The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk The Frankenpanel project-

Howdee folks! Got a project getting ready to startup, and putting my plans up for public comments, suggestions and practical jokes. (also to make sure i dont send vital parts to the crusher )

Here's what I have collected-

1957 GMC panel truck body w/title. frame is butchered, eng-trans gone, rear axle from something else, etc.

1989 chevy S-10 lb, with bad 2.8 motor

1984 chevy caprice, hit in the right front

(4) teenage boys, 3 owned outrite, 1 leased

See where we're heading?

The basic plan-
Strip the S-10 to the frame, keeping the suspension, fueltank,steering column and brake system. Fab new body mounts/ adjust wheelbase as needed.

Strip the 305/700r4? from the caprice, mount it into the s-10 frame. Keep the steering column, brake system and driveshaft/rear axle. Front brake hardware too? Maybe the fuel tank?

Brace the interior of the panel, remove it from the bad frame and set it on the s-10 frame.

I havnt started the measuring yet, so unsure on the rear axle, steering column, etc. This is just the highpoints, not covering the good stuff i'll take pictures of along the way, but am I missing anything? I'd hate to need something I just crushed! lol

We're building this as a fun driver, so budget is about the usual amount, but it should be interesting. I have access to the tools and such, and with all of you folks, how can it not work? lol

be safe, and thanks for the help
jon

don't throw nothing away til it's done . made that mistake, good luck

Sounds like a lot of fun.

The length of an S-10 frame is easy to shorten, and little harder to lengthen. You don't say which model yours is, so I can't guess the length.

Without measuring I fear the front suspension on the S-10 is a little narrow for this application. The S-10 is about perfect for a '47 - '55 1st, which is narrower than your truck. You'll want to measure carefull to be sure you like the fit.

If those kids work out real well I may need to lease them from you.

cool project, i like the comment about the leased teenage male...funny. As for the project I think that it will be cool. the caprice makes me think of one of my old friends, he had one, we called it the brown bomber. it didn't have a single straight panel on it but it ran like a top, no wonder the cops love them so much.

I'm trying to get all 3 pieces in the same yard, so I can do some real measuring. I have a few other donors lined up, if they turn out to be a better fit. The s-10 will fit great under the 53 5 window thats next on the list, so it wont go to waste.

all my kingdom for a storage yard big enough to hold all my projects!!

I'll grab some measurements this weekend, i'll be back with #'s. thanks fellas

With 4 teenage boys I would be grocery poor instead of truck project poor.

Sounds like a fun project. Good luck and try to keep some skin on your knuckles.

Jon,

My daughter and I have a similar project. 40 Chev truck cab & nose, Chevy Luv frame/suspension/front brakes, Ford 428CJ motor, C6 trany & 9 inch rear end taking up space in my garage. Put um all together and we hope to have a nice rat rod. I'm an old body & fender want-to-be guy, so I'll make it a nice shiny rat as apposed to a primer truck.

Hey there, Your project looks like it's going to be a blast.
I can't wait to see it.

Good luck and be safe

Cliff59