S10 frame conversion body mounts

[1950 GMC]

Is there anyone out there willing to share with me there body mounts they used on there swaps? I've seen some drawings out there on other peoples threads but I cant find them now. I have a 1950 GMC truck and I'm going to be using a 1983 S-15 frame. I was planning on using AD-engineering's kit but I would love to do this myself and save a few dollars. If your willing to help I would really appreciate it. I could use as much information as possible. Thanks everyone.

[BlueJeep]

The drawings you've seen here, I believe, are loosely based on the AD brackets, but modified to mount the cab lower (which may also necessitate raising the bed or the bed floor). They are designed to use the factory S10 body mounts.

I'm hopefully going to start my 49 in the next month, but I'm going at it a little different. Some other guys have used early Jeep CJ5 mounts (about $25 for the energy suspension poly ones), and that's the route I'm taking. I've cut some 3x5" rectangle tubing, which I'll cap and use for my "outriggers" from the frame to go out and capture the body mount at the desired height. I'll mount my cab as low to the frame as I can, with the stock S-10 gas tank being the expected constraint as to how low I can go. Mine is also a little different in that I'm using an extended cab frame and will have a longer box (approx 4" longer) than the standard short box.

I've also seen guys not use a bushing between the frame and body, so just about anything will work.

[iokua80]

I used the same year frame for my swap. I cut off the rear s10 cab mounts and used them for the front. Used the AD truck rear shackles for the rear. Worked pretty good.
Later,
Josh

[BlueJeep]

Did you use the stock S10 bushings too for the front mounts? How did you mount the front clip?

Originally Posted by iokua80

I used the same year frame for my swap. I cut off the rear s10 cab mounts and used them for the front. Used the AD truck rear shackles for the rear. Worked pretty good.
Later,
Josh

[nickp51chevy]

This guy already has it done, but he goes through and says what he did and what parts he used.
http://www.mongosgarage.com/tech/s10...p/swapinfo.htm
These are from Jeffs51chevy, and they are the revised (lowered) drawings. if you need to you can even lower them more so that they work your needs.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...brackets-1.jpg

[iokua80]

Originally Posted by BlueJeep

Did you use the stock S10 bushings too for the front mounts? How did you mount the front clip?

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...ead.php?t=8491
That's what I followed. Clark has done plenty like that. They worked pretty good. I was going to use the bushings but didn't. Don't know why. Guess I was impatient having to wait for the local chevy dealership to find what I needed. It still works pretty good.
Later,
Josh

[IL boy]

this is the link to jeffs 51 with a blueprint for fabing your own mounts. his build is full of great ideas


http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=294539&page=4

[Thadious]

Yup, I used the same mounts that Jeffs51chevy drew up, for my mounting setup as well. The only thing that I found of note to pass on is that the final distance from the frame to the top of the mount also needs to take into account the thickness of whatever you're using for a rubber cab mount.

I ended up using aftermarket Energy Suspension cab mounts that came with the complete set that I purchased when rebuilding the frame. They work excellent with the only thing being is that you have to machine the front mounts a little smaller in diameter to fit inside the AD mount bracket.

All in all, I think my front distance from the frame to the lower edge of the cab rail is 3 3/4" and the rear is 3 1/2". The rear edge of the front fenders sits at about 8" off the ground. This is with 205/65R15 tires.

Watch the amount of forward slope you put on the cab, since too much will not give you enough play room to raise or lower your front end to get the hood to align on the coweling (noticeable by the large lower gap at the bottom edge of the hood!)

Trust me, I spent the better part of 2 day getting the entire front end just the way I wanted it, with all the best fitting gaps between the panel... even then I had to remount the front mount again because I wasn't happy.

If you have any questions, feel free to holler and I'll help where I can.

Cheers,
Ted.

PS With this setup, it looks like I will be making a trans hump of about 2~3" to clear a TH700R4.

[BlueJeep]

[QUOTE=Thadious;3420113]

Watch the amount of forward slope you put on the cab, since too much will not give you enough play room to raise or lower your front end to get the hood to align on the coweling (noticeable by the large lower gap at the bottom edge of the hood!)

Trust me, I spent the better part of 2 day getting the entire front end just the way I wanted it, with all the best fitting gaps between the panel... even then I had to remount the front mount again because I wasn't happy.

QUOTE]

Just curious, why would you put forward slope on the cab? Seems like that would make bed mounting more difficult, and alignment of the cab/bed and running boards more difficult too.

[Thadious]

It's one of those "matter of preference" things... after all... if you're doing an S10 swap... it's all about doing what you want and the custom Some like the running boards to have about 2" or so of overall decline to the front and IOT achieve this, the cab needs to slope about 3/4"-1" to do so.

Cheers,
Ted

[BlueJeep]

I see, you're building the "rake" into the body mounts. I didn't know if there physical constraints that necessitated mounting like that, now I do. Thanks!

[1950 GMC]

I have 2 really dumb questions to ask. 1st question is anyone boxing in the rear frame of there S10 swap? My 2nd question is what are you guys using as a parking brake? EX: stock what came on the truck, new parts or aftermarket? Thanks for the help.

[BlueJeep]

I don't believe there would be any reason to do any boxing to the s10 frame. It's much more rigid than the AD one, right out of the box.

I've kept the parking brake pedal out of the s10 I scavanged parts from, and if I can't figure out a good way to mount the release handle (mine was a 95 with the handle mounted remotely in a plastic panel in the dash), I'll use a Jeep YJ parking brake pedal, as it is all self-contained. There are online sources for custom parking brake cables to connect "point A" with "point B" when it's all together.

[nickp51chevy]

For the parking brake, I'm going to use the original assembly and only one brake. I'm just going to loop the cable through the "eye" at the end of the rod and use a "U" bolt/clamp to secure it.

[iokua80]

My parking brake consists of two switches. One dumps the entire front end and lays it on the ground. The second switch dumps the rear and lays the rest of the truck out. It lays front bumper, frame and running boards. I hope like hell that holds the truck from rolling
Later,
Josh

[nickp51chevy]

Josh, I hope that you never get towed.;-)

[badbowtieguy]

to thadious r ted where did u cut the frame on s10 frame do u have pic can u send them to badbowtieguy69@aol.com plz neet help

[Thadious]

Right under where the doors are on an S10 is where the two sections of the frame overlap and are welded. Use a zip cut on an angle grinder to break it apart there. I described how I laid mine out in my thread and some of the things to set up for first to ensure re-alignment when you go to weld it back together. Most importantly, do it all on a nice flat surface, preferably cement.

Cheers,
Ted.

[WIDESIDE72]

Originally Posted by 1950 GMC

Is there anyone out there willing to share with me there body mounts they used on there swaps? I've seen some drawings out there on other peoples threads but I cant find them now. I have a 1950 GMC truck and I'm going to be using a 1983 S-15 frame. I was planning on using AD-engineering's kit but I would love to do this myself and save a few dollars. If your willing to help I would really appreciate it. I could use as much information as possible. Thanks everyone.

x2

[63 & 64 Bowties]

Originally Posted by WIDESIDE72

x2

The second link in nickp51chevy's post (#5) has the drawing. You didn't see them?