The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop '57 3100 FRAME SWAP

I am getting ready to "restore/modernize" a 57 3100. I am thinking about putting a later maodel, 4WD chassis under the sheetmetal. Has anyone done any research on possible donor chassis? I'm leaning toward a mid 90's to 02 Tahoe or perhaps a Toyota T100. Any ideas? Thanks, Bill

Best fit for a complete frame swap is a 1973-1987 Chevy/GMC 4x4, or a Chevy S-10 can be swapped also. There is a company that makes a lot of the necessary parts to swap the 1973-1987 frame to your truck, http://www.e-zchassisswaps.com/1955.htm, although the 4x4 requires a little extra fabrication. If you use a full size 1973 Chevy/GMC frame to swap the wheels will stick out past the fenders a little unless you have a shop narrow the axles. Also the truck will be pretty tall as you need to use a high body lift to make the old style cab fit the newer style frame, most people say about a 6" body lift.

A member on here did a 1955-1959 Suburban by converting the stock frame to 4x4, his member name is Bartamos. You can check for pictures of his Suburban.

A Tahoe frame would be too short, and would also interfere with the door steps. The '73-'87 would be better, even then there's a wheelbase issue (114 vs 117). Avoit the Toyota, thet're bad about rusting apart at the rear cab mount (Toyota had BIG recall on that).
Best bet, though, to keep everthing properly lines up and fitting right, would be to convert the stock frame. Since the stock frame is already leaf spring, it's not really a big issue to install drive axles on the stock frame. Check out the Napco trucks, which was a conversion. If you can find it, 4 Wheel & Off Road did a buildup of a '57 shortbed back in the late '80s, Project Early Iron. They kept the stock frame, but used all the running gear from a later GM truck.

I agree with you that a frame swap would be the easiest way to go. Converting the original frame to 4WD is always way more work in the long run, and when you need to get parts for it in the future, it's hard to get parts when everything is different.

If you use a modern frame, you can walk into any parts store and buy parts for that vehicle.

I've seen a 55-59 suburban that was put on an 89 or 90 suburban frame. I wouldn't go with the tahoe, suburban is a better fit. He cut the floor out of the 55-59, and put the full newer suburban floor, frame, running gear, etc. in the 55-59. It is quite a bit of work but it worked awesome, and this way he was able to adapt all 3 rows of seats, the carpet, and rest of the interior into the 55-59. Made it a 90 suburban that looks older. He says it works great!

I am in the process of switching a ’59 onto a ’87 frame 2wd with a ’79 305 bored and stroked to 308, ¾ cam and 350 trans with a shift kit.

I contacted Ed at [email protected] and purchased a kit from them. The kit is really well made. Ed is a great resource and has done the 4x4 swaps and has kits avalaible.

John

http://s783.photobucket.com/albums/...pick%20up%20project/?albumview=slideshow

Here’s the build so far

Do what your doing, do research on wheelbase, and width, if you’re going that direction be ready to fabricate what you’ll need..
a Re-frame, I would think a truck cab/bed would be much easier to manage than a panel/sub.
Like 49Sub said: look at 1973-1987 Chevy/GMC 4x4 < just the fact that there is so many of them. Parts in every wrecking yard! Upgraded disc brake system.
You can upgrade from there. Dana 60, 14Bolt, My 6 ltr. engine I bought out of a wrecked 2006’Van with 6K miles. Complete engine with accessories cost less than I could build a long block.

Well, that depends. The NAPCO's were just converted 2wd frames. You could mount late model axles to the springs, shorten the front axle to fit within the fenders. Add a power steering kit and there you go. May have to fuss with the cross members depending on powertrain choice.

Seems like trying to fit the body to a different frame would be a pain.

With the frame swap, you have to deal with changing body mounts, frame length, possible wheelbase issues, brake master cylinder mounting, plus the axle width issue. Using the stock frame takes out virually all of that, exept for the axle width and trandfer case crossmember issue. The cleanest conversion I've seen using a Task Force body truck used the stock frame modified to take the steering boxe, trannsfer case crossmember, and axles from a '70s model GM truck. It looked almost factory.

I agree with Bill on this one.

*~*~*** I'm reviving an old thread....

I'm just checking in to see if any of these conversions were done and how they turned out. I have a 1985 GMC K20 with 57,000 original miles on it and the body is shot but running gear and frame are perfect. I have found a 3/4 ton 57 panel that I think would make a great candidate for a 4X4 conversion. My thoughts are to keep the 57 frame and mount the running gear but the axel width is a problem. Just in the "thinkin" stage at this point.