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.
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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.
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....Quote:
Originally Posted by Rasmith1
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
Good move, you'll be much happier with the finished product, I believe.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rasmith1
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:3dSMILE:.
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
well i would rather keep it all ford cause i am going to run a ford motor and trans..My frame is alittle ruff in the back but it seems that it is going to be more easy to fix it then put the s-10 frame under it.
Hombre,The truck with the S10 frame under it had to have suspension mods done to it. Mine is completely stock with (stock)aftermarket shocks and it travels down the road just fine.In fact I think it has beefed up rear springs because when you hit a bump in the road it hits pretty hard other than that it rides nicely.Did the truck you`re referring to have fenders?If it didnt, the suspension and steering gear does look bad out in the open.:HMMM:
Rasmith, do you plan on channeling your 47? Because if you are,you`ll at least be cutting the floor loose. Good time to drop your body on the frame.But if you want to keep it all Ford,you would have to use a Ranger frame. I`ve saw it done, under a 40 ford coupe, complete with the dual I beam axles.the owner said it worked just fine.:rolleyes:
no not going to channel it
Ponchotom, Listen man I am glad you like your conversion, and its cool that it works for you. You have a favorable opinion of the S-10 frame. Thats cool with me.
I on the other hand don't think it is the way to go. Most certainly not on a Fat Fendered Ford or anytime that the factory frame can be used or modified or changed in some way. Anytime you do that "I" think you are way ahead of the game. Thats my opinion.
Now with that said and after reading some of the post on this subject and went and did some research looking for some of these "Frame Conversions". I found several, some OK, some really bad ones, but none that "I" cared for. Except for this one, this is without a doubt one of the coolest little Hot Rods I have ever seen and it has a frame from a Toyota.
Shame on me!!
Look through THIS POST on S10 frame swaps, there are over 900 replies to it & I'm sure you'll find any info you need....joe
Hombre that does look like a real cool rod. here`s some pix of mine:)
TooMany2Count, Thanks (I think) for that post and that link to that thread on the Hamb. I say (I think) because I didn't see that link until pretty late, and right before I headed to the sack. If you notice the time, I am posting this after reading every word on all 47 pages of that thread.
That was quite a read. Some damn interesting projects going on with the S-10 Chassis. Funny thing about that thread and that was the fact that a lot of those guys simply had to find an excuse to and for using the S-10 frame. The fact that it fit pretty good and was easly modified to fit when it didn't, was just not good enough. They felt guilty almost for using the thing. The most used EXCUSE was it may not be traditional but this is what Hot Rodding is all about uising what you got or can find cheap and making "IT" work.
That never was what Hot Rodding was about. Hot Rodding as we refere to it now was about making each and every piece on your car better, and more efficiant. Making do was not what it was about.
So after looking at and reading those 47 pages my opinion has been changed some. I think I was blaming the fact it was a S-10 and not looking at just how well built and useable that little frame is. The parts look pretty good indeed and I would take a little bet better look at this "NOW" before I just dismissed it.
Ponchotom, Very cool little coupe you have there. Hows about giving us a little more information about it. One thing for sure I think it must be bagged to set that low. Details man details!!
Roland
OK Hombre,You asked for it, 1. no it is not bagged, just didnt cut the grass. 2.when my brother gave me the coupe (in89)the body was scrap metal. the whole lower quarter was rotted away.Took it apart and contemplated on how I wanted to build it for 10 years.3.In 1999 found a running S10(drove it home)for $75.4.Spent the next 5 years setting it on theS10 frame and repairing the body.I used the following from the S10:frame(with front and rear susp),diff.,700R4 trans,wiring harness,pickup bed and wheelwells,steering col.,master cyl,brake pedal,and some body panels.the rest of the S10 I sold to fund building the car.After selling the S10 and old Pontiac parts I didnt need, the build cost me $3000 including $250 for a set of new ww radial tires.I had so much fun building it as well as finding GREAT bargains, I started another one.This one will be a 37 Ford sedan rat rod.:rolleyes:
Hombre, you are not alone in your opinion about using an S-10 frame. It is a lot of work to make one fit; the ones I have seen have a stance that does not look right (although Ponchotom's looks pretty cool); and some people, including me, would never buy a vehicle that had this kind of a conversion, no matter how good the craftsmanship might be. IMHO, you are money ahead using the original frame, but it all comes down to "it is your car and you have the freedom to do what you want with it."Quote:
Originally Posted by Hombre259
Hey RUMRUM, Where the hell can you buy a full frame, differential,and trans for $75. How is it less work to Fabricate a frame or clip? I`m sorry but one has to spend gobs of money to build ANYTHING with the dependability and engineering behind it than a GENUINE GM frame**)BTW the way I got mine to sit the way it does is by channeling the body down over the frame.:cool: