58 GM pickup...did i just buy junk?

I'm putting a camaro/firebird front end under my 58GMC. I bought one yesterday from a 71 firebird (2nd gen). Did I just buy an expensive boat anchor? Yes, I measured ahead of time and the truck frame width is 34" but the firebird frame is 36" wide.

Looking at it in the car (before purchase) it seemed like I'd be able to make it work. When I sit it next to the truck frame, I'm really not seeing how it's going to work.

Thoughts please. (especially from you guys who've done this one before)

 

I found you a present.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=148978

 

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=148978&highlight=lux+blue

 

Thanks guys, but I've read it multiple times and have it printed and I'm a subscriber to it. I know a genII camaro clip will work and has been done many times. What I'm asking is this 71 firebird clip gonna work (yes, it's a gen II by definition but...)

Also, I'm at work and our firewall won't let me view pictures from most photo storage sites, so Lux's article is pretty useless to me here so I thought I'd ask while I'm here and can read it. The printed article is at home, so that's not an option right now.

 

A 71 Firebird clip and a 71 Camaro clip are exactly the same except for engine and ****** mounts.

 

JD, from the looks of the pictures in Lux's post it seems there is about a 1" to 1.5" over hang on each side of the stock frame so that would make sense to the width difference.

 

We always have too change things? We will take a perfectly good independent front suspension from a 50,s car and install a straight axle. Then do just the opposite to a truck that already has a axle? OldWolf

 

******** hotrodders would have left the straight axle alone and worked with it. Its like taking a hardtail bad*** Harley and putting a softail on it.

 

What are the specific reasons that you think a 71 firebird clip wont work? What is dissimilar between your subframe and a camaro subframe that is making you question its usability?

I'd like to help but I dont understand the question. You said the sub width is off by 2 inches, but so was the one from Lux's tech post. You have seen the post so you already know that.

 

Seriously? I know real hot rodders. ******** ones, too. Pioneers and seasoned veterans. None of them would have the balls to say something as dumb as this. I hope you are joking.

 

it depends what you want to do with it. if you want to make a sky high g***er or just drop it some what, than leave it alone, or if you want to lay out on bags or just have a nice riding coil over, you would want to swap it out. to each his own. I would swap it and bag it. to me thats about functionality not about being traditonal or not. no ones going to see it anywayz.

 

I was trying to be nice about, but hell you said it perfect!

 

The stock truck's inherent bumpsteer ****s, and is dangerous. If you want to drive the truck hard and take advantage of an engine upgrade, a clip or an MII kit is the way to go, especuially if you want to drop it down nice and lowwwwwwww.

 

Have any of you "true hotrodders" (aimed at those critical of this change) ever driven a 50's model truck with straight axle? I owned one and drove it with original gear for 10 years and quite simply, it was dangerous. And that was in an area with little traffic and it having an old six cylinder. Living and driving in Houston, well the old one would have stayed parked.

The purpose of the front suspension upgrade is for driveability, ride heighth and upgrading from the GM271 six cylinder to a Pontiac 350. The motor change alone required at minimum changing out the crossmembers, both motor and transmission.

Sorry if that doesn't meet with "real hotrodder theory" but when you pay me to work on yours, then you can direct how and why it gets built.

For those who actually had input into the answer to the question, thanks much. Sorry for the diversion but "holier than thou" folks irritate me, especially when being such with other folks stuff.

 

Since you are going to be runnin a Poncho based engine, the 71 Bird clip will work out great.

 

Curious if you still have the GMC/Pontiac engine and what your plans may be for it?

Steve

Hosting- 8th annual Nostalgic Show & Go! April 11 Phoenix
make plans to attend now www.nostalgicshowandgo.org

 

If it makes you feel any better or gives anyone else more reason to hate. My 52 is on a malibu chasis with disk brakes and power steering!

 

Pretty sure you were referring to me in this statement and I have driven trucks back to the 40's models with straight axles. My first truck, my 63 F100 has a straight axle. It was just an opinion, I'm from small town USA so I don't have to deal with the traffic. A sway bar, steering damper, and good shocks and springs sure do wonders for the handling on them though. And disc brake kits help with the stopping end of things. Sorry if my post implied something it shouldn't have, after all it is your truck and you have to deal with its characteristics so go for it!

 

I know there are a lot of mixed posts on here...but i myself have just finished a clip on my 56.....want any answers or tips....pm me....heck if you want i will give you my number and you can call. IMHO i think this site is supposed to be about helping each other out, with whatever your working on...so I'm offering

 

No, not particularly at you individually, just the at***ude of several who have not offered suggestions, but criticisms about upgrading rather than "toughing" it out. In our day and time, we can "hotrod" without being unsafe. And, depending upon the use of any vehicle in question here, leaving something original (shame on using the word " restore" it) or upgrading suspension, motor, etc should be based upon the intended use of the equipment. I have a (oh shame on me) restored 53 Pontiac Chieftain, but this truck will be my shop truck, fighting the fools on the highways of the 4th largest city in the US and running daily on the worst road in TX for traffic/trouble (I-45 woodlands to downtown).

I appreciate the helpful suggestions and I'll do***ent this for those coming after who want to do similar (though Lux's already is exemplary).

 

should work like this, Nova clip on a 55 frame, virtually the same set-up...

 

Sub-frames have been done so many times, I just don't have anymore comments.

 

'58 Chevy, '71 Camaro clip. (I've done two, the other '58 was with a late model Monte Carlo clip)

Driverside frame rail at the firewall. Its easy easy, i dont know how you'd do an easier clip.

 

Is this truck on the road? I'm kinda curious as it looks to have a few problems going on in this pic.

Now this is more like it. This is the way I have done them, though I do box the inside of the stock frame a bit.

 

Enjenjo did one hopefully he will see this and help out.

 

I agree with ya zman, the clip is hacked way too short, you'd have to fishplate it a lot to get the strength back, and that would look like poop