s10 frame kickup

[whitedog76]

Looking into a frame swap. How much does the rear frame kick up?

Chris

[Jyman]

hey Chris,

I just took a rough measure of the kick up (not an easy way to measure) its about 9.5 inchs. so the rear of the s10 frame kicks up a lot. I didn't worry to much about the kick up of the frame.

But I have my cab mounted 6.5 inchs high in the front and 6 inchs high in the back. that is from floor pan to the top of the frame. and that gives me a full depth bed but only gives me about 7/8 inch of space to mount the bed floor which is not a lot because the original wood is 3/4 inch.

with my cab mounted 6.5 inchs and 6 inchs that lets my running boards be mounted level with the bottom of the frame, if I ever decide to air bag it then my running boards can touch the ground.

Jon

[whitedog76]

I've seen anywhere from 6-9" kick up. The AD trucks have a flat frame. Just trying to come up with game plan.

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by whitedog76

I've seen anywhere from 6-9" kick up. The AD trucks have a flat frame. Just trying to come up with game plan.

the AD trucks have a flat frame but almost all of it is tucked up higher than the running boards.

what is your goal?

stock height driver? you will need to set the frame even slightly below the running boards to get a stock drive height.

lowered driver? you can set the frame even with the running boards like jyman did and have a stock bed floor.

bagged driver? you can set the frame even with the running boards and lay it out, sure. but you will need a big notch in the back and fancy parts for the front. the s10 has some toe issues when laying frame on big wheels though, the best thing to do is set the frame up higher than the running boards and when you bag the truck set your drop limit with bumpstops to have the running boards just slightly off the ground. you wont need a huge notch this way, a simple C notch will lay out on most wheels, and you wont need fancy tube arms or custom center link steering kits. I use the raised mounts and I raise the bed floor about 2", 3" by the time I wood over the steel floor I install.

[whitedog76]

I'm not actually using a s10 frame, but a similar swap. I've been looking at build threads, trying to see what others have done.

I don't want a frame dragged, but don't really want the frame visible at ride height. More of a stock looking truck, I guess.

[dsraven]

check out gmupfitters online for frame dimensions and blueprint style drawings of the different models and wheel bases, track widths etc. they have stuff for other models of chevy's as well. may be helpfull.
S10 has a frame that is welded together just under the drivers foot area, the welds can be ground off and the frame slid together for a shorter wheelbase, or slid apart a bit for a slightly longer wheelbase.
I think any other frame than your stocker will mean your bed is shorter in height because the newer style frames all kick up over the rear wheels.

[55dude]

check out a ranger and toyota truck for a swap, they are good candidates!

[whitedog76]

I have a Chevy Trailblazer.

[joedoh]

trailblazer has been done a couple times, you can find them in the projects section. its a little wide for an AD, both the frame and the track width, have to be creative on the cab mounting height and running board mounts, and even a narrow fwd offset wheel will be really close to the fenders. BBEEP is doing one with an AD suburban body, he tried widening the fenders and ended up with a big truck (1 1/2 ton) front clip for room. there is also a guy who used a trailblazer on a 55-59 TF and it fit a lot better, but he still ran narrow high offset wheels

sounds like a cool project, start a project thread and keep us tuned up!

[whitedog76]

My biggest head scratcher has been figuring out the be height in relationship to the body. That's why I've been picking the brains of guys with S10's. The Trailblazers have an even bigger kick-up.

I know alot of guys have moved the fenders down. My bedsides are in excellent shape, The bead rolling/embossing on them is something that can't be replicated.

So, bottom line is that I'm going to have to raise the bed floor.

As far as the width goes. By a tape measure, I get 71.5" from tire bulge to tire bulge. The OE specs from GM show the front fenders are 72.6" apart. Now, if I go with a 215 tire vs. 245, I should gain about 1 1/8.

In theory, it should all work just fine. I know even the same size tires have different tread widths from maker to maker.

For stretching the frame, I'm going to see if I can get the straight section of rails from a donor. The rear half of the frame slides over the front, so it should be realitively simple.



We'll have to see.

[joedoh]

well, get going!

here is BBEEP's thread, I selected the post where he mocked up the fender for the first time, you can click the link to the rest of the thread in the top right corner. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...&postcount=149

[whitedog76]

My goal is to have more of a stock ride height truck. So, if I keep the fenders above the wheels, shouldn't be an issue.

[Jyman]

here is a current picture of my truck, it was taken yesterday or the day before. it sits on the s10 frame, as you can see the tires are changed but they are the same size as the stock tires. but just with 18 inch rims. just ask if you have any questions.

[whitedog76]

I've already mounted a Vortec4200 in the frame of my 54.

Of course, that's only half the battle. There is still a million things that need to be done to make it drivable.

The TB is our 3rd vehicle. My wife said she is tired of paying insurance and license.

Problem Solved!!!!

[joedoh]

I like the idea of a twin cam 6 cylinder in one of these trucks.

[whitedog76]

The 4200 is almost spot on the same dimensions as the old 235. I think it may even be a little shorter. I don' t recall the dimensions though. I did trim the front crossmember though. I needed clearance for the oil filter and the o.e. pan needed some room since it's a front sump. A rear sump pan would'nt have an issue.

That particular engine has a thrashed lower end. I picked it up $100 from a GM dealer. They had done a warranty swap. Anyhow, I was going to have to find a donor regardless. Already owning a TB is a bonus.