Shoebox Clip Swap - S10 vs. Camaro

My apologies for posting something that doesn't help with the decision re which clip but perhaps the KISS Principal might be best applied here. Rebuild current suspension with new parts. Ease and safety all in one? FWIW Im a Safety Manager for a mining company and have a pretty good understanding of Risk. When I buy my shoebox that's the way I'll be going. Sometimes safety costs $ and therefore time, but as you say, its your family's life that is at stake. Wondering how much you would really save after buying a donor, fully rebuilding it, getting it Professionally welded up etc etc. Hope this is of some value. Good luck with it.

 

im running an 81 malibu frame under my 51. the c***is had to be extended 7 5/8 inches to get the wheel base to line up but the track width it the same hub to hub as the ford ch***is. to do the frame swap with the g-body, plan on building new floors to channel the car over the frame or grafting the chevy floor into the rockers of the ford. section the rear rail of the ford into the chevy frame. as with doing just the front clip clearance will need to be made for the frame rails because you can't cut them off behind the steering box and idler arm. really if your frame and suspension is decent rebuild the brakes and bearings and run them. it seems more expensive but by the time you figure in a steering column, linkage, parts (frame or clip) and then rebuilding the cheep old **** you got a good deal on, it pretty much equals out. thats just my opinion if i were to do it again

Lance

 

search Jpaull on YouTube. He claims to have only 3k in his build. He used a whole s10 ch***is, but lengthened it.

 

I have to strongly disagree on safety. 60+ year old tech and metal is not safer than the S-10 disc brakes, suspension geometry, and power steering. As long as the welding is done right, I would say you've considerably reduced risk by putting the clip on. Read the shoebox thread I posted above, and see if that doesn't change your mind.

 

I'd look at torsion bar fronts, or jag. I'm using the jag xj, and it bolts in, almost. perfect width for my 53.

Volare/Diplomat are popular fronts to use. Never done one, but it looks user friendly.
Torsion bars, 1,000,000 mini trucks can't be wrong.
Bolt in is easier to undo, if you wish, than "clipping" a full frame. So that is my vote.

 

Can you explain 'bolt-in' torsion suspension to me??? I've not heard of this before for a Shoebox ford (or any other car for that matter).

Also, the front Width listed for a '49 is 56"
The front Width listed for a '52+ is 58"

It is this narrow 56" that creates the issues for Shoebox fords.

I'm not sure what XJ you have to use, but the ones I found are 58" wide, and I have no idea what 'bolt in' means for this. Do you have any posts on this type of conversion, and do you know of any in 56" ranges? Also, I would prefer something from the 80's-90's, as parts would be easier to find. Also, Jaguar isn't going to be cheap, or readily available at the Autozone or NAPA!

 

I just did an s 10 clip on my 51 shoe box and I love it. It was simple and it drives like a dream. the only thing I had to do was use an inch spacer to get the right width . if I could figure out how to put pictures on here I could show you how simple it was.

 

What I said:

2 separate options here.
Volare/diplomat. Chryco torsion bar for mid size cars. subframe design, lends itself to adaptation easier than a g-body perimeter frame or narrow s10 frame. (which also has a big steering box right up front in the way of ****.)
I have seen it done to narrow, late 30s frames.
I have not done anything to a shoebox ford, ever. so take it for what its worth.

Jaguar. Uses a BOLT IN front suspension. Easily adapted to anything with a flat frame section. If I can figure it out, anyone can. S10 4x4 steel wheels would correct the extra width. you just turn the hubs down to fit the center of the wheel. dual piston disc brakes, rear rack steering. replacement parts are out there. ball joints don't go out that often anyway so I wouldn't make my choice based on that alone.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=513236&highlight=jaguar+xj

you're either wide or narrow, and can correct it with wheels.
s10 2wd has a 54.4" width, hub to hub
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=238585

 

I understand the bolt-in now. Didn't realize it just bolted to flat frame sections. I'll have to climb under mine again to check, but if I remember right, the shoebox doesn't have flat frames either, otherwise they'd make a Mustang II kit for it that wasn't a clip.

As far as you're either too wide, or too narrow, I'd have to agree. I'm going to use the 2wd S10 Blazer frame/clip, which is 55" wide (54.976" to be exact). It is the closest I could find without going over. I much prefer a deeper dish wheel, than the opposite (flush look), so I will stick with being under sized in my opinion.

Thanks for the feedback.

P.S. Holleywoodphoto, sorry to hijack, but I am wanting to only cut once, like you. I want to know what ALL of my options are before doing it. I've actually posted before on this topic, but this thread is getting way more responses. Which is good I think.

Also of interest I just found in my research, the original Mustang II / Pinto / Capri / Bobcat is listed around 55.7 inches. An original clip from one of those cars might actually make sense in this application as they are the closest to original track width (49-51 Ford).

 

Hijack away my friend!! I think I have opted to go with a complete frame swap....I know some of you might glare and think I am crazy but....It makes the most sense for what I want to do....This will be a part time daily driver, besides I have my all origi**** 50 chevy...... I was really inspired by this video someone sent me.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kvMxmBc9uQ

I love the look of these old cars so much that I would rather have one of these as a daily driver then a modern looking car.

 

Fellow Hamb-ites,
A couple of guys said G-Body Chevs 79-83 or so monte,malibu,cutl*** is by far the easy-est.Have done 3 that way and can p/u a complete car for 2-3-bills and it works great. You will also learn that alot of the s-10 is the same as G-body at oriely's.But I would also agree that up-grades sometimes cost a little more but the integrity of the car is maintained.

 

It's been over a year did you do the s10 sub? how do you like it?

 

I have chosen to go with a full frame swap,,,have the frame extended,and the body hanging from the A-Frame,,just finished back surgery 10 days ago so will not get back to it till Christmas time,all looks good so far,I think the body mounts will be the big challenge

 

Yeah I know what your saying , "I cut it twice and it's still too short" has come out of my mouth more than once .