Thread: still researching body swaps

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Has any one got advice on chassis swapping. Streets I know i have talked to you on this but Bob you never did jump in the loop. I do a lot of reading and junkyard measuring but havent really heard much on this subject accept for rod chassis building wich is way out of my reach. Putting my 54 Plymouth body on a light duty truck chassis is what I am aiming for. The current suspension, motor, frame are on a first name bassis with death and not safe at all. But the body has seen much love and is well worth keeping. Am I just dreaming when I think of that nice comfortable ride and safe freeway speeds with the classy look of my chopped Plydo. I see poeple building chassis for there roadsters and buckets but is any one using whats in the yards to give there sleds nice power and handling?

whoa streets i have been immersed in this thing so much i forgot the wheelbase for ya 115-116" (I think I said the track was 56") havent got the book handy but thats right close. Yeah building a frame on a jig is just not an option for me. pulling one from the yard and modifying something with all the components intact is closer to my capabilities. Thanks Tech Richard I will be goin to that link next. There is nothing like hearing from someone elses experience and this place has a lot of that. Just reading the other posts gets my gears turnin in this cranky skull. Thanks guys sure I will be hearin more.

This past weekend at a cruise I parked next to a guy with a 40(?) Chevy sitting on a '76 Monte Carlo frame. The guy bought it that way and was convinced it was the wrong way to do a car. He didn't like some of the modifications that had been made underneath to make the body fit the frame.

Tex Smith published a book "How to Customize Cars" or something like that. One of the chapters in that book discusses a couple of approaches to frame swaps. Both look like a lot of work.

I've seen other books with similar material and though they all suggest its a good way to modernize your suspension, its not a simple project. I'm not sure I'd recommend it to anyone.

Meanwhile, I'm working on a double-clip where I plan to replace the front suspension of my '54 Chevy pickup with that from a '78 Monte Carlo (chosen because of the track width). I have the GM four-bar read suspension from that same car, but I'm thinking about looking for the same setup from a '73 Chevelle because the basic design is the same, but the axle is a little wider, and I think will better fit my truck.

So to summarize, I'm working toward doing something at least as complicated as a frame swap, but I won't suggest its the best approach....

Justin,
Sorry to disappoint you. The other guys were going at it pretty good, and they have a lot of experience. I'm fairly luke warm on frame swaps, for many of the reasons implied in Sub's post. Most I've seen (and I've never done one) end up looking pretty crude. Again, I would qualify that by saying that a very skilled individual stands a better chance of making one look like "it belongs" by applying his skill. I guess most I've seen are from folks who lack both funds, and sufficient skill. That being said, I have seen a couple of successful swaps on '49-51 Mercs over mid '70's GM chassis. In these swaps, both the frame and the entire floor pan, firewall to trunk, have been used. The floor (or what's left of it) was cut out of the Merc and the body shell dropped over the trimmed GM. A little channeling was done, so the body sat closer to the ground, but the suspension had full travel. The builder had good skills, and integrated the inner fenders, under the hood, well enough that it looked pretty "natural". Welding in a full floor is a big job, but with good set up and "shoring" during the job, a conscientious worker with decent skills should be able to pull it off. Depending on the dimensions of your car, maybe a mid-size car, e.g. a Malibu would be more appropriate. Some time with a tape measure and a couple hours roaming a Pik-a-part might give you the info you need.

I don't recall what you mean by your frame being near death. Are the rails rusted through, or was in such a brutal accident that it's beyond straightening? Just asking because if the basic rails are good and you just want to shed a failing suspension system, there are a number of options there that could be a lot easier, and less likely to cause ugly compromise.

The car was in a head on collision before I got it and the drivers side rail is about an inch shorter now. I was thinking subframe it but finding something as narrow and that reaches far enough behind the firewall(down the rail past the damaged area) seems like I may as well go the whole length cause the ass is draggin anyway. But I do see the general consensus, full chassis means a lot of heavy mods, subframing might be the better option. what are some of the suspension options? I have a 63 nova wagon and have gone through the entire gammit of subframing that one for my lady so I am familiar with the aspect on the chevy end but not for crossbreading to 50's models. I did my Nova fer $500.00 so I am not a big spender, it took me a year and a half to get everything I needed and a month of weekend work to get it done. W/SBC rebuild. Just had ta brag on that one cause I did so much damn research and work. I saw a really good sub job at http://www.detroitspeed.com/ On a 56 Olds 88. Lot of work! Please let me know of any sources fer learning more on this cause most of the readily available info is fer kits and big $$ solutions. wich just isnt in my vocabulary. My will has built my cars.

I've been tryin' to keep a low profile, but you guys definitely got me going with this thread. Justin, I'm building a '56 Plymouth Belvedere, with a Chrysler 5th Avenue front sub-frame, an 8 3/4 rearend from another Mopar, and a 440/727 combo from a New Yorker. I spent many hours at the local salvage yard, measuring track, frame width, etc. I honestly think that's what it comes down to. You need to do some research, head-scratching, and figuring to decide what fits best, but in the car and your wallet.
My dad put a '36 Ford pickup body on a '52 Ford wagon frame, added a hot flattie with Fenton headers and three Stromberg 97's. THAT was a cool ride!
I also was an Airdale, spent six years in the Yacht Club, did almost four Med cruises on the Independence, in the CAG ejection seat shop. Crap, if you can work on a Phantom, you can work on anything! LOL

Justin, did you see this thread a few days ago? I put up a link to a Pacer swap, which should be pretty economical. http://www.clubhotrod.com/forums/sho...ighlight=pacer

One other thought, especially since you're in California. How about a replacement original frame from a similar vintage Mopar? Even with the increased interest in '50's cars, pretty much only two door mopars have any following. There's got to be a gang of cheap 4 doors out there just dying (couldn't help it) to give up their frame to you. You end up needing 3 stalls to get the swap done, but it's a thought.

Yeah Bob the donor frame is a good idea cause i would be able to take my time modifying it with SBC and suspension but it means having two projects instead of just modifying the one I have. If I can find a Space big enough I would definatly go the donor frame route. I'm goin to that link right now.

Animalracer, what is the frame width on those 56's? I would love to see some pics on yer progress.

Piece of cake, now to highjack a wherehouse space. O the trials of an underpaid city dweller, I'm movin to the country!