Thread: S-10 frame under 1947 ford sedan

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has anyone done on here done this and if so how does it work out.I was told you have to do some cutting on the frame to get the right wheelbase.

The beauty of the S10 frame is, the front end and back half are built separately and welded together at the factory in the various wheelbases. If you start with one that's too long, it's easy to take a piece out of the straight bit and make it work. You can also take out the kickup that's normally behind the cab and make it straighter for a car body to fit easier. We did that on a '54 Vanguard pickup, worked great.

The S10 frame is available in 108" 117" and I think 102" if I remember right

I see another unfinished project that will be for sale soon.

Originally Posted by Rasmith1

has anyone done on here done this and if so how does it work out.I was told you have to do some cutting on the frame to get the right wheelbase.

If you have the original frame, you would be a whole lot better off using it and updating the suspension and brakes.... It already has the correct wheelbase, the body mounts all fit, and the radiator support and all the other little pieces are on it....

many things to consider besides just the wheelbase... Ride height, track width, getting wheels and tires that actually fit the car.... I seriously doubt you will save any time and very little money going the S-10 route. The original frame with the correct upgrades is a far better way to go

I have a 47 Chevy coupe that I put on a 69 El Camino frame. Nearly same wheel base. I modified it to match the original frame pinch at the area behind the front wheels. Had to make body mounting points and clearance area above the rear axle kick up. This gave me better F&R suspension and brakes. Could have went with MII front end but used what I had. Worked out pretty good.

Well you could make the S-10 work, and what you are told about cutting and welding are true. But the exact same thing could be said for using the chassis from a 10 ton Kenworth. All it would need would be "Some Cutting and Welding and it would work"

But why would you want to?

A ten times better foundation would be the frame from the fat fendered ford it came with. Update it and you are far better off, and probably money wiser as well.

This Fat Fendered Ford has all new suspension and rides about a million times better than any S-10 ever would.

Roland

I agree that the original frame would be the best way to go, but that's not what he asked. I assumed his frame was beyond repair. As far as anything riding "a million times better than any S10", well, I really doubt that! S10 suspension is based on Malibu stuff, and is hard to beat. Certainly better and stronger than all those Pinto conversions out there.

the s10 will mate with the ford just below the front of the seat. i am doing this on a 46 2door that has been shortened to 108 in wheel base.

The S10 is great stuff. It's really a down sized(by about 3 inches) version of the GM "G" body minus the perimeter frame and it has leaf springs in the rear making it a natural for going under old flat floor cars. The front end geometry is better than the Mustang II stuff if you don't mind conventional steering. I have been doing a rack conversion on one for a while now and it's not real friendly for that.

remember that the frame is the major support for the body on fat fender fords.

i am going to use the ford frame because from the sound of it there is going to be alot of work if i went with the s-10 frame so i will just fix the frame that is under it..Thanks

Originally Posted by Rasmith1

i am going to use the ford frame because from the sound of it there is going to be alot of work if i went with the s-10 frame so i will just fix the frame that is under it..Thanks

Good move, you'll be much happier with the finished product, I believe.

Rasmith,I put an S10 frame under my 39 Pontiac. The end result is an extremely GREAT riding,driving,& handlling rod. However, it is a lot of work, depending on the condition of your original frame and body. My Pontiac frame was OK, but the body was completly rotted away at the base.I wanted to change the original front suspension,and had to replace the floor.In using the S10 frame I changed the floor and shortened the frame. In the end it all worked out great.

Well it looks like I hit an unpopular spot with my criticism of the S-10 chassis. well thats OK, I like a difference of opinion. However with that said I just don't like the S-10 frame conversion's. I also don't have a lot of experiance with them. Only have first hand knowledge of one and it was not a Fat Fendered Ford it was a 47 Chevy chopped and channled pick-up, and while the feller that did the conversion was a pretty good fabricator it was a big mess. There was very little to like about this truck the ride was just bad, it That S-10 Frame looked like hell under a hot rod, there was almost nothing to like about it.

And so when advising anyone considering a conversion based on the S-10 I am going to give my opinion, just like you folks did. And for a Fat Fendered Ford ( which I own one of ) I personally think it is a really bad choice.

Roland