Thread: Nash Caprice compatability?

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Ok I just may aquire a 96 cop car real cheap. The wheelbase(115.9") seems real close to my Nash 600(112"). I was planning to use all the underbits including the frame, but the simple matter of 4" is unnerving.

Should I cut the 4" out of the frame, or just modify the unibody of the Nash, and pull the front end and axle from the cop car? any other suggestions would be appreciated.

I assume your talking about putting your nash body on the caprice , and using the floor and drivetrain of the cop car under the nash ?
If so : i"d measure between the center of wheel opening of the body of the nash ( not the wheels.....>> the wheel openings ) , and see what you get, " unless that is the 112" that you measured ? " but the wheel wells of most of the older cars were pretty big so you "may " have some room to play with and still make it "look right". I've never seen this car or know what it looks like but if the fenders "swoop" or are elongated then I would think that you may get it to work ?

" it's worth checking "



but 3.9" inches seems like a lot...........

In my opinion.

T L

The measurements were the original factory specs for both vehicles, I haven't done the hub to hub nor center of wheelwell.

Looking at the back I think I might be able to get away with 2.5 to 3 inches back there, that means less necessary on the front.

I'm not cutting out the original floor unless I absolutely have to. I want as original of a look inside as possible. I will probably have to cut a bit, but I want to keep the cutting to a minimum as the floors are in great shape.


Thanks Streets. Maybe I was getting a little ahead. Ya see according to my state's regulations if you modify a vehicle too much you must register it as a 2004 vehicle. It will be required to meet 2004 emissions standards(and safety guidelines as well). I decided against a big block in it not because the engine compartment wouldn't fit it, but because I'm better with small blocks than big blocks. I could easily stuff a 454 in the engine compartment. That engine compartment kept getting smaller and smaller in my head, but in reality I have a large 38" X 36" space under the hood(believe it or not).

I like the caprive because its also where I was going to get the engine(cheaper to get the whole car than just the engine). All of the OBD and MPFI equipment is there. The also it has AC and all of the components for it. I have abosolutely no intention of ever selling this vehicle. But I would like to drive it.

Originally posted by Avenue
No one INTENTIONALLY sells their vehicle unless they are in need of the money for 'nother project OR they just get sick of havin' so many around to choose from everyday..... hehehe

I know that states do that, but in this case I think you'll be OK to register it as the original car.. It's a "You didn't ask so I didn't tell" state of mind.. Usually that rule is for a home built "Kit Car" without a title...

Sorry I'd sell my 2000 Impala first, then the pickup goes, then the Bravada(If I can pry the keys away from my wife )

The car itself holds a special place in my heart. Since the family farm is gone its the only thing left from my childhood.

The only thing that worries me about the registration is that AZ also requires all vehicles from another state to be inspected prior to registration. Hmmm maybe I should get that old Nash engine running first so I can register it as a 1948 Nash, then tear it all down and chuck the drivetrain(or sell it).

Hehe I have my donor car. I suppose if anybody wants the body and interiour from it they can have it. I'm not paying the UPS guy though

"No thank you " ..............
But I will take that spot light tho........ Just tell me how heavy it is, in a box, taped up with my name on top .

Originally posted by treekiller
"No thank you " ..............
But I will take that spot light tho........ Just tell me how heavy it is, in a box, taped up with my name on top .

Well If I can get money fer it I might just do that. Certain things are slated to be pulled and sold seperately(tilt steering column, Air bags, and a few other odds and ends), gotta make some of my money back(BWAHAHAHAHA like I'm gonna ever see any return on investment).

Originally posted by Dirt roads
hehehe You caught that I see.. 90% of those I have changed DON'T see it...

Sorry must be the twitchiness of my attention to detail.

Originally posted by BackAlleys(I decided agin the Backstreet geezer)
I wonder what TL's name weighs when written on a box top???

Lets see ink weighs appx 1g per cc, depending on the size of the box, and letter height, I'm guessing 9.1 picograms.

Originally posted by Tommycat



Lets see ink weighs appx 1g per cc, depending on the size of the box, and letter height, I'm guessing 9.1 picograms.

