1950 Chevy Suburban - g-Machine Frame

1950 Chevy Suburban Buildup Chris Alstons Chassisworks

When committing to building a ground-up, early-model custom truck, it is definitely a major undertaking. My youngest son Casey drove a '50 Suburban during his high school days, and after graduation, he downsized to a smaller ride during his college years. I had been storing the stock 'Burban in the family garage. Recently, I decided it was time to transform the daily surf-wagon into a serious custom boulevard cruiser. It was wise to consider a new frame and suspension into the build's equation, and while we were looking for high quality frame and suspension components, we looked no further than Chris Alston's Chassisworks and KP Components in Sacramento, California.

Chris Alston's Chassisworks has been manufacturing early-model truck frames for many years. However, they had never bent framerails for a '48-'54 Chevy or GMC Suburban. The CAD-designed 4x2x.120-inch g-Machine framerails with front tapered horns were CNC mandrel-bent. The framerails were separated by a 4x2x.120-inch large radius front crossmember and a mid-frame crossmember featuring a 9x5-inch driveshaft loop flanked by two 4-inch ID exhaust ports.

The front Street Machine independent front suspension (IFS) consists of 20-inch polished stainless steel TIG-welded .156-inch-wall tubular upper and lower A-arms. A pair of black sculptured dropped spindles were linked to the 211/2-inch power steering rack with OEM tie-rod ends. The 3/4-inch diameter front antiroll bar with custom endlinks will eliminate some of the front body roll. The polished billet aluminum four-bar canted links suspended the Fab9 rearend housing. A rear ball-end 7/8-inch diameter torsion lever-style antiroll bar will minimize any rear body roll and help the old 'Burban handle like a modern sport truck.

Watch us as we bolt on the Chassisworks suspension components to the g-Machine frame. We moved forward 60 years in one install. This transformation took place at Ironworks Speed & Kustom in Bakersfield, California.

The Chris Alston Chassisworks g-Machine frame was designed specifically for the '48-'54 Chevy/GMC Suburban. The 4x2x.120-inch-wall boxed tube mandrel-bent frame features tapered front framehorns and a front mandrel-bent 4x2-inch large radius crossmember. A mid-frame 4x2x.120-wall crossmember features a 9-inch-tall and 5-inch-wide driveshaft loop, which is flanked by a pair of 4-inch ID exhaust ports. The kit comes with IFS (independent front suspension) and a canted billet four-bar rear suspension system.
The Chris Alston Chassisworks g-Machine frame was designed specifically for the '48-'54 Ch
After applying antiseize thread lubricant to the ball joint, it was screwed into the ball joint housing using the special ball joint wrench included in the kit. Antiseize was applied to the upper A-arm rod ends and then threaded into the upper A-arms. To provide an initial alignment baseline, the jam nuts were threaded until there was 11/16 inches of thread remaining past the jam nut. Each of the rod ends was threaded into the upper and lower A-arms. The upper tubular A-arm was connected to the front tubular A-arm mounting brackets through the poly-bushings using Chris Alston Chassisworks machined Allen pivot studs.
After applying antiseize thread lubricant to the ball joint, it was screwed into the ball
Shock simulators that were included in the kit were bolted to the frame's upper shock mount and then to the lower A-arm mounting bracket. The shock simulators were installed to simulate the vehicle's front ride height.
Shock simulators that were included in the kit were bolted to the frame's upper shock moun

Eric, from Ironworks Speed and Kustom, in Bakersfield, installed the two-piece front 2-inch drop spindle assembly made from cast ductile iron with a heat-treated steel alloy pressed-in spindle shaft.
Eric, from Ironworks Speed and Kustom, in Bakersfield, installed the two-piece front 2-inc
The ball joint 90-degree Zerk grease fittings were threaded into the sealed grease housings. The 9/16-inch castle nuts were threaded onto each of the ball joints then secured using cotter pins.
The ball joint 90-degree Zerk grease fittings were threaded into the sealed grease housing
Eric then slid the polyurethane antisway bar bushings onto the front 3/4-inch diameter black powdercoated antiroll bar.
Eric then slid the polyurethane antisway bar bushings onto the front 3/4-inch diameter bla

