i'm planning on using the frame and drivetrain from a '96 S10 Blazer under a '54 victoria customline shell. all of the gl*** and trim on the car is in nice condition. the frame on the '96 was tweaked a bit from an accident, but is road-worthy. i'd like to combine the two with the end result being an all-weather(AWD/selectable 4wd) custom. any suggestions?
Don't do 10grand worth of work (even just your own labour) based on a questionable ch***is, when you can probably get a straight one for 500 bucks !
Get the truck frame straight. Roll it onto a flat, smooth suraface. Mark off every measurement on the pavement. wheelbase, track widths, frame mounting points, steering, seat, motor, firewall, radiator, exhaust and gas tank locations. Now roll the other car into the same position and repeat. Note all differences, and plan out how to fix each one. Too much work? See my signature.
i'll have get used to replying to quotes here but: no off-roading, i have a bronco for that. my neck is a bit red around the collar area but it's kinda light. i want to build this car because i've never seen one like it and the dimensions are fairly close to one another. the '54 has a 113" wheelbase while the '96 blazer(2-door) is around 110"...seems like an easy stretch and the width of the '96 is close to, maybe a little less than, that of the '54.
Not to say I agree with your project but the S-10 frame can be lenghtened or shortned by cutting through the welds where the side rails and front/rear portions meet and sliding the joints together or apart. when you get your wheelbase right just reweld the joint and your good to go. Make sure you support the joint in a level position when you reweld so the finished frame isn't sagging. A little investigation of your particular frame will tell you which end is the best for the modification as the factory used different wheel bases for the S-10. Frank
i knew there wouldn't be many people who did agree with it but the whole idea of traditional rodding was using things that were cheap or readily available...that's what i'm going for. all of the parts i'm using are free and have great potential for something different.
I am having a little problem with the 4 wheel drive bit. How are you going to get it low enough to not look like an SUV? Unless you are going for the monster truck look, I think that may be a visual snag. Neal
I think you'll be surprised just how much extra work that'll be instead of using the original frame. Go for it if you want to learn for yourself. This is how a lot of prjects get started but not finished. BTW I'm all for using whatever you have. My coupe has everything AMC to VW parts and everything betweenbut I challenge you to pick them all out. The goal is to find a part that will look right doing it's job, not just cob stuff together.
it(the blazer) was lowered already, frame about 4.5 inches from the ground with the front CV's almost perpendicular to the ground at ride height. i figure i can bag it and make it lay out while still using the 4wd(probably AWD). airbags and torsion bars aren't common, but they're not too difficult either.
I wouldn't do it with a 4X4. I might do it with a 2wd... I'm waiting for the "build it the way you want and screw everyone else" people to chime in on this... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=249071 .
Sounds like you have given it some thought. You don't need to lay the frame on the ground, just get it a few inches lower than stock height to give it a good look. Nice if you can run it down the road at the lowered stance. Looks funny going down the interstate like a mud-runner. I have been looking at doing the S10 swap but never considered the 4X4. Give it a shot and keep us posted. For me, the stance and wheel choice go a long ways on making the car. Neal
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