The Stovebolt.com Forums Home | Tech Tips | Gallery | FAQ | Events | Features | Search
Help is a click away!

VEHICLE
INFORMATION
KITS


at the

GM Heritage Center
All the details are here.

Searching the Site - a click away
click here to search
New here ??? Where to start?
Click on image for the lowdown. Where do I go around here?
====
Who's Online Now
4 members (Otto Skorzeny, Hotrod Lincoln, Hanks custodian, 1 invisible), 189 guests, and 3 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Forum Statistics
Forums66
Topics128,187
Posts1,057,315
Members48,468
Most Online14,466
Apr 26th, 2026
Step-by-step instructions for pictures in the forums
Brad Allen's photos

AD Chevy Trucks

Pictures galore
Over 6,000 pictures

Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips.

Check them out!

Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!

Big Thanks!

THANKS!

For helping keep this great
old truck web site
on the Internet for

over 30 years!

and not clogged down
with Ads!


Again, thanks!

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 54
C
Wrench Fetcher
Wrench Fetcher
C Offline
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 54
Hi All! I'm happy to say that I'm a new member to Stovebolt.com and I'm working on a restoration of a 1951 Chevy 5-window. I have heard that you can use a Chevy S10 EXTENDED frame and tranny in a 1951 restoration.. is this true? Any advice? Would appreciate any help.

Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 54
C
Wrench Fetcher
Wrench Fetcher
C Offline
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 54
I'm working on 1953 Chevy 5-window restoration and I'm looking to keep the 235 and 3-speed tranny in place. We were able to get the 235 to run and I've since taken it to a machine shop for a more thorough look. I've been told that the engine will require a complete rebuild and cost approximately $1500. Is this reasonable? Could I have the machine shop do the machining work and then buy a rebuild kit and have a mechanic friend do the rebuild? Looking for experience and recommendations here! THANKS!!!

Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,554
H
'Bolter
'Bolter
H Offline
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,554
You should google "advanced design engineering" they have a kit for the conversion you are talking about, lots of info also. Dave


1941 Chevy
"First rebuild - complete!"
Follow the story in the DITY
1941 GMC resting peacefully
1946/1947 Chevy Street rod on s10 frame complete
1945 GMC panel truck in line for restoration
1941 Plymouth stock complete
1941 GMC COE in restoration process
Read his Project Journal
1941 Chevy Coe uncertain future resting now
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 31
M
Apprentice
Apprentice
M Offline
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 31
Use the search button here and search the HAMB too. There are a number of articles on it. One thread on the HAMB has a link with about 40 pics in it.

Basics are use a standard cab long bed frame.

$1500 seems steep for the whole engine. Have them do machining only.


1949 5 Window 3100
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 874
G
'Bolter
'Bolter
G Offline
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 874
First off, welcome aboard!

Actually, no you can't use an S10 frame in a 1951 restoration.
Look up restoration in the dictionary and you'll see what I mean. wink Not really trying to bust your chops, but the word restore gets used kind of loosely these days and I think the few guys that actually do restorations deserve some recognition.

The S10 swap is popular and a search in the hipo shop forum will turn up a lot of info.

Best of luck with your project.


Steve

'49 3800
'52 3600
'57 3100

Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 9,671
D
'Bolter
'Bolter
D Offline
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 9,671
Well said Steve, and thank you!
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL


Denny G
Sandwich, IL
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 54
C
Wrench Fetcher
Wrench Fetcher
C Offline
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 54
Appreciate the insight and agree that I misued the term "restore" in this case. I certainly appreciate the difference between a true restoration and a rebuild as I've seen many of both. Thanks again for your help and advice.

Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,983
B
Master Gabster
Master Gabster
B Offline
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,983
Ticky, ticky, ticky!
I suppose I should also use my experience as an English teacher to correct everyone's grammar.
I think we all get all the recognition we deserve when we finish our restorations or whatever you want to call it. ChevyTruckKy welcome to the bolt and enjoy your ___________. Send pictures, we like pictures...


~Jim
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,859
S
Grumpy old guy playing with trucks, cars, and boats
Grumpy old guy playing with trucks, cars, and boats
S Offline
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,859
First off, welcome

Next, there are many choices for your '51. Many dependent on your skills, time, money, and ultimate end goal. Restoration vs Resto-Mod vs Resto-Rod vs Rat Rod vs..... Stock ride height, lowered a little, lowered a little more, slammed.

Below are some examples of frame swap and/or suspension:

Using the S-10 frame with 2" front wheel spacers in front and an S-10 4x4 axle out back (S-10's have a 54.5" track width, your 51 is closer to 58") From there, there are two choices
1.) Using the AD kit
2.) Using your own fabrication skills

Using a GM metric frame (El Camino, Malibu, etc. All have 58" wheel base) I have only seen one AD on an El Camino Frame

Use existing frame and add IFS (no particular order)
1.) Weld in or Bolt in Mustang 2
2.) Bolt in AMC Pacer
3.) Bolt in Narrowed later model GM truck suspension
4.) Weld in or Bolt in GM metric front suspension (more on that later)
5.) C4 Corvette suspension

Make your own frame, add whatever suspension you want

It was once stated , "There are two kinds of people, those who weld, and those who dont"


The problems we face today can not be addressed at the same level of intelligence we were at when we created them - Albert Einstein Or with the same level of $ - Me

Moderated by  Phak1, Woogeroo 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Home | FAQ | Gallery | Tech Tips | Events | Features | Search | Hoo-Ya Shop
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 8.0.0