EZ Chassis Swaps

[Pullstart 63,703]

This is a pretty cool video, I figured I would share!

 

 

[peter lena 9,005]

@Pullstart  thank you for that !  very often see the opportunity  to save , old metal  , would rather have an oiled patina  than new !  typically its period correct , and looks just right , like a lighter  spreading  penetrating  aerosol  first  , for creep and spread , then days later  a heavier  open gear  aerosol  follow up , the heavier  oil tracks to the lighter oil , and seals off . related body seaming will verify that , amazing to me to see pretty new anything  , rusted out , all my  rolling stock , has an oil film verification , at every seam point , started at the highest  related horizontal area , the run down stage , is critical , for coverage . it shows you the way , every metal seam I have , has oil film at the  open drain area , and zero rust . regularly wipe down older painted surfaces , with a lighter  penetrating oil  , zero dirt / dust , just a  deep period correct , shine , wipe finish down till dry shinny , of course my mower decks , have been sucking in lubricant  , for months now , no rust / rot , just a black  oiled stained finish .  stay oily , pete      

[Racinbob 11,552]

What a cool story. A conversion like that would be my kind of 'classic' to drive around. I also enjoyed looking behind the camera shot at the town around him. I'll bet it's a great place to live and raise kids. 

[ri702bill 8,803]

Agreed - adding front disc brakes to a beam axle with buggy springs (48 to 60 F100's) is like hanging a chandelier in an Outhouse. Functional, but.....

This makes sense - the look of old iron, but with modern running gear.

Back in the 80's & 90's there was a popular upgrade for the 53-56 F100, using the K member from a Dodge Aspen or Plymouth Volare. That got you independent torsion bar suspension, power steering and disc brakes all together. Even the lug pattern was the same....

I have seen one up close, you would swear it was factory.....

 

Edited 18 hours ago by ri702bill

[ebinmaine 69,943]

Growing up in the 80s and into the 90s...

Massachusetts wouldn't allow these types of swaps but I lived closer to NH. They did. 

Seen some cool stuff back then.  

[953 nut 56,936]

I used a '70 Chevelle with modified side rails under my '48 Ford street rod. Cushy comfortable ride, good handling, disc brakes and power steering. 

[Achto 28,320]

I respect the chassis swaps and all the modifications, but I have mixed feelings on the finished product. If you are starting with a P.O.S., I guess do what ya gotta do to save what's left. If you are starting with a nice original, then I think leave it alone and make it original. If I wanna drive a new cushy truck, I have my 2018 Ram. If I wanna enjoy all the technology of 1957 and have to know how to handle it, then that would be part of the allurer for me. They just don't make that old iron any more.

 

I enjoy watching some of the hot rod shows, at the end of the show the end result looks & drives great with a lot of power. But it is no longer any thing close to what it was. Just my opinion, but If I want a 70 Chevelle SS, I want a 70 Chevelle SS. Not what's left of a Chevelle after absolutely everything has been altered and up dated. Don't even get me started on the ridiculously large rims with low profile tires. 22" rims are for semi trucks not classic vehicles 

 

Sorry, I done. 

Edited 11 hours ago by Achto

[ri702bill 8,803]

2 minutes ago, Achto said:

Sorry, I done. 

So I guess the lowered, cambered Hondas with the tin wing, fart pipe and glow tip exhaust are off the table....???

The point is that each generation makes it their own. That's why we have chocolate and vanilla.....

[953 nut 56,936]

I drove the '48 Ford pick-up in stock configuration, armstrong steering, flathead V8, three on the floor and some of the stuffiest springs I've ever encountered for several years. The decision to update the chassis was my desire to go further than the county line without fear of a breakdown. After it was street rodded I put on over 100K going to gatherings all over the country. Guess it is a personal decision based on what your intended use is.

[Pullstart 63,703]

12 hours ago, 953 nut said:

I used a '70 Chevelle with modified side rails under my '48 Ford street rod. Cushy comfortable ride, good handling, disc brakes and power steering. 

For other reasons, I’m still waiting for the day I pull the ‘57 Pontiac into the shop for the last time on its stock frame.  

 

I’ve also decided this needs to be a project done in stages.  I don’t exactly know if pulling Colleen’s drivetrain is going to work out, but the different wheelbase for the truck and car is killing me right now.  
 

I am convinced I need a Chevy 2500HD Chassis under the car.  I want to be able to drive it like it’s a truck.  Haul.  I’m not convinced about chopping the wheel wells and stretching them to the truck chassis.  I have considered however, keeping the option to revert back to the truck’s stock wheelbase someday, but to build a bolt on 4 link kit and move the axle forward for stage 1.

 

So, phase 1 looks like:

 

‘57 Pontiac body

’01 Chevy 2500HD 2WD extended cab short box frame from Texas

Diesel of some sort.  I might just keep wheeling and dealing until I find a wrecked 4x4 diesel.  The 2500HD chassis has 2 of the 4 holes to install a front 4wd differential, all other bolt on components are the same for that year.

Move the rear axle forward.

Work out the bugs before my final plan.

 

Phase 2:

Extend the wheelbase back to factory spec.

Cut and move the wheel wells.

Install a 5th wheel hitch in the trunk.

Haul the camper just like a 2500HD can.