85 frame under a 57?

[Longstep70]

I'm going to be looking at a 57 this weekend that apparently has an 85 Chevy truck frame under it. Is this a common swap? Would this likely be a c10 or an S10? I have searched and haven't really seen much along these lines. the guy i spoke to didn't speak much English so it was hard to know what exactly was done. Any advice or things to look out for before i go and see the truck?
thanks

-Andy

[Gene Sharp]

I think a C10 frame from an 85 would ge a good swap and am saving one to do that with later

Gene Sharp

[Longstep70]

If you don't mind me asking, why do you say its a good swap? Is it close in terms of wheelbase and track width? How much do you know about the specifics of swapping it out for the regular frame? The pics i've seen of this truck ill be looking at seem to show that the floor hasn't been cut like the swap of a 77 frame here on the forum that the guy in Alberta is doing.

[Gene Sharp]

no problem

All I can do is give my opinion
I am driving a 53 on an 86 Blazer frame and
building a 56 on an 80 short 4x4 frame
by using the later frame you would on th 4x
model gain independant suspenison for a better ride
and the late model frames are if anything stronger
some having rear disk brakes
what you gain with any late frame is better ride braking
steering and general handling characteristics plus strength
and easyer to find parts for late stuff and motor mounts etc that work

Gene Sharp

[Longstep70]

Thanks gene, i appreciate the feedback. How much did you have to mod the frame to get it under your truck? I guess I'm just trying to figure out what danger signs, if any, i should be looking out for when i inspect this truck. it isn't a 4x4 and it sits pretty low and the wheels are pretty well tucked and centered but i don't know what it took to get there.

_ Andy

[Silveradobs]

I have a 56 swb Chevrolet pickup on a 74 frame, what exactly do you want to know. I did mine the right way, moved the spring perches forward etc. to go from 117 wb to 114wb, etc. etc. I live in Napa, so if you want to look at mine you are welcome. Mine is white, lowered, 406 sb, 700r4, chrome ralleys, correct backspace so wheels set inside of fenders, correct space between bed and cab, etc. etc. Tom

[Longstep70]

Thanks Tom, basically I was looking for info on what is needed to do the swap so I have a better idea of what i'm looking at when i look over the truck.
I was mainly thinking in terms of fabrication needed - whether the frame will have to have been cut, how the body-mounts need to be handled and so on.
Are you saying you just moved the rear end forward on the frame to get the wheels centered in the rear fenders? how far off was the track width front and rear? It sounds like you can handle it by compensating with the backspacing of the wheel and there's no need to narrow the rear end or anything like that?

[GRIMSS]

Longstep70 you wanting to go with 4wd or 2wd?

[Longstep70]

Sorry, i should have specified - the truck has an '85 2wd frame

[GRIMSS]

I'm not for sure but looking at the pictures of trucks with this mod the stance is wider than the '57.

If you are wanting to drop it pretty low I think the track width will be a problem. Even with the right wheel it would probably be a wheel with no dish at all to tuck up into the fenders.

Maybe i'm wrong but It looks that way to me.

[Longstep70]

I wish i could post pics but I'm not able to right now. I have a couple of shots of the truck and it sits with the top of each wheel just tucked under each wheel arch - front and rear. The track looks good but I'm not sure how it got there. I'll have to poke around when i get to see it in the flesh. thanks for all you input so far though, guys.

-Andy

[Gene Sharp]

the late model frames are longer on the C 10/k10 trucks so you have cut and shorten the frame
As to width ,,,,,remember my 4x4 front axel is wider than the 2 wheel drive models also I am running 10 inch Mickey Thompson wheels front and rear with 12:00 x 33 x15 all terrain tires lots of wheel and tire and these probably have 4-4 1/2 inch back space (lots of wheel and tire sticking out)
If you want it all tucked up inside the fender probably an s 10 frame might work better
Another thing to look at closely is body mounts
be sure they are safe and well constructed
I used the origional frame mounts on my truck with polly bushings
main thing see if it rides and steers well and feels safe
on some of this it is hard to say as we all have different uses and likes in our trucks

Gene Sharp

[memo43]

same here I have a 56 with a 78 blaser frame, although i did not do the conversion myself. i will be more than glad to snap pictures, measure what ever you need. just let me know.

memo

[Longstep70]

Ok, thanks to everyone for their input. I checked out the truck on sunday and to cut a long story short I looked it over for 10 minutes and walked.
There were a number of things that concerned me: the track was wide, as you guys had warned. The rear fender lips on the bed had been cut inside and then blistered out to make room for the rear tires. I couldn't get my fingertip in between the inside of the fender and the tire. the front tires were tucked inside the fender but were so close to the lip that they must have rubbed. I didnt like the look of the body to frame mounts. they didn't look well done and the rubber mounts were shimmed with slices of tire (!!) to get them lined up. The way the doors sagged and the zig-zag cracks in the windshield made me think there was a lot of flex going on there too
The killer for me was seeing the vin plate/trim tag sanded smooth in the drivers door jamb when the area had been repaired. Not good.
On a truck this age (1957) where is the vin info? I've never owned anything earlier than '68 so I hadn't realized there wouldn't be the tag in drivers corner of the windshield. All I could see was the plate in the drivers door jamb.

[GRIMSS]

vin should be in this area of the post between the it and the door. I think there is also one on the frame.