Long story short...
How could you modify the front suspension on a 73' Chevy 1/2 ton truck in order to shift the wheelbase 6" forward? The only limitation is that I hope to keep the same lug pattern for both axles.

I'm not a Hotrod guy because I'm lazy and just fix what's there, since engineers already handled such pesky details long ago. I also can't keep my foot out of a big block either so it helps my insurance rates to drive a 4 or 6 cylinder. That's why I have come here to take advantage of your collective knowledge!


(insert obscure Paul Harvey quote here)

Dad built this truck 12 years ago but got the wheelbase off by about 6" On PURPOSE because it was too much work to move the engine/transmission mounts! I gave him the '38 Chevy in the first place and the '73 has been his since 1979. He gave it back in '06 after he moved on.... to body swapping Ford trucks.

It has a 454 auto and ran like a scalded dog even way back when it was wearing the heavy'73 bodywork. Now the shortened '73 chassis is hauling around bodywork that weighs less than a beetle. I finally got a Walker radiator for it to replace the stock '73 that dad stood on end after laboriously relocating the ports . While I had the front clip removed, I replaced his no-idlin' cam with stock, as well as new lifters since it was all showing some wear. I rebuilt the quadrajet and now it purrs like a walrus. However I had the timing a bit advanced at first and after a good backfire the starter got loud like I ganked the ring gear.

I'm raising it up to stock height and going with mud tires and wagon wheel rims off of a '76 I have for parts. The Honcho look is only to distract myself from the gas axe job on the front fenders to make the wheels fit. When I was a kid everybody jacked up those Chevies, and put big tires on them, so for now that's a nod to '70s style. Plus it's a good way to annoy pops for also butchering my original 1960 VW rear fenders to fill the truck's overbite. It's my fault for teasing him about it I guess. He actually likes the mini 8" steering wheel I put in it. I feel like T-Rex steering it.
Eventually I would like to modify the front suspension in order to get the wheelbase right. Ideally it would look better lowered like a street rod. I have looked over the suspension and there's really no room to slide it forward 6". I was thinking of maybe fitting it with an I-beam and leaf spring front suspension. I don't have a measurement yet but it looks like the track could probably be a little narrower too.

Anyway thanks for any constructive suggestions.




Sometimes you got to leave 'em like you found 'em.