What newer donor cars would work with mods of course. Got a friend thats broke and wants to do it on the cheap.
There is a 56 station wagon i've seen on a 93 up caprice frame. but there is so much for the 55-57 made aftermarket and interchangable from other models theres just no reason to change frames. ECI has brackets to put monte carlo disc brakes on very reasonable. In my opinion they drive very good when rebuilt.
Probably the least expensive route other than massive welding and reinforcement would be to get another 55 frame. If its from a different model 55 Chevy that is ok, you could add or delete body mounts as needed from the frame he has. Check with the local tri five guys for leads. There will be a national CCI in Conn. in July. http://www.classicchevy.com/car_shows.asp?site=CCI&showid=25&page=1 Chapter directory here: http://www.classicchevyworld.com/chapter_directory.asp?state=Florida&stateabv=FL&cat%5Fid=388
Attempting a project like that with very little re$ource$ tends to end up ruining the cars it's done to. Projects end up never finished, then no buyers want to take on a half-done frame swap, and the car gets parted or crushed. Realistically, the cheapest way to get that car back on the road is to rebuild the stock suspension with stock parts, and patch the floor. If your buddy has skill or just old-fashioned dedication he should be able to make a floor from flat sheet. A solid original frame can be suprisingly cheap if you shop around Sorry to be such a naysayer, but anyone who lacks the resources to buy floorpans has no business cutting the bottom out of a 55 chevy. Even on the lowest buck frame swap you should be prepared to step up with a couple thou worth of stuff to put it on the road. Don't be suprised if the frame you swap ends up needing as much money worth of bushings, tie rods, etc as the ole chevy. Good luck either way
Believe me guys, I've been around cars all my life and know the right and wrong way to go about it. I gave him those same opinions too. I just don't have the time to help him and if thats what he wants to do, let him screw it up. So, what donor cars would work best?
Honestly, this will be the cheapest and easiest route for him to take... Not just the right vs wrong thing either.. Grafting a later model chassis can be done as we all know, but once he was to factor in the cost of steering component's, steel for the fab work, welding material's, cost of the donor car/chassis (even though it may not be much) etc...he would find that his best bet would be to locate a stray 55-56 frame and start there. 57's will work to the best of my knowledge, but i know the front frame horn's are different from 55-6 to 57. Just something else to consider. Anyway, he'd be road worthy much quicker, and in my own opinion, would be much more cost effective.. I've seen these frame's sell in the 150.00 to 250.00 range quite a bit, bare or course...The time he take's to locate one with the "right" price would probably be well worth it in the long run. Again, this is my opinion, and i'm NOT at all saying he shouldn't go forward with a swap with another car if that's really what he want's to do...but if he's broke.....tell him to search for a stocker..he'll be further ahead right from the start. Tony
back when they were a dime a dozen the 66-72 chevelle frame worked without too much modification, I knew guys that would do this swap to get the disc brakes and the 4 link rear, this was before the aftermarket was so big.
Unless the frame rails themselves are rotten, it's all available thru the aftermarket. All the body mounts are available. And if the frame rails are rusted, he could either weld in new pieces, or...find another one. There are a helluva lot more bare frames than there are bodies. '55-'56 interchange. 4dr HARD TOP will be unique, as will the convertible, both due to the big X-member. Wagons have a couple extra body mounts. Nothing that can't be fixed. If he's got to buy a donor frame anyway, get the right one. -Brad
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