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BUSY BOLTERS Are you one?  The Shop Area
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Jul 21st, 2025 | | | | Joined: Mar 2014 Posts: 3 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2014 Posts: 3 | I HAVE A 1953 3600 5 WINDOW AND I AM LOOKING AT A 1994 CAMARO AS A DONOR HAS ANYONE USED THE FRONT END FROM A CAMARO BEFORE AND WHAT AM I UP AGAINST THANKS IN ADVANCE ADAM | | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 345 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 345 | I elected to do a frame swap rather than swapping out the front end. If you do the front end clip, you will probably want to change our your rear axle to a 5 lug so that your wheels will match. You will probably also want to lower and make less stiff your rear suspension to match what you are putting on the front.
Beyond that you will probably need to realign/reconfigure your steering shaft to fit the new steering box, and you may need to rework your brakes. There are some pretty thorough threads on this site and others regarding front end swaps. | | | | | Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 150 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 150 | Don't know how much of my experience will apply but I used a 74 Camaro. Bought a complete car from a junk yard so used all of the running gear and suspension.
The 49 frame was narrower than the clip so needed to heat it and bend it out. The Camaro clip was wider so it needed to be narrowed. No Limit Eng has a dvd on this.
I installed polyurethane bushings throughout the front end. I have had 2 different shop owners test drive my truck after doing work on it. They both told me it was one of the nicest driving trucks they had ever seen.
Hope that helps. | | | | | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,596 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,596 | Typically the narrower the clip the better.
Camaro's had different track widths, the 93-02 is 60.7, 76-80 is 61.3 and 70-73 is 58.9. I don't know about other years this is just the info I found. I think the 94 would be too wide, but that's just my thoughts. Usually something narrower like a Nova is better. | | | | | Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,544 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,544 | The problem is track width as mentioned. A '68-'74 Nova works and shorter control arms are available. Otherwise tire to fender clearance can be an issue. | | | | | Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 | You would be better off finding a different donor vehicle, such as the 2nd gen X body/Nova mentioned. Due to how the front end is made on the 4th gen F body cars, it really does not translate very well for use under any other type of vehicle. Much of the suspension is dependent on the body structure for the mounting points, primarily the upper control arms and the upper strut mounts. You would be looking at substantial fabrication to make it work. Same goes for the '82-'92 F body.
Bill Burmeister
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