I have the oportunity to pick up this frame. I think its from a 40's or 50's truck. Can someone identify it??? Also, has anyone used a frame like this with a 28 A body? I want to build an A truck and have a cowl already. At first I was worried that the front of the frame wouldnt work because of the way it is raised... then I thought it would lower the body and keep the engine high so it may work. Anyway, thoughts would be nice. Would I be better off skipping it and building a scratch frame?
can't really see it well enough to id.. 6 lug bolt pattern ? then chevy pickup is likely... gotta say, nice mandrel bends and good looking kickups.. why not hotrod ?? btw i have a 50/ 52 frame at the shop and it really looks different than this...anybody else recognise it ?? dave
Check out www.wescottsauto.com and see if any of the frame dimensions they have listed there measure/match or are close to this frame. You can also look at what they show as far as their "A" frames, and then compare measurements to this frame. If they match or are halfway close where you need it, then I'd say go for it and adapt as you go.
I think you'd be better off starting with something else. By the time you modify that one to use on a rod, without it looking like a clown car in a circus, you could build one from scratch... Otherwise, look for a model-A frame. They aren't that hard to find and usually pretty cheap. JOE
ok, the rear end looks like it has more than 4 lugs.....you have my curiosity going now... wheel base ? time to play stump the experts... what is it dave
The front axle is under the engine, and has a kick-up front and rear. The body mounts are too far apart for a cab. It's a 40's to 50's car frame. The kick-up in the back is way to high for a pick-up. The mount on the front crossmember has one hole for the front mount 6 cyl engine mount. Also, the rear axle is mounted above the springs, and looks like it's a swap-out. I also see that the frame is boxed from front to rear, so it's not a Ford or Chevy. Damn, I'm stumped on this one.
I believe that may be a I-H Scout frame. Way back when (60s) the Scout frame was much desired by oval track modified racers due to the fact that it was tubular and had straight rails, ideal for the basis for the modified coupes/sedans of the time. It's been so many years I can't say for sure but it certainly looks familier. Anyway, I snagged this pic off of e-bay of a restored Scout and I think you will be able to see the similarites.
Check out the wild offset on the rear pumpkin though... I'm thinkin maybe a 2wd mail Jeep or something along those lines. That offset leads me to believe the driveshaft came out of a transfer case of some type.
I think Rootie got it. It's an IH with front wheel drive. The front axle was swapped out for 2WD. The rear offset is for the transfer case.
I was thinking Jeep also, I did some work on a 50's pickup and I seem to remember kickups like that. Can't swear to it, been to long ago.
Looks to me like rails might well be usable for an A--think Essex dropped frame. Narrow the thing and give it a bit of rear to front taper, add crossmembers for A or V8 springs...
Thanks for the help Everyone. Looks like you figured it out! Im gonna go talk to the owner and let you know when I drag it home. One of the reasons I was seriously looking at it is because the frame was already boxed... definitely a plus!
Other than being a little wide, nothing is really wrong with 50's truck frames. F-1s and AD's and such are just pretty much straight rails. Definetly so for the AD.
mystery solved guys...it's a scout frame. pulled one into the body shop today, just the frame and tub (fresh from the sandblaster) to replace floors and rockers etc.. no doubt about it ! its a scout ! still want to know what the front axle is from though.. dave
Nash possibly? They had four lugs for a while, but I'm pretty sure they also had Knee-Action at the time. Crosley? Ah...