I have a buddy who has spent a couple of years building an S-10. He has built a pretty nice small block, changed out the rear end and so on and so forth. He has all of the S-10 body parts ready to go, but is now at a crossroad. He is contemplating finding a pre-60s car or truck and using the S-10 as a platform for a more traditional ride. I have seen a few trucks done using the S-10 frame. Not sure if I have seen any cars, but, I would love to see a thread of rides where the S-10 was used as their basis. If ya got 'em, put 'em up here!!! Actually a frame swap is what I should have said as corrected by my friend SlowandLow63. Thanks S&L63.
Then he's looking to do a frame swap, not a subframe. A subframe is where you use only the front 1/3 of the frame, usually around the firewall up. From what I've heard, the S10s are very versatile because the frame is adjustable if that makes any sense. The front half and rear half can slide within eachother if you cut the welds, thus making the wheelbase multifaceted for various applications. Good luck, sounds like a good idea to me!
Big T...whats up? Yes the S10 frame can be adjusted easily for length...50's Chevy trucks fit fine (you should get some replys for those)...there was also a thread a while back about putting an S10 frame under 49-54 Chevy cars...The good news is that the front end width is right for 49-54 Chevy applications (trust me I have measured many)...Of course rear ends are easily swapped or narrowed if they don't match...Good luck!
'87 S-10 long bed reg cab chassis, '48 Chev, sbc 700r4, 4x4 s-10 rear end is two inches wider on each side, 2" front wheel spacers, stock s-10 height, bigger rear tires on it now (not it pics)
Hey, whats up BZNSRAT? Thanks for the info man... Yeah, hes already installed a beefier rearend out of an old blazer I believe. Yes, SlowandLow63... you are correct. I should have said a frame swap. Keep the pics coming!
I'm doing a new build using the s10 frame under 1941 studebaker pk/up added late model stock car front hubs and wide five wheels. A frankland quick change in back also with wide fives. Air bags all around. The body will be chaneled 5 inchs and 4 1nchs cut off the body below the doors the front fenders will be trimed off the botton to matchas well as the front valance area. Its gona be nascar truck as if the had them back in say the 50s/60s kinda modefied race truck. just got the air bags and w/5s up front done and starting to shoot photos today. I'll post something once i get more done. Keep your eye out for 41 stude s10 build comming soon. Johnrodz
See that's why I hate subframed cars, the front wheels are just sticking too far out for my tastes. I wonder if someone could photoshop that with some bias plys, real low and maybe some early Caddy sombreros.
My current project is a 46 Ford Tudor with an S-10 frame. We used an S-10 long bed truck. The track width was perfect and we shorten the frame 3" to make it the same lenght as a stock 46. We dropped in a big block Chevy just to make things harder. Our biggest problem to date was finding a short steering gear that would fit with the big cross flow radiator. The nose on the 46 narrows considerable making it a trick to stuff it all in. We all so canned the little 10 bolt diff. in favor of a 9" ford. The car sits at stock S-10 highth and looks really good. We did have to trim out the rear floor board. We raised the floor 3" higher than stock and lost a little room where the frame humps up into the area where your feet are. All in all it wasn't a hard swap.
Been avoiding this thread, but what the hell here's mine, Im building a 40 ford pickup fot the wife, and am using a 96 S10 chassis. There's a bunch of cutting & trimming on this swap, and there are some steering clearence issues, but Im pleased with it so far. I haven't worked on it for over a year now, but I think about it damn near every day. Don't know what your buddy has in mind but it's a great swap for a late 40's early 50's chevy pickup, do a search on clarks projects & bubbagmc, good luck, & here's a couple pics of my swap.
here's what the kid & I are putting together.. Can we say longggggg, I believe I added something like 37" to the S10-frame....joe
You did it the only right way it can be done. Otherwise the frame is too wide for the narrow bodied cars or trucks. I am having that problem now on my '40 Frod sedan. http://gemsprojects.shutterfly.com/ I hope my Stude PU will be easier.
Ofcourse i could maybe find a frame that was straighter than the S10 is up front and with rack and pinion steering. But i dont know which one that is.
Here's a '40 I just finished recently on an s10 truck chassis. It has a coil spring rear, 454 eng sit back 12 inches, 400 turbo, rides like a dream. Now working on a '41 Willys on Blazer s10 chassis. Only way for us poor boys to go, glass of course!
Might want to be more specific and as those who have used s10 frames how they solved the interference problems with the radiator and steering gear.
Nice looking fasttrain49...any pictures of the interior? Pretty nice glass body as well, really like the profile.
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