1951 Chevy 3600 Truck On S-10 Frame

Hi Folks! Here it is, my first post to the HAMB. I hope it is a worthy one and gets me some help with this project. OK Lets start with what I think I know already. Swapping a AD truck (47 to 55.1) to a S-10 frame is possible with some mild modifications. To start, you need a standard cab long wheel base S-10 frame, A 4 wheel drive rear end, some good wheel spacers for the front, and some basic cab and bed mount modifications. I hope that is right and if it is not, please point out what I have missed. OK onward... My truck is a 3600 so That means 3/4 ton long bed and it will have to be cut to the 3100 1/2 ton bed size. This is where I get a bit fuzzy on the facts. I think the 3/4 ton bed is the same as the 1/2 ton bed except longer in the front.

QUESTION 1. I need to know where these cuts in the 3/4 ton bed need to be made.
QUESTION 2. I am wondering if it is possible to use a short bed standard cab S-10 and cut the AD bed a bit more? Possibly weld an extention to the rear of the SWB frame? Maybe some custom bed mounts? Short wheel base standard cab S-10's are plentiful, easy to find and extreemly cheap (Cheap being the key word here!)

I have been to http://www.ad-engineering.com and checked out their kit and info which is where I got the idea for this conversion. I was hoping that some of you had your own ideas and practical Money Saving expierence dealing with this and would be willing to share this knowledge with me. I'm fairly handy with a welder and not too bad at fabrication as long as I have a basic plan to follow.
You can contact me at kyblumoon@aol.com or through this forum
Thanks in advance!! MarcB

 

Your first post should have been an intro, but oh well...if you're looking for a kit similar to the ad-eng, but with the option of buying the individual components or a complete kit, a friend of mine specializes in them...i can get you contact info if you like

 

I was also interested in the S10 swap, but the only thing i'm hearing is the fact that you have to use a wheel spacer to get the wheels out. Like a 2" per side. That seems like to much. i'm not a fan of spacers anyway. My truck is a 46.

 

Try a search, it's all here many times over. Hell there is a thread going on right now about it.

 

Johnny Cliche aka Standard Speedshop
Hi. Sorry for not properly introducing myself. My name is Marc and I am a 42 year old factory worker / wrench turner from Richmond, Kentucky. I love old Chevy trucks and others as well. I am married and my wife shares at least a little of my love for these old trucks. My latest project is the 1951 3600 I have inquired about. I like to do more resto-mod work than restoration. I think moding a project personalizes it to you.

I would like to get the information about your friend and buying just the pieces I need would be far more preferable than buying the whole kit.

Thanks! MarcB

 

I placed a 38 plymouth truck on s-10 longbed frame andit fit very well with only slight mods. but that is somewhat smaller. Good luck!

 

...cut the front of the bed off ;from the rear measure 80 inches, re-mount front bed panel to sides with the stake pockets. Fenders stay rite where they are now. (tip: grind the spotwelds off the 2nd set of stake pockets; you won't need them. Then re-use the front ones for the front.)

 

Yes you can use a shortbed S-10. You just have to move the rear back. If you leave the wheelbase the way it is (short) and make the bed fit ...it won't look right. I've seen it done and the praportions are wrong.
Clark

 

Hi Clark;
When you say "Move the Rear Back" are you refering to welding an extention to the rear of the SWB S-10 Frame? Thanks to Rusty1 for the cutting info This project may fly faster than I thought.

Thanks Again MarcB

 

Clark's truck was built on this general plan, and there is a ton of tech in the archives.

 

Marc...I doubt you would have to add to the length of the frame. You would have to mover the rear springs and rear end back. Not as easy as finding a long bed ch***is.

Front spring perches will take some thought.

On my 48 I moved the wheelbase a couple of inches because I used mid sixties Chevy truck trailing arms with airride suspension.

Like animal said...there's some tech in the tech archives on all the tricks I use and basically on how to do it without the kit.
Clark

 

Try this for the short bed frame:
http://jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=144798&highlight=Dan+Turner

Bill

 

i used a shortbed frame and didn`t move the rearend at all. i have had tons of compliments on my trucks proportions..to each his own.

 

sounds cool! where are the pic's at?

 

Monza...I'd like to see pics. I could be wrong. Maybe the truck I saw was shortened more. I remember there was hardly no bed infront of the fenders.
Clark