Camaro front clip - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

bigblockc10 · 03-01-2004, 07:30 PM

Hey guy's has any one grafted a Camaro front clip on one of our trucks?
I have heard of it done and was wondering how it works out?

*Shane* · 03-01-2004, 08:03 PM

I have heard of it, but have often wondered "Why would anyone do this?"

What do you gain by this conversion? One can go just as low with a truck front end ... one can convert to disc front cheaper than a frame graft ... the Cam front is NOT rack and pinion. Where is the advantage?

Not meant as a flame to bigblockc10 ... I have also heard of this conversion ... but damn if I can figure out why anyone would want to do this.

Someone help us out here ....

bigblockc10 · 03-01-2004, 08:31 PM

Shane,
I had those same misgivings with this conversion.
However I plan on racing this truck mostly very little street driving
(yeah sure) and I am trying to save some weight in the front.

I have looked at all the high dollar setups but I am on a tight budget.

The rear suspension cost me a bundle 4 Link, narrowed **rd 9inch,23 inch wide frame rails.

www.swracecars.com

So Iam trying to save alittle on the front.

SCOTI · 03-01-2004, 09:13 PM

The No.1 reason (drumroll please.....).... better geometry & HUGE aftermarket support.

If you clip one of these trucks w/camaro stuff, it rides like.... well, like a camaro. NOT like an old truck. Sure, updating to fresh newly rebuilt disc brake front end parts will bring a 67-70 up to date, but it won't out-handle an F-body.

I've ridden in a 67-72 swb truck w/a camaro clip & was impressed. Combine the 70 1/2 thru 81 suspension w/the truck trailing arm rear & there's mucho handling potential. Plus there's several co's making tubular arms w/coil-overs & hollow sway bars to lighten up the front end even more.

And don't forget the engine sits further back from the spindle C/L on F-bodies than w/a factory GM truck suspension.

CK Piquup · 03-01-2004, 10:03 PM

F-bodies handle better than trucks because they are cars(lighter).The suspension is very simular in design,other than the fact that one`s for cars and one`s for trucks.There is alot of "truck specific"upgrades available,if you want to spend the$$$.For me,I`ll take truck spindles/brakes/ball-joints.

SCOTI · 03-02-2004, 01:24 AM

71-76 camaro 3800lbs vs. 67-72 swb 3800lbs.......I've owned both. Yes camaros could be had @ a lighter weight..... but a truck can also be put on a diet.

The F-body has better suspension geometrics. Plain & simple. Lower center of gravity, better camber curves, better engine placement for weight distribution & more spring-rate options.

Another option to consider is an A/G or B body GM suspension (impala, caprice, older chevelle).

The trucks have a simple (& effective) rear suspension, & a simple front suspension.

lofly'a · 03-03-2004, 03:47 AM

i have this setup on my 72 blazer, 78 Trans Am front clip. i initially did it because i wanted the former 4x4 closer to the ground and the parts were already mine as i was a former T/A fanatic. the benefits were as stated in previous posts, shorter turning radius, stock suspension travel with lower ride, narrower to tuck wheels under (do'nt remember exactly how much - 3"?, oversize hotchkis sway which help handling alot. since it was a 4x4, anyone can figure it rides a lot better now. if it was a 2wd, i would never have done this, hell back 8 years ago when i did it, i did'nt know i could convert to 2wd with truck parts, but ya live and learn. i like it though i thought i might encounter braking issues, because i also used the disc rearend out of the same car and it stops waaay better than my 68 with disc/drum ever did.

oh yea, i've seen lots of 73-87 in your neck of the woods SCOTI with cutlass, malibu, monte carlo front clips. my brother lives in Grand Prarie and in the early 90's this was a popular way to lose alttitude with readily available hulls to rob around the lone star state.

ukpanelvan · 03-03-2004, 02:56 PM

:
Hi over hear in uk we have to use what we can get, the front on my 49 panelis so easy to fit and rides low stops right, and rides like a new car ,jag xjs,78 subframe, and i am just going to put one in my 49 gmc panel right hand drive(from south africa)

Quagmire · 04-29-2004, 07:38 PM

i'm interested in doing this swap on my '67. anybody have any links or pics? what all parts are used in the swap?

i'm sure the clip doesn't just bolt up, do you cut the frame and weld in the new clip?

03-01-2004, 07:30 PM	#1
bigblockc10 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Holland Pa. Posts: 76	Camaro front clip Hey guy's has any one grafted a Camaro front clip on one of our trucks? I have heard of it done and was wondering how it works out? __________________ 1970 C10 Stepside (soon to be a 68 w/PS/PB/S&W back-half narrowed F**D 9inch w/Discs) 66 427/435 corvette motor (hopefully 871 Blower) 66 M21 4 speed (swapped in a built TH400) 31/16.5/15 Mickeys (soon to be 29.5X18.5X15 MT) 1972 C10 Stepside Pro-Street 1988 bed 3" Top Chop Custom Red Pearl paint w/overlapping Ghost Flames P/S P/W P/B P/DL P/door open Everything Shaved Frenched antenna 461CI BBC BDS Blower 1100 Dynoed HP TH400 Super Heavy Duty Full Back-Half Narrowed 12 Bolt 4:10

