The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop 1940 truck plan

Hi Bolter's.
I went and picked up a used frame from Saskatchewan and had my buddy blast it and trying to make a plan.
I want to go with a MII front and i still have the 1974 nova rear to use.
There is about 4 or so fronts for sale- theres heidts, tci, fat man, full tilt hot rods and helix are the main ones i have found.
They vary from 1400 to 2100 for the coil front system.
what ones have you used and why?
As for the rear, there is the leaf setups or the 4 link- parallel or angled.
what one did you use and why?
I'm looking for a nice cruiser with a 350 700r4 combo.
i want the truck to be lower but not dragging on the ground.
Thank for any input you might have.
Barry.

I used Heidts on my '39. It seemed to go in just fine. The only trouble I had was the crossmember was a little narrow for my frame. BUT that is probably going to happen with all or most of them due to inconsistencies in frames from the Chevy factory!

Things I wish I would have done differently:

Lighter spring rate - my fault due to ignorance about engine
weight.

2" dropped spindles - again because it was my first truck and I didn't know much about these things. Take some time to determine what you need for sure.

I'd bet most of the companies would be comparable in quality though.

Craig

I went with a TCI mostly because of the price I got it for on Ebay. I wish I had ordered coil overs instead of stock spring set up. Matter of fact I have ordered them and as soon as they get here I'll make the swap. I like the idea of being able to set the ride height. I used parallel springs it was quick and easy and added a sway bar front and rear. I have about 800 miles on her and she rides and handles fine she connects good with no wheel hop or anything. I'm also running the 350/700r4 3.73 rear. Like Craig I'd say they're pretty much comparable TCI tech service has been great.

gmans 46 that stance looks good.
did you use the 2" drop or the stock hight spindle?
I think the parallel springs might be the easiest.
Did you use a kit or stock replacements?
Thanks.
Barry

I went with the stock spindles up front. On the rear I removed the original set up. I've noticed that the front spring hanger is rather long and most who used it ended up adding some extreme lowering blocks to get where they want. I think the kit came from chassis engineering and the front hanger tucks up nice to the bottom of the frame. You'll have to look for a kit for the AD models I don't believe there's one listed for earlier years. You'll have some fab work but not too bad. In addition I used a 2 inch aluminum block on the rear for an S10 which has offset spring/pad holes for keeping the wheel center when bringing it down. For a quick reply that turned out pretty long! LOL

The only other thing i need to figure out is weather to use power or non power rack.
I'm thinking as our trucks don't weigh very much, we probably don't need it.
Thoughts?

I went manual on mine, less stuff to leak! LOL. Mine weighs in at 3192 with 1729 on the front.

OK Have an update.
Went with Chevy of the 40's as there close to me.
I purchased the heidts complete ifs with coil overs and the competition rear leaf spring kit.
It totaled 3059 with shipping to the Montana border.
Thats a decent price with all the stuff included.
I'm going there Tuesday to pick it up and save around 600 bux in shipping.
Don't you just love the border rapists LOL
I finished straightening up the frame making it square and level.
I decided to place some of the front tin on and see how it fit.
I have a question about the rad support, on my front end it seems the support is about 3 inches too short?
On your trucks, is there a spacer under the rad support or is it bolted right down on top?
i measured from the top of the bottom "u" channel to the larger side hole in the support and came up with about 18 1/2 inches.
Here are some pics:
http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2390131850101124272SunIPL?vhost=rides
http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2626289770101124272PoMOsL?vhost=rides
http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2571741950101124272vrohdq?vhost=rides
The previous owner hacked it up for the nova clip.
Any ideas?
Thanks
Barry.

Probird, I know this post is old but something doesn't look right. My 37 radiator support would sit directly on top of the cross frame but I have a 1/4" rubber spacer/cushion between the support and the cross frame. Check this out with 40 owner. I don't think it should sit as high (3")as you mentioned.
Just my 2 cents.
Al V.

I agree. something isnt right. once i get the frame done, ill look a little closer at it. i have the rad that came with it. ill put it all together and see.
Thanks.

Mine being the 46 also has a rubber pad and does not sit that high and mounts directly to the top of radiator support.

Yea gmans. i looked at your mockup pic 2 and it looks like my rad support is too short.

I would hate to say, not sure how close the 40 is to the 46 but I wouldn't think it would be that high.

That support should fit down inside the frame rails. The support base is too wide according to the pictures. On the 40 it uses a rubber pad under the support between the frame and support frame but it only a 1.4 in thick or less.

that should have shown up as a quarter inch not the 1.4 that ended up there.

If i take the support off of the tin. it will sit on the 2 bolt holes like it should. I'm not going to worry about it for now.
My goal was to get it to a rolling chassis by this summer. I could always cut it and add some metal to it and make it fit.
Thanks for the replies.