Aftermarket suspension advice requested,53 Chevy pickup
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Aftermarket suspension advice requested,53 Chevy pickup
Posted: October 05 2007 02:11 AM
 
Lanny Netz (aka Alf) [ View ] [ lannynetz@gmail.com ] [ Car Ads ] [ Blogs ]
Grass Valley, California
(530) 272-5254
 Lanny Netz
 
We are starting a new project for a customer, it is a 1953 Chevy pickup. The customer wants independent suspension in front, of that he is sure. As for who's kit we use ,he is leaving up to us. We have never done this exact type of vehicle before, but we have done quite a few of these in others. So far we have used Fatman, Heidts, TCI, and another whose name escapes me right now . (Parr maybe?) So far Fatman has been the best to deal with, but they all have their pro's and cons. I would appreciate any input from someone who has done this particular type truck. The engine will be a 348 cu.in. So, it will be bit heavy in front.

Thanks for any input.
 
 
Comments
 
Posted by Rods & Customs by Leon  -  10/05/2007 03:01 AM
What Im wondering is, what makes a person take a project to a shop to have something done, When the shop has to ask that kind of question. Im sorry if I sound offensive but that question screams inexperience. and if your a shop thats being hired to do that type of work, Thats a question you should know the answer to before you ever talked to the customer, Not when your starting the project.


............by the way.... you can't go wrong with Fatmans or Hiedts!
Rods & Customs by Leon [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Highlands, Texas Charter Member since May 2004
 
Posted by ronhotrod  -  10/05/2007 03:45 AM
Well while Leon is right it can also be said that the way to gain experience is by doing. I have done several of these trucks and have two in the shop right now. I personally prefer the Nova clip for ride and handle but do not recommend any one try this if you haven't done one already. The Mustang 11 type is a good second choice provided you do your home work as the weight, steering options and differentail choices. We sell (and install) Jim Wiemer kits and love them. He taylors each kit to the vehicle. Each comes with 11" brakes, tubular 'A' arms and gas shocks. Although the coil overs are an option, I don't use them. The entire weight of the front suspension is riding on that one bolt holding the shock. You should get with the owner and write a complete plan as to what he will use the truck for when finished and what he expects from you. Don't "design as you go" because niether you or your customer will be happy in the end
ronhotrod [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Mount washington, Kentucky Charter Member since July 2001
 
Posted by Rods & Customs by Leon  -  10/05/2007 01:29 PM
Ron, in general I do agree with you, But something like that should be learned on your own car....Not a paying customer.

Do you think this customer knows that he's never done one of these,

How does this jepordize his safety.

Is this customer being treated fairly.

Just think, It don't stop with installing the crossmember, You also have the Brakes and steering,motor mounts......

To many critical componets to just have anyone practice with.


Besides, would you pay "hourly" to have your car done like this
Rods & Customs by Leon [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Highlands, Texas Charter Member since May 2004
 
Posted by Alf  -  10/05/2007 02:27 PM
Hey Leon, I guess I did not explain myself properly, let me try again. We have not done a 1953 Chevy half ton pickup until now. We have just finished a 1957 Chevy pickup and it turned out great , as have the Studebakers, Packards, Pontiacs, Model A, '34's etc. Ihave been building cars all my life and for other people for 25 years. If my question "screams inexperience" to you, then maybe you need to ask more questions yourself.. I have had some suspension kits that fit very well and some that expect you to basicly engineer them yourself with the parts they provide. My recent experience with a jeepster is an example. The compamy claimed to have done them before, but we had to send him CAD drawings to redesign the upper A arms. In the end it worked out fine, but I want to avoid situations like that. When I said we are "starting the project", that means researching the best options, including asking my fellow rodders what has worked for them. Isn't that part of what this forum is about?
Lanny Netz [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Grass Valley, California
 
Posted by 56chevytruck  -  10/05/2007 04:03 PM
I have a friend who put a s10 chasis and components under a 53 i beleive. It came out nice.. as far as just the front he uses heidts.
Say What... [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Midlothian, Texas
 
Posted by Alf  -  10/05/2007 09:53 PM
Gosh, I would hate for this to turn into a pissing match with someone I don't even know. The comment "Do you think the customer knows he has never done one of these?" implies that I am somehow scamming my way into a job I am not qualified to do. Why would you assume that? As it happens, the customer in this case is an old rodder himself who just got tired of doing the grunt work himself. I am not sure how you handle your clients, but with mine we start with a friendly set down to discuss what it is they want to end up with. In this case the client has some definate ideas of some things, leaving it up to me on certain others. Did I tell him I had never done a '53 Chevy pickup before? Absolutely! I have also never installed a 348 type engine. Do I need to go build one for myself before I can build one for him? I hope not. You ask"why would someone take thier car to a shop like that ask's a question like this?" Maybe because they correctly assume that I know more than they do, and what I don't know I have since to ask. I have not yet come to the point in my life where I know it all. Thats why I ask questions of people that do.....

