Thread: 41 Chrysler Street Rod front suspension from S10?

Tweet

Hi, we have talked about this before I think. We have a 1941 Chrysler with a GM frame of some sort. The guy that built it doesn't remember what he used as he has built so many cars, he built it 30 yrs ago.

It was time to rebuild the front end last yr, a searched and took part numbers off the parts, it has Camaro spindles on it, and what looks like, after 2 hrs with a NAPA guy 68 to 72 GM A body control arms, we pulled the ball joints out and matched them.

It needs new steering linkage, we looked at Camaro, and GM A body stuff, but its not the same, so I let it go last yr.

Well, I must have go bad parts, as my wife was just about to get on the freeway and the nut on the ball joint let go as she was turning the corner. 2 min later she would have been going 70 miles a hr.
The cop found the nut behind the car, stripped out, stinken foreign made crap, it was MOOG too. The tow driver took it across the street to a shop and then tapped the ball joint threads to get a nut back on it to get the car on its wheels again.

So I want to either get all new custom front end, or at least tubular upper and lower control arms and new linkage, but I can figure out was it really is.
Someone mentioned check out the wheel base cause a lot of people used S10 frames back in the 80s to make rods out of, they have 120 in wheel base, the car has a 120 in wheel base, so I googled pictures of S10 frames and it looks pretty friggen close.

Does anyone have the diminsions of S10 center links and tie rods, attached are some pictures of what I have. more pics if need be

http://i572.photobucket.com/albums/s...psc0a6e3d2.jpg

http://i572.photobucket.com/albums/s...ps19921beb.jpg

http://i572.photobucket.com/albums/s...sb1fd9a8e.jpeg

http://i572.photobucket.com/albums/s...ps1f810400.jpg

http://i572.photobucket.com/albums/s...ps991b7f65.jpg

http://i572.photobucket.com/albums/s...psfd01cfa4.jpg

http://i572.photobucket.com/albums/s...ps8520ddbf.jpg

http://i572.photobucket.com/albums/s...ps28515d61.jpg

http://i572.photobucket.com/albums/s...ps4a58f595.jpg

http://i572.photobucket.com/albums/s...psa5731294.jpg

http://i572.photobucket.com/albums/s...ps8289cc7a.jpg

http://i572.photobucket.com/albums/s...ps86fe3792.jpg

http://i572.photobucket.com/albums/s...psed62dd0f.jpg

http://i572.photobucket.com/albums/s...ps8d918913.jpg

Seems to me the chances of a ball joint stripping the nut are the same if its tubular A-Arms or GM stockers! A lot of work to gain what?

Who's making the Ball Joints for GM, Ford, Fat Man, Kugal?? Chances of getting a bad one are the same for all.

Did you torque it? With a calibrated torque wrench? Or a "calibrated hand?"

that looks like a front steer nova/camaro style suspension.....

Originally Posted by TooMany2count

that looks like a front steer nova/camaro style suspension.....

thanks for the replys guys, I just want to end all this mix and match (gee I wonder what it is BS) and go with a set up that I know what it is made from.

TooMany.... everyone says that, but isn't a Nova/Camaro a sub frame car? This is a full frame, no bolt holes in the front to indicate that is was bolted to a body. The control arms are different too.

I have looked at Camaro/Nova arms, the lower has a big curve to it on the back side, the ones on here have gentle curves to both sides.

I am wondering if its Monte Carlo, but would a early 70s Monte have such a wimpy little cross member, seems like it would be wider too, so the next logical thing would be Chevelle/Malibu/Cutlass wouldn't it?

what size rotors does it have on S10's & the midsize GM ran 10" rotors & can you take a picture of the frame just behind the a-frames. Could be a front snub swap. a Monte's frame & others look like the below.
http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_...0004_large.jpg

and the reason I say it may be a front snub clip is the below.
http://www.highway99hotrods.com/JR51.../F0062_JPG.jpg


and this is a S10 frame below
http://i668.photobucket.com/albums/v...p/100_2195.jpg

its gotta be a S10, there are no indications of welds behind the A Arms, it looks pretty much like a S10 frame after googling them. and looking at the last picture link you sent. Straight back behind the control arms and no cross members except the front one and the transmission mount

Well, I finally met the builder of the Chrysler yesterday, that guy is a friggen awesome old school hot rod dude.

Turns out the car does have a 68 Nova front clip welded to it, he must be a incredible welder as he has another 35 chevy frame in his back yard with another Nova clip welded to it, you can barley see any weld marks on it.

Turns out its a Nova clip, with reversed spindles making it in to a front steer car. He also has a 65 numbers matching Chevelle SS 327 car for sale $12000, and a 55 Chevy 2 door wagon California car with a 500 hp 350 in it. and a 58 Impala for sale.

He also has a L46 350 from a 69 Corvette just sitting in his garage, among a ton of other stuff he wants to sell. He has been at it for 50 yrs, and has done everything in his car port. Totally awesome dude.

That's very cool and at least you know for sure what you have!