A few people have asked about the G-body frame I stuck under my 53. If anyone cares, I have a few build photos that show it: http://www.flickr.com/photos/49232164@N07/ -Brian
That's one of the cleanest frame swaps I've ever seen. Just proves once again "you get out what you put in" Frank
any more info on this, anyone else do one of these? I've been looking for awhile to find the best frame donor for a '53/'54 Chevy since MII's are out of my price range
lots of work i just did a s10 swap into a 50 shoebox notched and 4 linked.... alot of in and out with the frame nd tripple measuring
Wow nice work ! Its getting pretty much impossiable to find a g body for parts around here with a salvageable frame! I would have used one on my 47 if I could have found one. For those that asked yes the G body is narrower than the Camaro/Nova , wheelbase is only about 109" I think , so you have to stretch it or(better idea) do like this was done and replace the flimsy side rails with box tubing.
For the record, I hate frame swaps. I think it has turned into a cliche cop out for people that can't or won't build or modify a chassis the right way and the end result is a heck of a lot of S10 and Dakota pickups running around masquerading as something else. The whole "clip" thing is just as bad. Too many people think they can just scab on the front rails from something that isn't wore out and all is well. They usually miss ride height, caster and camber angles, compromise suspension travel and generally muck up a car that was worth more before they cut into it. All that said, you did a very nice job here. I don't really see this as a frame swap. You built a chassis around the clips, but then you did a body drop (quite well) and finished it all out from top to bottom. Give yourself more credit that calling it a "swap". Oh, and I have a very nice G-body in the driveway, if anyone is intersted...
If you lived somewhere where winter weather and tons of road salt destroy frames as badly as body panels you would understand why some of us are forced to take this route besides its a custom.....what about all the 29-40 Ford bodies running around on repop frames.....
If I lived there, I'd move! Not fond of the cold, am I. I don't have any problem with the motivation, just tire of all the "shortcut" artist that think a frame swap is hotrodding. I don't mean frame replacement, using what it had or a traditional substitute. I mean a 60 year old car on a 10 year old frame. Repop frames are great. A Model A coupe on Deuce rails is a functional and stylistic upgrade consistent with hotrodding of the 1930s to the 1960s. So you have more candidates in need than we do in my part of the country, does that mean that the poor outcome is more tolerable? I would think it means that the added expense of quality work, restoration or modification, would be more justifiable. One other option that seems to be gaining popularity, come down here and buy up our nice, solid, Texas and Arizona cars. Did I mention the great G-body in my driveway? Anyways, this really is a good example. Coming from a hater like me, that is a big compliment. I really mean it. Let's not drag Brian into all this.
My Father and Uncle did this same basic process on a 54 Chev PU chassis, the rails were moved further inboard to match the original frame width and used 2" X 5" rectangle tubing. The only thing that concerns me with your chassis is how the front stub fastens to the rectangle tubing. It appears all the welds are in one plane where the rails but together. I would consider fish plates to get some more surface area overlap on the inside and outside, unless you have some internal fish plates that cannot be seen. Nice job. I bet it rides like a dream.
What did you use to line the inside of the cab? Was it an undercoat or a thinned out truck bed liner? it looks great
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