The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop frame swap 1953 gm 5 window on CST\10 frame

My `53, 5 Window project took a different route today. I've decided to go and restore my 53 on a Chevy CST/10 frame. I haven't seen anywhere that this has been done. Does anyone know if this has been done on this frame. Seem like a big under taking but for getting the complete truck for $450, its a lot cheaper than a custom frame.
I have the donor truck stripped to the frame. It has a 350 engine, turbo 350 transmission and trailing arm rear suspension. Too bad the engine is blown but i knew that before i purchased it. Wheelbase is 127 and I plan on shortening the frame 11" just in front of the rear cross member.
This is a major undertaking for my first project of this kind but I do have mechanical experience, and I'm a welder by trade, plus alot of people that are willing to help . I'll post pictures of my work and progress as i go along.

I put mine on a 74 Suburban frame. Don't know if my input will help but I'm willing to try.

We had to move our 74'K10 stock motor mounting location back about 6". Heads are against the firewall, in order to clear the 51' radiator. good luck!

Could you post some picks of your motoe mounts and rad I have the same problem with my 46 panel onto v8 s10 frame the motor has to go back to clear the rad mount.Den

161616,
look in my ClikIt?:
{Progress}

90 degree tabs off the front crossmember mounts radiator support.

Check here.... http://www.e-zchassisswaps.com/

Dogs51burb thanks for posting up you photos of your frame swap. I'm hoping not to be moving the motor back but we`ll see.
I'm starting the frame chop tomorrow. I'll post pics of tomorrows progress.

Well the CST/10 is now a 116" wheel base. Only took 3hours by myself. Photos as I went along. Frame Chop!
I have it back home and will be transferring the cab over to start fabricating up the cap mounts.

A friend and I moved the cab over from the old frame to the CST/10 chassis last night. To our surprise the front mounts from the long box now become the rear cab mounts. the second set of truck box mounts now work for the font mounts on the truck box. I just have to do some minor widening of the few mounts that work and build new cab mount off the old front cab mounts. I never thought it would be this good off the CST/10 frame!!!
Cab & Box on!

Well done!

OverTorqueAB,
Your moving right along ehh! That's the way to go for it and do what ever makes it work out.

this is my Sons ingenious way to Make things work out..
Donor truck bracket when it's welded on the fire wall it will clamp the steering column and locate the Brake booster & Brake pedal bracket under the dash.

Progress has all but stopped on the frame swap. I purchased a 355 race built short block that has only 9 races on it. You can still see all the honing marking in the cylinders. Plus I had a chance to drive this motor the last day he ran it before selling it to me. I also got aluminum intake manifold, Mallory distributor, Crane ign. coil and spark box, plus a few other accessories for the motor and a rebuilt th400 with a stage 2 shift kit. So far I have a good start on the drive train.

I hope to be bolting up the transmission to the old engine block to see how much I'll have to tunnel the cab, shorten the drive shaft and check for clearance to mount the brake cylinder back under the cab.