Need a body for my frame

[Bill Ford]

It appears I have made a major screw-up on my current project. I have several 48-53 Studebaker Pickups and wanted to build a streetrod. So I started with a '77 Chevy SWB frame and shortened the wheelbase to 106" to match the wheelbase on the Stude. Overhauled the frame, installed a 6.0 w/4L80E, pump-in-tank, new 3.42 gears, etc. The chassis is ready to go.

When I get down to serious measuring to install the Stude body I find that the wheel WIDTH is about 3.5 inches to wide to fit under the Stude body. It appears that it would take 19-20" wheels to be able to get enough backspace to overcome the width problem. No Way!

Now I'm thinking of finding another wider body (older model Chevy) to fit the frame I have and leaving the Stude project for another day. I can restore the original wheelbase (117.5") with no problem.

The problem is I don't know what year bodies will fit the frame. I would like to put as old a body as possible on the frame. Can some of you guys tell me which SWB's will fit on the 77 SWB frame? Or tell me where I can find wheelbase/wheel width specs for Chevy Pickups? I can do a fair amount of body mount fabrication to make it work. I am mainly concerned about wheelbase and wheel width.

[kev2809]

cant you narrow the axle 1.75 on each side to make up the 3.5"?

[Bill Ford]

The suspension on the '77 frame is A-arm independent type and I don't think (or I don't know how) it can be narrowed without major (and costly) mods. Do you have a suggestion?

[SCOTI]

An aftermarket front crossmember would/could allow for a narrowed track width.

Either the Fatmans bolt-in set-up or something like Porterbuilts bolt-in kit would narrow the track width (prob more if using all MII/Fatmans stuff). Might be worth investigating since you have time/money already into the chassis.

[kev2809]

Originally Posted by Bill Ford

The suspension on the '77 frame is A-arm independent type and I don't think (or I don't know how) it can be narrowed without major (and costly) mods. Do you have a suggestion?

just the front is a arm style right? the rear has an axle? scotti is right about the front...may be worth your wild investing in one of those kits rather than looking for whole different body. plus you get to keep your plans the way you wanted (by still being able to use the stud. body)

[N2TRUX]

It seems to me that having custom built A-arms would be something to consider as well. It sounds like you have a lot done to give up nnow.

[Spray-Bomb]

Ha ha, try putting an M-Series on that frame, those things are SUPER skinny lol

But Im with the other guys, if it were me, I would just try to narrow it up some
The rear is the easy part, you could throw in a narrowed 9" easy enough, but the front is the hard part
Porter Builts drop member does narrow it some, but maybe not enough
Im not sure how narrowing the control arms would affect the suspension geometry, but it may be ok

I know people have narrowed the control arms, but IDK how they handled or anything

[kev2809]

i had a friend who sectioned his arms on his el camino that he put hydraulics on but it hasnt seen the road yet so i cant tell you how it affected his ride..

[SCOTI]

A MII set-up would likely work best & they're available w/narrowed arms.

[Bill Ford]

Thanks to all who have replied, but I have ruled out modifying the frame futher to narrow the wheel width. I can't narrow the crossmember because of the big 6.0 sitting in there. I can put the wheel base back OK.

I build these things as a hobby, so I don't mind setting the Stude aside for another day. I really need to know what other SWB pickups (model year) would fit a '77 frame.

I think the 67-72 series will fit ok as will later models. But how about '66 and earlier? Thats where my memory goes out. What's the wheel base/width on SWB pickups earlier than '66? I imagine there's a web site with all these details. Where?