Good morning Guys and Gals.After my grandson and I built my 57 chevy he deciced he wanted a Rod.Well this week he bought a very nice 38 checy cab and wants to start abuild this winter.We are thinking of using a S-10 frame of some size to keep costs down as he goes to college full time and also works a full time job and cuts gr*** on the side. I have never built from just having a body but have built a 41 ford truck and a 39 chopped chevy.Any ideas ref, to the frame as this will be a no fendered ride and what ever ideas would be welcomed from you folks. Thanks for your time. Have fun.
Of course College comes first. Avoid distractuibs of goal that takes more money than the goal of the hobby dictates; This hobby shouldn't distract him from his destiny. For his first build, if he and you plan on doing all of the mechanical work I suggest; whether it's S10(good choice), D50, Mazda, Courior, get one that's running with a ***le. Register it. Drive it around the block. Then proceed to convert it whilst maintaining the integrity of the original machine. When it's done, it will still be what it was as far as licensing goes, 'highly customized'. Yes, since you and he have already decided on that, fenderless; It's fun to look out there and see that wheel trunin"!! Building is a learning experience, learnd by the one doing it, not by somebody else's opinion. One's tastes are reflected in one's posessions. Fact; No matter what one builds, there is always some pompous yhey-hoo that puts it down because it don't meet his 'druthers. That's why some turn out to be Hot, some are Custom, Kustom, Street, or Rat. When it's done, the accomplishment will outweigh the faults of the build, seen by the builder, not the critic, and (since it's of safe mechanical construction, original) Then, in the future, the young man can spend time polishing his hobby skills. Who knows, it might turn out to be a *****in' ride.............
s10 frame wont work without major modificatin to the frame. its just too wide for that cab. plus s10 suspension looks hideaous without fenders to hide it.
Your statement sounds quite convincing. Is that from experience, or just conjecture? Right here in my neck of the woods there's a Model A body on an S10 frame, with tall and skinny chivvy disc wheels. The wide part of the frame is underneath the side aprons with room to spare. It has a wrecker/winch affair on the back and appears to be functional. I talked to the guy and he's pleased as punch with his creation. The slightly longer than stock hood fabbed from new sheetmetal lead one to consider at first glance that it's a scaled down Mack or Autocar tractor.
Which is my point. Whilst you and your 'gear head' grandson work this all out, it's not the car that counts anyhow, it's the social connection. Encourage him whilst you let him lead you. After something is finished, and he decides he wants to modify it, roll with his opinion. It's my belief that that first project for a innovative kid should be running and driving post-haste, with modifications coming later. That's how I do my projects. My Nash and my Chivvy are both being modified/tweeked all the time. I just put bucket seats in the Pickup this week, which by the way, at one time I was dead set against. Fact is, they are more comfortable! Did I say get it driving as soon as possible? Then do the mods later? Example; Someday the kid will most likely decide to hang a 'beam axle under there, maybe even change out the motor, but if that approach is taken to start with, it'll be years before he gets to drive it, and that's a downer for me. Also, with a roadworthy car, and a mod is contemplated, one can take his time, watch for the good deals, instead of getting out the catalog and spending thousands for an aftermarket system.
actually I own both, a 38 chevy pickup ( in progress) and a 93 GMC sonoma. I can get you measurements if you would like. what a waste of a model a
ok, I measured it. the width of an s10 frame (outside of the frame rails) at the front body mount is 42 inches. the width of the front mounting pads on my 38 chevy cab is 36 inches. the chevy cab also overhangs the frame, ie: the rockers on the cab extend lower than the top of the frame. so I don't think this will work, even in your neck of the woods, without extensive modification. IMHO you could build a more traditional style frame that better fits the type of vehicle you're building easier and cheaper than modifying an s10 ch***is to work in this case
I didn't think it would work, besides if you were to use an S-10 frame, it should never be ran fenderless. It looks terrible by any standard. Since he has only a cab, surely finding the fenders and running boards, and purchasing the S-10 ch***is + modifying it.....it has to be cheaper just to build a simplistic frame with a decent drive train and run fenderless. Thats my 2 cents. I bet you could find a cheap roller on here even!
I picked up a mid 40's international truck rolling ch***is, minus only engine and transmission for $300 and plan to use this under a 38 ford cab...it will probably take some work to make it look the way I want but I got a straight axle, cool 16" wheels that accept 40 ford hubcaps and a common 5x4.5 pattern plus my steering already factory sorted out for me. This was removed from the original truck to be replaced by an S-10 frame by the seller. I would suggest looking for something like this if you are going to run fenderless and are on a strict budget. Your cab looks like a great start by the way. Hope you and your grandson have a great time with your new project! Tony
The steering box on S-10 frames will stick through the front of the drivers side front fender on most 1936-1939 Chevy cars. Been their, done that. looks like hell without a lot of metal working Later Specs
Thanks guys for all the info.We will start looking elsewhere for a frame. I left out the words " R _ _ T rod for fear of being banded for life from the site LOL.I also did no mention Chaneling the cab over the frame for the same reason LOL.Thats what he wants .Thanks again you guys are the best !!
