension together first, air bags & all, so I would know how low to set the cab on the frame to get the cab as low as possible.
I need good advice...
