Mike T - 1952 Chevy S10 swap

[skymangs]

This truck came in for an S10 frame swap. It already has posie's super slide's front and rear, Camaro rear end, disk brakes, 5.3L vortec/700R4 combo. The owner wants to get it lower to the ground, and have the drivability of independent suspension. This build will retain the carb'd 5.3/700R4, the Camaro rear end, and the current wheel/tire combo. goal is to get it at about 6" off the ground (bottom of the front fender). I'll be using my frame swap setup, (cutting the above frame portion down about 1 3/4" from the last build). It will also get an under-dash AC, new aluminum speedway radiator, 2" drop springs/2" drop blocks, some new suspension components, and a new steering column (topped with a '54 Chevy car steering wheel). Should be a pretty slick looking truck!

Here's what it looked like when it arrived, along with the donor S10.

[skymangs]

Here's a few shots of stripping down the S10.

[skymangs]

Here's the cab mounts tacked on the S10 chassis, and the '52 getting torn down.

[skymangs]

More of the '52. Last few are mock-up. The drop springs moved the rear axle to center them in the rear wheel opening, but also made the driveshaft a little on the short side. I'll be finagling things a bit to make the driveshaft fit a little better in the tail-shaft. Since the 5.3 doesn't really have any room to move back, I need to make up this 1" or so in bed/rear axle placement. The last few are mocking up the cab/fenders/bed and putting the S10 rubber mounts on the new cab stands.

[skymangs]

The S10 rear end is now out, but it fought me every step of the way... Wound up cutting the U bolts, just no hope of getting them loose. Tomorrow that Camaro rear end goes under the S10 Chassis. Then on to driveline placement!

[oldman3]

Hey Chris, man you are moving right along, what kind of time frame did you give yourself for this one? Nice work...Jim

[skymangs]

Thanks Jim. I had originally told him 2-3 weeks, but that was before he added AC. Goal is for this truck to make a cruise night in Topeka on 17 May.

[99 to Life]

hey sarge, moving along, but why the heck didn't he just put and IFS on it. now days the parts are so cheap it seems to me like a more logical move, esp for something that was already updated and driving like this. Might run into some steering linkage probs and then the rear end relocation. curious on his thoughts. I'd buy his frame if I wasn't so broke and far away!

[Billys68SS]

Time frame sounds suspiciously like some tv shows.. Lol. Maybe you'll be the next builder tv star.

[skymangs]

99. IFS parts are considerably cheaper now, but still in the $2000 range, for parts alone. This Frame swap is more like $800 in parts. I guess I'm just cheap labor!

Billy... No TV show for me! I just want to wrench, no drama! Keeping these projects in the affordable category is paramount in my mind. The middle class market has been on the outside looking in for far to long.


So I had to make new axle perches for the Camaro rear end, spring spacing is like 3" wider. Took a little longer than expected. Hopefully tomorrow I'll get the driveline pulled and mocked up in the S10 chassis.

[oldman3]

Originally Posted by skymangs

Billy... No TV show for me! I just want to wrench, no drama! Keeping these projects in the affordable category is paramount in my mind. The middle class market has been on the outside looking in for far to long.

Chris, nicely put, I agree 100%...Jim

[Billys68SS]

I agree... All the more reason for a tv show! :-)

[99 to Life]

TV shows don't get down with real deal life. They have to add their garbage drama to it. There was a guy you can check out on youtube he's been making vids and really some good down to earth tips. southwest hotrods. He had a series on discovery 3D, but it got cancelled cause 3D tv just isn't popular. His show and even someone like jessee james I can watch. They really bring you in with the real deal and do it cause they love it.

as far as the IFS, if it were me I woulda saved up a lil extra loot. Its def a close battle.
Depends on how far he goes with the dime frame. You can get IFS kits for a little cheaper if you buy parts separately, but all the time and headache sourcing it adds up.

So is running a gas tank behind the seat? Don't see it on his OG frame.

[skymangs]

Jim, we seem to see eye to eye on a lot of things... I like your style brother!

Billy, thanks, but no thanks. Too much pressure, too many outside influences if you go on air... Haven't you ever seen Wayne's World?

99... he has a spun aluminum gas tank that mounts in the bed. We're gonna re-use it.

[Billys68SS]

I hear ya. It was more a joke than anything else. I would never recommend it. I agree too much drama and stupidity from network gurus that have no concept of reality. You do good, fast work though so... You've got it figured out and you ain't afraid to do it. I think that's awesome. Your posts here are more informative and intuitive than most tv shows anyway. :-)
Keep up the good work!! Keep crankin me out!
As soon as we get this '66 finished and sold I'll be back on my 49! In between working on my brothers 71 Chevelle.

[skymangs]

Awe shucks Billy.... Thank you. Mike just bought another 50. I'm going to NE to pick it up on Sat... Here's a couple pics to wet yer whistle, this one's gonna be SMOOOTH!

3" chop, '56 caddy bumper, 53 buick ports and headlight buckets, 50 Merc dash, Olds 350 rocket, and an S10 chassis. should be hot when it's done!

[skymangs]

Here's some updated pics of the '52... Spring perches on the Camaro rear were 3" too wide for the S10 springs. Built some new perches out of some square tube, I offset drilled some 2x2 square tube to double as drop blocks, and move the axle 1" farther forward (that's where I like them). Rear end is installed, new trans is mounted, and the engine is mocked up. Tomorrow I'll build some motor mounts, and modify the trans crossmember to fit in it's new location.

[99 to Life]

ha thats funny, Iwanna49 just sent me that link the other day.

[skymangs]

Shoulda bought it '99, now it's destined to get finished in my shop!

[IWanna49]

What a small world! It'll be in good hands!

[99 to Life]

I can't buy anything, better half lost her job. so keeping up is even worse now. I got over 13 cars and trucks late 40's-50's, so I don't need another right now!! I like the cadi grilles with these trucks but thats about it. I almost never get down with a chop on these. I'v been seeing nice trucks for sale left and right, just not around my area. Stuff is mad rusted around here. The dropblock/perches are a good move, hit a few birds with one stone, set the pinion angle, no shims no nadda.

[oldman3]

Nice job Chris...Jim

[skymangs]

Iwanna49: I'm goning to try to finish it with style. The owner wants to take it to shows, and make it an advertising piece for my shop. I can't argue with his logic!

99: sorry to hear that. It always seems that way. Find lots of great deals whenever you don't have the cash, when you do, it all dries up.

Thank you Jim.

[99 to Life]

Oh I meant cadillac bumper not grille in my last post. Its amazing what people give up on out there, do most all the hard work and boom just stop. You never make your money back that way. But its a logical move for someone else to swoop it.

[skymangs]

Totally agree 99.

Today's progress. Got the trans crossmember moved back and modified. Basically it needed to be narrowed since I moved it back so far, so I cut the ends off, removed a section, and welded them back on. I also built a new bracket on the drivers side, since it moved off the "shelf" on the frame.