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Projects 56 chevy truck chassis

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by tdorwin, Apr 8, 2009.

  1. tdorwin
    Joined: Apr 8, 2009
    Posts: 3

    tdorwin
    Member
    from Spokane

    I want to put my 56 chevy truck on a newer frame. What type of truck ch***is could I mount my 56 body to? What type of modifications would I have to make?
     
  2. I think it is now considered okay, (traditional) to use a Chevy s-10 frame for just about any ch***is swap ??? Maybe ...:eek:
     
  3. SquigMachine
    Joined: Dec 6, 2008
    Posts: 184

    SquigMachine
    Member

    my 55' is sitting on a 1965 SWB ch***is with a mid 70's c10 front subframe....not that hard at all seeing as im only 19 and did 90% of the work myself
    (not wiring,gl***,brakelines)
     
    hotrodharry2 likes this.
  4. wheelbarrowsgarage
    Joined: Oct 7, 2006
    Posts: 276

    wheelbarrowsgarage
    BANNED
    from Missiry

    Hello
    I have a 55, had it for far to long considering I have never drivin it! First shot was an 81 full size frame, turned out bent. Found an 88 full size frame, ended up also bent. If I ever get back to it I am going to go with an 85 Suburban frame. The track width on the full sizes is a tad wide for the 55 but with the right wheels it will work. An S-10 would be way to narrow! I already happen to have a Suburban but part of the reason I want to use it is that I can make the body sit lower over the frame with less mods. The frame drops down under the cab and on the trucks comes back up to meet the bed, well on the Sub it doesn't come back up until the rear axle. A truck frame would work if you either want it to sit higher or channeled the cab a little. I wanna slam the ****er and it will be bagged as well. Be happy to help you with anything I can. Another thing to consider is that the 55 frame and a 73-87 frame is basically the same width. You could front stub it pretty easy and gain the independant front and discs without swapping the whole thing. The rear axle would also be swappable but you might have to change the brackets.
    Good luck whatever you choose.
     
    hotrodharry2 likes this.
  5. tdorwin
    Joined: Apr 8, 2009
    Posts: 3

    tdorwin
    Member
    from Spokane

    Thanks I have a 74 stepside frame. I will have to do some measuring.
     
  6. Wander
    Joined: Mar 25, 2009
    Posts: 23

    Wander
    Member

    Is the Camaro front clip not a option, don't know if you want to lower your truck.
    This is the way I did it a couple of times.
    [​IMG]

    Wander
     
  7. MEDDLER1
    Joined: Jun 1, 2006
    Posts: 1,590

    MEDDLER1
    Member

    Whats wrong with the stock frame?i also did the camaro clip and honestly i think it is the way to go.it takes way less time and you will be closer to being on the road for sure.
     
  8. bfink55
    Joined: May 31, 2007
    Posts: 247

    bfink55
    Member
    from Turlock CA

    exactly what i was gonna say
     
  9. SquigMachine
    Joined: Dec 6, 2008
    Posts: 184

    SquigMachine
    Member

    some of us have either just cabs and sheetmetal, or the frame is a rusty hunk and want something alittle safer to tool around down the road in
     
  10. tdorwin
    Joined: Apr 8, 2009
    Posts: 3

    tdorwin
    Member
    from Spokane

    I don't want to lower it. will it still work?
     
  11. hipkatgreaser
    Joined: Aug 29, 2007
    Posts: 164

    hipkatgreaser
    Member

    I've got a '58 and was lookin into doin a stub of '87 c-10 or use from cab forward because I'm back halving it also. Would the 87 ch***is work or would an extended cab long box s-10 be better?
     
  12. wheelbarrowsgarage
    Joined: Oct 7, 2006
    Posts: 276

    wheelbarrowsgarage
    BANNED
    from Missiry

    If you don't want to lower it then any of the suspensions will still work just make the cab sit higher when you build it. If you want it high then a fullsize truck frame would to me be the ticket. Like I said before an S truck is kinda narrow. A Camaro stub is not bad either, my dad did a 58 that way. You can still control where it sits by how you weld the stub on. My dad went for slammed!
     
  13. SquigMachine
    Joined: Dec 6, 2008
    Posts: 184

    SquigMachine
    Member

    its all in the builder and How they do it...i wanted mine low to a point that it still retained that old school look but it still had to fit my big block without any questions so i moved the cab around a bit and set it where I thought it looked best not anyone else
     
  14. Greasy64
    Joined: Nov 1, 2008
    Posts: 198

    Greasy64
    Member

    I've owned several of the Late '55 (second series) -'59 trucks and did different front clips and the camaro/firebird is the way to go for me. If you drive alot you cant beat them for handling, braking, steering choices either. Everyone makes aftermarket parts for the '70-81 F-bodies. They are not as plentiful as they once were to cut up for a clip put they are still out there for cheap. The track width is good also. The only drawback is it turns it into a "new" truck (I.F.S., discs, quick steering, etc.) that defeats the perpose of driving an old truck to some. I like the look of a solid axle but you cant see how cool it looks at hwy speeds in a panic stop in the middle of a curve on the Pasadena freeway.
     
  15. Old dogs and children
    Joined: May 25, 2013
    Posts: 4

    Old dogs and children
    Member
    from Tampa

    I started today on a 56 with an 81 Camaro clip. My research found at least 3 methods for the merge concerning ride height.
     
  16. Chevy man lynch
    Joined: Feb 21, 2017
    Posts: 1

    Chevy man lynch

    I have a suggestion fer ya boys. . . Check out LUX BLUs thread on how he did a camaro clip on a 58 panel. Good stuff brothers. Remember, the 58/59 trucks have a different wheel well opening design compared to the 55-57 trucks. So, that means that if you want the wheel to sit/look right in a 58/59 truck(at a lowered stance) then ya'll will need to move it a bit farther forward than you would in a 55-57 chevy truck. Lol. Just sayin, in case anybody was wondering. My opinion, the camaro clip is the way to go if yer lookin at wantin to drive a stockish, or lower street truck that is solid as a rock. 3 feet of welding on the inside, and outside of the frame to the clip? Ha you'll never break it.
     

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