That being said, (whew!) , thank you Ron for the usefull input. The point you made about coil overs is a good one. I have seen a crack in that point on a '34 Ford coupe that came into my shop for some fender work. It was good we caught it when we did. I have also used camero clips on some projects and have been happy with the results. I am not familiar with Jim Wiemer kits. Could you give me a contact for him, I would love to check it out.

Thanks again, Lanny Netz of LANmark Auto
Lanny Netz [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Grass Valley, California
 
Posted by Rods & Customs by Leon  -  10/06/2007 12:26 AM
Lanny, If you have the experiance that you say you do, Im sure you can understand my point. If there is a misunderstanding, Im sure you can see why after rereading your first post.

If youv'e been in this buisness for as long as you say have, then you've seen the flood of these fly by night shops that are opening up and ripping people off and trashing out good cars. Im not here for as pissing contest either, But if I see a "Red Flag" come up that throws a question in my mind....I will let it be known.

If you have the knowledge, experiance as well as the facilities to accomidatee this type of buisness, a comment like mine will only give you the platform to show it. If you don't then thats what people will see.

Don't take it personal, thats just part of trying to watch out for clowns that should stick to thier day job


If Im wrong in anyway, "No Problem" I can deal with it......As far as me askin more questions, there was no need, I think the first post explains everything, If you think I mis-understood it, re-read it. I don't think I did,


Anyway, I hope the project turns out good for ya, its always good to see another nice rod hit the streets.
Rods & Customs by Leon [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Highlands, Texas Charter Member since May 2004
 
Posted by Alf  -  10/06/2007 01:52 AM
O.K. Leon, lets just say my post was not as clear as it should have been and you made some assumptions that ,as it happens, were wrong in my case. I bet you have some great stories about shoddy shops that are a danger and a detriment to our craft. There used to be one of those shops in this area, but eventually his poor reputation took care of the problem. He went back to building homes....Hmmmm

I have turned away jobs that I did not feel were a good fit for our shop. I try to end up with not only a nice hotrod, but hopefully a new friend at the end of each build. Since I depend on word of mouth and refferals I put a lot of pride into each project. If I ever feel I have to lie or misrepresent myself to get a job I will hang up my torch and take up golf or go fishing. So far this approach has kept my shop busy. I looked a little closer at your web info, some very nice cars and trucks. Your shop looks clean, I like clean shops. I bet if we knew each other we would find we are a lot alike. Regards and thanks for the last post. Lanny
Lanny Netz [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Grass Valley, California
 
Posted by Rods & Customs by Leon  -  10/06/2007 02:49 AM
Lanny, Its good to see alls can end well, Thanks, Im glad you like my stuff. I do need to update my site though, I got a couple more to add but I just havn't had time. I get out on some good road trips pretty often and I get to meet up with some fantastic people from the site, I will make it a point to look you up next time Im up there and hopefully I can get the chance to stop in and visit. N. CA is lke my "second home", I lived in Santa Rosa, I've spent quite a few years between here and there.
Rods & Customs by Leon [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Highlands, Texas Charter Member since May 2004
 
Posted by Superior Glass Works  -  10/07/2007 07:00 PM
We build new construction 47-54 Chevy truck chassis and use the Heidts kit every time with good luck. We have also retrofitted the same kit into a couple stock frames. Only issue is the need to notch the crossmember a little for the power rack, which I recommend on this truck. With fully boxed rails, all new components, and some trial and error on the springs, I wouldn't hesitate putting in the 348.
Superior Glass Works [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Mulino, Oregon
 
Posted by Alf  -  10/08/2007 04:11 AM
Thanks "Glass Works" for the suggestion. We used a Heidts in the ' 57 Chevy 1/2 ton we did a few months ago. We had some problems with missing hardware and brake brackets that were improperly drilled. The dealer pulled the hardware from another kit that he had and Heidts replaced the brackets. So it all worked out in the end and the owner was happy with the ride and stance. I , personally, thought it was a little low in the front for my taste. But, the owners wife loved it. Between Fatman and Heidts we have covered most of the projects of this type. Fatman is really good when it comes to the non-mainstream cars that we seem to get a lot of. We did a 1930 Packard last year using Fatman and it worked well. I will probably go with Heigts again because my local dealer stands behind it. That counts a lot when things don't work as they should. Again, thanks for the input. Lanny
Lanny Netz [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Grass Valley, California
 
Posted by Superior Glass Works  -  10/09/2007 03:51 PM
If we have off the wall stuff, we generally go with Kugel Komponants. Jeff and the whole family are great to work with and they will generally work with you to measure it up and make you a custom cross member. The did this for a '29 Plymouth chassis we recently redid. Good luck.
Superior Glass Works [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Mulino, Oregon
 
Posted by jimmothershead  -  10/11/2007 04:06 PM
Lanny........for a flawless job, go TCI, Total Cost Involved in Ontario California. since 1974. Contact Yogi's on this site. You might get free UPS.

Kit comes with 2" dropped spindles that you will want. Power steering is best for upgrade. Yes, illustrated instructions are included along with a toll free tech line with a live tech.

Jim said it......410 535 1933
Jim [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Huntingtown, Maryland
 
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