The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop 56 Build... Need all kinds of help!

First off, let me tell you how great it is to be apart of this crew. I have looked for weeks to find a good forum, and was refered by a friend. I owe many thanks!

Now, I have just bought a 56GMC SB that I am in love with! It has a 283 w/ mild cam and a turbo 400 with a shift kit. I picked it up last weekend for $1500(Great body too). It has been setting since '79, but with a little work, got the motor unfrozen and running. My goal is to have the hottest rat rod on the cruse...

Now here is where I need help:
1) I want to replace the front and rear end with disc brakes and update suspenion. What car should I use as a donor? Who has one?

2) I have a BB 427 that I want to use for the build. Any problems here?

This is where I will start for now. Thank you all for the help!

56GMCRat

P.S. I want this truck as low as posible w/o bagging it!

welcome to the shop Rat - look around the various forums and use the search function and you'll find much info and many opinions about the discs and lowering, from total frame clips to disc adaptor kits .... rear discs would require a later car axle - the 427 won\'t be much trouble

Bill

Welcome aboard! I used a 70 Nova front end on my 57. It came with power steering and power disk. Works great and lowered it alot. It can go down further with dropped spindles and springs. Good luck with your project.

79 Camaro front clip dropped a 50 within about 5 or 6 inches from the floor. Camaro rear end is just about dead on for correct back plate to back plate width

I have a 396 TH400 in a 55 Cameo. Is the small block front mount located on the front crossmember, or on the sides? If they are on the front, it is easy to fabricate two L shaped brackets that will use the original mounts. The older bellhousing with the rear engine mounts work great with a standard tranny. The only hassle, is that you will have to bang the firewall back on the LH side to clear the cylinder head. I used headers because the LH exhaust manifold will not clear the steering box. I installed the 396 in 1971, and have never regretted it. I am replacing it with a 454 because I have a fear of my head hitting the steering wheel when I leave an intersection.
Bob

BBC from CBCC,

Why are you leaving intersections in reverse?

Well, I could do that too, but it is just because I'm getting old and my neck muscles are too weak to hold my head up, so I have to depend on the acceleration. As I am getting older, I find it is taking more power. I guess it is nitrous or a blower next.
Bob

If your goal is a rat rod, wouldn't leaving the 283 and the beam axle in place get you a lot closer to your goal than a big block and IFS? Just a thought.

John

let me know when you want to get rid of the 283!

Big Block are just cool torque is where it's at. I whent the way of bigger is better with a 1/4" stroked crank for 496 ci.