03-01-2004, 08:31 PM	#3
bigblockc10 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Holland Pa. Posts: 76	Camaro clip Shane, I had those same misgivings with this conversion. However I plan on racing this truck mostly very little street driving (yeah sure) and I am trying to save some weight in the front. I have looked at all the high dollar setups but I am on a tight budget. The rear suspension cost me a bundle 4 Link, narrowed rd 9inch,23 inch wide frame rails. www.swracecars.com So Iam trying to save alittle on the front. __________________ 1970 C10 Stepside (soon to be a 68 w/PS/PB/S&W back-half narrowed FD 9inch w/Discs) 66 427/435 corvette motor (hopefully 871 Blower) 66 M21 4 speed (swapped in a built TH400) 31/16.5/15 Mickeys (soon to be 29.5X18.5X15 MT) 1972 C10 Stepside Pro-Street 1988 bed 3" Top Chop Custom Red Pearl paint w/overlapping Ghost Flames P/S P/W P/B P/DL P/door open Everything Shaved Frenched antenna 461CI BBC BDS Blower 1100 Dynoed HP TH400 Super Heavy Duty Full Back-Half Narrowed 12 Bolt 4:10

03-01-2004, 09:13 PM	#4
SCOTI Registered User Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: DALLAS,TX Posts: 22,066	The No.1 reason (drumroll please.....).... better geometry & HUGE aftermarket support. If you clip one of these trucks w/camaro stuff, it rides like.... well, like a camaro. NOT like an old truck. Sure, updating to fresh newly rebuilt disc brake front end parts will bring a 67-70 up to date, but it won't out-handle an F-body. I've ridden in a 67-72 swb truck w/a camaro clip & was impressed. Combine the 70 1/2 thru 81 suspension w/the truck trailing arm rear & there's mucho handling potential. Plus there's several co's making tubular arms w/coil-overs & hollow sway bars to lighten up the front end even more. And don't forget the engine sits further back from the spindle C/L on F-bodies than w/a factory GM truck suspension. __________________ 67SWB-B.B.RetroRod 64SWB-Recycle 89CCDually-Driver/Tow Truck 99CCSWB Driver All Fleetsides @rattlecankustoms in IG Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive. It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar..... *Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol.*

03-01-2004, 10:03 PM	#5
CK Piquup Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 1	F-bodies handle better than trucks because they are cars(lighter).The suspension is very simular in design,other than the fact that one`s for cars and one`s for trucks.There is alot of "truck specific"upgrades available,if you want to spend the$$$.For me,I`ll take truck spindles/brakes/ball-joints. __________________ `72 K20 CheyenneSuper/CustomCamper `72K2500 SierraGrande`72C10CustomSWB`67C1500 StepSide(6`)

03-02-2004, 01:24 AM	#6
SCOTI Registered User Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: DALLAS,TX Posts: 22,066	71-76 camaro 3800lbs vs. 67-72 swb 3800lbs.......I've owned both. Yes camaros could be had @ a lighter weight..... but a truck can also be put on a diet. The F-body has better suspension geometrics. Plain & simple. Lower center of gravity, better camber curves, better engine placement for weight distribution & more spring-rate options. Another option to consider is an A/G or B body GM suspension (impala, caprice, older chevelle). The trucks have a simple (& effective) rear suspension, & a simple front suspension. __________________ 67SWB-B.B.RetroRod 64SWB-Recycle 89CCDually-Driver/Tow Truck 99CCSWB Driver All Fleetsides @rattlecankustoms in IG Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive. It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar..... *Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol.*

03-01-2004, 08:03 PM	#2
Shane Account Suspended Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: over yonder Posts: 14,270	I have heard of it, but have often wondered "Why would anyone do this?" What do you gain by this conversion? One can go just as low with a truck front end ... one can convert to disc front cheaper than a frame graft ... the Cam front is NOT rack and pinion. Where is the advantage? Not meant as a flame to bigblockc10 ... I have also heard of this conversion ... but damn if I can figure out why anyone would want to do this. Someone help us out here ....

03-03-2004, 03:47 AM	#7
lofly'a Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Location: Alexandria, LA 71301 Posts: 1,451	i have this setup on my 72 blazer, 78 Trans Am front clip. i initially did it because i wanted the former 4x4 closer to the ground and the parts were already mine as i was a former T/A fanatic. the benefits were as stated in previous posts, shorter turning radius, stock suspension travel with lower ride, narrower to tuck wheels under (do'nt remember exactly how much - 3"?, oversize hotchkis sway which help handling alot. since it was a 4x4, anyone can figure it rides a lot better now. if it was a 2wd, i would never have done this, hell back 8 years ago when i did it, i did'nt know i could convert to 2wd with truck parts, but ya live and learn. i like it though i thought i might encounter braking issues, because i also used the disc rearend out of the same car and it stops waaay better than my 68 with disc/drum ever did. oh yea, i've seen lots of 73-87 in your neck of the woods SCOTI with cutlass, malibu, monte carlo front clips. my brother lives in Grand Prarie and in the early 90's this was a popular way to lose alttitude with readily available hulls to rob around the lone star state. __________________ -02 avalanche (daily driver) -66 gto ragtop 389/400 (garage queen, hand-me-down from dad) -72 Tribute Trans Am (6.0LS/T56 6-speed) in progress -2003 YUKON (Wife's) -71 gmc swb fleet (current project, gonna shave everything, bags, stuff w/ 20's, gen III powertrain) -48 3100 SWB - 12/31/23 LONG TERM Project Last edited by lofly'a; 03-03-2004 at 03:51 AM.

03-03-2004, 02:56 PM	#8
ukpanelvan Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: london uk Posts: 14	: Hi over hear in uk we have to use what we can get, the front on my 49 panelis so easy to fit and rides low stops right, and rides like a new car ,jag xjs,78 subframe, and i am just going to put one in my 49 gmc panel right hand drive(from south africa)

04-29-2004, 07:38 PM	#9
Quagmire A splendid one to behold Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: moore, ok Posts: 251	i'm interested in doing this swap on my '67. anybody have any links or pics? what all parts are used in the swap? i'm sure the clip doesn't just bolt up, do you cut the frame and weld in the new clip? __________________ 67 swb 02 wrx



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