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i am wondering if i should box the frame on my 53 chev 3100. i am putting a pretty healthy small block in it. do you guys think it would be worth while to box my frame at least the front part

Yes. Although I believe there is a little difference in weight, with the smallblock being lighter (I think).

The main reason for boxing frames came from putting high performance engines in light cars such as model A F**ds. The frames on these early cars were a channel section and had rather limited resistance to twisting. A boxing plate was added to the channel to form a box section which is much stronger than a channel. The torque of a more powerful engine tended to twist the frame and lift the left front wheel. A permanent twist was left after a while and the frame was weakened to the point of cracking and eventually it would break. The pickup frames are already strong and no advantage would come from any added steel.

If you have the metal, the welder and the time I say do it. I boxed my frame in and think it will help. Just be sure to put access holes in where you have to bolt things through the frame rail like the bed and rear cab supports. It cannot hurt you and certainly will strengthen that old metal.

If you do box it have your boxing plate end with a 45 or 60 degree slope, not perpendicular to the frame flanges. This gives a transition area from the "can twist" C channel to the "no twist" boxed area. Boxing probably not necessary with a small block but it does give a nice flat surface to attach things like mounts, brackets, lines, etc. On a macho torque set up and big sticky tires I've seen cracks form where the boxing ends.

These recomendations are all correct. The one recomendation that would encourage me to box the front would be the part that said "probably not necessary". I agree with that so remembering that old adage, "better safe than sorry" I'd box the front.

thank you all. i think i am going to box it i have the metal and the welder so i might as well do it. and who knows a narly big block may be in the future

As an Old Wise man once told me ..If you think ya should ? you already answered your ? ...and DO IT .
this advise has worked for me for a long time .

i always try to ask many people's opion before i do somthing like this so i dont run into reprocutions later that i did not think about. i tried a sub frame on the old girl before i ever knew how to fabricate or even the right way to do it. bad idea it took me years to find a good straight frame to restart my project.