Definitive S-10 Frame Swap Vehicle List

Great thread. Lots of good info.

 

I'm wondering how an S10 frame would work in a uni-body car being put on the street?

I have no particular build in mind but just thought the idea worthy of discussion on this thread.

Basicly the floor pan and front frame area of our car is toast...however the outer body is in good shape. Rebuilding the OEM rails and floors would be difficult at best due to the complexity of the Uni-body structure and also due to the limited availability of some structural parts...thus making many parts labour intensive custom fabrication.

I've seem many bodys attached directly to the tube frame in Pro/Street builds and don't see any real difference in doing the same thing to something like an S10 frame. The inner Rockers would be replaced with 1/16G or even 1/8 for strength and rectangular tube would be used as outriggers from the frame directly to them.
A steel floorpan could then be fabbed to accomodate and actually tie into the upper surface of the frame. Torque boxes could easily be configured at the front and rear of the rockers as well for appearance and strength.
The benefit of direct welding being a lower car and ease of construction/alignment due to the original body being a uni-body.

Just a thought....any opinions????
(And if you think the idea sucks, you must explain why! LoL)

 

Astro Vans use a front subframe with welded main rails. Not much different than your idea.

 

Getting into this discussion a little late, but I just went out and took measurements from the '88 full size Blazer frame I used under my '50 Dodge Pick up (no cuts necessary) and the wheel base is 108" and the frame measures 34" from outside to outside. I was able to use everything, just had to move the engine and tranny forward 8" and shorten the Dodge body mounts by about 2". Not a S-10 but the comparison kept coming up.

 

I just installed an S-10 front clip under my 51 Pontiac, Worked out great. The Poncho is one inch wider than the S-10. I have pictures on my profile page.

 

Once owned an Astro Van... was always told that the front subframe was actually the same as a s10's...would using part of the rear portion of an Astro chassis solve the kickup problem with the s10 chassis???

 

i have done a couple using 85 s 10 pickup - blazers are a wider wheel base. i have put a 46 m5 series stude pickup fit very well, steering column master and pedal assy.
i am putting my 38 willys pickup on a 86 s10 pickup frame and it seems to be working fine. i had to shorten for both projects but the rails are parrallel in the center where i done the graft.

 

The Astro Van track width is 10" wider than an S-10, which is about 6" wider than the AD trucks.

Also, the Astro Van hubs and spindles are derived from the full-sized van and not the GM metric parts bin like the G-body and S-body vehicles.
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Blazers have the same track width as the pickups. The 4x4's have a wider flange to flange width and come with higher offset wheels to keep the same track width.
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astro van might work for TF truck?

 

would still be wide for a TF if I remember correctly. Plus, for the work, a 73-87 full-sized half ton would be an easier fit for the TF than an Astro Van.
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Correction, the L/M van (Astro / Safari) have a 65.1" track width. That is 11" wider than an S-10, 7" wider than a G-body or AD, and still a bit wider than the TF.

 

Im using a 93 s10 front clip and building the rest it will be bagged laying on the side steps. the truck had a camaro front clip already installed but i wanted the narrower width and monster notch out back figured this would be the way to go, the old frame is still in good working condition if anyone is interested send me an email lownsmooth@yahoo.com

 

Don't know the dimensions of these IFS but thought others might need the info...he talks about swapping in a Pacer IFS and mentions using a Mopar IFS. Here's the link http://www.chevytrucks.org/tech/ifs.htm

 

you cant get parts for the pacer front end anymore. The Mopar IFS kits are a bit more than my IFS kit.

http://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Main=80741&Number=571697#Post571697

 

I have nothing against the Pacer front end (at least its not a M2). Glad to hear your local Napa has parts. Have you tried getting a rack that wont leak? They are all chinese remans now, even from RockAuto.
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Just Received my chassis swap kit from EZ Chassis swaps. Man what quality product. Im very impressed with the design of parts and quality of materials and work. Would recommend to anyone doing an AD swap to an s10.

 

A uni-body would work just like any other body on a S-10 frame if you fabbed a floor structure for it and bolted it up.

Resist the temptation to use part of the S-10 floor/firewall, its harder than building your own (Ask me how I know this..)

 

I did a 56 Dodge pickup using a regular cab long frame. Easy peezy, in fact the front cab mounts bolted up.

 

Delmo, very impressive. Thats a very cool truck.

 

Hey delmos,nice looking truck man..
Hackerbuilt,have you ever seen a unibody on a frame I'm thinking 64 Rambler on an S-10...

 

Gary Meadors of Goodguy fame had an early ('50-'55) Rambler on an S10 frame.

-Dave

 

Thanks guys, man i don't know if i have any pics of that thing finished. Anyway turned out great and the S-10 saved me tons of time.

 

I would like to do a Willys Aero on a S10.. in the near future.. and make the HDTP Wagon.. That ole Dodge sits low.. very nice..

 

Hello Fellow Gearheads ! I have been reading through this thread for the past six months digesting the info on various projects. (A little disappointed to have to wade through a lot of off topic chatter, but such is the downside of these public forums.)

I was inspired by this thread to go ahead and start my own project, putting a 1953 Dodge Coronet, 2 door Hardtop on an '86 S10 frame. The Dodge has 114" wheelbase, and I scored the '86 with single cab and long bed (118" WB).
It was a struggle getting the rusty Dodge body off the frame in my shade tree garage. It was also a lot of work stripping down the S10 - why didn't you guys tell me that stuff is all Metric?
Well, the big picture is coming together. I found a local Rod Shop who is going to shorten the frame. (Picked it up Saturday.) He looked over the body and may mount it on frame. (Providing his estimate is not too outrageous...) I do not have time and facilities to do the heavy work so I must farm that out.
Most of rest of assembly, I am confident I can handle. I've got about 40 years experience messing with a variety of rods. I always say "This is my last one!"
I'll post some pics as work progresses to the good parts.
Thanks for comments and keep this thread alive!

 

I changed every thing out from Metric to standard, except for the front suspension, steering box, and studs for the lug nuts..

 

Thats why they call it a Metric Chassis. The S/T trucks were built out of the GM metric chassis parts bin along with the G/A bodies. Most everything after 1978 is Metric

 

Hey Chromeazone, sounds like a very cool project. looking forword to seeing pics..
and I hear ya about the chatter..lol...

 

i have read threw the post lots of pages and i think i know what i need to buy but just wanted to post up and double check from the ones who have built many of these i have a 1954 ford f100 shortbed i am going with the s10 frame from what i read i need to buy the regular cab long bed and i can put my ford on it if i buy the ext cab s10 it will have to be cut down to fit my truck since the wheel base is to long and the short bed truck and blazer are both to short as well is this right? " i no it is a run on mess sentece its been a long day sorry...