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| | | | Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 2 Moderated | | Moderated Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 2 | I guys I'm looking for some help. I just bought a 53 Chevy 3600. I'm trying to figure out what the best route for me to go on the truck. I've got front and rear sections of s10 frame and 73 Trans Am. I like a low long cruiser, small block 350, 700r4 and the T/a 10 bolt. I would like to eventually bag this truck. It is currently not drivable. I've got a small fabrication shop in my garage, no fear of welding or fabricating. I was originally planning to do an s10 front clip and then full box frame. Scott Danforth's crossmember is also an option. I'd like to use as much as I have already. I know some of this has been covered before and people are going to recommend an MII crossmember but I don't want to have to remember all of the parts that are made of these kits. Also the Ford and Chevy, car on truck no good. Thanks everyone. | | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,440 Bolter | | Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,440 | What specifically do you need help with? Sounds like you already know what you want to do. If you have the time, money and skills just go for it. It's your truck!
Martin
'62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress)
'47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project)
‘65 Chevy Biscayne (Emily)
‘39 Dodge Business Coupe (Clarence)
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| | | | | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,596 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,596 | Why are you only going to use the front clip of the S-10? The best part about using the S-10 is that you can use the whole frame, it is an engineered frame and the front and rear suspension and brakes are all intended to work together as a package. This makes parts much easier to find, then when it comes time to bag it you can go buy an air bag suspension for an S-10. Since you probably want it low anyways, you can place the body as close to the frame as you want when you're doing it. I don't get why you would mess with an S-10 clip when you could do the entire frame swap.
I picked up my S-10 frame for $100 already stripped and had a $200 S-10 (with rust through the frame, the truck wasn't well taken care of) that I used for all the other donor pieces, like steering column, booster, booster brace, etc.
If you want to keep your '53 as a long box, an extended cab S-10 is the right wheelbase (124"). When I was looking for a frame I put an ad on an online classifieds site and they were coming out of the woodwork. I could have had about 5 extended cab frames for free or close to it. | | | | | Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 162 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 162 | 46 is right. I wouldn't use a clip when the whole frame will work. | | | | | Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 98 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 98 | If you want an S10 then build one, don't start with vintage tin and go downhill from there. Learn some skills, invest in some tools. Appreciate what you already have. I will guarantee this, when you are 60 years old and think back about putting a '53 body on an S10 frame it will rate as one of your single biggest, dumbest boneheaded automovive blunders you'll ever make. Almost as bad as when i tubbed my '67 Nove SS.
A shop is where you wash your hands before you pee.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,596 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,596 | If you want an S10 then build one, don't start with vintage tin and go downhill from there. Learn some skills, invest in some tools. Appreciate what you already have. I will guarantee this, when you are 60 years old and think back about putting a '53 body on an S10 frame it will rate as one of your single biggest, dumbest boneheaded automovive blunders you'll ever make. Almost as bad as when i tubbed my '67 Nove SS. Why are you in the Hipo shop if you're against modification? To the OP, when you drive your truck with an S-10 frame and realize it drives better than a new truck and that you can put thousands of miles on it very easily, you'll never regret it. | | |
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