frame swap on 47-53's

[mg98ta]

Hey everyone. My name is Michael. Been on here for quite some time, just haven't posted anything. Me & my wife are getting ready to start on her truck. A little back ground. I bought a 50 truck that came with an extra 48 or 49 body. I ended up parting the truck out because it was really rough. I kept the extra body. It has a vin and we are working on getting title work for it. We do not have a frame for the truck. I've read and looked at the 73-87 chevy truck, the S-10,& other frame swaps. Has anyone ever used the 88 up chevy truck chassis? I would like to get some opinions on pro's & con's on some of the swaps. i know the 73-87's are wide & the S-10's are narrow in the front. I don't care for running wide spacer's. We want a frame that will be capable of hauling, towing, & withstand a turbo'ed LS1 powerplant. I work at a fab shop so making mounts and brackets & such is no problem. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Pics would be good to. Thanks

[mechanixman]

Based on what you've said (about fabrication not being a problem)
I'd go with a c10 or c20. I do remember someone on the board using an 88 4x4 frame for their truck. I've heard a lot of people saying they'd rather start off with a beefier frame as opposed to strengthening an s10 frame (also known as the 1/4 ton frame). There were a couple threads on here that talked about using the IFS from a 73-87 truck. The big concern being that wide track width, but someone had the smart idea of trimming a few inches out of the center cross member, and rebuilding the engine mounts.
Hope it helps,

[spreader]

I've got a 48 GMC on a 78 C-20 complete drive train. The mid-frame rear cab mount for the 78 body worked out perfectly for the 48. Just had to notch the top of the frame down to that mid frame cross member.

[gag1025]

Just my opinion. II thought that I would like to use an S10 frame because it already had everything on it that I needed (PS,PB, AC, etc.) so I set out to find as many as I could to see them for myself. After going to countless car shows I saw several. I decide then that I did not like the way they looked with a 47-53 body sitting on this frame. I decided to use the original '53 frame and build it around a Mustang II front end. I also added a Camaro differential and hung the brake pedal lever. I have never regretted it.