The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop 56 on a 84 s-15 chassis

Just wandering if anybody has done this? I posted a similar message in the forums, think it was in the lounge, anyhow I will try this again, has anyone have done this kind of a swap before. Looking for suggestions and advice, what to do and what not to do, I currently have a 56 chev sitting on a 84 s-15 chassis, the cab part is at least, will be making new cab mounts, and a lift about 8 inches by the look of it, so any suggestions will be helpful, Thanks.
ps. The original 3/4 ton chassis still waiting on, owner is gonna sell or not, never catch him at home, will convert to 1/2 ton if I get hands on orig chassis. So for now just do the swap and see what develops. Again, Thanks for the help in advance.

I am currently putting a '51 onto a '97 S-10

Sounds great, let me know how it comes out and the steps you did, any pics? Send some if you can. As to the 3/4 ton chassis I was waiting on and trying to get my hands on, well the truck disappeared and nowhere to be found, again never can reach the owner, must be a avid traveller or something. Neighbours don't know anything, oh well I am doin the conversion to the s-15 chassis, a lot of work ahead of me, just picked up a digi camera, to help keep notes on the process, no pic as of lately, snowed in the past week, truck is under a blue tarp, under snow, will be cleaning out the garage soon to start on the cab mounts, if I am boring ya guys, I will stop writing this stuff in here k'.

I'm doing an S10 frame swap for my wife's 1954 GMC shortbed. I've mocked up the front sheetmetal, cab and bed and it doesn't look to be too difficult. I've looked at some websites that have done this but they all seem to be trying to put the frame on the ground! My swap is going to be daily driver height.

You can check out some of my photos at this link: http://community.webshots.com/user/yellosub54
If the link doesn't open just copy and paste.

From my initial measurements and the beginning stages of construction I foresee NO modifications necessary to th stock body! Well, that is except for the radiator support and inner fenderwells. I won't be cutting any exterior sheetmetal. On the S10 frame I'll be cutting off the stock body/bed mounts and building new ones that will mount to the stock 54 locations. I hope to get the mounts done this winter, frozen fingers and all. I'll be away from my computer from 11/4/03 through 11/7/03.
I HATE WINTER!

Oh yeah, for anyone thinking about this swap keep this in mind...

Stock 47-54 GM shortbed wheelbase 116"
Stock S10 standard cab longbed wheelbase 117"
This means all four wheels will set right in the wells!

The S10 frame is ADJUSTABLE for length! Yes, that's what I said. There is a front frame section and a rear frame section that are slipped one inside the other. If you break the factory weld you can slide the rails in and out to achieve different lengths!!!! You just gotta love GM!

The rear track width doesn't matter much because you can use any rear axle of choice. The front is narrower than the 47-54 but with a set of billet spacers (not waaay offset wheels!!!) you can account for the difference. This difference isn't much but I have to work within my wife's Golden Rule...YOU WILL NOT CHANGE MY WHEELS!

just a quick question, is an extended vab s-10 the same length as a regular cab longbox?

No, the xcab sb is not the same length as the std cab longbed. I looked at ALL the wheelbases and found that only the std cab longbed is close enough to use as-is. You could do the weld breaking trick if you just can't find a std cab longbed but I'd wait. Our local junkyard sold me a complete rolling logbed frame with column, tank and master/booster assembly for $400.00.

Well FINALLY!! Thank you very much for sharing your progress, Mr. Yellow Sub. It's nice to finally have pictures of someone doing the S-Truck chassis/AD body graft that has more pictures and info than "roll the S-10 body off the frame, bolt down fiberglass repro." :rolleyes: There's actually another fellow doing (done?) this swap with an AD Chevy Suburban-he works for University of Saskatchewan. His truck looks to be much more complicated than what you swap looks to be. Best of luck with your project and please keep us posted...

Regards,
Wannabe

yellosub54, I've got a 37 1/2 ton pickup with a 112" wheelbase. Do you happen to know the wheel base on the S-10 regular bed, or the S-10 Blazer? Are either close to 112"?

I am also using a std cab long box. Only problem i have found was after mocking up the cab the engine sat too far forward in the engine bay. The waterpump was into the radiator. We solved this by moving the cab rearward about 3 inch. The centerline of the front wheel opening is now actually 3" rearward of where it should be. We found this to be a more pleasing appearance because if u note it appears that the stock wheels sit forward in the opening. We solved the problem of narrower rear axle by narrowing the box as necessary (about 5") This didnt change the look from the side at all, from the rear isnt bad, and you have to make new running board mounts anyway. The intereastin benifit it the look from the front. The stock truck seems to "fatten" out at the rear. Now we have a nice smooth straight line.

Mister K, I have a 3/4 ton frame down here I was looking at buying but I think I want to get this different parts vehicle instead, I will give you the number to get ahold of him if you are interested. Email me at [email protected] if you are interested.

