I migt be doing a trade to get a 48 chevy 5 window shortbed. The guy and his dad attamted a camaro clip but messed it up and put the 48 body on a 65 chevy swb frame. It`s just sitting on it using wood for spacers to get the body where they wanted it. If I get the truck, should I fab up the brackets to mount the 48 to the newer frame or should I look into the S10 swap or a stock frame with a MII set up? Money is a issue so the most cost effective choice is the way I`ll go. Thanks.
If it were me I'd go back with the stock style frame and a MII but you aren't me. If I were you I'd see how well the 48 cab and nose actually fit the 65 frame. Will it sit on the frame with out a lot of extra fitting. You mght find that it comes pretty close and only have to build new mounts or drill some new holes. How well do the wheels fit in the wheel wells? when the cab and nose is in place properly how does the bed fit up? That should be pretty easy to build spacers for and if the wheel wells fit the wheels in the right place and the gap between the cab and bed is right you are on your way. You would still have to build brackets for the running boards but that isn't a biggie. You would still be stuck with 6 hole drum brakes unless you go to the effort of doing a brake swap. That isn't the end of the world though. Getting it low if you want it low may be a challenge but again not impossible. It just may work and work great. if the frame fits the cab an nose good you could still hang a MII kit on that frame if you were not satisfied with the 65 suspension and steering. There are also dropped A arms and dropped spindles for the 65 suspension. The more I think about it, I would give a good run at seeing if it would work the way you wanted before going on to something different. I'm on record on more than one forum as not being a fan of the S-10 chassis swap into the Chev A-D trucks. I think that any chassis swap that requires 2-1/2 to 3 inch spacers on the front hubs to make the wheels fit out in the wheel well is just wrong. I know that it is a quick an inexpensive (untill you buy the wheel spacers) modern chassis conversion for the early trucks but I think a guy can do better.
Thanks for the input. I was really excited about it untill the guy told me it had a 65 swb frame under it. I should be able to find a stock frame for it and would defiantly rather have the MII set up and maybe a 4 link in the rear but it`s all about money. I think the 65 frame may be too much trouble. I could always sell it or trade it for what I need. I know I won`t be using the buick 430/th400 combo. Thanks again. If I end up with the truck I`ll post some pics.
The Buick and turbo are always trade or selling material. On my own truck I am going to the MII front with 11 inch disk and a disk brake Camaro rear that I haven't decided on yet. Everything is a whole lot easier to line up correctly and fit up with a stock style frame. I had mine suframed with a 68 Camaro stub at one time and drove it a lot of miles that way but I wasn't ever happy with the way everything fit.
I would bet the track of the 65 frame is too wide. A friend put a Ford pick up on one and had to narrow the A arms to get the tires under the fender. As for the S-10 swap...None of the trucks I have done have run spacers. My wheels are offset about an inch to get them out a little. John just runs 15x7 mags with a good sized tire. Clark
Thanks for the input Clark. I`m still thinking about the s10 frame since they are pretty easy to find and usually really cheap. The spacers don`t really consern me since this isn`t going to be a hotrd, just a fun little driver. I really like the steelies/wide whitewall combo so I`ll probably go that way with a primer paint job and call it good.
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