The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop 36 Low Cab frame mods

I was hopeing with 38 views at least I would get a forget it your crazy, it can't be done or soemthing. Hello everyone, I am a new guy to the bolters. I have a 36 Chev low cab. It started life as a 1.5 ton. The guy I bought it from had too many projects and mama said something has to go. He had removed all the original power train and shortened the frame as he wanted a pickup. Sheet metal is in good shape but wood door supports need to be changed. He also rounded up a drop beam front axle off (?)and had a 87 camaro rear end. Disc brake hubs on all four corners. Like most people I want to use what ever donor stuff I already own. I have a 96 GMC 1/2 pickup with 4.3 auto that I will use. I think power will be fine and I do have a supercharger kit for it if I want to kick it up a notch down the road. My goal is an every day comfortable driver. Not sure how that front axle will ride, I have the rear axle but nothing else. The rear of the frame is straight, it doesn't have the curve to alow the rear axle to move up if that makes sense, at least like a regular pickup. I have been readking about using S10 frames which may be an option. I have not seen much on the forum about frame swaps on the older units, just wondering if anyone has and what fits and what doesn't. My 96 is not worth much to sell so I would like to rob what ever I can off it for the 36. I got some really nice wheels and tires on it. Just wondering if the frame may be to big for the 36 from what I have been reading. I am pretty handy and am a service manager at a construction equipment dealer. I have access to welders, plasma cutters etc, and have 3 awesome welder fabricators which could do just about anything imaginable. I have seen a lot of info with the mid 50's trucks and new frames, mods but am interested what has been done to the 30's trucks. I would appreciate any input. I am curious about fender size off the 1.5 compared to a pickup I think I read they are wider? That may be a plus for a wider frame. Also I am sure my frame is way heavier than a pickup frame for strengh. Does anyone have dimensions on that. Does anyone have dimensions on hub to hub width of an original pickup front and rear axles and what will fit? Maybe I can figuare out how to post some pics. Any help would be appreciated on that. One final question, as many times as you have to remove the cab to check for clearence etc, what is the easiest way to move it, espiecally by your self. Any hot suggestins. Sorry to be lenghy. Buck

Buck I was hoping someone would answer your post I have just purchased a 1937 chevy and was wondering if a S-10 frame would work. Where have you read about S-10 frame swap sounds simple.
Good luck!
Damon

Hey thanks nomadrcpilot,
Not sure if I didn't hold my mouth right or what, Must be a shy group here. I sent an email to e-zchassisswaps.com They make a s10 frame swap kit for the 40's and 50's trucks. He said he is working on a 37 to 40 kit. He said 36 and 37 cabs are the same but wheel base on a 37 is 114". I believe I read on this site (from a non shy member) that a 36 is 112" They say the problem with the standard mounting steering valve on the s10 frame rail is 4 inches too far forward which makes it out past the drivers side fender. His thought is to come up with a rack and pinion conversion. So not to sure about that swap.http://www.killbillet.com/showthread.php?t=9354&highlight=toylet This is a cool site which seems to be pretty active. I don't really like the raw rusty weld it together look. But then again they jump in and make stuff happen. This link is a 38 chev pickup on a 92 toyota frame. I like the ToyLet name. I noticed that the steering box hangs way out front but not sure how he keeps it tucked back far enough to clear everything. More later.

Most of the people on here aren't shy, I can assure you. It seems you are breaking new ground here.

Take lots of pictures and notes. You are about to become our resident expert on 36/S10 swaps.

There are two companies that I know of that make rack and pinion conversions for the S10. We re-engineered our fiberglass 37-38 Chevy Sedan Delivery and Cabriolet bodies to mount to an S10 donor and ran into the same steering box issue. The front fender hits the stock box.

We also tried to mount our 34-35 Chevy car bodies to the S10, but found that the 'bulge' in the S10 frame in the firewall area was too wide for these earlier bodies. May be the same on the pickup, but I haven't tried.

For many of these swaps, the wheelbase of the S10 is incorrect, but this is easily fixed by moving the rear axle.
Brad
Superior Glass Works
www.superiorglassworks.com

I'm considering doing the same thing. 36 1/2 ton wheelbase is 112". Closest frame fit so far that I've found that MIGHT work is 84-88 Toyota extra cab short box,single cab long box or dbl cab short box. They are 112.2". I'm staying away from S-10 because of steering issues. I really only want 60 mph rather than 45 but there doesn't seem to be many solutions.

I also have seen the Explorer mentioned of being very close. The later ones are rack and pinion.(and like the s10 their is a million of them out their for parts) I am currently checking that out. I saw one of the vendors selling the conversion kit for s10 rack and pinion and it was like $1500 which kind of kills the idea of swapping a frame on the cheap. Anybody else heard anything about explorer swap?
Thanks