The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Panels 'N Burbs 1950 panel question

I have been driving my 1950 panel around last fall untill i had a brake line go out, i had this "idea" after hearing all those v-8"s at the car shows about just removing the whole body and setting it on a late model frame( chevy of course)...what model and year sets good and matches under the wheelbase of the panel.....kinda wish i had done this from the start...my 6 cyl runs great but the 6 volt...fix one thing something else tears up is getting old and those old part are high$$$....i appreciate all input---thanks

This is a popular swap because you end up with modern brakes and steering, and a more modern drivetrain with better highway gearing. If you go to a V8 (or V6 for that matter) you will have to play games with your steering column to get it out of the way of the engine so you might as well find a tilt wheel column too. (You can cut off the original and weld a knuckle on, then fabricate a piece to the steering box.)

The S10 frame is a good one. I have also heard about some cars like the mid '80s Monte Carlo. All you really need to do is measure the track width (measurement from front tire to front tire) and the wheelbase and try to find something the same. It's a lot easier to shorten or lengthen the wheelbase than to change the width of a frame.

No matter what frame you choose you will end up fabricating the body mounts. You will also need whatever electronics go with the engine and trans if you don't plan to throw away the fuel injection and electronic ignition and go back to a carburetor and old style distributor. (Some of the newer transmissions won't work correctly without their electronics...)

It is best to get the whole vehicle that you are cannibalizing for parts. Then you can pull off all the components you need, even down to the wiring harness.

Don't expect to get this done in a weekend. Working full time and just tearing down and reassembling would take a pro working alone and with all the right tools a month or so. Once you get it apart you will find a million things you want to clean up, sandblast, repaint, undercoat, replace, etc.

I need to do this for mine but I love driving it so much I keep fixing the nickles and dimes while I gather up parts and make my plans for the big swapover. I have had my parts truck for about 6 months now and have been planning what to do and how to do it for a couple of years.

Best advice is, spend a lot of time reading these forums!

The extended cab long box S-10 has a 117 inch wheelbase which is about ideal to replace a 116 inche frame under a 1/2-ton panel. If you lower the truck at all, the slightly longer wheelbase looks better.

The '78 to '87 g-body frame (Monte Carlo and similar) has only a 108 inch wheelbase. If you are working with a pickup shortening the box enough to get the fenders over the rear wheels is an option. That's a lot harder to pull off with a panel or Suburban.

I expect to put a pickup on a Monte Carlo this summer. My Suburban will probably end up on an S-10 frame, but that project is for another year.

i am on the hunt for a extended cab s-10....what year model should i look for???? thanks for the replies...i appreciate it!!!!!!!

The earlier model is the one I most often see used. I have no idea if the later ones are the same or not.

i am on the lookout for a 1991( or earlier) xtended cab s-10......till then i will keep patching the old running gear-------

I suspect the older S10s are popular for two reasons.

1.) Older is cheaper
2.) Older is simpler. Fewer interdependent electronic systems to figure out.

Personally, given the slightly too narrow track width of the S10, I have been wondering how close the mid-size Trailblazers will be.