52 step side frame swap.

[harrisdaniel1022]

Hey, I am trying to decide what frame to get to swap my 52 single cab step side truck onto. The only reason I am swapping it is there is lots of rust holes in the original frame. Will this body fit on a 2006 Colorado extended cab frame?

[Lokin4AReason]

there is some difference in lenght

maybe if there is a pull a part or pick n pull , you could possibility in taking measurements

2006 colorado
https://www.edmunds.com/chevrolet/co...eatures-specs/

62 c10 wheel base lenght
https://automuseumonline.com/1962-ch...l-details.html

[harrisdaniel1022]

What if I just cut a little length out of the middle of the frame and then splice it back together and put plate steel on it to strengthen the cut part? I am sorry I put the wrong year, the truck is a 52 Chevy single cab step side.

[dsraven]

you probably should get some actual dimensions from your truck so you have something to compare with. you may also need to figure out what you want the truck to be when it is all grown up. a truck that has a set of huge width rear tires will likely need a whole new rear frame section that is narrowed to allow that. in that case you need to look for a donor frame that has what you want for front suspension etc. if you want to stick with something more normal in the tire width area so it is more of a daily driver and comfort is more appealing than being an inch off the ground then that also changes the range of what is available for donors. if you plan to modify the suspension then finding something that has a good aftermarket following for parts is kinda important. that is why the S10 has been used for a lot of frame swaps on the AD trucks, lots of aftermarket support for air bag suspension, lowering parts, different control arm lengths, etc etc. joedoh, a member here, sells a mount kit for the S10 frame swap and if interested a private message to him could answer a lot of questions.
dimensions you might wanna know before looking for a donor
width from inside the rolled fender lips front and rear
desired tire width and outside diameter when truck is done. makes a difference, especially on the front axle, when it comes time to turn the steering. otherwise the tires rub the fenders
amount of dish you want in the wheels when all done (makes a difference for width of axles from wheel mounting flange to wheel mounting flange)
frame width, not that this is a big deal because you will be fabbing up new body mounts anyway

[28TudorAZ]

If you go the S10 frame route there is this thread. https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...03#post9245503

[dsraven]

any decisions made yet? dimension check outcomes? plans?
just curious

[dsraven]

is the colorado not equipped with oddball wheel bolt patterns?

[dsraven]

areyou looking at a 2 wheel drive truck or an all wheel/4 wheel drive truck? something close to a stock ride height or shorter/taller?
I have a 57 sitting on an 04 envoy frame. my cab was very rusty so I opted to use the floor and firewall from the donor. it is some work but it also gets you a floor that fits the frame and mounts, the donor seats and console fit the floor, the brake booster, accel pedal etc are all there for you to use if desired. it depends on what you want to do and how badly rusted your cab is.
some pics of your parts array would be good to see so we know what you have to start with.

[vintovka]

Donor chassis choices may be declining with time and the fact some are becoming more valuable due to inflation. If my 84 GMC Stepside sierra classic donor chassis had been a survivor it would be prolly worth same or more as retromod 54 ad it became. The number of original AD chassis available for very little is amazing. I should add if i had the need to do a swap right now i would lean to a s10 in 4x4 and add a nice newer LS. I doubt i could afford such a project due to todays costs!!.

[mr48chev]

The Colorado has a better tread width for the AD trucks than the S-10 2 wheel drive does unless you get the sport model that is a bit too wide.

Most of those GM car style frames and S-10 and Colorado are more car style than truck style frame wise are three part frames, The front subframe, the middle section and the rear subframe. Back not far in front of the rear spring hangers you should find a splice weld where the rear section is slid into the middle section and welded up.

By looking at this I would look at the Colorado frame for rust where they show the replacement part going. If someone is making that kit that means rust there is a real issue. https://www.rustbuster.com/products/...UkSot8HBDAXC4h


Looking at this GM parts catalog image I am thinking that the line across the frame rail in the drawing is the splice. you cut/grind away the weld, slide the rear stub out, measure and cut the rails the amount you want to shorten the wheelbase and slide the rear sub section back in, square it all up perfect and weld it back and it takes a critical eye to figure out what you did and it is just as it was originally except shorter . That is if that section of the frame rails is straight and stays the same si

When I put the 75 Monte Carlo frame under my 51 Merc I did that with the Monte Carlo frame to stretch it a couple of inches, Cut the welds, slid it back squared it up and welded it up.

The wheelbase should be 126 inches on that model and you need 116 so you need to shorten the wheelbase ten inches. You have to make sure that you can shorten it 10 inches.

[dsraven]

thats what I was thinking as well, the frame for the colorado could be shortened by grinding those welds off. I would make a jig to keep the frame "square" and straight when sliding it back together and then tack weld the joints before doing a corner to corner dimension check and some checks to ensure the frame isn't drooping before doing the final welds at the joint