Gasser HotRod Forums banner

1952 Chevy Styleline Coupe build

9K views 8 replies 6 participants last post by  Dewey 
#1 ·
I traded for this 52, previous owner had already media blasted it. Pretty solid except for the floors and a few other places, nothing major. Lower rear quarter panel has had work done, looks old like somebody brazed a section on. Already has a 10 bolt rear end with disk brakes, looks like from a firebird

Anyways, got it home and began to remove the front suspension. I found a 2wd Jeep Cherokee front axle, also I took the steering box and shaft.

I removed the brackets and bought some trailer leaf springs from Etrailer.com..
Also all the other things Id need to mount it up. I got the lowest lb. springs from them, but they are really short, probably gonna ride like complete $hit.




So while Im contemplating sending them back in the mean time Im trying to figure how Im going to make this Jeep steering box work, and what steering column Im going to need.



Couple more pics



Also I am trying to figure what type of master cylinder I am going to use so I can start running brake lines as well. Any help or advice is appreciated, Im new to gassers.
I don't care if its a frame mount or firewall mount, but now I have a disk/disk setup I don't know what type to get.
 
See less See more
8
#2 ·
I am sure someone will chime in, but I think it was Vall who had a power brake set up off of a Subaru? I have that on my list of stuff to buy for mine as well. I love the looks of these 49-52 chevys lifted up like that!
 
#3 ·
Lots of choices since you're really starting out with a blank slate. As Dave mentioned, I used a Subaru Legacy master cylinder, booster, and pedal assembly on my Austin gasser. It was early 90's, but I think they used the same for many years. One issue with the assembly is it's a power brake setup, so if your cam choice doesn't have around 15" of vacuum at idle, it may not work. I had to eliminate the booster on mine, which required me making an adapter bracket to take the place of the booster, but it works great. It has 4 outlets, and is designed for 4 wheel disc brakes, so it fits many applications, and firewalls.
I believe the Jeep steering box steers off the front side, so if used as is, you'll need to mount it far enough forward for the end of the pitman arm to align with the tie rod ends. Might create an issue if that puts it too far forward, and sticks out past the sheet metal. If so, then you can reverse the pitman arm 180 degrees and mount the steering box behind the axle. It will require removing the keyway in the pitman arm, but they are easily removed by filing or grinding them off. I did this on my Falcon gasser to relocate a rear mounted Ranger box to the front side of my axle.
Those short springs may be a bit stiff, but you could remove a leaf to soften them up. Sine they only have 3 leafs, I'd remove the shortest, but probably not until I gave it a "jump test" on the front to see how much movement you have now. I've never put a set of springs under a straight axle that I didn't have to play with springs to get the ride where it was soft enough, but not so soft it rolled too much when cornering.
 
#4 ·
PS-Since you're building a Chevy, I'd probably go with a Chevy column. The columns from 80's GM cars and trucks are plentiful, and cheap. They also give you the advantage of using a standard after market DD joint to adapt to the Jeep steering box, plus allow you to use a wiring kit for a GM column that has plugs to fit that column's connector. having a plug in column connector that's GM friendly will really make wiring much easier! I saved many hours of wiring and head scratching by putting a Chevy Camaro column in my Falcon, and using a Speedway GM wiring kit.
 
#8 · (Edited)
"The columns from 80's GM cars and trucks are plentiful, and cheap."

Oh NO ! ! ! They're also chunky and awful looking in a vintage ride. EVERYONE has them in their cruise night ride around here along with the black padded four spoke steering wheel and cheeziod Chevy center emblem.

NOTHING looks worse than something from the 80's sitting in a 50's era car, especially a Gasser ! Round up a '67 or earlier VW Beetle column and shaft, simple four/six wire directional hook up that will wire into any loom.

You'll find something used, but in decent condition on The Samba (http://www.thesamba.com) Columns, shafts, mounting brackets, directional switches, rubber isolators, everything that you'll need to set things up. Even the old VW steering wheels look sweet in those Chevys.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/tero.virta/R7s5l0cHzAI/AAAAAAAACHE/-87gFMcjV7o/s800/IMG_5486b.jpg
http://www.examiner.com/images/blog/EXID26619/images/steering-wheel.jpg
http://image.vwtrendsweb.com/f/feat...en_Beetle+Steering_Wheel_Driver_Side_View.jpg

This is a close up of the steering wheel that I made for my Austin A35. Started with one out of a Hillman and added the horn push from an Austin Healey.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/nw3_zps70b7222e.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/nw1_zps1178ff09.jpg

I'm using a VW directional switch and mounting brackets, with a Sprite column and shaft and BMW lower sections to match up with the Austin box.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top