1957 Chevrolet 3100 pickup - with the Napco 4x4 conversion
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Mods
3.34 R&P's front and rear, new-ish cab and doors from a doaner truck, new rear axle shafts and bearings, new paint, new - replacement radiator, new - replacement heater core, new - replacement steering wheel and horn button, new - replacement flywheel, clutch and throwout bearing, new - starter, new - Painless wire harness. New shortened frame.
Build story
The truck was purchased as a roller, but rusted out. Most everything but the running gear has been replaced. Jeff Bradshaw (Elderlyiron on youtube) and I have been working on this project since 2014. In the videos - I'm they guy with the blue shirt. The front axle is a Napco but with 3.34 R&P, the rear axle is the stock chevy but also with a 3.34 and the stock Eaton Posi. The transfer case is a stock Napco, as are the drivelines - though the U-joints have been replaced. The front and rear springs packs were replaced with stock specification springs, new shackles were also installed. The frame is actually a GMC long box frame that was shortened. The Engine is from a 1964 impala - 283 cid, but with a Edelbrock performer intake manifold, and a Q-jet carb for now (to be upgraded to EFI along with an electronic distributor). The truck won't be numbers matching - but it'll be darn close to stock in appearance and will be fully street legal and driveable. My intention is to finish this project later this summer and give the truck to my older brother, as he's done a lot to help me over the years and I thought he'd like a vintage truck to drive around town in his old age. :)
Comments
are there 4 wheel drive front axles to be found for a 57 3200?
J
Jeffrey
June 28, 2024
The original axles were made by Napco - which has been out of business since 1964. A common conversion is to use a 1987 or older Chevy straight axle. Another common conversion is to find a Pickup (or Blazer) with good condition running gear and put that under the 57.
J
John
June 28, 2024
thank you John! I really want to keep the 57 chassis. will the spring perch line up on a 87? This is getting a 6.6 duramax installed from a 2003 2500 4 wheel drive. you think its possible to use that transmission and transfer case?
J
Jeffrey
June 28, 2024
In reality, in just trying to achieve 4 wheel drive height on the front. Do you think the 3200 front straight axle will take the weight of a 900lb engine? If so i would just add custom springs for a lift a.s adjust steering accordingly?
J
Jeffrey
June 28, 2024
I'm not certain on spring perches lining up, you might have to enlist a tape measure.
I'd be worried about the torque of the engine twisting the frame.
My 57 has a gas 283 that only makes about 150hp and about 250 ft/lbs of torque and that's about all the stock frame can handle.
The stock SM420 4 speed transmission is a beast - it can be found in big trucks like dump trucks - so it'll handle whatever you throw at it. The transfer case was designed for pickups, and as long as you're not racing, it should handle a duramax.
J
John
June 28, 2024