why not dress up the clip that is in it already? I just put a 73 nova clip on my 52 ford f-1 and yes in some places it is ugly but there is nothing you cannot smooth out with some plate and welding. I was on a budget and paid 300 bucks for the complete runing nova and wehen I put in the 302 the fabbed motor mounts sat perfect on the ol chevy mounts. I had to raise the engine in the frame about 2 more inches than stock but whatever its mine and i dont care if people dont like it
We put an S-10 on my 51. Here is the patch in progress. We moved the engine back 10 inches and moved the firewall back 9 inches........nice fit
I put a 90 350/700r4 in a 95 2wd s10, the stock starter is a *****, but it fits. used 86 caprice manifolds, had a shop run duals. It needs a few odds and ends, but it fit ok. If I were the OP, I would find a stock frame and start over before trying to use the s10 clip. MAYBE if you used an entire frame and channel it an inch, but then you lose seat room. And as far as bags go, you can bag the stock front end, http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=72871
I did this swap on my 50, the track width is perfect. I have no clearance problems and have just bagged the Jag front end as well. You'll looking for a pre 1986 Jag. Gives you power steering and 4 pot calipers.
my buddy put one under his 53 chevy 4dr and built a back half for it. he's also putting in a diesel mercedes motor in it. it's not all that hard, he built it start to finish outside in front of the garage. the backhalf he built mounts the bags outside the frame behind the axle so he doesn't loose any rear seat space.
I just started putting an 83 s-10 clip on my wifes 54 chevy last weekend and got it tacked together and it seemed too easy until I found that the skid plate under the clip was 1" lower than my frame.
oh and here is a picture of how it looks now before I cut it off again and raise it up 1", where it is now would be fine if I was going to use the original ****** cross member. oh and a pic of the point of no return
My suggestion is to leave it alone. The stock suspension works well, and is the same as Corvette through 1962. That is "traditional".
You have a lot of work ahead. The original trans and connectors should be removed. They are riveted on, so just cut the rivets and drop it out. You will need to fab a new trans cross bar. Speedway, Summit and most rod shops sell genric length trans cross bar/kits if you wanna go that route. I am concerned that you just whacked off the old front end and are trying to flat mate the new one. I cut mine and slid the S10 clip over and tapered the S10 frame to meet the stock rails. Oh yeah, if you want to get the factory front lower just "Z" the clip a bit. You will need to frame gusset the heck out of this the way you have it set up in the picture. Take your time. Measure EVERYTHING 3 times. Make good strong welds. Keep us posted.
lots of good info here. i will be lookin at clippin mine in the next few years. buddy has a 4dr 54 and he used monte carlo front clip. went in with very little work.
I learned something and set myself back a step, never measure from the center of the wheel back to the cut mark on the s-10 clip while the factory springs are still in place, now I have to cut it back apart and install transitional spacers. the control arms move back quite a bit as the vehicle drops
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