The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop '53 gmc on a '76 chevy frame........questions!

Hey guys,
I'm new here. My name is Jason and I have a '53 gmc 1/2 ton on a '76 chevy frame. I have several things I'd like to change about the truck. I have already read several threads on this subject on your forum but couldn't find one specific to my truck. It appears from what I've read that I'm out of luck but I'll ask anyway..... What is the best/cheapest way to get my front tires closer to being underneath my front fenders? Also, the 350 motor/350 auto transmission don't stay cool. It slowly rises up. There's no indication of a blown head gasket or a stopped up radiator. I'm wondering if my radiator is just too small and if so, if there's a cheap way to get a smaller radiator. I actually read somewhere on the internet that a 70's ford LTD radiator might fit.
Anyway, I prefer the look of an original truck but like the pb, ps, and independent front suspension of a modified truck.
I was thinking that maybe I could try some 14 X 6 wheels up front with about a 1" positive offset and fairly narrow tires to try to get the wheels further under the fenders. Any ideas?
Thanks ahead for any comments,
Jason

use the wider fenders from a big bolt or change wheel offset. However the '53 had a 58" track width where the '76 has a 63" track width

are you running a fan shroud, if not, build one. The stock rad is good for a 350

wheels and tires like you say will help. my problem is I'm running 3/4 ton four wheel drive, so it won't work for me. as for a radiator, the a-body Mopars (valiant, duster etc.) from the late '60s and early '70s should work. I am running an electric fan from a 94 Buick Lesabre in front of my radiator. Still working on paint and body so haven't got the full road test in yet.

Scott,
When you say a "big bolt" I'm thinking you're referring to a 3/4 or 1 ton '47-'53 truck?
Will that fit right up to my truck and just be wider? If so, I really like that idea and would love to try it. I would like to keep my wheel track width the same and was hoping that there was actually a fender I could buy that would be wider.
Could you tell me which one to use? (the 3/4 or 1 ton?) ....if I am thinking correctly about what you mean?
Also, what would be a good place to look for those fenders?
Thanks,
Jason

Monster,
My problem is that the temp. keeps going up even while going down the road, and that it even does it in winter, just slower. I can only go 4 or 5 miles before it starts getting above 210 degrees. I'm not seeing any water in my oil, and not many bubbles in my radiator, and the radiator seems to be flowing good and getting hot all over like it should. Should I be looking for a problem elsewhere? The radiator looks like it should be big enough and bigger than the stock radiator. I'm going to try taking some pics of my setup and post a link to them soon so you guys can take a look if you wouldn't mind.
Thanks for the response,
Jason

umm just a quick queston on the temp issue "are you still using the original radiator?" if so your cooling issue is there, was not designed to cool a V-8, and the 53 radiators were not that efficent even in 53

The 350s tend to run a little hot. 200 to 215 is not unusual for a 350.I live close to the big Summit Racing shop in NE Ohio and they carry a great selection of custom wheels with a variety of backspacing.Ya might wanna order a Summit cataloge and look thru it.I have a 55 with a 350 and stock radiator,and no pusher fan. I just use the stock fan with a good shroud,and no problems.

No, big bolt, 2T or larger. The Fenders are the same length, the width is 3" wider, however the wheel opening is a bit bigger as well. Most people are looking for the 1/2T - 1T front clips, so you can get complete front clips for near free. Here is a link of my 1/2T with a 2T front clip

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2062240040101989507adCmwZ

I needed a place to store the extra clip when I stored the truck since I could not bring down to Florida yet as the re-conditioned sheet metal was being packed in the wood crate I put in where the bed once was. Here are more threads on the subject:

https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=514925

https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=540383

take a look at the repaint photos on my photobucket. there's some decent shots of my set-up there. I've had this thing sitting and idling and it gets pretty warm but it hasn't popped any corks yet. At first it will get near 220 then back off to 190 pretty quick. I think that's because the upper hose is so far above the engine.