DON'T use a Camero clip on AD Trucks

You know I've,we've, seen alot of clips under AD trucks and people really have messed up.Yeah here we go;Most people who did it have to do some terrible offset wheels or keep thier ride jacked up so it will steer. There are those guys that section them 3" and that cures it but it is a job. I'm not posting to knock anybody or their ride but I just ask everyone to think twice.The newest way on a budget is to use 79-80 Monte,Malibu,Grandprix.These are full frame cars but just cut off what you want.They are front steer and the correct width. S-10s are also pretty much the same but you have to fab motor mounts.You can see my last build on my Photo Bucket link.

 

Plus camaro clips are pretty much obsolete and getting harder to come by. 20 to 30 years ago they were the most cost effective way to get independent front suspension under one of these trucks but now you can get a kit with corvette style suspension that will bolt right in for what you will spend rebuilding that camaro clip, plus most of them are bent all to hell anyway.

 

Factor the cost of disc brakes into this too? It's not a cost-effective deal.

 

I've seen a lot of people swap the stock suspension out without ever test driving the truck first to see if it's a mod they really want to undertake. Seems like a lot of guys just do it because their buddies did it or they saw it in a magazine. Just never fell in line with the logic.

 

i've been useing the cutlass, malibu clips for years .they fit great,already have v8 mounts and are cheap to rebuild.one in a 54 chev is going to and from n.s as we speak

 

sidebar...I usta know, but tell me again what the AD stands for.

 

AD = Advanced Design

 

Thank you!

 

While I agree with what your are saying just realize that giving this advice is like pissing into a headwind. Some people just will not take the advice.

I did a G-body subframe on my 54 AD after talking with several AD owners who had the done the camaro subframe and who advised against it. I am happy with the results of the G-body subframe but it also has its issues.

Things to remember are:

Do not use the 1979 model year components. The spindles are unique to that year and the bearings cost much more. The control arms, centerlink and other parts are the same as the later years.

The steering box is going to interfer with the core support and will require sectioning. If this is not done correctly it will throw your front sheet metal alignment off which creates another list of issues.

The radiator mounting will need to be modified to kick the bottom of the radiator forward to clear the steering box. The mounting flanges on the core support can be repositioned to achieve this.

Replace the front springs with units for an IROC camaro. They provide a great ride and reduce body roll.

This modification is fab intensive but the ride is great. If you have limited fab skills then performing any subframe modification is not recommended.

If I were to do another AD truck though the best option is an IFS kit. The cost difference is not that much and the results are better.

Just my opinion

 

I agree with 54 on his comments and some of the stuff is optional to change such as springs,I did a truck and used SS monte springs to stiffen up for a big block.The core support just clears the steering box but alot of what I am saying all boils down to how much skill a person has or how much cash,or what someone wants. I just thought it would be a good discussion topic and the opions would flow......

 

I was working on a AD didn,t even know it.I,m a back yard grease monkey and put a 77 camaro under a 52 chevy car,and bought a 56 ford pu with a fatman clip what a piece of shi$ that camaro is a lot better and on these roads around here, i never worrided if falling apart,and road much better.The clip was $25.
They are a lot of work and better.
I do have a Heights under my 39 and do like that one.

 

Or, I just removed half of the leaves from the front of my 54 and learned to live with bumpsteer! Didn't cost a thing!

 

I'm doin one right now that has a 74 Camaro clip, I didnt go that route but that is what was on it when I bought it. We'll see soon enough if its a problem or if mountains are being made of molehills.

 

A lot of people don't measure anything before they CLIP a vehicle, if it is too wide before the install wheels ain't gonna fix it.

 

advanced design what? what year/model trucks are you guys taking about?

 

what is a camero?

 

47-53 chevy

 

x2 seriously? How do you get that wrong?

 

GM 47-55 first series

 

A lot of the cars people are using for frame swaps/clips today are getting near collector status or are already are. The last mid-sized full framed cars rolled off the assembly line over 20 years ago. Between all the scrappers and folks doing frame swaps I suspect in another 10 years it'll be really really hard to find a donor car. Heck here in rusty Wisconsin it already is pretty tough to find a 80s GM midsized car that isn't FWD. The future for hillbilly frame swaps rest on the suv craze. But even that won't last as more and more manufacturers are going with unit-body for SUVs too.

Myself I think solid axles ride just fine plus with the roads being really rough around here (especially in the spring time) the ruggedness and ride height of one is about required. Every once in a while in my neck of the woods an IFS vehicle will get its' a-arms ripped clean off the frame (hitting a wash out or mega pot-hole).

 

and you think that is the worst spelling you have seen on this site?

 

lol

the correct spelling and a quick search would have shown you more than a few threads that talk about this very thing...

 

Interesting to note that I have been driving something that will not work for nearly 20 years now. I used the Nova clip because I bought the whole car for $25 and that is all the money I could justify spending. I had the skills to do the clip and it has worked well. Since then I have built and owned many other vehicles with various suspensions. They all have their good and bad points. Sometimes money determines what you can build. If I had to do over, and I was in the same situation as before, I would not hesitate to do another Camero/Nova clip. I would not let using one of these clips keep me from building a hot rod.

John

 

Alzheimer's larry?

best reply i seen here yet on the subject

 

I also used a Nova front clip.Never put the truck on the road and now Im doing a s10 swap on it. The little boy in the first pic is now 19 but I working on finishing it.LOL

 

"Don't use a Camero clip on AD trucks"

....better not tell the 3 dozen or more guys I've helped clip their trucks or who have bought these trucks from me; they all love em. BUT, I must say I only use or recommend the first generation Camero/Firebird (67-9) clips, the 68-74 Nova/clone clips. or 64-72 Chevelle/clone clips. Later Camero/Nova/Chevelle clips are too wide as is.

...I realize these clips are getting more difficult to find. The 78-87 G body clips work real well, but most have to use a crossflow radiator due to the steering box and front framerails locations.
Does anybody have a photo of one of these clipped using the orig. style AD radiator?
...to my knowledge the AD core support won't fit between the front framerails on a G body clip.

 

Or they get it under there and have troubles with their alignment. Had to help my friend beat his fender wells on his 54 chevy p/u so that he could get the camber on his mustang 2 clip right.

 

Cheap & Easy TRADITIONAL IFS on AD Trucks: '49-'54 Chevy Passenger Car front subframe. 16 bolts holds it to the car chassis. Make some simple brackets and it will bolt up to the truck chassis and lower it 8" in the process and give it 5x4.75" pattern and good drum brakes. Disc kits are cheap as hell for these front ends for those of you with noodles for legs. These clips are everywhere for pennies, some folks are giving them away. They are the right track width, cheap to rebuild, easy to upgrade, simple to airbag, etc.

 

Finally, someone sees the light. Front clips were and still are mickey mouse.

 

It's written on the side of the car fer chrissakes, how do you get it wrong?