Are there any car chassis the a '69 body will fit on?

[low&slow]

I have a '69 chevy c10 long bed and I'm on a very low budget as of $0.00. I've done a lot of work to it already from where it started from, but now I'm wanting to lower it. My idea is still flowing through my mind pretty fresh still. I wanted to put it on a '69 camaro chassis. Make it wider to fit the body and possibly longer. Wondering if it's possible?

[mcmlxix]

No. 1969 Camaro is a unibody car with a front subframe that bolts on.... and anything with "69 Camaro" mentioned will usually cost more then 69 truck parts.... the cheapest way is to cut the springs.... ONLY a small amount at a time....

[low&slow]

That makes sence. Aside from camaro, is there any car chassis that would work for '69 year body?
How do you go about cutting the springs so there exactly even?

[mcmlxix]

Take them both out. Set them next to each other on the ground to the ends are located the way. tape off a mark where you want to cut them... never more then 1/2 coil at a time.... then reinstall and see it sits low enough for you... labor intensive.... AND ALWAYS BE CAREFUL WHEN WORKING WITH COIL SPRINGS... They are under alot of pressure...

I dont think there is a chassis from anther vehicle that will be worth the swap. Its all old technology that needs to be upgraded.... just work with what you have....

[low&slow]

Alright. By the way thanks so far for the help. Just a 17 yr old kid trying to learn as much as possible. Very determined.
How do you get the springs out and put back in properly?

[Danny Bost]

I was planning to set my 71 short bed on a 1991 Caprice chassis. Same track width and less than half an inch of wheel base difference. I have been building custom cars for 20+ years and when I really started looking at the work that was involved I decided to stick with my truck frame. Is your truck coil spring rear? If so you can lower the rear using Jeep Wrangler springs. The rear springs on the truck are not real safe when you cut them. If you use the Jeep springs it is supposed to give you about 4 inches of drop. I would cut the front springs as advised if I didn't have the money to buy drop springs. Whatever you do good luck.

[1LoC10]

No trying to be rude at all....but if you have to ask how to cut springs, do you really think you will be able to swap the body on a different chassis?

[71swb4x4]

Cutting the front springs is the cheapest way to drop the front.
Putting blocks in the rear is an easy way to drop the rear.
You can't cut rear springs. They are pigtailed and bolt to the frame and to the trailing arm.

Parts for these trucks are relatively inexpensive. There are used parts out there too if you keep your eyes open. Used springs and drop spindles generally don't stick around long.

[ChevLoRay]

While I can see where a 17-yr old mind is headed in thinking as you do, you may be unaware that the trailing arm design of these trucks (60-72), with coil springs, is a design that NASCAR adopted for their racecars. Of course, there are some tweaks but the basic design is the same.....and the principle is the same.

If you have leaf springs, the rear end configuration is different. But, you already knew that, didn't you?

[ctrow]

Originally Posted by low&slow

Alright. By the way thanks so far for the help. Just a 17 yr old kid trying to learn as much as possible. Very determined.
How do you get the springs out and put back in properly?

I'm all for learning as we all started out somewhere. Asking is the best thing to do before just tearing it apart.

As for this topic, find someone local that can help you with this. Maybe there will be a forum member that would be willing to assist you. There's a couple of ways to get the spring out. It's probably best to have someone with some knowledge before you tackle this just to be safe. Plus you'll learn other tips and tricks that you might not see in a forum.

On the other side, assuming you have transportation, drive it like it is until you can afford the necessary components. It will work to cut the springs but not the best method.

Best of luck to you though.

[96blazr]

Do yourself a HUGE favor; ECE (Early Classic Enterprises) has 2" dropped Coil springs for the front @ $114.00 a PAIR.
And they have Dropped Rear Springs, from 1" to 6" drop, for the Rear @ $114.00 for a PAIR.
Buy one Pair now, save for the other pair, then install all at once. It'll save you a lot of headaches in the long run, not to mention the safety factor of cutting springs.
http://www.earlyclassic.com

[usmcchevy]

If you click on my build thread, I lowered my front by cutting the coils.Look at the pics, they will pretty much tell you what needs to be done. For the rear people have used jeep wrangler springs for about a 4'' drop.

