The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk s 10 frame swap

could use some advice here bolters. i have been looking at advanced design engineering frame swap kit for my 50 clam shell. doesnt sound like too bad of price at 795 ++ and a neighbor has a 90 long bed s 10 i can get for 150. i understand that id need to put the rear end from a fwd in for the right width. has someone made this swap? pros ? cons ? i have also looked at the late model chev front end but that may entail more than im willing to do. i tried to use search for frame swap but got nada. im sure there are some others that offer this kit too. thanks in advance for your two bits.

scool

What is a clam shell? I'm guessing that is a Suburban with clam shell doors?

If so, this swap is so common there is even a kit to do it. Check AD Engineering. Someone else also makes a pickup swap kit, but I've not seen it, don't recall the name, and don't know if they make a Suburban/panel kit too.

Lots of people have made the swap without a kit too.

you're probably thinking of E-Z Chassis Swaps
http://www.e-zchassisswaps.com/

I've made the swap and use my 49 as a daily driver except on really bad weather days. I've driven from Kansas City to Minneapolis and to Phoenix at 70-75mph. Cruises good with a 350V8 and 700R tranny/3.42 rear end. I used the AD Engineering kit but you can fab your own if you have the time and tools. I wanted to get mine on the road ASAP so the AD kit made it quicker. Good quality. You can see mine here: http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r246/49S10/

I've actually started one on a pickup, doing it myself. The S-10 I'm using is a 4x4 model, so I expect to use it under all weather conditions. When finished I expect to be very happy with it.

Thanks for the input guys, still pondering on what i should do. the ez swap kit looks like it comes with a lot more options but is also twice as much. i do know that its been two years since i retired and its been 15 yrs since ol yeller followed me home. yes it is a burb my fingers dont move a fast as my mind, and its slipping. I have been picking up parts and am slowly running out of space. if i dont get going on this project soon the little woman will find another room that needs something done. I feel that the frame swap will bypas a lot of headaces, suspension, brakes, fuel tank, steering . finding the bolt has really been good to keep my dreams going. well the brain is shutting down. more later.

scool

Scool it was not clear to me that the ez kit is designed to work on a Suburban. The mounts are different from those used on a pickup.

On a pickup you have the radiator mount, and the two mounts in the cowl area. These are the same as a Suburban or panel, and I'm sure those included in the kit would work.

There are two different ways cabs mount at the back. Early cabs mount with a center pivot, later cabs with straps off the sides of the frames. Suburbans and panels are quite different at this point, using frame brackets that are unique.

From that point rearward I would be cautious of assuming a kit designed for a pickup would work.

I say all this not have tried either kit, but have disasembled several of these trucks in my effort to gather enough good pieces for the ones I'm building.

Not sure if it is taboo to refer you to another board, but the HAMB has some good threads on this. A few very detailed with pics.

I'm also a HAMB and Killbillet member and have looked at these swaps. There are several guy's doing this swap and have some very good write ups on the whole process. I've got a 51 3100 i'm fixing to start a swap onto an s-10 chassis. I'm going to take pics and do a write up here for others to look at. I work at a fab shop and have all kinds of tools, cutting machines, and steel right at my finger tips. I plan on doing some swaps for others if anyone is interested and maybe making a kit myself for this swap. It's pretty easy and with updated suspension and braking makes these old trucks more enjoyable.