The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop Suspension for a 1950 GMC 100

Just got a 1950 GMC 100 which has been seriously buggered.
Bed is gone, cab is fair. Has a built up 350 with a 350 turbo tranny. Haven't even looked at the rear end, springs were heated to drop the rear.
What frames/suspensions would be suitable for a swap-over of the cab? Have been told an extended S-10 will work. What about any other GM frames, I want to keep the cab, engine and tranny.
Thanks in advance....

How 'bout another '47-54 frame?

It would bolt right on.

If the frame isn't cut up ,bent up or rusted into see if you can work with it.Maybe a mustang II frontend kit ,a new rear spring kit etc...
I have seen a few S-10 frame swaps,looks like more trouble than it is worth.

well...I am currently in the middle of an S-10 swap in a '51. We are using the frame from a '97 donor. It was a standard cab long box, the wheel base matched the 1/2 ton within 1/2 ". I have not fabricated body mounts yet (too cold) but here are the problems i can see so far. The up-sweep in the rear of the fram WILL cause interference with how the box will mount. I am certain the bed will need to be raised I should be able to keep it within an inch or two and do not see that affecting the appearance at all. The biggest problem I can see so far is the positioning of the engine. When placing the cab and fender on the original centerline of the wheel opening we discovered that the engine sat WAY too far forward. The water pump was well into where the 51's radiator needed to be. We plan to solve this problem bu mooving the cab forward to the proper place for the radiator fan (engine mounted) and modify the wheel openings rearward the same distance we move the cab forward. Hope this helps. BTW I have a 51 1/2T frame for sale

Just wanted to acknowledge the responses to the original post. Thanks for the info on swaps. More to think about.......

I'll let you guys know what I do.

rodS, my sister's fiance has a '39 Dodge car mounted on an S truck chassis. They overcame the engine placement problem by simply building new mounts farther back along the framerails, then moving the trans crossmember back to suit. That would likely be a less time-consuming way to solve your dilemma than hacking up the front fenderwells.

BTW, if anyone's interested in taking a look at this type of swap (and all the WORK involved) go to paneltrucks.com and search around a bit. There's a fellow with website links there who's done it on an AD suburban. With all the fabricating he's done and money spent, it sure looks alot easier to just buy an MII crossmember kit and have it welded onto your good stock chassis. Just my $.02.

Regards,
Wannabe

wannabe.....dang...and just when I thought I had it figgerd out :-) Guess I'll have to take another look from THAT perspective.....thanx for the input. It's been cold and wet here so haven't looked at it in months.