The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Panels 'N Burbs How many saddles will fit an AD panel ?

-back in the saddle again....

but seriously, I have a 51 GMC panel, and recently read about the (relatively) easy bolt in nature of using a 73-87 GM truck front end / saddle to get PS, PB, IFS etc.
What other vehicle saddles will fit ? In my travels I see old RWD Malibus, Caprices, Cutlasses, GM vans etc.

I may have to start carrying overalls and a measuring tape and notebook all of the time and start crawling and measuring.

Anyone have any knowledge of any saddles besides the pick-up one that is an easy bolt-up ? I don't weld (yet) so frame clips and heavy fabrication are out.

Thanks

I don't speak Canadian well enough to know what a saddle is, as relates to trucks, even though I raised horses for years.

sorry,
the saddle in this case is the front independent suspension, braking and steering assembly, that can be unbolted in one piece from under the front frame on RWD vehicles.
There is a good article in the forums about using a 73-87 GM pickup 'saddle' to replace the old suspension and steering in an AD truck. It bolted right on with a 1/2 inch spacer on each side.
I see lots of GM 'junk' around, including full size vans and safari/astro vans in addition to various cars as described above.

I was wondering what other vehicle front suspension assemblies (or saddles) would fit an AD ?

Sounds like you are talking about a sub-frame as used on Camaros and some other unit bodied cars. Pickups don't have sub-frames, all the suspension is mounted directly on the full length frame, and the front half cannot be unbolted and bolted on to a different truck. I don't think anyone just bolts a sub-frame into another application; they weld it. Or are you talking about removing the AD body and mounting it on an S10 frame?

Corvair is one possibility, another is early fifties Chevy cars. You might investigate Jag too, I think some models can be removed and reused as a unit.

Ford Arostar (sp?) might be another one.

Most cars have a welded in crossmember hanging the suspension.

OK, now I get it. Thank you Steve. Saddle = front crossmember. I really don't know what front crossmember is a direct swap, but you may get more responses now. You might get more responses on questions of this nature in General Truck Talk or Engine and Driveline than here in Panels and Burbs.