53 chevy truck frame swap options.

I'm getting ready to start work on my 53 5 window .I got it without a frame so I measured some frames and these is what I came up with; I can modify a malibu frame under the cab and bed area; I can use a 70s truck frame and make my front and rear fenders wider ; or I can do the s10 swap guys have done here before. Isn't the S10 front too narrow? does any one have pictures of how they look (front view- wheel to outside of fenders especially). has anyone done the malibu or truck frame swap? any pictures or site references appreciated. thanks in advance.

 

mexicano Here is a good tech artical on the s-10 frame swap !!
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/search.php?searchid=191074

 

Use the 70's truck frame and narrow the front end only......

 

If you can't find an original frame look for a 79-88 GM g body frame.(Monte Carlo Olds Cutl*** etc.) The track width is fairly close, but you will have to narrow the frame in the middle, refab bumper and radiator mounts,new cab supports, deal with the kick-up in the rear, and on and on. The 70s & 80s truck frames are way too big and clumsy unless you are going for that look. The best way all around is to find an original truck frame and do it from there. It will save you a lot of fitting and cutting, and when you are done you won't have something that has been band-aided.

 

How about an original stock frame ? I have one I am not going to use that I need to sell.

 

S-10 all the way

 

How much do you need for it, do you know what it would cost to ship to zip 27302

 

I've seen a couple of stock frames for sale local if that would help. I still think the S10 is a very good option, and cheaper than redoing a stock one...

 

save yourself a lot of trouble and find an orignal frame.

put a mustang IIn it and be done no sheet metal problems.
al sisson
mosheim,tn.

 

My friend has a Dodge D50 clip under his.

 

take alook at the pacer front end swap kit from ch***is engineering.

riverrat

 

20 years ago that was a good swap.
parts were available.
not today....+ they're a little wide.

 

Hey Mexicano, I got a frame for you. It's yours for FREE if you want it. I'm up here in MD. Let me know. I will be using a S-10 frame on my 53 truck. I plan on putting this frame out int he woods behind the shop to "fade away". If you want it it's yours. She's solid and stripped down to bare nothing naked.

 

Well,free is always good. thanks. Let me check with zman about the locals . Those s-10 are dirt cheap though.I got one lined up for $100 but I'm still not sure about the front, it seems too narrow to me..If anyone has pictures hook me up.Thanks

 

I met with a guy in Oklahoma that runs a vintage chevy recycling type place. For the life of me I can't rememeber the name of it, I'll edit in if i remember before I go home from work.
He just finished a '54 Panel, and a '49 5 window, both on '78-88 GM 2 wheel drive frames. For the panel he used an '87 'burban, for the 5 window he used a '82 swb.
He said everything is a straight bolt on affair between the two, the truck required 2 frame mods.
1. you have to wack off about 8" off the front for the bumper
2. you have to make a bit of an outrigger for the front cab bolt.

The '48-55 1st series the frames taper, and from '55 2nd series and up GM's run perfectly paralle rails.

I definately liked how they came out. I think an S-10 frontend would put the wheels too deep in the fenderwells.....I may be wrong. I know for trucks prior to '48 the S-10 is the way to go, but post 48 the trucks are quite a bit bigger.

 

The S-10 swap does put the tires under the fenders some but this can be a good thing. My 48 had a Camaro sub before the S-10 frame. I tore the fenders up when I would turn the wheel. Now i don't have that problem.

Here's John's truck. It's got a standard offset 15x7 wheel with a 205 series tire
Clark

 

While I do like the way this trucks look ,I don't think it would be practical for me. I don't want to bag mine. I Want mine to be a daily driver and be able to handle some of the "Frenched" driveways we have out in the woods. Now I do want the top to look like that. How much was taken out of it front and rear? I want mine to look just like or maybe 2 inches lower than Rolf's truck which I think only requires lower profile tires than it has, keep the chrome and wheel relation to the fender,loose the paint and do a black primer/satin finish.
**couldn't post picture of Rolf's truck*** From thread 47...truck pictures ,kept saying invalid image

 

this one is on a 88 chevy silverado truck frame, the cab needed a little bit of but it say on there pretty good it has no channel at all. the rear end was put on top of the leafs so it wouldnt be so high but other than that everything is untouched. the wheels look pretty close in the pictures but thats because those are the wrong wheels, tires for the frame.

 

how do the front fenders fit?? do you have any pics with front bolted up??

 

no we sat it up there and it looks good but we didnt bolt it on because the motor was going in.

 

Mex...John's truck is chopped 4 in the back and I think 5 in the front. We didn't really take measurements in the front, we just cut it till it looked good.

His truck ran for a couple of years without bags. We harr***ed him too much about his being a farm truck. He got the bags and the chop to get rid of the harrasment and to make it look cooler. I think he had a 215 tire before the bags.
Clark

 

people keep talking about how they put these trucks on GM car frames. i have a 79 malibu frame and need to do it fast because im loosing space to keep my things. has anyone done a post or know of a website that has this info? thanks.

 

if i am not too late on changing your mind on to what front end to use, i have a '53 also and a guy told me to change out the solid axle if your going to use a v8. so i looked and looked all i was finding were mustang 2's and camero's. those are fine for cars but your driving a truck. call industrial chasis and get one of steve's dodge dakota set ups. they aer by far the best craftsmenship you will ever find. i went into his shop for hours talking about his product and just cars in general he knows his stuff. with the dakota front end you get a rack and pinion, disc brakes, independent front end, and your using a vehicle that was made for the abuse and wight ratio that you are driving. elpolako is his name on here.

 

I used a 72 Chevelle wagon frame under my truck. Seemed like the thing to do at the time, but I wouldn't recommend it. Bill

 

Will only the regular cab, long bed s10 frames work for this swap or will the ext cab frames work? I just got a 1953 pick up and am currently trying to find a frame for it.

 

Holy ****. This thread is 10 years old!!

 

Try this.
http://www.bing.com/search?q=AD+trucks+S-10+frame&src=IE-SearchBox&FORM=IESR02&pc=EUPP_
And this: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/social-forums/a-d-truckers.116/