How much time does a frame swap take

[joeydirt]

Not counting getting the motor running. Just curious is it feasible to pull off something like this in a weekend. Assuming proper tools, not to many stripped bolts, and all stars align. BTW I mean a stock frame not an S10 Swap

[joedoh]

message chaddude, he bought a short rolling frame and swapped his longbed cab and front clip onto it.

[mr48chev]

I used to be able to do it in a day but it would take me all weekend now.

Planning is a big thing on how much time it takes.

What you intend to do about the steering box is one thing. You either have to take the wheel off and pull the shaft out the bottom or take the box loose from the frame and leave it with the cab.

Take the front bumper and brackets off and it isn't too hard to get the complete front fender assembly off. Front Tires off the truck helps a lot here.

The park/emergency brake rod always is an issue with me as I always seem to forget to unhook it.

What have you got to lift the cab with and how much room do you have. With my setup I end up having to roll one frame out from under the cab and the other one back under it. With a cherry picker setup you might be able to roll back far enough to swap frames around and just roll forward to set the cab on the new frame.

When you take the lines, wires and hoses loose from the engine of the cab donor remember to unhook or disconnect rather than cut. Especially on the temp setup.

Have fun and don't forget to take photos of the process.

[joeydirt]

I have a cherry picker but probably don't have the room to do the roll away method. They would have to be side by side and the cab moved with a guy on each corner.

[mr48chev]

I have put two chassis side by side before and slid the cab from one to the other on planks. You raise it up a bit. put the planks down, slide it across, raise it back up and pull the planks back out. One does what one has to do to get the job done.

[chincha805]

so far me 6 years

[tmoble]

chincha But why rush into anything?

I did it in two days one time but had a two post hoist. That included re-mounting the core support on the Camaro sub-frame and creating a steering column plus notching the rails in the back and installing the Nova leafs and Camaro rear.

[joeydirt]

Originally Posted by chincha805

so far me 6 years

Thats about my normal pace, thing is where I live is not all that auto repair friendly. Small stuff is not really an issue but Im sure someone will complain or make some kind of chop shop allegation. So the quicker it gets done the better, plus there is nobody working at code enforcement on the weekend.

[mphudak]

Originally Posted by chincha805

so far me 6 years

You got me beat...I'm sitting at almost 5yrs.

[chincha805]

Originally Posted by mphudak

You got me beat...I'm sitting at almost 5yrs.

I think i may start this weekend hahahaha

[mphudak]

After several projects through the years I knew if I blew the suburban apart who knows when I would have it done. That is why I bought another chassis to work on at my leisure while still driving the suburban. Besides I'm a little ADD and keep changing my mind on how to build it. Motor choice alone has changed 3 times in the past 6 mths. It's too easy to lose the thrill of an old ride when you can't enjoy it.

As far as the chassis swap when I do it. It can be done in a day or 2 if it is completely the same. Add in additional time for any suspension changes and etc. I plan on it taking a month or so once once I do the swap, but that is to button up alot of little things related to the mustang II, fixing some work from previous owner and handling a few items done easiest without the chassis.