[Distinct04ZQ8]

Hey guys, as some of you know my truck has been cut up for a while now and in the hands of Cory Hussey (HHR Customs). I connected with Cory last summer at Northern Showdown up here north of the border and we started making a game plan to get my 04 CC bagged and bodied on 24's.

I'm sure most of you have seen Cory's truck around and admired it as much as me. Really didn't take me long to decide that he was the right man for the job. I made it clear that I was in no rush to get it done and made the trip out to his shop to drop the truck off in Oct. 2015. 1 year later, he has accomplished a lot working on my truck by himself between a full time job and being a family man! Of course, we have run into quite a few challenges (and no doubt still a few more to come) but this is part of the journey.

I do have a build thread over on the Canada site but clearly this is the place to be for everything / anything 355. I will start moving this thread along and get you guys up to speed on where we are at currently. As always, we welcome your input and thoughts on the build as we make a hard push over the next few months to get it show ready for 2017.

Rendering by Country Graphix. Check him out: http://countrygraphix.ca/
Rendering by Will Gib, on Flickr

 

[RednecKevin]

pics pics pics pics pics

 

[05RadoXtreme]

I know you've been talking about this for some time. Can't wait to see the pics and the progress.

 

[t-bone]

^^yeah that

 

[Distinct04ZQ8]

Initial tear-down:

355 at motive by Will Gib, on Flickr
355 at motive2 by Will Gib, on Flickr
frame out 355 by Will Gib, on Flickr

 

[Distinct04ZQ8]

First round of parts

MMW Jeebus Joint control arms, 2.5" drop spindles, triangulated link kit, steering kit, bag brackets and shock mounts.
mmw parts 355 by Will Gib, on Flickr

AirLift 3P, dual Viair 480c, Slam Specialties SS6 and SS7 bags
AirLift 3P, ViAir dual 480s, SS bags by Will Gib, on Flickr

 

[Distinct04ZQ8]

Stock frame on table about to be chopped

frame table2 by Will Gib, on Flickr

 

[RednecKevin]

love it! happy to be following this build

 

[Tweek]

Hell yeah !!!
Love seeing a 355 getting proper attention !!! LOL

 

[t-bone]

That's what I'm talking about looking amazing so far

 

[Distinct04ZQ8]

Thanks guys.

Mocking up the front end. Cory posted a thread on here at this point asking for input on the front end as we were concerned about the way the MMW parts were lining up. This would prove to be the first obstacle. Pretty disappointing considering the $ put into those MMW parts. Here's a link to that thread which will provide some further info: http://www.355nation.net/forum/bagging/161002-mmw-front-suspension-kit.html

MMW mock up by Will Gib, on Flickr
MMW mock2 by Will Gib, on Flickr

 

[Distinct04ZQ8]

Starting to assemble the new frame

355 frame2 by Will Gib, on Flickr
355 frame1 by Will Gib, on Flickr

 

[ahelm3]

Looks great so far!

Are you going to have to section the Xtreme bumper? I would think that it would sit lower than the rockers if the truck is bodied.

 

[Distinct04ZQ8]

Looks great so far!

Are you going to have to section the Xtreme bumper? I would think that it would sit lower than the rockers if the truck is bodied.

Thanks. Height wise its going to be close, will have to wait and see exactly how it sits. I have a spare Xtreme cover for mock up. As for width, the bumper will have to be narrowed by about an inch to line up with the fenders if I decide to go without the flares. Also have the stock ZQ8 front end as well. We will be testing a few different set-ups.

 

[Distinct04ZQ8]

Here's a look at the wheels. US Mags - Gambler U470: 24x9 fronts with 6.5" backspace and 24x10 rears with 4" backspace.

Fronts
gambler2 by Will Gib, on Flickr
gambler4 by Will Gib, on Flickr

Rears
gambler3 by Will Gib, on Flickr
gambler1 by Will Gib, on Flickr

 

[RednecKevin]

i want that same style rim on a 68-72 C10 SWB whenever i get to that project

 

[Distinct04ZQ8]

We ordered a set of custom upper control arm mounts from Epic Customs in Calgary. Hoping that by raising the UCA by 2 inches that would correct the geometry issues we're facing with the MMW parts. Also, as you can see, bag mounts were cut off the lowers and will be moved further outwards to give the bags more room.

epic UCA mounts by Will Gib, on Flickr

 

[coryhussey]

We found out that by raising the UCA's that high caused binding issues with the MMW parts when going through the suspensions cycle. I had to cut down the EPIC mounts 2". Currently I am still having issues with the suspension geometry with this front setup. Tires camber positively when lowering causing the tires to hit the fender really bad, even with the front clip narrowed 2" already. May have to start over with this front suspension and build a custom setup unfortunately. More to come.

 

[Distinct04ZQ8]

pass side mock by Will Gib, on Flickr

 

[Distinct04ZQ8]

colorado mounts rear by Will Gib, on Flickr

colorado rear mounts tack by Will Gib, on Flickr

colorado rear layout by Will Gib, on Flickr