Small vs Big

[lower50's]

For my '52 gmc I used a big front end 9700.
I believe the cab is all the same but what about the front clip?

Does anyone know what the differences are between the 1.5t and down vs the 2-3t front ends?

Here is what I have found out so far:
A normal chevy fender is very close to same length, mine was about 2" wider from cab forward.
My fenders are taller even tho I cut 3" off the bottom.
The wheel opening is for a 20" truck wheel.
As for wheel base mine is 120" with a 80" long box. A extended cab short box s-10 frame I believe will work.
The frame web was about 10" and about 1/4" thick steel.
The hood is longer but I'm not sure where and how.

Here are some questions from jkeating1
I know the fenders and hood are different, but in what ways?

I know the grille bars are spaced wider up-and-down, but is the grille width the same?

It appears the fenders drop lower below the cowl, but is that and the size of the wheel opening the only difference? Are the inner fenders longer?

Is the "web" of frame itself taller--from top to bottom of the frame rail? I mean, are normal aftermarket front IFS crossmembers out of the question for 6400 front rails?

Thanks guys any help would be great.

[63 & 64 Bowties]

You might try asking these questions on the Heavy Haulers area of the forum.
Here: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/f...play.php?f=239

[Advanced Design]

I would be interested in the details too. I've always understood the fenders were larger with larger wheel opening...just wasn't aware of more details. Tagging along.

[47 Fasttoys]

Frames are not the same.
Rob

[lower50's]

Here is some info I found:

Across the fender width is:
3000's 72 5/8"
4000's 74 7/8"
5000, 5000s 77 9/16"
6000's 74 7/8"

The length of the front end fire wall to bumper is:
3100 51 1/16"
4100+ 56 1/16"

Frame width:
3100-6700 are all 36"

Height of C frame and thickness:
3100 5 3/4" 9/64"
36-3700 5 27/32" 3/16"
38-39-4100 7" 7/32"
44-45-50-51-6400 8 7/8" 1/4"
6700 8 15/16" 9/32"

[jkeating1]

Pages 126-131 of this Chevrolet 1953 truck specifications guide give most if not all the answers: https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/doc...olet-Truck.pdf

Looks like that's where your numbers came from, though. They match I believe.

1954 and 55 first series would be a little different than the earlier AD's on the light duty dimensions because of the rear of the frame being different

[jkeating1]

Originally Posted by lower50's

....Across the fender width is:
6000's 74 7/8"...

Lower 50's--If you subtract about an inch on each side for fender thickness, you've got 72 7/8" inside the fender wells.

It looks like you would be able to use up to a 65" hub-to-hub front end.

You agree?

[mr48chev]

The 3000 series trucks are the smaller trucks while the 4000 series and up starting with the 1-1/2 tons are the larger wider trucks.

I can't really see using the wide front end with an S-10 frame simply because the S-10 tread width is already too narrow for the 3000 series front end. Maybe if you are going to run some 20's that are ten inches wide. It's all about the look you want when you are done and if it looks right to you that is what counts.

Hoods have to go with the fenders because they are quite a bit different but the big truck hood has a better slope to it. Grill bars will swap but you have to use a bar for the exact position you need it for. Each bar only fits in one spot in the stack.
You have to look close but just to the right of the center bar you can see the notches in the back of the grill bars that show which spot in the grill they go in.

[lower50's]

Originally Posted by jkeating1

Pages 126-131 of this Chevrolet 1953 truck specifications guide give most if not all the answers: https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/doc...olet-Truck.pdf

Looks like that's where your numbers came from, though. They match I believe.

1954 and 55 first series would be a little different than the earlier AD's on the light duty dimensions because of the rear of the frame being different

I had a few different sites open to get the numbers, that looks like the manual.

Originally Posted by mr48chev

The 3000 series trucks are the smaller trucks while the 4000 series and up starting with the 1-1/2 tons are the larger wider trucks.

I can't really see using the wide front end with an S-10 frame simply because the S-10 tread width is already too narrow for the 3000 series front end. Maybe if you are going to run some 20's that are ten inches wide. It's all about the look you want when you are done and if it looks right to you that is what counts.

Hoods have to go with the fenders because they are quite a bit different but the big truck hood has a better slope to it. Grill bars will swap but you have to use a bar for the exact position you need it for. Each bar only fits in one spot in the stack.
You have to look close but just to the right of the center bar you can see the notches in the back of the grill bars that show which spot in the grill they go in.

Wow thanks that's good to know the bars are the same, I never knew they had notches like that. The fenders seem to be the same length small to big, how is the big front end hood so much bigger?

[mr48chev]

Here is the hood off my 4000 series 1-1/2 ton donor truck sitting on my 48. I did it a couple of years ago when someone asked if the 1-1/2 ton sheet metal would work with a half ton.

[lower50's]

Originally Posted by jkeating1

Lower 50's--If you subtract about an inch on each side for fender thickness, you've got 72 7/8" inside the fender wells.

It looks like you would be able to use up to a 65" hub-to-hub front end.

You agree?

That would give you almost 4" from hub to inside of the fender. That sounds like it would work.

Originally Posted by mr48chev

Here is the hood off my 4000 series 1-1/2 ton donor truck sitting on my 48. I did it a couple of years ago when someone asked if the 1-1/2 ton sheet metal would work with a half ton.

Awesome!! So they are quite a bit different, also looks like the big fender would have a bit more curve to it as well. Thanks for the pic.

[Advanced Design]

That is an amazing difference. I never realized the hoods were different. Thanks for the additional research and photo share mr48chev.

[mr48chev]

Then you get into the really big which is a different story.

[mr48chev]

One you don't see often but probably those wider fenders

[lower50's]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

One you don't see often but probably those wider fenders

That's my front end right there.