front clip ID help please

[hotrodelrod]

I would like to know what front end was grafted onto my 54 by a previous owner. It is a front steer GM product. The engine is a mid 80's 305 HO and rear is a 7.5 inch 10 bolt. Maybe they all came from same donor? I will attempt to post some pics. Thanks in advance for any input.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1418250914

[mr48chev]

I'm thinking Mid 70's Camaro, Firebird or Nova type rig. It could be a front clip cut off a Chevelle size car too but most of the parts interchange between them as far as bushings, balljoints, wheel bearings and brake parts.

[dwcsr]

I'd venture a guess at early Camaro

[hotrodelrod]

What is the tell tale to make you guys think 70s Camaro? Thanks for your input!

[Speedbumpauto]

late 60's Camaro etc. clips were rear steer and in 71, I think, they switched to front steer.

[hotrodelrod]

Is there any way of finding out for sure what it is? Track width, #s, etc. Did the earlier Camaros have a sway bar? Maybe the bar diameter?

[hotrodelrod]

Anyone have any more thoughts on this? I could post different picks if needed. Would really like to know what ive got here. Thanks

[OrrieG]

Google is your friend, looks like 67-69

http://www.camaros.org/suspen.shtml#aarms

[dwcsr]

The last camaro clip I rebuilt the owner didn't know the year so we pulled out the a frame and looked up the numbers on the ends of the rubber bushings. We were able to find the year range that way. This is a very helpful chart

[ChuckDriver]

It's not a 67-69, they were all "rear steer".

And I don't believe its a later one either. Haven't seen one with the long oval slot behind the 3 bolts for the steering box.

Also, the "bulk" of the upper control arm and the amount of drop doesn't look like a Camaro one either.

Just my 2 cents.

[figure843]

Possibly S-10 Those are not camaro/nova upper A frames.

[joedoh]

its not s10 but it has the same control arm geometry, so I will say unequivocally it is a g body clip. the steering box bolts and upper arms are the giveaway.

[hotrodelrod]

Originally Posted by joedoh

its not s10 but it has the same control arm geometry, so I will say unequivocally it is a g body clip. the steering box bolts and upper arms are the giveaway.

This would make sense given the HO 305 and 7.5 10 bolt that came in the truck.
Thanks Joedoh and others for your thoughts!

[ChuckDriver]

Winner Winner, Joedoh!!!!!

[mr48chev]

I'm not too familiar with the G body stuff but it could well be.

I was looking at :
Front steer= Not early Camaro or Nova
Large nuts on the upper A arm shafts that usually indicate early 70's and up as the older ones had a 3/8 bolt with lock washer and cupped washer on the A arms.
Caliper brackets cast into the spindles. 67/69 Camaro and Chevelles and Monte Carlos to 1972 had bolt on Caliper brackets and steering arms. 73 and up Chevelle size had one piece disk brake spindles.

Maybe someone with a G body clip can post some photos:

They aren't some of my greatest photos but here is a mid 70's Trans Am subframe on a TF frame.




No side shots of the steering box but I need to go visit my friend who has that anyhow and can take photos of it and another one he has.

[mr48chev]

Sorry about those huge photos. I'd say that they show that the Hotrodelrod doesn't have a mullet Camaro/Trans Am clip though.

Hotrodelrod, have you ever checked the suffix on the engine number on the front pad on the block to see if you could figure out what the engine started life in?

The good thing is that you don't have to be exact if you figure out what body style it came out of as parts interchange for a lot of years and a lot of models.

The diameter of the sway bar might be an indicator that it may be out of a performance model as it appears to be a bit thicker than what you would see in an entry level rig.

[hotrodelrod]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

Sorry about those huge photos. I'd say that they show that the Hotrodelrod doesn't have a mullet Camaro/Trans Am clip though.

Hotrodelrod, have you ever checked the suffix on the engine number on the front pad on the block to see if you could figure out what the engine started life in?

The good thing is that you don't have to be exact if you figure out what body style it came out of as parts interchange for a lot of years and a lot of models.

The diameter of the sway bar might be an indicator that it may be out of a performance model as it appears to be a bit thicker than what you would see in an entry level rig.

Mr48chevy, From memory the engine checked out to be a early to mid 80's 305 HO. I can certainly check again. Also the rear is a 7.5 inch 10bolt if that helps?

Thanks for your help!

[hotrodelrod]

Responded to all ?s. Thanks again guys!

[joedoh]

no problem. its interesting to note that those spindles are interchangeable with an early S10, the arms also interchange so you can buy S10 drop spindles and at least the tubular uppers if you need/want them. Lots of s10 guys go vice versa and buy g-body tube upper arms. Thats how I spotted it, could see the familiar S10 geometry but it was not an s10 clip.

also, the 98-03 blazer dual piston caliper 11" brakes will bolt on to those arms IF you use the sealed bearing hub spindles and outboard brake lines from the same donor. Just get the whole spindle chunk and bolt it on. I have this swap done to my 49 s10 donor and my 65 S10 setup and the extra surface area and brake power will put you through the windshield when you stand on it (not really, but its a noticeable difference, and nice to have sealed bearings). Have to run 15" wheels though.

[hotrodelrod]

Originally Posted by joedoh

no problem. its interesting to note that those spindles are interchangeable with an early S10, the arms also interchange so you can buy S10 drop spindles and at least the tubular uppers if you need/want them. Lots of s10 guys go vice versa and buy g-body tube upper arms. Thats how I spotted it, could see the familiar S10 geometry but it was not an s10 clip.

also, the 98-03 blazer dual piston caliper 11" brakes will bolt on to those arms IF you use the sealed bearing hub spindles and outboard brake lines from the same donor. Just get the whole spindle chunk and bolt it on. I have this swap done to my 49 s10 donor and my 65 S10 setup and the extra surface area and brake power will put you through the windshield when you stand on it (not really, but its a noticeable difference, and nice to have sealed bearings). Have to run 15" wheels though.

Thanks for the info. Sounds like a great upgrade at a reasonable cost! Pulled the motor, trans. and bed today. Going to check out frame, see what i have, and figure out where to go from here. IMO truck was butchered/hacked by a PO.

[joedoh]

that bottom one has s10 uppers on it!