The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Total frame replacement

I am getting ready to start on the '47 3100 1/2 ton shortbed. I really would like to do a complete frame swap to a later V8, disc brake frame. I need to know what chevy truck frames will match up width and wheel base with the '47 short bed. That is without too much modification. I know this has probably been discussed 100's of times in this forum but I've searched and with my limited computer skills I cannot find what I need. I know you guys/gals can point me in the right direction. Thanks!

This site may not be exactly what you are looking for but it is an interesting read.

http://www.ad-engineering.com/


Jay

The best fitting components are the aftermarket independent front end kits which are available in several configurations. Most of the more modern truck suspensions are too wide and the car stuff requires cutting the frame and welding in the front section of the car frame.

Get you a couple of old truck magazines and look at what the vendors have to offer. Order some of their catalogs and start comparison shopping. Some really good stuff made specifically for your truck for a reasonable price,
Scott

Several venders offer complete replacement frames with modern suspension set up for a V-8. They cost seven or eight thousand last I knew.

I'd probably go with the S-10 either building my own mounts for buying the AD-Engineering kit.

Just curious as to why you wouldn't try just using a car frame with a suitable wheelbase and putting the truck body onto that? about 20 years ago my dad did just that with a 59 GMC (darn thing didn't have a spot of rust on it either , shame really) anyways he grafted the body onto our '72 Buick LeSabre (which the body had rotted off of) with the old stageI 455 , once it was assembled we took it down the street , got it going about 20MPH and hammered it and the thing just kept on doing 20MPH but was pouring smoke out the back end. If I recall correctly there was approx a 4"-5" gap between the cab and box.He had a quote from someone to shorten the frame & driveshaft but I think he tired of the project and sold it.Anywyas they finished it and it turned out quite well and worked very good with a beautiful ride.

The frames under most cars starting in the 60's are of a perimeter design, which makes dropping an old pickup cab on them tricky.

I've seen it done and its not an approach that would fit the "without too much modification" criteria.

If you limit the responses to what was asked in the question S-10 is the only answer. The old stock type frames do not have disk brakes. Disk brake full size pickup frames are too wide. S-10s didn't come with V-8s but the swap is very common.

s10 did have v6's. they may take the v8 with out too much work. there is nsome differance with the blazer and short and long bed pickups, (S10).

Thanks for all the input! I'm a little reluctant to use the S-10 because I think you have to use adapters to get the wheels to clear the sides of the box. Puts extra pressure on the bearings. Surely there must be a 70's 2wd truck chassis (besides the S-10)thats a close fit? Thanks again and I'll keep looking.

Use a wider rear under it. You'll find swapping a different rear under the S-10 far less work, far less fabrication, than any other frame swap based on a GM product with disk brakes.

You might find something non-GM that will fit better, but I'm not one who could help you with that.

What is wrong with your original frame?
For my truck I found it easy to keep the original frame and change the axles to new ones with disc brakes.
I am speaking of the frame itself...
To me it seems like a step in the wrong dirrection to get rid of a perfectly good frame for one that has no functional advantages, it could even be weaker.
If you want new axles with disc brakes and fast gears do that, but why the frame too?
Only change what you need to to get the results you want. you make more work for yourself by changing things that make no difference. How does a later frame function better than the original?

Im' new here but I agree with using your old frame and swapping out the axles. If you use a rear end out of an S-10 4wd it is 4" wider than the 2wd. I have heard that the mustang II IFS front swap is the easiest way to go.

Okay! Here's the deal. My '47 is a cab/chasis only. No motor or tranny. The cab has a lot of rust and to repair it properly I will have to remove it from the frame. I want to rod this one (since I have a '54 4100 thats stock) by putting in a 350 and auto trans. It seems logical to me to reframe it with something that is already set up for a V8 than to subframe with a camero and ruin a perfectly good '47 frame that someone else could use. BTW Smittys54 it's good to see another Oklahoma Bolter on the site.

I guess your answer is that there is nothing that has the correct narrow track width and that had a V8 from the factory?

So to use a new frame involves a fair amount of work to make it look right.

And using an old frame and swapping a new independent front involves lots of work too.

Using the old frame with only a rear axle swap and a front disk swap and a v8 mounting kit could be the least amount of work.

Any way you look at it it involves work. Just decide what you want and do it.

I agree with Grigg for a daily driver. You said you want to make a hotrod. Do you plan on lots of horsepower and torque? Or are you planning a daily driver? If you are making a daily driver that won't be hot rodded and just a cool driver, I would follow Grigg's advice. If you are going to race around and have big horses under the truck, or have a show truck, then I would go to an aftermarket frame that is boxed and has cross bracing meant to make the frame more rigid for high performance. Personally, I like the stock frames. They can be boxed and made rigid also. I guess it comes down to what you can do, or want to do.

Thanks for the advice. Work not a problem $ is always a problem. Maybe I'll just put the project on hold a while longer and save my change for a later start. Thanks again.

I know a guy that had a 1950 1/2 ton chevy. I believe he used a 1973 or 1974 chevy short bed frame.I know he had to do some modifications for the front bumber and gravel pan to mount up.You might check into that,might be the way to go.

I am hoping to put an S10 frame under my 51 GMC. I beleive the S10 4 by 4 rear end is wider track than the 2 by 4 S10 and will clear the 51 box.
A regular cab long box S10 has the right wheelbase. It seems like an easy way to get independent front suspension, disc brakes (on all 4 if you want,,,newer S10 has disc rear) and relatively easy steering hookup, pedals from doner truck, wiring, fairly stong V6 even, etc.
Still a lot of work, but easier than some I am sure.
Look into the S10 frame swap
Ter