Those body mount pads will be in the trash when that body is channelled anyhow. Try the open minded approach, it's fun sometimes, ......…so that puts the frame inside the outer perimeter of the body. I visualize a four-to-seven-inch channel where the frame wouldn’t even interfere with floor/seat mounting. Even if the body was to be widened a couple of inches if necessary, (for elbow room) My '29 Nash Hot Rod is widened at the door latch pillars, gives room for bucket seats with 4 inches between them and 3 inches on the outside. I don’t share the artificial requirement by some that steering box needs to be covered. Maybe on a Street’ but a large majority of Traditional rods have steering box exposed, location notwithstanding. I tend to stick with what Lawman's stated intent "We are thinking of using a S-10 frame of some size to keep costs down" I can buy a running S10, D50, Mazda, Izusu, Courier, B-2000, (whatever), for a heck of a lot less than starting from scratch and rustling up all of the components to build a complete ch***is from scratch. The advantages of a late '80s through 90s ch***is are obvious, roadability, parts availability, etc.
looks like a nice soldid cab. stay away from the S-10 frame unless your goal is to have an ugly finished product.
Lawman, I believe 29Nash has given you VERY good advice here, both on the build, and the social connection. And it maybe that your grandson's taste are different than ours-who cares?
Thanks 38,My Grandson and I are at a loss of what to do now. Will do a lot more research and may have to put off our build this winter in order to get the right frame for this cab.Again thanks to all both Pro and Con to our ideas. You guys are the best !!!
Do what you will. It's my hope that you never know, that will mean you have been caught in a rut. When it's finished and the experience of working with your Grandson continues, there's no doubt that cause to make many changes will surface, hopefully with the bond between you being stronger. Just remember this. "Covering up the ugly" can become a worderful experience, or a dreadful disease, depending on your at***ude. If you fall into the latter trap, you'll never be happy with your build. I'm signing off, goodby, good luck, Sincerely, (RETARD)
Nash, You are NO retard to me or many others on this site I'm sure..May look into a 50 to 54 chevy pick me up truck frame.Some people cannot go thru life without calling others hateful names. It makes them feel better and bigger, Thanks my friend again for your words of wisdom.
On building a hot rod most the rules are thrown out the window. So in choosing your frame anything from a early 30s style frame on up to early 40s whether it be chevy ford or whatever can be modified to fit your build, and run fenderless. My son-n-law and I took a 38 dodge pickup cab and mounted it on a 38 ford sedan frame. With a slight pinch at the front, and with a little modification, and imagination. Built our own style of fenderless roadster and now he can't stop driving it long enough to add a few extra parts. So as nash or (RETARD JUST KIDDING NASH) Has said so perfectly. That the enjoyment between you and yours during the build will be what is remembered long after the project is done. The s 10 ch***is while being the easy and cheapest way. On some projects is not always the right way. REMEMBER THE CORVAIR SUSPENSION. (YUCK)
I would only repeat one thing that I am pretty set in my ways about. For anybody that isn't building a cooke-cutter vendor parts ***embled rod. Whatever you choose; Find a basic bombing platform with weapons systems that will carry through to the end product, already ***LED, INSURED, and REGISTERED, and OPERATIONAL, then when it comes time to drive it that hill will already have been ***aulted. Then, after it's first test flight one can still make changes, configure the landing gear for Carrier Landings, Desert Sand landings, Smooth runway landings, or Short Beach ***ault landings. Test Flights are necessary once in a while, instead of spending years to build it with no fun along the way....................
I think you should find yourself a project that has all the necessary parts and pieces. Then you should sell me that cab since I already have a frame, fenders, and hood. My cab is rotted all to hell and my doors are shot. Seriously though, enjoy working with each other, and PLEASE consider my idea!
Well folks we found a rolling 51 Chevrolet pick up frame and have started cleaning it up. Looks like it may work out fine. Thanks to Myles Mc Daniels great pictures (McDaniels1234) we will be way adead. Some say use a corvair box and some say Vega. What do you all say.We will also be using an s10 4x4 rear and the stock front springs and may cut the frame to shortin the wheel base. Any thoughts are welcome. Thanks again to all.
NO S-10 frame......A arms are ugly. A 2X3 frame isn't that hard to build, that way it sets like you want it to.
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