Can anyone guide me on how to add a S10 front end,i.e.disc brakes,power steering...to my 1950 Chevy Deluxe? Any and all help is appreciated. Maybe someone has done this and will let me pick their brain!?! Thanks
This is not traditional and not discussed on this part of the forum. There is a forum for off topic discussions.
Wrong Forum! It's not hard but you won't get much help here. Traditional Hot Rods & Kustoms ONLY! The 'S' word isn't in the traditional dictionary
What are you hoping to gain from it? I disc brake swapped my 53. And electric power steering isn't too hard to do. Frame section from the s10 will be far weaker than stock
here's a few thoughts from the archives on various S-10 frame info https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/s-10-frame-under-49-52-chevy-car.219050/
The old go to, was a Camaro front subframe and rear end. G body front subframe would work as well. S10 as the be all, end all magic frame. Isn’t what it is. it’s pretty trivial to put power steering and disc front brakes on the original ‘49-‘54 ( including C1 Corvette ) suspension
A Mustang 2 Front end is the easiest labor wise, and the cost can go from pretty cheap to pretty expensive.
I have completed a few M2 crossmembers into 36-54 Chebbies . The stock M2 crossmember worked fine as if it was built for the swap . Biggest issue to be concerned with is caster when installing OEM cross member . Frame mount be at the ride height you want the car to be finished at , or it was easier this way for me . Aftermarket crossmembers can be had as bolt in units today . Don’t cut up the OEM frame to install a new sub frame .They are thin sheet metal of the top hat design and thought to weld thick S10 frame to with out lots of experience welding
My suggestion is to decide what tires and wheels you want on it when its done and get them so you can determine how wide you need the front suspension of choice to be. If the S10 is usable, I would consider getting a whole truck and checking if it might work to sit your coupe on to it. Check your wheelbase length and see if the short S10 is ok, but you may be better off getting a longer extended cab or long bed . That gives you the ability to just shorten the frame to the correct length on the long frame rails. You end up having a good rearend already suspended and a steering box that is in place. You just have to get some measurements before you buy anything. A complete but non-running S10 can be had for what a frame or even a front clip can be bought for. My son and I did a conversion using an 89 Chevy truck frame under a 56 Chevy (truck). It was much simpler to pull off than the front suspension conversion I'm doing on a 49 Chevy (truck) Cutting the side rails and welding them back in place can be (possibly) a lot easier than the front clip mod. Here is a picture of the truck sitting on the shortened (longbed 89 ) frame. I may have some S10 frame dimension dwgs if you decide to go that way.
If you want discs and PS, I wouldn't bother with the S10 components. S10 front end is a narrowed 79-88 A/'G' body frame. Everything is the same save for stiffer springs and a shorter center link. Front discs are only 10.5" and were barely adequate on the A/Gs. On 2wd S10s they are acceptable. On a 49-54 it's not worth the effort. Suspension geometry on the A/G/S is upside down on a good day. It can be fixed but you will have spent twice over to make it work. The time and money spent on cutting off the front end and then fabricating all the nuances to bolt the sheet metal back on is not worth it if you have to ask. A Mustang II conversion would be easier/cheaper and better geometry than the A/G/S bits. Can also be purchased in a bolt-on kit, elongate a couple existing bolt holes, trim the inner fender apron and you're good. There are various bolt on disc conversions(usually uses 70s 11" F/X body rotors/calipers) for 49-54 cars. Just have to look around. Power steering can be added via an original type setup. Or A modified column with later Saginaw box and pump with brackets. Or The Cavalier R&P conversion which keeps the bumpsteer closer to original. http://www.how-to-build-hotrods.com/rack-and-pinion.html
The Jalopy Journal
