I dunno. I don't think most people think destroying something simply because you don't want to fix what works is associated with Hot Rodding.
Thanks, It's true that ignorance is bliss. I'm used to getting huge difficult projects done well and quickly. I guess every one just see's things differently.
I don't think it is fixing what works. I think the spirit of hot roding is, forgive me if I'm wrong, taking something that works and making it the way you like it because you can.
Traditional no. Welcome here, seems so. I hope this helps http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=274702&highlight=s10+frame+swap&showall=1
This is a 52 dodge on a s-10 chassis with big block chevy power. I built it a couple of yrs. Ago. It rode and drove great.
Frame swaps are the lazy man's idea of a fix, because people get the idea that it's somehow easy to take a body and put it on a completely different frame and make new mounts, they're scared of messing with the suspension even when it's as easy as a bolt on swap to change it. Or in this case the justification seems to be that the motor is already there and it's easier to change a body and make new body mounts than it is to pull a motor and weld a couple of mounts into the old frame that you can order up and buy and no fabrication is required at all. What? Not only that, but... so you're going to take a truck you don't like the ride and handling on because it handles like a 55 year old truck, and make it handle like a 35 year old truck instead? What? I just don't get people sometimes, they think these things are easy when in actuality trying to do it the "easy" way is 10 times more work than doing it right.
Geezzzz...that looks cool Ed! Nothing wrong with an S10 as long as it fits! With the 70 C10...are you getting much of an improved suspension/brake system? I know it has "truck arms' out back so thats a plus in my book...but up front...does it have Discs? I'd want discs I think, seeing as how your going thru all this trouble. Is a later front crossmember/suspension a bolt in??? That Stude will be near bulletproof with C10 running gear/frame under it. Be damn sure it fits though!!!!
Dave, in my opinion you hit the nail on the head when you named this thread "In over my Head!". You say "close enough for government work" to your axles being two inches wider. But it looks to me the tires are already really close to rubbing the front fenders and are tucked up in them slightly.Hell even if they are not tucked when you put the wider axles in they are gonna rub when the body leans. And if you have driven the 70 you know there is body roll. Other than that what about the wheel base front to back, how are you gonna attach the body to the frame, what kind of pedals are you gonna use (hanging or through the floor), how you gonna get the steering box to line up correctly,and about ever other thing that is under or in the truck, how are you gonna do all this just saying you are "use to getting huge difficult projects done well and quickly". A project like the one you are attempting is not done quickly and if not done well you are putting everyone else in danger when you drive the thing. You have to ask yourself can I really do this, do I really have the skills required to pull this off,do I really have the money to hire somebody to do what I cant do, if this thing is just thrown together with the "close enough" attitude can you forgive yourself for hurting someone because you were careless. That being said the best option in my opinion is to leave the stock frame in it beef up the coil springs rebuild the stock front axle ADD disc breaks if thats what you want. Rebuild and regear the rear axle to a more highway friendly gear. Put the motor and trans out of the 70 in it and drive it. This is much simpler than swapping a frame, and fabricating everything to fit. The hardest fab work involved here is trans and motor mounts. If you go with the frame swap GOOD LUCK, I think you need it!
this from a die hard Stude trk owner...just keep the frame-and clip it...newer rear end...it will be on the road sooner...there are lots of stude frames if you need one...like old 57 Chryslers with no engines...oh and send me your stock stuff to keep mine goin'
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