Putting Camaro front in 55 second gen

[Dave0]

Hi! I just bought this 55. I have found a late 70s camaro subframe and I need a little direction of setting my ride height... Im looking for fairly low but totally drivable without bags. This will be my first front end swap... I know this site is a wealth of info, looking for some basic steps to setting ride height....

I have also found a 2003 s10 4x4 rear with springs and the mounts. I think I can get that in place with no problems. I have a 5.3 and 460le trans, computer, electrical box, air box, ac, power steering. Its a VERY complete take out, out of a 06 pick up.

[mr48chev]

The best way I have found is to figure what distance the Camaro crossmember sits off the shop floor in a stock Camaro that year ( I slid under a car like my donor and measured from the crossmember center to the floor) and when you are setting the chassis up set the crossmember on blocks so it is at that height and all squared up and then match the truck to the crossmember. I did that on my 51 Merc and came out exactly where I wanted to be on height with no suspension mods to the subframe.

This is one one of my buddies did that is almost too low, the frame rail of the truck is going to end up on the same level as the bottom of the crossmeber rear legs of the Camaro putting the truck super low. Most guys set the trucks frame a bit higher on the subframe than that.

It does show that you want the subframe and truck frame on the same level plane with each other no matter what the height of each is.


I've seen a couple of messed up frames where the builder tried to "build rake or camber" into the frame when he mated one with the other and that doesn't work

One of the best tutorials on doing the swap is the one by Lux Blue on the Hamb.
Read what he writes and says to do an shows and you should be in good shape. It's long winded because of all the comments but he did an excellent job of describing an showing how to do it the right way. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/t...ne-day.148978/

[Speedbumpauto]

I did mine exactly that same way. You can judge the ride ht. by the pic. by my name. It's low but very drivable for a toy.

[Dave0]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

The best way I have found is to figure what distance the Camaro crossmember sits off the shop floor in a stock Camaro that year ( I slid under a car like my donor and measured from the crossmember center to the floor) and when you are setting the chassis up set the crossmember on blocks so it is at that height and all squared up and then match the truck to the crossmember. I did that on my 51 Merc and came out exactly where I wanted to be on height with no suspension mods to the subframe.

This is one one of my buddies did that is almost too low, the frame rail of the truck is going to end up on the same level as the bottom of the crossmeber rear legs of the Camaro putting the truck super low. Most guys set the trucks frame a bit higher on the subframe than that.

It does show that you want the subframe and truck frame on the same level plane with each other no matter what the height of each is.


I've seen a couple of messed up frames where the builder tried to "build rake or camber" into the frame when he mated one with the other and that doesn't work

One of the best tutorials on doing the swap is the one by Lux Blue on the Hamb.
Read what he writes and says to do an shows and you should be in good shape. It's long winded because of all the comments but he did an excellent job of describing an showing how to do it the right way. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/t...ne-day.148978/

Thank you guys, I seen that build earlier. I will go back and read it all!

[Dave0]

Choppy choppy

[TINKERDUKE]

Check out this install for detailed instructions http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/t...ne-day.148978/
It's how I did mine and it drives perfectly.

[MARTINSR]

Personally, I have only done one of these so I don't have a lot to offer. One of the mistakes people make is thinking that mating it up to the truck frame and how and where it's welded is the most important thing, when really that is the least important. The most important is getting the suspension on that sub frame in proper relation to the truck frame! So getting the frame and the sub frame at ride height, and knowing the wheel base is right and the geometry on the sub is correct is MOST important.


But I ran an "all thread" to replace the shocks on the clip. I then tightened them up to drop frame down until the lower control arms were level, and the distance between the arm and the rubber bumper was the same as when it was on the Camaro. Being the Camaro and the truck are pretty close in weight, this worked out well.

The trucks frame was dropped down to the height I wanted it too, the rear could be done first to be sure.

This way all you have to worry about is getting the wheel base right, everything else is going to happen as needed.

One important thing is check the upper control arm shaft angle with an angle finder while it's on the Camaro so you know what to put it at on the truck.

Tack the frame into place and then install the front sheet metal on the truck to be sure the wheels look perfectly centered in the wheel wells. Then go back and finish welding it in place.

If you do all this, the front will suspension will align exactly as it did on the Camaro. You can tell the alignment shop to ignore what they are looking at and align a Camaro.


Brian

[Dave0]

Good info Brian. Thank you, I hope to be setting this up tomorrow...

[Dave0]

Easy job! Time to spin it around and start on the rear!

[Dave0]

Im going to try and put a s10 zr2 rear end in with s10 2wd springs and frame brackets...

[Valarius_Starchaser]

Nice work I'm going to follow along on this one for sure

[Dave0]

Messin with stuff...

[tmoble]

hey, front tire is only flat on the bottom.......

[mygirlz55]

How long before you get to the point of mounting front bumpers?
That's where I'm at now. I think I've got the steering figured out.

[Dave0]

Originally Posted by mygirlz55

How long before you get to the point of mounting front bumpers?
That's where I'm at now. I think I've got the steering figured out.

Wont be long, now that I have my rear suspension where I want it. I will put the engine and transmission in before I start making leaf spring mounts...



Something like this, maybe a little bit lower...

[northern 85]

Cool rig!!!

[Dave0]

Originally Posted by northern 85

Cool rig!!!

Thanks!

[Dave0]

5.3 and 4l60e. I did have to pull the manifolds to get it in...

[Dave0]

Ford Ranger brackets fit the s10 springs. Saved me a bunch of time making brackets... I did have to put the rears in upside down, to get the ride height I wanted...All tacked in, the truck sits on its own suspension again...

[Dave0]

Checking stuff...

[Indian113]

Great Job so Far, thanks for the pictures! where did you get the Ford Ranger Spring Hangers?

[Dave0]

Originally Posted by Indian113

Great Job so Far, thanks for the pictures! where did you get the Ford Ranger Spring Hangers?

Dorman repops them... Amazon, ebay.. I got them from the local auto parts store.

[dsraven]

if you are going to use cast exhaust manifolds try the camaro style, they fit between the frame rails better.
looks good.

[Dave0]

Originally Posted by dsraven

if you are going to use cast exhaust manifolds try the camaro style, they fit between the frame rails better.
looks good.

I may look for a set, otherwise I will be notching the sub frame. And putting a notch thru one of one of the lower control arm brackets...

[Mac the Yankee]

Don't forget that the Nova used the same subframe/manifolds- might make your search a little easier