Thread: 1937 - 1939 chevy frame swap questions

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I bought a 37 chevy coupe that is a total project. The body is sitting on a 1/2 axxed frame that is made from two frames. I here that 1937 to 1939 chevy coupe / sedan frames are the same.

There are three ways I can fix this problem.

1. build a frame (lot of time but worth it).

2. buy a done frame (cost to much).

3. do a frame swap (easier than the first two).


Has anyone done a frame swap on there 1937-1939 chevy? Which frame did you use? Do you have any pics?


Thanks, Cory

Hey Cory,

Here's something to consider. Years ago when a car was smashed in the front or rear, it was a common practice to cut off the damaged part and weld on another. It was cheaper than straightening the frame and all that body work. Your coupe may be one of those. You can check by scraping off some paint from the trunk interior, the firewall interior, and the underside of the hood. If they don't match, then you may have a refurbished car. There's also the possibility that the frame just plain rotted out and a new piece was welded in. If you're worried about the safety of the welds, have a local welder give you his opinions on it.

Before you go swapping frames, consider the cost, time, and work involved. Nothing fits better than the original if you want to keep it stock. If you want to add IFS, power disc brakes, power steering, etc, then I suggest that you pack a lunch and tape measure and spend the day flat on your back at the junk yard.

That's what I had to do with my 52 Ford pick-up. The frame was originally designed to flex, and after 50+ years it had hairline cracks everywhere. I couldn't find another, plus I wanted to upgrade. It would have cost me thousands to add IFS, power disc brakes, power steering, and lowering. I spend the better part of a day at a few junk yards and opted for a Chevy S-10 frame.

Like I said...Something to consider.

Good luck

I am in the same boat , but I have a freshly done 38 Master frame I want to put under my 39 Master 85 coupe ,both strt axle frames,(of which I am using) -Hollander and the Chevy parts book 1929 -1947 say its different , but.... it may be that there were just a few upgrades (like by the gas tank area in my case )and the frames may well be the same and use the same body mount holes (my 38 frame APPEARS to do just that) It boils down to how much work do you want to do and how good you are w a tape measure, again in my case the body mount holes in my cpe floor and trunk are GONE,4 firewall bolt locations are OK for locating the body on the frame and DO match the 38 frame, so a new floor is in order ,which means it has to come off of the frame anyway. I would be interested in hearing factual real person knowledge if they (37-9) are swapable and what is needed, It could save us some time- D/G

look on this page and find the yr car u have & check the frame info. this page has all that info for lots of chevy cars & trucks.....joe

KOOL! Thanks , this will help alot , D/G

It has the exact info we need ,only problem with that info is that the 39 diagrams are so low in resoltion that I can't make out any of the numbers of the 39 dimensions and only most of em on the 38 diagram ,at least on my puter, I wonder what book it came from ?

We have a 1940 chevy that we want to put on an s-10 frame. Has anyone else done this successfully?

to get ur own copy go to this site http://www.chevytrucks.org/tech/restpak.htm & follow directions to get the info u seen on that page