Thread: Chevy SB and Automatic in S10 frame

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Hey guys, would anyone know if a chevy 283 hooked up with an automatic(power glide or turbo 350) drop into a mid 90s S10 2wd frame. I will be setting a 1941 chevy special deluxe coupe on this frame and am trying to avoid cutting the firewall if possible. I guess I have two questions that need answered in this thread. I am close to buying the car, frame and engine and do not want to find out later it won`t work. Any help will be much appreciated.
Richard(farmerdick)

With enough "massaging" anything can fit in / on anything... IMHO, the use of a S-10 frame as a foundation for the coupe will be a mistake. You'll devalue the body and the re-sale will be nil.

I'm of the opinion that an original frame or reproduction would put you miles ahead (pun intended!) in ease of body installation and fitment and help hold the value(s) you'll be looking for in the future.

Suspensions front and rear will need to be worked on in either case ( S-10 or OEM) so you won't really save time and money there...

Again, just my opinion.. it's your car / project, let us know what you decide.

I agree with Mike on the use of the S10 frame, but there are a lot of guys out there doing it. The answer to your question is "Yes", the SBC and TH350 will drop into the S10 chassis without problem.

I looked at a very slick '40 Ford pickup several years back, and the guy had it priced pretty low, in my mind. Then he shared that it was sitting on a S10 chassis with all S10 running gear, which meant it was not a '40 Ford, but a gennie steel PU body grafted to a modern frame. He was finding that the value of the combined vehicle was a small percentage of a gennie/repro frame based truck.

That said, it's your project and it only has to make you happy. At least you're keeping it all Chevy, but be aware of your potential for resale as you make your plans.

If you're building it for yourself, then don't worry about resale.

Time saves money, money saves time.

A fully built chassy will save time, and increase resale.

The c10 chassy will save money, cost time, reduce resale.

Personally, I loose me a$$ if I sell a project anyway, so I do them for me.

Ok, what if I used the original frame which is good. Will I have much to deal with putting that same drive train(not sure what rearend to use at this time) in the stock frame?

Guys tend to overlook a few things when doing this old body on a new frame stuff. The track width is more then likely wrong, which either leaves tires sticking out of the fenders or sucked in way too far. Wheelbase is seldom a match. None of the brackets, body attachment bolts, inner wheel wells, floor, and a hole host of other things fit right and require a bunch of fitting and most of the time winds up looking cobbled.

You might save a buck or two in the initial cash output, but remember that you'll be using an old frame of questionable lineage that may or may not even be straight, and for sure has a host of suspension pieces and bushings that will need to be replaced.

My vote goes for the original frame and updated suspension, brakes, and steering. Initial cost will be more but as mentioned resale will be much higher and even more importantly you'll have a body and frame that fit each other and not just a big mis-match of parts that may or may not ever work and look good together.

There's been a lot of cars same as yours built with sbc and automatic for powertrain, so it's not hard to gather a lot of very good information about what parts to use, what will fit, and what won't.

Thank you for the info. I will be redirecting my questions toward what rear end, front end and other technical retros for the original frame.
Thanks again.
farmerdick

If you buy that '41 Chevy, make sure you get a valid title. Best to sort that out now rather than later.

Removed by author.

Originally Posted by daveS53

The only way to sort out the title situation is to buy the car and try to register it in your state.

Sorry, but I disagree. Buying the car and then trying to register it can leave you with a pile of tin that you will never be able to drive. The ONLY way to sort out the title situation is to check with knowledgeable people in the DMV in your OWN state BEFORE you by the car. That means find someone who can address your EXACT situation, not just normal everyday titles and NOT just the clerk at the front desk. Finally, what other states do is mostly irrelevant. I have done this in three states, so I do have a tiny bit of experience in the matter.

The first place to look is here: SEMA Action Network (SAN) TAG_TITLE_TOOLBOX

Originally Posted by Farmerdick

Ok, what if I used the original frame which is good. Will I have much to deal with putting that same drive train(not sure what rearend to use at this time) in the stock frame?

There are a lot of companies out there that manufacture parts to convert your frame to accept a Chevy drive line. Check out Chassis Engineering. They make a lot of stuff that bolts in.
Chassis Engineering Inc.

Info on the car ID.

1941 chevy vin plate/title issue questions on vin location etc.... - ChevyTalk --The Social Network for Chevy Fans

this link may help you if you have title problems????


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