What Front clip fits 52 GMC

[Loftin]

I have recently been given a very nice and solid bodies 52 GMC pickup, I know they sell the front clip with modern suspension online for around 2 grand, WAY over my budget lol just wondering what front clips out of newer trucks/cars will fit?? Mustangs?? Pintos??? Need help guys thank y'all!!!
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[mechanixman]

A lot of people use Mustang 2 front ends, other use 2nd gen camaro subframes
But really it just depends on the quality of your skills as a fabricator.
One of the guys on this board cut up a caprice frame to fit under his truck!
Hope this helps

[Indian113]

A Gbody fits pretty good. It looks like it would take a little welding skills though. I put a 74 Nova rear steer clip under my 53 and it is narrower than the 2nd gen Camaro's.

[Kabwe]

As far as donor clips I agree with Indian113 on the 70-74 nova. Its a nice fit on these trucks because its narrower than the camaro/firebird. The gbody clip would work well also. Here are some pics of a 70-74 Nova clip I installed on my buddy's truck. The truck is a joy to drive.

[Loftin]

What is the gbody that y'all speak of?? Sry I'm kinda new at this, the truck was given to me by my father inlaw it's gonna be a project of ours together, runs and drives fine now, but I want to have a more modern drivetrain&suspension under it. Thanks for all the input fellas!
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[youngrodder]

G-body was the frames used from 1978-85 (i think). They covered the following GM models Monte Carlo, Grand Prix, grand national, cutless to name a few. Google g-body and you can get a history lesson pretty quick.

My truck used front and rear suspension from a g-body

Marc
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[Loftin]

Ooooo ok I got it gbody, makes sense lol so pretty much the same cars and suspension that we are using in the dirt track racing world on our I stocks and modified race cars
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[vht]

Wish the Nova subframe had the gear box out front. Are the G body frames narrower than the 2nd gen Camaro's?

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by vht

Wish the Nova subframe had the gear box out front. Are the G body frames narrower than the 2nd gen Camaro's?

Yes the g body is narrower than the camaro. The g body track width is about 58.5 inches compared to the camaros 61.3. That is why I personally like the the g body clip as a donor although the camaro is more commonly used. The year for the gbody donors would be 78-88 Monte Carlo, Malibu, Olds Cutlass, Regal, Pontiac Grand Prix.

By the why I did not have any issues with the gear box location with the Nova. Here are some shots.

[Bubba54]

I have a 79 camaro front clip on my 54. They have been done allot on the the 47-54 trucks, but INMO they are just a bit wide. I narrowed my upper and lower A-frames buy 1 inch. Sounds like the nova or gbody may be a better chioce. A couple of pics.





Shawn

[Loftin]

So what I'm seeing is the front clip should be around 58.5 inches in width for it to fit inside the frame?? Anybody think a mid 90's mustang front clip might work?
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[Kabwe]

Totally different animal don't try to reinvent the wheel man. The aftermarket mustang 2 units that you see installed on our trucks and streetrods were based off the earlier design from the mid 70's.

If you are going donor stick with whats been known to work well or you will most likely be disappointed. Check out some build threads that have your model year and see what they've done and how you like their setup. You can look at 1947-1955 1st series. Some of the guys on here have done S10 frame swaps as well. Check them out and decide whats best for you and your skill level. People on this site are willing and able to answer all your questions and concerns. Use this site as a resource we love to help.

Make sure you research what you want to do before the first cut.

[Loftin]

Thanks guys for all the help!! Definately helped me kinda set myself in the right direction. Can't wait to get on this project!
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[mr48chev]

I had a rear steer Camaro subframe under my 48 for a number of years and it drove great but you do have to do a lot of mods on the front sheet metal to get any subframe or frame stub or later frame swap to fit. Even more with a front steer unit.

If you aren't a good fabricator the simple solution would be a bolt on Mustang II style crossmember http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Bolt-I...ber,50961.html It isn't that cheap but two guys with a 1/2 inch drill and a tape measure and hand full of wrenches can install it in less than a day pretty easily. They use stock MII, Pinto or Bobcat parts or tube A arms.
There are also weld on units for a bit less.
I'm following the travels of a guy right now who is getting ready to drive back down the Alcan from Alaska in a 52 Chevy ragtop with a Mii style crossmember with stock Mii suspension pieces on it.

There are also the XJ6 Jag front crossmebers/ suspension units that come out of the Jag complete rotor to rotor with everything in one package and don't require a lot of hacking to get to work under a Chevy pickup. I wish I had gone that way and may still sell my aftermarket crossmember and tube A arms and pieces and buy one for my 48.