Which front clip?

[Low84]

I am thinking about installing an independent front suspension on my 51. It seems that the easy swaps are the 72 and the 73-87 front clip. Right now my friend has some stuff laying around that he will sell, he has a 94 single cab short bed, and a cab and a half short bed chassis. He also said he had a 1995 camaro front clip laying around. Will any of these work and which one would be better or easier to install. Any info is greatly appreciated.

[DennyB]

I do belive a 71-up IFS will be too wide for an AD truck.
Out to out of the wheels are about 74". It would take some real skinny wheels to make up the difference (measure between your fender lips).
Look into Camaro, S10, Astro, etc. as options.

[Low84]

Thanks for the help. Would the 1995 camaro clip work?

[Brainchild]

I would imagine the 95 would be too wide,but then I haven't measured one,so I don't know.
I hane seen Camaro/Nova subs welded on,and they seem to work OK.Also 68-72 Nova,Pontiac Phoenix,Olds Omega,and Buick Skylark are the exact same as a 67-69 Camaro.That bit of info could save you some cash

S-10 would also be a good one to look into.

[Low84]

Thanks alot for the help guys, guess I'll just have to keep looking.

[TooMany2count]

http://www.chevytrucks.org/tech/ifs&rearend.htm <~~gives suspension widths

http://chevytrucks.org/tech/s10_frame_swap.htm <~~s10 frame swap

http://www.the-antidote.com/one/1chass01.htm <~~late model front suspension under AD truck

http://www.usbody.com/Pages_Info/F-Installations.htm <~~look under "mock up - chevy 47-54"

http://www.commerce.usask.ca/staff/h...frameswap.html <~~ AD burb on s10 frame

http://www.mongosgarage.com/S47/progress.htm <~~ AD on s10 frame

http://www.chevytrucks.org/tech/50ifsswap.htm <~~ late model under AD truck

http://home.att.net/~bobsplayce/trkifs.html <~~ another late model suspension under AD truck

hope this helps......joe

[DennyB]

Low84,
To answer your other question (its gone now??), The Long bed S10 is the closest one. Just need to shorten the wheel base a little bit.
You should actually be able to move the axle forward bu relocating the spring mounts and not have to cut the frame.

[Low84]

Yeah, I erased the question because I looked a couple of threads down and found out you had just answered the same question. Again thanks for all the help you all have given me. This is my first real project and want to keep it simple (my skills are very limited). Sunday night cruise competition is getting really tough, too many rich kids with new trucks tricked out. I have always been into the older trucks anyway and am nowhere near rich so I want to build something old that will turn heads, have a fun time with the project and my friends that are going to help me with it, and investing money slowly as I can.

[Low84]

Sorry about all the questions but I am trying to do this right. Would an 82 camaro (third gen) front clip fit?

[wycheguy]

I am working on this myself, I have an article around here somewhere ill try to find it and attach it later. Any 2wd truck from 71 to 83 will work. There is a 1/2" difference on each side that will have to be taken up with a spacer or a welded plate for the front. If you want to keep a 5 lug all the way around, the rear will work as well xcept the frame on the 1st series is not as wide as the newer truck. But with bolts and a weld job it will hold. Again ill look for the article and attach for more information. But this is only if you want to keep the ride height the same. If you want it lowered then the camaro or even a mustang II will work.

Mikey

[wycheguy]

"Found my mask!!!!"
Here is the link that I started with. Hope it works for you.
http://50chevy.freeservers.com/Bolt_...pendent_2.html

[Brainchild]

Great article wycheguy,now I have yet another alternative I have a few of those year trucks I could donor out of,that is a good possibility.

Thanks

[Low84]

Thanks alot for the help wycheguy it helped alot. I am definately not going to keep it stock height, I am planning on slamming it maybe even hydraulics later on. So if I reinforce whole chassis the 82 camaro clip should work for this right?

[crews]

I saw Too Many's Burb on another forum ( as an Avatar), so now I see that the S-10 frame is a little narrow for my '50...Does anyone KNOW the exact measurement of an S-10 front hub assembly? Rotor to rotor? I have heard that they are 3" too narrow.....

[crews]

Originally Posted by Low84

Thanks alot for the help wycheguy it helped alot. I am definately not going to keep it stock height, I am planning on slamming it maybe even hydraulics later on. So if I reinforce whole chassis the 82 camaro clip should work for this right?

An 82 Camaro clip will be a pain in the a$$ to do...They are STRUT suspended cars....Simply put they have no upper control arm. You would have to fab an upper strut mount, reinforce the whole inner fender structure to support the suspension load from the strut and HOPE you did the engineering correctly. You are making this harder than it has to or should be....For a sub frame swap, you want to use an early Camaro/ Nova style REAR steer sub frame ( this will be the closest to the original width) if you use a later model (70 to 81) Camaro clip, it is too wide ( IMHO; and just like the truck cradle swap...the wheels stick out TOO FAR!!! ) and will require severly offset wheels to look correct. This frame is easily identifyable as it is FRONT steer.

An S-10 is more economical and plentiful, however, they appear to be a little on the narrow side.

[Don Meyer]

After installing IFS in more AD trks. than I can count Ill give you my approach.

There are 2 IFS that work well. The camaro early front steer camaros are too wide period. The latter GM intermediate cars(malibu/regal/granp prix....)have a 58" track thus are a perfect fit. The Must II also works well but once you get thhe x-member you have to buy a lot more(roll bar/disc brakes/R&P).These come w/the mid size GM cars I have a 86 Regal in mine/Ford 9"/Crysler 5th ave rear springs/350-330 hp/700r4/ac/pw....(4 chevy bed naeeowed w/the original fenders,narrowed 5" w/5' longcaddy fins...