The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop Swapping a '70 Monte Carlo frame on a '51 Chevy PU

Has anyone ever swapped a '70 Monte Carlo frame on their pick up truck? I have a '51 and I want to update it with a '70 GM Monte Carlo chassis. Please give me some advice, thanks!

Crawl under that Monte and look at the frame. I'd bet its a perimeter type frame and that the outer edges of the frame between the front and rear wheels will run right under the running boards on your '51.

Also, check the wheelbase on the Monte, the later ones are 108 inches, while the pickup is 116. I don't know how long the '70 is but I doubt its exactly right.

As it happens I'm watching OverHaul'n on TV right now and they are doing Lance Armstrong's '70 GTO. I saw the frame, which is probably the same frame as your Monte Carlo, and the one under the Goat is a perimeter type.

Now, if I haven't discouraged you too much, check this link Little Red Truck Frame Plan to see how crazy I am... I have a '78 Monte frame outside!

AeroMan, try to use as many of the original mounting brackets as you can, even if you have to refab them. It will save you alot of steps. We used almost all of my 51's mounts and brackets when we grafted the cab and bed onto the Jeep frame. If you check out the pics on a past post of mine you will see the "superstructure" we welded up to accomodate the 51 mounts and achieve a mid fender to tire stance. The hardest part is figuring out how to even out the body ride, if both frames have different kickup heighths. We found 11" to be optimum for us, then we just built up to this height. Hope this helps.