1954 body on a 1949 frame?

[CoachH]

Will a 1st series 1954 body fit on a 1949 frame? There's a frame for sale here but it is a '49. Not sure if a '54 body will bolt right up. Any input would be great.

[greg_h]

Not a straight swap. At the very least, the rear wheel "kick up" is different for the different bed depths. I think the cab mounts are different also.

[lv2tri2]

[Advanced Design]

You could make it fit without too much fabrication I would guess.
CoachH, what is wrong with the 54 frame?

[CoachH]

i just have a '54 body that I was going to put on it.

[mr48chev]

The cab mounts are the same on 49 though 54. 47 & 48 have the three point cab mount setup but you could drill those frames for the later cab mounts.

The only real issue is the kick up over the rear axle that Greg H mentioned and lv2tri2 posted the photos of. That's going to take some doing to get the bed to sit down right and it might include raising the bed floor enough to clear the frame rails.

I've got 54 3100 frame under my 48 that I plan on pulling out but it has a few issues of it's own. We had to do a quick and nasty patch on the left frame rail over the axle a few years ago when I cracked the frame in two because it was pounding on the axle because there is not much clearance between the axle and the frame. Too many years of being my daily driver and work truck.

[whitedog76]

Here's a diagram of the cab mounts.

http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com...51ctsm0102.htm

As far as the frame goes. If you're using a 53 or earlier bed, there shouldn't be any problems. If you use a 54 bed, you'll have to get the earlier frame blocks and cross sills and filler panel that goes between running board and bed.