frame to start a 56 from - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

ghettoluxury · 10-26-2009, 11:17 PM

My buddy just picked up a 56 sitting on rockwells for the axles and I can get it for next to nothing. Since the frame has been modified for the huge leafsprings I was wondering what frame would be a good starting point. I know a lot of 47-54's are being built on S10 frames, so is this a good place to start? Since I Have not worked with any thing older than a square body I figured I would ask you guys.

Would a square body frame make a nice starting place since I want this truck to lay rockers?

GRIMSS · 10-26-2009, 11:44 PM

S10 track is too narrow unless you run wheels with a huge dish front and back. The square frame track I believe is too wide if wanting to lay rockers.

On my panel I'm laying rockers with 29" tall tires. I'm going to go shorter later on, but that's what I have. If you are wanting to lay rockers the stock frame will work fine because you will need to mod both front and rear suspension anyway.

ghettoluxury · 10-27-2009, 12:00 AM

I went through your build and let me tell you the dodge spare rims with the chevy caps is an awsome idea. Your panel looks killer tuckin those massive tires.
So the dime isn't gonna work. I guess I will have to kick a few ideas around and see what comes about. I was wanting to stay all GM so well see how well that plan works out.

What did those center caps come off of by the way?

GRIMSS · 10-27-2009, 12:11 AM

You could do a camaro clip on the frame to get IFS and stay GM.

Caps are from the AD truck, but don't know which year.

ghettoluxury · 10-27-2009, 12:21 AM

I will have to talt to a few of dads old hot rod buddies and see what they think. IIRC Chuck used to have a 55 that had IFS.

purplehavoc · 10-27-2009, 04:37 PM

I am going to be using an 84 frame under my 56.
I had a thread going about a frame swap a while ago,that you might find some info posted to help you to decide which way to go.
One of the guys posted up a place that has kits to bolt your body onto a 73-87 chevy frame.
Try e-zchassisswaps.com.
Kits seem like they take a lot of the work out of swapping the frames.
The guy was really good to deal with in anwsering all my questions too.

blackdiesel · 10-27-2009, 05:31 PM

I'm biulding a new (different) frame to put my 4x4 57 on. You can find a stock frame and do it this way. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=368287

ChuckDriver · 10-27-2009, 07:28 PM

I vote for the stocker as a starting point!!

10-26-2009, 11:17 PM	#1
ghettoluxury Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Waynesfield Ohio Posts: 1,991	frame to start a 56 from My buddy just picked up a 56 sitting on rockwells for the axles and I can get it for next to nothing. Since the frame has been modified for the huge leafsprings I was wondering what frame would be a good starting point. I know a lot of 47-54's are being built on S10 frames, so is this a good place to start? Since I Have not worked with any thing older than a square body I figured I would ask you guys. Would a square body frame make a nice starting place since I want this truck to lay rockers? __________________ 1949 Five Window, 1973 Step Side, 2000 Z71

10-26-2009, 11:44 PM	#2
GRIMSS --------------- Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Central Missouri Posts: 1,791	Re: frame to start a 56 from S10 track is too narrow unless you run wheels with a huge dish front and back. The square frame track I believe is too wide if wanting to lay rockers. On my panel I'm laying rockers with 29" tall tires. I'm going to go shorter later on, but that's what I have. If you are wanting to lay rockers the stock frame will work fine because you will need to mod both front and rear suspension anyway. __________________ 2001 GMC SIERRA 1956 Chevy Panel *Build Page* with a Scott's Hotrods IFS 1953 Chevy trucks *Project Dime Time* 1968 Camaro 1968 Volksrod "NOBACK" 55-59 one piece window *Video* 55-59 one piece window *template files* Jared

10-27-2009, 12:00 AM	#3
ghettoluxury Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Waynesfield Ohio Posts: 1,991	Re: frame to start a 56 from I went through your build and let me tell you the dodge spare rims with the chevy caps is an awsome idea. Your panel looks killer tuckin those massive tires. So the dime isn't gonna work. I guess I will have to kick a few ideas around and see what comes about. I was wanting to stay all GM so well see how well that plan works out. What did those center caps come off of by the way? __________________ 1949 Five Window, 1973 Step Side, 2000 Z71 Last edited by ghettoluxury; 10-27-2009 at 12:00 AM.

10-27-2009, 12:11 AM	#4
GRIMSS --------------- Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Central Missouri Posts: 1,791	Re: frame to start a 56 from You could do a camaro clip on the frame to get IFS and stay GM. Caps are from the AD truck, but don't know which year. __________________ 2001 GMC SIERRA 1956 Chevy Panel *Build Page* with a Scott's Hotrods IFS 1953 Chevy trucks *Project Dime Time* 1968 Camaro 1968 Volksrod "NOBACK" 55-59 one piece window *Video* 55-59 one piece window *template files* Jared

10-27-2009, 12:21 AM	#5
ghettoluxury Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Waynesfield Ohio Posts: 1,991	Re: frame to start a 56 from I will have to talt to a few of dads old hot rod buddies and see what they think. IIRC Chuck used to have a 55 that had IFS. __________________ 1949 Five Window, 1973 Step Side, 2000 Z71

10-27-2009, 04:37 PM	#6
purplehavoc Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Kenora Ont. Posts: 59	Re: frame to start a 56 from I am going to be using an 84 frame under my 56. I had a thread going about a frame swap a while ago,that you might find some info posted to help you to decide which way to go. One of the guys posted up a place that has kits to bolt your body onto a 73-87 chevy frame. Try e-zchassisswaps.com. Kits seem like they take a lot of the work out of swapping the frames. The guy was really good to deal with in anwsering all my questions too. __________________ 09 GMC 2500HD 6.6L 07 F-250 Super Duty V10 03 Chevy Tahoe 82 K5 blazer plow truck,currently under the knife 56 GMC stepside short,also in progress

10-27-2009, 05:31 PM	#7
blackdiesel Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Omaha, Arkansas Posts: 929	Re: frame to start a 56 from I'm biulding a new (different) frame to put my 4x4 57 on. You can find a stock frame and do it this way. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=368287 __________________ '57 Chevy Pickup '56 GMC LCF Cummins '38 Chrysler Royal '57 2wd change http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...light=speedway Last edited by blackdiesel; 10-27-2009 at 05:33 PM.

10-27-2009, 07:28 PM	#8
ChuckDriver A320 Pilot/USAF Retired Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 2,622	Re: frame to start a 56 from I vote for the stocker as a starting point!! __________________ JJ My 1957 build: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=334552 http://www.trifive.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22037 Instagram - Chuckdriver57



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