Old chevy

hey guys, so i have a 1951 chevrolet deluxe coupe, that we've had since i was a little kid. We took it all apart converted to 12 volt put a 250 ci split the exaust man. just need final interior and and exterior, but before i move forward with the car i want to drop my 400 small block and go that route, so i want to know if a 68 el camino frame would fit under it, snce i have one laying around? wanted to know if it would fit or if i need to get new IFS cut frame and weld and go that route??? any info is greatly appreciated thank...

Are you wanting to change the frame to change the engine????You can put the sbc engine in with out all that work.

that and seeing what is most cost effective, for getting better ride i.e switching the front end and putting new rear end on the old frame or if i could switch the whole frame?

I'd check with Fatman or Heidts as they may have a crossmember that can be welded in to accomodate a V-8. You will have to cut up the original suspension and then weld in the new one. But now you can get a good A-arm susp and maybe even use R&P steering.

Before you consider using any other frame, consider the amount of work it will entail to mount body 'A' on chassis 'B'. Of course it will fit, but all you will be using of the original car are the outer body panels as every thing else will need to be majorly modified, cut out and replaced or ...... whatever.

That original frame is very strong as long as there is no, or at least minimal rust. It's what can best be described as a 'top-hat' style frame. It is made up of a bottom plate, then has an inverted 'U' riveted to it - many rivets. This will in turn give it a boxed frame strength. Here is about the best source of parts I know of to modernize that frame: http://www.chassisengineeringinc.com/ . Kind of a strange search tool on their catalog page, but once you figure it out, works fine, I spent quite a bit of time last year looking at their bolt together frame components and was impressed at the fit and finish though I might weld parts of it solid once I was happy with the final assembly.

The other source mentioned above is Fatman: ..::FatmanFabrications::... Their on-line catalog is a .pdf and is very slow loading. More work, but good products. Not sure I would want to consider others with that top-hat frame

The first and easiest to answer question I would ask is, what is the wheelbase of your '51 Chevy and the '68 El Camino frame? If they are different, your tires/wheels may not fit in the fender openings properly with the El Camino frame. Dave is giving you very good advice.

Mike

There have been a few noted B body chassis swaps on them from the late 70's early 80's Impala/ Caprices. The wheelbase is correct between the 2, but it's still more work than is nessasary... Remove the ebrake handle, trim the firewall tabs that are on each side of the 6cyl and a V8 will fit and work with conversion mounts.. The '49-'54 Chevy suspension lived on in part until 1962 in the Corvette

Yep, I sorta remembered that the front suspension/cross member was a bolt on and almost direct exchange with corvetts up to 62---soooo some of the aftermarket goodies for them could be used on the 51

as for the fire wall tabs--they would need to be cut any way you go, however getting body parts to line up on a frame swap is a nightmare--use original frame if its not rusted out