A 3/8-inch ratchet and 16x2 1/2-inch Allen socket was used to tighten the antiroll bar polished billet aluminum, bushing clamp.
A 3/8-inch ratchet and 16x2 1/2-inch Allen socket was used to tighten the antiroll bar pol
The polished billet aluminum antiroll bar endlink with rubber bushing was installed to the antiroll bar with a button head Allen bolt using a 16x3/4-inch Allen wrench. The endlink was then secured to the lower tubular A-arm.
The polished billet aluminum antiroll bar endlink with rubber bushing was installed to the
Eric examined the Chris Alston's Chassisworks Mustang II rack-and-pinion power steering rack.
Eric examined the Chris Alston's Chassisworks Mustang II rack-and-pinion power steering ra

The Chris Alston's Chassisworks front suspension and steering was complete.
Moving to the rear suspension, we noticed an insane Chris Alston's Chassisworks Fab9 4130 chromoly rearend housing.
Moving to the rear suspension, we noticed an insane Chris Alston's Chassisworks Fab9 4130
The Fab9 rearend housing was suspended by a billet aluminum canted four-bar system. The trick billet aluminum lower link arm was bolted to the framerail mounting bracket and adjustable lower rearend housing mounting bracket.
The Fab9 rearend housing was suspended by a billet aluminum canted four-bar system. The tr

After applying antiseize to the threads of the massive heim with Chassisworks TrueCenter pivot-socket, it was then threaded into the polished billet aluminum Chassisworks four-bar link (also with a Chassisworks TureCenter pivot-socket) that will provide extremely precise control of the rearend-housing movement, resulting in stable and predictable vehicle handling.
After applying antiseize to the threads of the massive heim with Chassisworks TrueCenter p
The Chassisworks upper polished billet aluminum four-bar link was installed into the upper crossmember mount and Chassisworks Fab9 rearend housing mount bracket and secured with Grade 8 bolts, nuts, and washers.
The Chassisworks upper polished billet aluminum four-bar link was installed into the upper
Measurements were taken between the framerails to determine the length of the Chassisworks 7/8-inch diameter 4130 chromoly antiroll bar tube.
Measurements were taken between the framerails to determine the length of the Chassisworks

After the Chassisworks antiroll bar splined adapters were rosette welded onto each of the antiroll bar ends, they were inserted into the splined polished billet aluminum antiroll bar arms and then secured by threading a 3/8-inch Allen head pinch-bolt into the antiroll bar arm.
After the Chassisworks antiroll bar splined adapters were rosette welded onto each of the
The antiroll bar and arm assembly were secured into the framerail sockets using a 1/2-inch bolt.
The antiroll bar and arm assembly were secured into the framerail sockets using a 1/2-inch
After threading the heims into each of the antiroll bar arm adjustable endlinks, they were secured to the Fab9 housing mount bracket.
After threading the heims into each of the antiroll bar arm adjustable endlinks, they were

The Chassisworks Fab9 rearend housing, four-bar, and antiroll bar were installed completing the four-link rear suspension. Badass!
The Chassisworks Fab9 rearend housing, four-bar, and antiroll bar were installed completin

FROM THE DRIVER SEAT
To start the project we laid out all of the parts for roll call, then began to follow the well-explained, step-by-step assembly manual, which allowed us to complete the assembly in just four hours. Now our project Suburban has a world-class foundation with limitless potential.

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Time Spent Working: 4 hours
Degree of Difficulty: Intermediate

Tools Needed:
Allen wrenches, ratchet and assorted sockets.

Parts Used:
4x2-inch g-Machine full frame $3,319.00
Street Machine A-arm front suspension, power rack, sway bar, 13-inch rotors/hubs $5,086.00
Fab9 M/S billet canted four-bar hardware and accessories $1,414.00
Billet four-bar canted links $889.00
Rear ball end antiroll bar $459.00
Transmission X-member 15/8x2-inch drop $105.00
Engine mounts $49.00

Total: $11,210.00
(prices from chassisworks.com)

SOURCE
Chris Alston's Chassisworks 8661 Younger Creek Drive Sacramento CA 95828 916-388-0288 www.cachassisworks.com	Ironworks Speed & Kustom 2762 Unicorn Road Bakersfield CA 93308 661-399-8999 www.ironworksspeedandkustom.com