frame swap? 89' chevy trk into a 56' chevy trk.

[55dude]

anyone done this swap or heard of doing it 89' chevy under 56' both trucks? how much different is the 89' frame from a 87' frame. thanks

[68GMC454]

frames are different..i got a friend who wanted to swap frames on his 59 3/4 gmc..now he has it stripped down,,but he doenst want to have to changebody mounts...hes not the brightest cryon in the box...

[56chevy1300]

I know a guy who likes '84 chevy subframes cause they are the same width as the 55-59 = 34" wide. I don't know how close the wheelbases are but I know that the track width is wider on the 84 by an inch or two. I've heard that s-10 frame swaps fit more closely.

[TooMany2count]

Originally Posted by 56chevy1300

. I've heard that s-10 frame swaps fit more closely.

i wouldnt use a S10 frame under anything from 2nd gen 55 & up. the later model truck frames w/IFS to about late 80's & i believe 91-92 for the burbs are the best to use since the are wider & the Task Force trucks & up have a wider suspension then the AD trucks. BUT i'd look into just swap in the suspension & not the frame unless ur frame is messed up. that way u dont have to swap the complete frame...joe

[b.sharp]

I've been looking into this as well. The wheel bases btwn the two trucks are 1 1/2" longer ('99 and back) on the new trucks but everything else will work out. You will have to make your own mounts, but that's not terribly difficult if you can cut and weld. I'm thinking of using a '92 frame and drivetrain under my '58 truck. Thats all I know for now, length wise and width wise it will work.

Bryan

[55dude]

does anyone have any pic's of one done. any horror story's or success story's?

[1-ton of fun]

the difference in wheel base won't matter, i am moving my front axle centerline forward about 1" to center the wheels in the openings. don't know how much i am moving the rear yet, but it will be easily moved, as it is going to be an offset 3-link

[Seon]

Originally Posted by 55dude

anyone done this swap or heard of doing it 89' chevy under 56' both trucks? how much different is the 89' frame from a 87' frame. thanks

Although it's not a '89 nor a truck, here's a pic of my Burb on a '00 GMC Sierra frame. I moved the rear axle forward about 3", fabricated body mounts and used all the componets including engine and transmission from the GMC.

[cadman89]

I have seen it done on a 72 frame.

http://neflnewhomes.com/55chevypu/1955pu.htm



Cadman

[cobinder]

Try this link for some chevy frame dimensions, mostly 70's and some 80's

lottsa info on this site.

good luck.

http://www.chuckschevytruckpages.com/framespecs.html

[55dude]

i realize this is old thread but anyone have any update on this swap? pictures or tech?

[_Ogre]

updates? you're the original poster
since you started this thread in 07 we'll assume you haven't started

while i have no doubt i could put a mack truck frame under a 56, is it worth the effort?
i have no doubt that the wheels would stick out from the body quite a bit, you couldn't lower it
by the time you were done you'd have a lot more fabrication in it than a normal build
why not stick with tried and true build methods?

[pugs]

didn't start a build thread yet but putting a 56 gmc cab on an s10 chassis


http://s30.photobucket.com/user/pugs...tml?sort=3&o=3

http://s30.photobucket.com/user/pugs...tml?sort=3&o=2

[mr48chev]

There is a guy in Florida who does a lot of 88 to ?? full size to AD and other truck chassis swaps. Google Purple Monkey Customs.

Unless you want it to sit stock height or up high as a 4x4 a Jag XJ front end fits the TF frame pretty good and you can find complete ones in the Seattle area for under 400. Then you can install rear axle of choice. No hassles with fitting the frame to the cab,nose and bed and no hacked up sheet metal in the front to clear a frames or other appendages.Plus a full depth bed except to clear a notch.

There isn't a free lunch when it comes to frame swaps. For perceived easiness you either cut up the original sheet metal to a degree or raise the body off the frame several inches or both. S-10 you are stuck with the wheels sitting several inches inside the fenders and need spacers to move the out 88 and up 1500 you might be limited to wheels with no offset or reverse and may have to run positive offset rims.

A buddy called me last night asking what was behind the aluminum plug in an S-10 steering box because they were sticking a 40 Ford pickup on an S 10 chassis and the steering box interfered with the front fender, he wanted to grind the front of the steering box for clearance. I suggested making a bubble in the fender to clear it. From what he said it wasn't close to a bolt on as they had to do a number of mods to the frame to get it to work all the while the stock frame was sitting on it's stock suspension 50 feet away and with a front crossmember and a 4 link would have been a much better choice and make a much more valuable truck in the end.

Stand back and look at it and ask yourself "how can I build the best truck I can for a reasonable investment" rather than "how can I throw it together cheap and quick and hope it works.?"

[55dude]

back when i started thread i was offered a cheap 89 sportside shortbox that was light rollover and saturday i actually bought one that is also light rollover and will keep 5.7/700r4 for a future project and just install the jag front/rear suspension i already have.

[cadman89]

Originally Posted by cadman89

I have seen it done on a 72 frame.

http://neflnewhomes.com/55chevypu/1955pu.htm



Cadman

Try here ... http://jalopyweb.com/55chevypu/1955pu.htm

[cadman89]

I am currently putting a 56 GMC truck body on a 69 Chevy Chassis.
We had to extend the frame about 2 1/2 inches for proper mounting of the bed.

http://www.jalopyweb.com/56gmc/1956GMCpu.htm
The 69 Chassis is only one inch longer than the original.

[cadman89]

I can keep adding pictures if anyone is interested ???



Getting started with the completely rebuilt 69 Chassis

Here is a picture after the last rebuild years ago on the original chassis .



http://www.jalopyweb.com/56gmc/1956GMCpu.htm

[_Ogre]

55dude, i'd pay attention to the completed builds vs the builds in progress
craigslist is full of frame swaps that have substantial investment and 80% complete

[dsraven]

check out
sgtusmc build thread. 88 chevy truck frame under a 58 I think.


http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...hlight=sgtusmc