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This is ole56chevy, I'm wanting to replace the oem front subframe with a newer subframe for disc brakes and a newer power steering system. Can anyone tell me what year would be suitable for this transfomation. I know about the conversion kits that reputable companies offer. Looking for outside information. Thanks, ole56chevy
You might look into somethinglike a 79 to 81 camaro front snout. a z28 will have alittle quicker steering. many stock car chassis used a version of this.
how about a malibu snout? get the snout you wont and if it dont have disc brakes on it thats no big deal to change. :D
why sub frame it when all the parts are available to do exactly what your wanting to do. here are some vender links do a search & you'll find everything. and every links has LOTS of venders info..joe
http://www.clubhotrod.com/forums/sho...&threadid=4259
http://www.interiorsbyshannon.com/links.htm
http://www.streetrod.com/VENDORA.HTM
http://www.hotrodtrucks.com/trbuygde/
Hot Rodding is all about exploring and building alternatives to what is everybody else is doing. It also started out as (and for some of us still is) an attempt to have a car at a performance level comparable to or better than what we could go out and buy and doing it at a lesser cost.
If your looking at sub-framing the car as an attempt to have something a little different than someone else, go for it. Look for something with a front tread width very close to what you have and unless you are a very good welder, find someone who is and has experience with this type of conversion. Talk to him about what needs to be done and go from there.
If the main reason your exploring sub-frames is because you've priced the different options available from the vendors and figure this would be a cheaper (and possibly easier) I think you will find out differently. Unless you have all or most of the equipment, room (about 2 bays worth), time and most importantly experience to do this yourself, farming it out will be far more expensive than buying bolt on upgrades and result in an equal performance level.
I have done sub frame conversions, weld-in suspension systems, and bolt on upgrades. Due to the time and cost involved the first 2 are generally reserved for vehicles that have severely outdated suspension designs (straight axels, and some of the early IFS) or parts are not readily available or adaptable for.
The 55-57 Chevys had a relatively decent front suspension design to begin with and as Joe said there are a bunch of parts available for them to upgrade them to contempory standards (based on the original frame and suspension design) with more coming out all the time. Chances are if there was a cheap and easy subframe swap for these cars you would see a lot of them installed already.