[scrapmetalart]

plan on replacing the lower balljoints while youre at it. it will be difficult to get it apart without damaging the boot on the balljoint anyhow....

-jack the frontend up & put her on secure jack stands.
-remove the wheel (lay it under the truck frame for added protection if something happens to your jackstands...)
-put the floor jack under the lower control arm
-remove the cotter pin on lower balljoint
-loosen the balljoint nut. (just loosen about half way. do not remove)
-give the spindle a whack with a hammer (sometimes this is all that is needed for the balljoint taper to come free)
-if that didn't do it use a pickle fork between the spindle & the lower arm at the balljoint(thats when the balljoint boot gets trashed)
-take the nut off the balljoint all the way
-slowly lower the jack under the lower control arm
-remove spring
-cut the spring (cut off wheel on a 4" grinder works good)(cut 1 coil to start)
-replace the lower balljoint
-inspect the lower control arm bushings & replace if needed
-put spring back in
-jack up the lower control arm
-install nut & cotter pin on new balljoint
-install wheel
-go to the other side & repeat
-use the piece you cut off the first spring as a gauge for the cut on the second spring...

[low&slow]

Danny Bost- I"m thinking as of now to just stick with the original chassis to get more experience.


1LoC10- Not to be rude, but you should try reading correctly before posting. I was asking how to cut them evenly. I'm young, I can cut anything apart.


71swb4x4- Thanks for the info. I was also wondering about the rear. I do have a totally different plan for the rear.


ChevLoRay- Yes I did know that about Nascar. Thankfully I do have coils so someday I can tweak for Nascar look.


96blazr- Thanks for the website. Those are cheap and may look into taking that path if cutting them doesn't work. Looking to learn new things and gain experience instead of taking the easy way.


usmcchevy- Thanks. This will help me a lot on how I will do mine. Your truck is looking great. Keep up the good work.


scrapmetalart- That helps a ton. Going to have to print that off so I have my instructions with me. Thanks for your time in typing all that up.

[raycow]

Originally Posted by low&slow

Aside from camaro, is there any car chassis that would work for '69 year body?

Well the problem for you is the long box. To get a 127" WB you will be looking at some fairly big cars, like Cadillacs, Lincolns and Imperials. Most of them will be rather old, too.

Ray

[low&slow]

So speaking hypothetically, to make a camaro fit (knowing it won't cause its a unibody) you have to lengthen it quite a bit.

[scrapmetalart]

Originally Posted by low&slow

So speaking hypothetically, to make a camaro fit (knowing it won't cause its a unibody) you have to lengthen it quite a bit.

You "could" use the front subframe from a camaro & cut the front of the truck frame off & weld the camaro subframe on.

Way too much work. just upgrade & replace your stock components...

[low&slow]

Yes I do see the work it requires in having the sub frame cut and welded on. A member did that to his using a newer camaro front. I'm not there yet to do that much work, so yes I'm to the point now of just cutting the coils and leaving it at that till I can get some money. It is not a daily driver. In fact its never been driven farther than 3 miles, but has done miles worth of burnouts on the back patio.

[1LoC10]

there is a guy that has a 60-66 body style that put his truck on an s10 frame...even kept the 2.2 four banger and all

[low&slow]

Originally Posted by 1LoC10

there is a guy that has a 60-66 body style that put his truck on an s10 frame...even kept the 2.2 four banger and all

I've heard of a lot of people going the s10 route. To me the s10 frame just seems way to small for one of these trucks.

[55chevy]

Be very careful when you remove the springs, I havn't done it but if you dont use a spring compressor I've heard the spring can fly out of the truck and shorten your suspension, or your life.