I've been using the search feature on the H.A.M.B. and haven't really gotten the tech I'm looking for. I was wondering if any hambers have done one of these clips on a 54 chevy car or any early 50's chevy car or have any info/tech links on this subject. I'm gonna tackle this project myself and was looking for some tips and tricks other people have for this, or problems to avoid etc. , i appreciate your help, thanks
and to avoid the "why don't you just use a mustang II?" question, I would if i could but the car i have already came with an early seventies chevy front clip,, and it looks really ****ty and slapped together. The S-10 clip i have was free and not junk, and there's plenty of airbag options for these trucks/clips,, thanks
youll run into alot of issues... Mainly the amount of work involved with the fab of this. then if running a v8 youll need special mounts and headers. the s10 is a very popular and suspenion parts are a dime a dozen. But the amount of work involved may not be worth it. I am using a 81 firebird subframe.
yeah i wasnt sure of the track width. i know the camaro is a inch 2 wide. the steering box also causes issues with the rad. S10 v8 headers are alittle scarey if you ask me..and u could possibly need a mini starter.. But! you have updated suspension with parts readily available at any parts store. you can find drop springs and spindles for less then 200 bones..
cool cool, so is narrow good? why the wheel spacers? cuz the wheels would be set too far in? hmm, and this clip the s-10 came off of was already running a v-8 so that part is done,, what kind of fab am i lookin towards? like,, where the ch***is meet? , thanks for the input
check out www.chevytalk.com lots of info there on your car. lets see some pic's showing that front clip.
I did a frame swap on my 53; and I was under the opinion that the camaro/firebird stuff was too wide. I used a GM G body frame (monte carlo, cutl***, grand prix etc... The suspension up front is the same as the S/10 stuff, so I was able to use the 200 dollar drop spindles. The frame will have to be shortened back to the steering box because the front steering barely fits behind the front sheetmetal. the radiator will sit inside the steering box, but a 55 chevy radiator will fit if it is moved forward of the stock location. You will have to make a new core support and hood latch. On the plus side, you will have WAY more room for headers with the front steering setup, and it is very inexpensive. Air suspension is easy, and you get your sway bars disc brakes and power steering for less than a tenth of some spindly Mustang II stuff. I take the car on long road trips and the road manners are beautiful. Like a new car. The frame is designed as a perimeter frame, so it is wider than the 53 frame, so tying it together might be a chore. I prefered using the entire thing, so I could also use the better coil spring four link rear suspension. My rear is a 12 bolt from a 65-67 chevelle, and the width is perfect. The frame had to be lenthened 7 inches to attain the 115 inch wheelbase, and then the engine was set back 3 inches. I am running a big block with a long pump and there is plenty of room. Let me know if you want any pictures; just email me.
Y'all are talking about dropped spindles and bags. I don't understand, if we are sub-framing why not just step the frame where you weld the two together?? By doing this you get the exact ride height you want. This is an additional advantage of most sub-framing projects y'all haven't mentioned. BTW, I will look through my links, I have the sub links somewhere... Good luck!
...for one thing if you Z the frame too much, you create lots of other problems like radiator, steering box and header clearance,...and you have to set the engine higher which creates floorpan issues. ...I've clipped these cars with rear-steer 68-74 Nova (or clones) front clips with great results using drum brake front clips which are a bit narrower than disc brake clips. ...just my 2 cents....hardest part is finding these clips as they are becoming extinct.
I used a full S10 frame on a 49 chevy. With common ET-V mags in 14x6, the wheels were fine. With stock S10 rims I measured the track, and it was identical to the stock front end with stock rims.
am putting an 83 s-10 front clip under my wifes 54 210 and was hoping to find one of those extremely informative tech threads on the subject but I guess there isnt one yet.
And you're using a Firebird? It's the same thing.. Then you put discs on and you are right back into the issues...
Ive been measuring an noticed that without removing the body from the frame , the only spot that is close to a common wdth is about 19 " back from wheel center where both frames are 34-35 " wide.
