The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Panels 'N Burbs What frame will fit???

I recently purchased a 1963 Chevrolet panel off Ebay. Drove it home 450 to find out it has a broken frame at the steering box. It was also lowered by heating the springs causing fatigue. I have a line on a few new frames. One is a 1966 Chevrolet 3/4 ton. The other is a 1966 4x4 frame. Will either one of these work. Please help! Iwant to save this truck. The body is worth it and I don't have the conscience to resell it to some other shmuck.

Failure around the steering box is not uncommon on GM trucks with that basic frame design right up through the 87's, and there is a kit I've seen to strengthen and repair the damage. You might check into that, as a repair is likely to be much less trouble than a frame swap, even to another '63 frame.

If the wheelbase is correct the '66 frames should be real close to the same, but I would not choose either of them unless you want a 3/4-ton or a 4x4.

'63 to '66 are very similar, but I believe there are some year to year changes. Wish I could detail them, but I haven't own one of those trucks since about 1980 and no longer remember many details.

I have a 62 sub frame that is not needed any more where are you located maybe I can help you out?
I know that there is a big diference between the running gear from 62 to 63 does any one know if the frame itself is realitivly the same? The obvious beeing the torsion bar set up but that can be cut off cant it?

According to my frame guy he is saying it is best to replace. Like I say the springs are gone, tie rods, broken frame. I live in southern alberta Canada, not too far from Montana. The body, wood and interior are pretty good. The electrical is also shot but someone must know of a good and easy replacement. Can the 2/4 be easily cut to fit I have a guy with a 3/4 ton frame with a good 350 crate with a questionable Muncie, disc brakes and a good rear end. By the way...thanks you for all your help so far!

As you can tell this is my first attempt at this by my many questions. What is a "rez"? Also can someone turn me on to someone who does springs for this? I'm also going to need a complete wiring kit, emergency brake, tie rod ends and window rubber/felt/seals.

I've seen a parts interchange book that would list exactly which frames interchange. I don't have a copy but think I saw it at Barnes and Nobel a year or two ago.

Unless you can replace the existing frame with an exact match you are likely to be frabricating mounts and adapting things to make this work.

We can't see what your frame guy is looking at, but any 40 year old frame is going to need work and bushings and springs are likely going to need replacing. The further your replacement frame is from being a '63 the more you are likely to need to adapt.

1963 was the first year for the front suspension design stock on your truck. That IFS was used on pickups through 1987 and a few years more on Suburbans. If you must swap frame my inclination would be to broaden the search and find the best donor frame you can up to '87, knowing even the newest of them is 20 years old and is likely to need some work.

In any case you likely will face mount fabrication and such and this will be a lot of work.

I don't know why your frame guy is condemning your original frame, but as I think of the work involved I'd sure think hard about fixing versus replacing.

Someone told me years ago that the panel used the same frame as the shortbed truck. I would difintely find the same year. A 62 was different I have one. Maybe 63 to 66 1/2 ton will work. Tom

Which panel?-the reg half-ton panel uses nearly the same frame as half-ton short wheelbase-but it has a foot or so added to the very back to support the rear of the body. The bumper holes for a pickup bumper are even stamped into the panel/burb frame about a foot forward from the panel/burb bumper. Looks like it should be easily added to a shortbed truck frame after removal from the panel frame.
They made a 133" wb one ton panel, dunno what would fit under there.