Thanks for the rsponses guys, Yellosub54, Thanks for the pics and the advice, Antibling, I am gonna pass on the 3/4 ton frame. Thank you for answering. I just started the work on the 84 s-15 frame, cleaning things up, cleaning up the motor and tranny, walked away with 7 lbs of grease and dirt off the motor and tranny. I will be installing it this week, so I can find the placement of the cab, and still do some more work on the placement, put the fenders up and see if things line up in the wheelwells, the s-15 frame was a xtra cab truck with shortbox, I'll check on the frame extensions, I have the longbox that is goin on and might shorten it or just play it by ear kind of thing. And keep an eye out for a shortbox complete. Be measuring the wheel base to check on things. I'll be getting pics later this week.
Yellosub54 have a question for you, 1st can I email you and the 2nd is, when you put the cab on the frame, the 54, is it sitting down on the frame or did u retrofit the mounts for the cab, With a lift? Ya see with mine I know I have to lift it a good 8 inches and the box comes up some, may be an inch, and to my calculations, this truck is gonna sit pretty high off the frame and ground. With the size of tires, 14 inch, not pleasing to the eye in my mind. Hope the stance looks better as I go along. I want the frontend just down a bit.

assuming the 97 and 85 are close we used a 2" wide by 3.5" tall space for front mounts. cut them about 6" long. we drilled first for the front mounting holes-screwed to the cab @ front holes-and set on frame. Used original shackle mounts for rear. also u will want to move up to 15" rims.

Thanks, I will look into that, Thanks everyone for the responses and ideas, I haven't done much to the cab part, been playin around with the engine that came with the chasis, a v-6 4.1 ,I think, could be wrong, I took the plugs out and turned her over by hand and I hear a click in the motor, the timing chain is pretty sloppy, plugs are black Some oil. not really sooty. The thing is I never heard it run, does anyone have any info on these motors? they good or bad? I appreciate any feed back, I want to be sure before I put any time and money into this motor or just get another one, ya know. Tomorrow if time dictates, I wish to pull the tappet covers off and check the valves and lifters. The manual I have doesn't go with the yr I have. I need specs on torque for the bolts on the heads, timing covers, etc.? Sequence? Thanks in advance.

Mr. K-

These V-6 aren't bad, just not great. Notorious for valve guide wear, so do check out the upper part of the motor carefully. They freshen up nicely. Enjoy!

I know sombody that did V8 swap in s10 it took some super hacking to fit but all the parts on front of v6 worked on v8
it was a littel wild whith the v8 in the littel chassi but I imagine that a v8 would fit better in a AD body than in the s10 body

those 4.1 V6s dont get that good of milage wen tired mabe 14-16 at best
and its pretty easy to get that with 283-327

Your mini is insane. Based on that I'm surprised you are not repowering the truck with a 500 caddy motor. :p

Have you figured out how to put a bed floor in ? I think you might have problems with wheel spacers that wide . My brother has done this same swap on his 48 and swears he would never do it again . He did another 55 1st series chevy with a crossmember kit and camaro rear end in about 1 month using a 3/4 ton frame . The s-10 was a real night mare. He had to make ever part to fit, including a hand made bed . I am going to use the stock 3/4 ton frame after seeing the heart ache he has indured . The offset wheels really had a bad scrub raduis and already used up one set of wheel bearings . Hope yours goes better .

Pete thanks for the response, by the way your url/website is not operating. The thought to go to a v-8 did cross my mind, but here in Canada price of gas is pricey to say, prefer to go economical. Would like to find a 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton frame/ rolling chasis with the original 6 and 4 spd. Wait and see.
D8 thanks for the info, I did notice the width on the box over the frame and may clear a few inches, but the box would have to come down 5 inches to hit the wheels, and I am about to lift the box about 1 1/2 inches, for clearance over the gas tank the s-15 has. I was considering on putting a diff rearend to widen it some, means do some measuring, cutting and welding. Then the original 1/2 ton 3/4 ton frame idea comes to mind. Box in the frame and put a 9 inch diff in. Do it right and get it over with.
The motor work came to a stop, christmas is coming, other things need to be done, Sorry no pics of just yet, the truck sits under a tarp covered in snow out back. Waiting for the new yr. Then I will try to get it in the shop and do some touch up work to the body. Been sanding the fenders and doors, just about to prime the hood and so forth. Thinking of the spray can method, just might go canadian tire and buy a can of red primer and spray it properly. funds dictate where I go and do. I can relate with you guys on that one.

Mister K:
I've started doing a swap with a 91 S10 (Shortbed) and a 47 half ton that I had sitting.
Simply because I've heard so much about the swap and I've got all the stuff to do it. I have a 305/350 combo sitting that I plan on putting in the truck. Pics and Info Here
As far as the bed goes I'm considering building a flatbed for it just to get it on the road (plus I've always wanted one) then shortening up the bed later to put on it. The short box S10's have 108" wheelbase which is shorter than the 1/2 Ton 47. I believe the extended cab short bed one's have a 122" wheelbase a little longer than the old trucks.
Rebuild the 4.3 and run it would be my recommendation.
Good to see others working on the same project.
Mongo