Frame Swap

[MGF2011]

New guy here just getting started with my 49 GMC and may swap frame. what year S-10 frame will work best. Thanks for the help.

[AD51]

I believe most any year will work well. The standard cab Long bed works best for wheelbase if you have a short bed 49

[MrTucker]

I hear the first generation S10's are better to use - not sure why though

[D-man313]

I used a 98 s10. Regular cab, long bed works the best for the right wheelbase.

Feel free to PM me if you want more info/pics.

[T Hilde]

I had better luck with a dakota chassis.

[booger1949]

why use a s10 instead of m2 . m2 much easier, less headache

[99 to Life]

Here is some info I found and have posted before. S-10 frame is the most economical way IMO. IFS is great but costs twice as much as a completed, fully done up s-10 frame alone. Plus if you don't have an adequate welder the IFS is useless. Unless you get a bolt on version.

The most common, but probably hardest to find is the s-10 longbed 2x4 reg cab. there are differences in years but I honestly don't know all of what, I think control arms are different, because when you buy cups for bagging s-10's they sell them in certain years. overall you can use years 82-03 I believe.


anyway here are some numbers for you.

There are several ways to distinguish the Advance designs (AD) aka 1947-55 1st series trucks. There are 1/2, 3/4 and 1 tons (noted by hood emblems as 3100, 3600 and 3800 I believe) also frames and beds are a tell tale.
Their wheelbases are as follows
116 in
125.25 in
137 in

However the factory truck wheels are actually offset 2" in the rear, so that is why the Reg Cab "longbed s-10" works so well.

S-10 wheel bases are as follows (all have been used in some way or another)
Regular cab short box - 108.3" (AD bed gets shortened)
Regular cab long box - 117.9" (most common used frame, little mods, rear of frame gets about 5" hacked off and front horns get hacked off)
Extended cab short box -122.9" (AD bed stays same, s-10 frame shortened)

S-10
54.4"Front 54.6"Rear
4x4 is about 57.2"F 55.1"R

The track width for an AD is 58.5 up front

I personally used 1" spacer up front and 1.5 in the back. But it may depend
on your wheel offset. I personally like having a good tuck and I can bring the wheels out to my desired tuck with spacers.

Dakotas I don't know much about, heard some good things. But I am not sure on the lug pattern. But I really like how GM has used the 5 on 4.75 since the 50's, I think it is great.

[49ZR2]

I used a 2000 S-10 ZR2

[MGF2011]

Thanks everyone, not sure just yet what im going to do. Booger 1949 can where can i look to find info on the M2 swap. Is there anything that can be done to original frame to give lower profile if i want to keep all original.

[99 to Life]

MGF2011,

I actually started a thread on here a while ago about lowing the OG (original) frame. There are several things you can do.

The best way would be (without an IFS) use a drop axle in the front and blocks in the back. But with all the money you would dump into that, you might as well put a clip from a camaro, nova etc and or just go with a brand name or generic brand IFS on the original frame.

I'll try and dig up the thread later. I was really trying to go for a more original and old school way of lowering the frame on my next build. But do to money and lack of pictures of final stance (from others) I really think I will back burner that idea of the drop axle for a later date.

If money isn't an issue, I'd do the IFS on he original frame. If you are on a budget, go with the s-10.

[BlueJeep]

Mine's on a 95 s10 extended cab frame...but mine's a longbed. The biggest difference in the frames is that the 94up body style is boxed further back. This doesn't matter if you leave it alone, but if you want to cut an extended cab frame down to fit a shortbed AD it makes the process more involved.