>>>>9.1 picograms<<<
MAN !!!! " that'll be cheap ! "..................
Where do I send the check ....?........... "or would you rather have it all in old half cent mills ?

Originally posted by treekiller
>>>>9.1 picograms<<<
MAN !!!! " that'll be cheap ! "..................
Where do I send the check ....?........... "or would you rather have it all in old half cent mills ?

Hehe, You have to send it in coupons, Next Day Air, insured.

Originally posted by Streets
I sho nuff hope yer wifes name is "De" er et seems like u iz payin' 'tention ta someone else's "Tail" den yanno dat.. hehehe

Nah hers is De Tail I pays mah attention to.

Interesting project. I am doing a similar thing with a 96 cop car and a Chevelle station wagon body. What I am having trouble with is finding the dimensions of the Caprice frame. The shop manual I got seems to ignore this info. Any ideas on where to find those frame dimensions?

I dont think arizona pays that much attention to detail as long as the vin maches the title they wont ask question if it ben redone all they want is money well that the way it is here in bullhead city that is you should see what they lic. here well maybe that just bullhead

Inted-d-d-drestink thread.

What happened there in Tuc-son? Cops have a bunch of bum drivers? Omigosh, that might be a loaded question.

Seriously, I find your project interresting, Tommycat. A few questions, that I did not see addressed in the posts, altho, you may have certainly considered them: Have you checked the track width of the Caprice vs the Nash? They definitely should be within about an inch or two. How long is the Nash from the firewall to the radiator support? Width of the engine space in the Nash, inner fender to inner fender? Some of those old cars were pretty narrow inside, especially those that did not have a V8 option. A Chevy small block is about 28 to 30 inches long from the back of the distributor to the front of the fan, and about twentysix to twentyeight inches wide at the widest point at the front of the engine. And, there sure is a lot of stuff in the front of that Caprice, and even tho you wont use most of that stuff, some of it is going to be necessary to the proper functioning of that drivetrain; got room? The last thing that I wonder about, and perhaps, one of the most important, is the body of the Nash. I can't remember how the original drivetrain was fit in that vehicle, whether it had a full length frame, or a front sub-frame, and the rear suspension hung on a "false frame". But, that is not the real point of my question/comment, that being: that body is supposed to be a complete unit from the firewall to the rear valance, and cutting it, in any way, without reinforcing it with a suporting interior or exterior frame, is going to destroy its structural integrity. You might be better off just using the basic drivetrain from the donor, and other bits and pieces to enhance the Nash, rather than to cut it up (being a real man, notwithstanding, Dave, ), and chance losing it altogether, especially if it holds the sort of sentimental value that you claim.

I'm certainly not trying to douse the flame of enthusiasm, here, but from a distant view, those are some of the first things that ran through my mind. Good luck with the project.

Well the cops in the Tucson area loved the Caprice. Many of them are hating the new Crown Victorias. One cop almost got killed by his car. Front ball joint gave out at 140+ MPH, and caused the frame to instantly hit the ground and made itself into a huge paperweight(18 flips later). The only reason they aren't still driving the Caprice is that the ones they have are getting very old and extremely high up in the mileage.

Now that I have most of the front dissassembled on the Caprice the engine looks a bit better. The Nash's original inline 6 is longer, but mounted more forward. I have no intention of having a mechanical fan, so I can get away with having the engine further back. The firewall for the Nash is fairly roomy engine compartment wise. The engine also sits a few inches higher than the Caprice engine. Any ideas on the best way to get the Caprice body out of the picture? That'll help me figure out just how much more I need to do.

The Caprice body is finally gone. Rented a forklift, and hauled the body to be recycled(too late to save anything now). My wife helped me get the few remaining parts I wanted out, and we slapped it on a trailer and hauled it off. We're down to pretty much the frame and crossmembers. My wife and I removed the LT1 and the 4L80E, so we can tear them down and rebuild them.

After taking a few measurements(again) the frame should match up relatively nicely. Bad thing is that the Nash frame is welded in so many places its not funny though(guess they saved money on bolts that way). Anybody know a good place to have the Nash frame extracted?