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Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!
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| | | Joined: Feb 2015 Posts: 285 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Feb 2015 Posts: 285 | I know swapping over to a s10 frame is common. There are a lot of Silverado/Sierras around here and it got me wondering: Is there a reason these frames aren't being used more often?
| | | | | Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 Extreme Gabster | | Extreme Gabster Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 | Because they are so wide an old truck looks goofy sitting on one. | | | | | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,596 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,596 | The track width is too wide, your truck can end up looking like a 4x4
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 888 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 888 | A Stovebolter, Sublime, did a 46 on a full size frame when I first joined the Bolt. He added a 4' strip to the fenders to widen the stance. It had a flatbed on the back. I can remember being awestruck at his fabrication ability. I looked him up here and the last post was in 2007. He had an excellent photo album but I couldn't get to. Probably like Webshots.....where I lost all my early pictures. Anyway pretty much anything you would like to do can be done but the beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Dan | | | | | Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 99 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 99 | Hint: Measure both Frames, the wheel base and your wheel width, that can show you what you’re up against.
The newer engine placement isn’t going to mate right up with (you didn’t say)an older AD truck front end, engine compartment and radiator support.
Cross members, steering column, box and pedals will need a lot of head scratching too.
No one here will tell you it can’t be done, if you know how to Fab, weld and design what’s needed.
Define what you want out of your old truck; that can help point the direction your project will go.
Our 6.0Ltr engine, 14 bolt rear, going with a 4x4 dana60 front, pointed our project direction to re-frame.
Good Luck with your project, have fun and enjoy the challenge.
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2015 Posts: 285 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Feb 2015 Posts: 285 | I don't know nearly enough to pull it off. I was just wondering why it isn't done more often. The amount of fabrication you all described clearly answers the question. Thanks  | | | | | Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,859 Grumpy old guy playing with trucks, cars, and boats | | Grumpy old guy playing with trucks, cars, and boats Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,859 | if your swapping an AD, you may get away with a big-bolt cab and front clip and a custom width bed (or at least wider rear fenders) you will still need to run severly negative offset wheels to keep them tucked in. Today's full size trucks are about 9" wider.
Track width of the AD is 58.1" Track width of the S-10 is 54" (The S-10 was based off the Isuzu P'up), track width of first gen Dakota is 60.7", Track width of a mid 80's C1500 is 65.8, track width of a C3 corvette is 59.6"
The problems we face today can not be addressed at the same level of intelligence we were at when we created them - Albert Einstein Or with the same level of $ - Me
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