The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop S10 frame swap questions-please help!!!!1

question
1- can you use an 82-93 S10 frame under a 47 1/2 ton? if so how much work has to be done to do so? :confused:
2- if so should you use a short,long, or a extended cabe frame
3-how much can you lower the suspension without major fabrications and alterations if you can use an S10.

no vote butI have an s-10 rear bumper not bolted to trk yet but I dont have to do any mod. just provide flat steel for bumper brackets

Allan, welcome to The Stovebolt Pages. I couldn't vote, pewter wouldn't let me in. On to your topic. If you had taken a quick peek at my post "frame swappin'" a little further down the Shop, you would have found this link:

http://www.commerce.usask.ca/staff/hipkin/burb/

This guy has done the number with a combination of S-10 Blazer 4WD front chassis and S-10 Pickup longbox rear chassis. You can see for yourself by checking out his site that this is not a task for the faint of heart. There is a WHOLE PILE of fabrication work necessary to fit everything together. The longbox S-10 chassis seems to be the rails of choice for this swap, as the wheelbase is similar to the half ton AD. The S-10 front track width is approximately correct, however the rear axle is way too narrow-not "tub it" narrow, just narrow enough to sink the wheels too far into the wheelwells. A mid to late seventies Camaro or Firebird rear axle swap would work pretty O.K. to get you the right width.

Many folks here would scorn you for a fool for attempting this-I'm not one of them. I think this might be an O.K. way to save an old truck with rusted out floorboards, myself. But if your truck is solid, you are probably better off saving up for the traditional Mustang II crossmember and lowered leafs for the rear. In the long run, what may seem like a cheap way to upgrade can turn into a very expensive nightmare. Just my $.02 Best of Luck, whatever you decide, Allan.

Regards,
Wannabe

As with any swap, you need to know what you can do your self as far as welding and fabricating.

The question is why do it? Does it really need to be changed? If the frame is usable, change only the springs and axles. This will save countless hours of work. What does the S-10 have that yours don't? It all can be made to fit the original frame that fits the truck in all the right places. Box in the original if you want it stiff. Check out the many links on this site for vender information. Go buy a Street Rodder Magazine, they are all about lowered, chopped, slammed, shaved etc..... The less drastic work you do, the faster you get to drive!! Most of all, have fun. If that stops happening, you might be on the wrong road. Joe

why on earth would u want an s-10 frame?

Heres a web page that approaches it from scratch built.

Someone here has done it, I am thinking Boyo. :confused: Said the biggest pain was converting the floor mount clutch and brake, the S-10 is firewall mount. Concensus was that it was far more effort than it was worth.

Try this:http://www.usbodysource.com/Install%2047%20chevy.htm

Hey pal, I own an S-10. Let me tell you first hand having experience with other pickup's that this is not, I repeat not the suspension you want under your rig! My previous vehicle was ... get this, a Dodge Dakota, and let me say the Dakota was and is a far superior street truck. Not to mention the Dodges rack and pinion, and far healthier 3rd member. Surely the Dakota frame would be something to look into. Just my opinion.