I wouldn't mess around with the S10 clip unless the car was already cut by someone else. There's a Jag front clip that goes on the stock frame pretty easy and is pretty cheap, because guys throw them away after they pull the IRS out of them. Still waiting for a good tech on one, but it gives you discs, lowers the car, and the width is right. I guess some of the bolt holes even line up.
if you go with this swap the 605 box will save you a little more room than the other style. and should bolt on to the s-10 if thats what you use. we did a G-body clip in my budys 54 car. 2" drop spindles. same as the s-10. best part about G-body stuff is brake upgrades are easy. parts are cheap. and it rides good.
Not being a smart ***...but have you done an S10 V8 swap before or are you just thinking the potential issues thru? I haven't done a 2 wheel drive version, but doing a 4x4 I had no big issues fabbing a set of mounts or running STOCK V8 manifolds. Used a stock Chevy starter too...although it might have been a smaller one, can't remember...but it was certainly a stock Chevy part! I just can't see the 2 wheel drive being an even tighter fit... AD...we have an S10 frame swap thread going right now. I'd at least check that for info before I made a firm decision on if the S10 stub will fit or not.
Allright Ive been playing with the idea my self for quite a while. As said above S-10 conversions to V8 can be costly. Summit/Jegs does sell complete conversion kits for Fairly Big bucks. I Recently put a s-10 ch***ie under a 54 GMC pickup. Motor mounts and ****** mounts were about 150, not bad price but the quality of mounts were ****.. You do have to change the oil pan for a SBC and buy the special headers... Once again, as said above tieing into the stock ch***ie is no easy task. Better running a nova clip. IF your serious about changing the front end, I would Consider changing the intire ch***ie. From what I have Read in the Wheel Base Book, pre 1970 chevelle frames are the same Wheel Base as 53-54 chevys. Good Luck, Make sure you double check everything and RESEARCH before you hack that stock clip off.... steve
There's an old thread on here that tells how to Camaro Clip your ride in one day or something along that manner. I'll see if I can find it for you. Here it is... was the third thread using the search function for Camaro Clip. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=148978&highlight=camaro+clip I know your talking S10, but the concepts should the the same for mounting.
Maybe read his post again, it's already got a ****ty clip on it... He actually put it in the second post real quick to avoid this... So he has to remove a ****py clip and see about doing something better.
look up "chopt49" on here...he has an s-10 clip on his 49 and has great photos do***enting what he has done. He helped me with my 4-link. That being said, im against any kind of clip also...mine had a camaro clip on it and I finally hacked it off and put back the original frame ...then installed a mustang II. Check out chopt49's, very clean set up and I'm sure he could answer any questions you have....good luck...Cj.
I plan to just make it work with pie cuts and plating (oh and beer) as long as the wheel base is where it needs to be and everything is square, just make it extra strong.
if you ever want this car to be worth anything as far as resale . a new frame w/a mustang 11 is in order.
Quote: <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD cl***=alt2 style="BORDER-RIGHT: 1px inset; BORDER-TOP: 1px inset; BORDER-LEFT: 1px inset; BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px inset">Originally Posted by Outlaw52 look up "chopt49" on here...he has an s-10 clip on his 49 and has great photos do***enting what he has done. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> Heres the link..... http://www.flickr.com/photos/chopt49...7594244592082/ Damn, Thats a cool build, did he ever get it finished, is there another link? <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->
I disagree, a properly done clip is worth just as much as a Mustang II. Especially at this point when he is fixing a messed up clip as well....
Damn, Thats a cool build, did he ever get it finished, is there another link? <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->[/QUOTE] heres another one......hes done a four door to 2 door conversion and chop....hes getting close.... http://thewebczar.com/
I have an s10 clip on my '49 chevy. More pictures can be seen by clicking the links in my sig below. If I had to do it all over again - MII on a stock frame would be my choice. You have to get the new clip on the orig frame (not as easy as it sounds) and then make motor and trans mounts, buy spcl headers, the power steering models make getting a radiator in a pain in the ****, the list goes on. Although to "bag" it is easy and cheap! Ask me any question you may have.
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