HELP! 1951 gmc 5 window longbed

[19515windowsolow]

Hey everybody, I was hoping that I could get some advice.

I have a 51 Gmc longbed 1/2 ton and it is just a rolling chassis. I wanted to get an s10 to swap but they are proving to be very hard to find in my area. Any ideas on some things that have worked? I talked to a guy that did mustang II front end and a turbo charged 4 banger from a Ranger and all the running gear. I would rather do a complete swap than do a front clip and rear end bs. would really like an sbc, but I think it would be cool to rock the 4.3l with a 5 spd.

any ideas????

Help.

[19515windowsolow]

ALSO< I want to use chevy, GM parts only!!

[thunderjet]

This one is close to you. High on the price but I would imagine it will go for less.
http://billings.craigslist.org/cto/4543654599.html. I see them on CL around Helena quite often. 6 to 700 $ seems to be the going price here.

[19515windowsolow]

Yeah I saw that one. I think it has too many miles. 310,000 do you think it is something that can be salvaged? I found one that was bagged for 2k but the guy flaked out and never called me.

[MARTINSR]

Doing a Mustang II isn't a front clip swap, it's putting IFS on that frame. Now, what do you WANT out of the truck, what are your expectations? That trunk doesn't have 5 original miles on it right? It has many hundreds of thousands of miles, all driven on the stock suspension and brakes.....they DO work you know.

If you haven't driven it with all the stock suspension working properly you may not know how nice they drove, people drove them across America like that, they do work! What are your expectations? The stock suspension may be enough for you, I don't know. But thinking that it MUST have another frame under it just isn't realistic, you CAN do that if you plan on driving it miles on the highways and towing a boat and all that (which was ALSO done with the stock suspension and brakes) but what are your expectations?

Brian

[thunderjet]

310k is a lot, but most parts are well worn in any S10 that you will find. Would assume that you will rebuild all of the moving parts as normal course. They are relatively cheap to rebuild. The rear in the 2 wheel drive is best replaced by a 4wd rear or a posi Explorer assembly.
As to the above comments, I have driven lots of early trucks and cars with stock suspension. They are great for puttering around on short commutes or local drives, but I really wouldnt enjoy trying to keep up with the traffic on the posted 80mph sections of I 15. Comfort and safety are issues there.

[pvienneau]

Shouldn't the S10 be a standard Cab extended bed?

[OrrieG]

MartinSR raises good points. IF you want to change I would stick with something that bolts on the stock frame. That was if it does not turn out the way you wanted (still rides like a truck with a small car suspension) you can make it stock again or try another suspension kit.

[19515windowsolow]

thanks for the advice. I am looking into some of CPP's stock replacement parts. I just thought it would ride better with the updated parts. I kinda do want a hotrod but part of me just wants the truck to drive and stop. and be able to handle loads to and from home depot

[MARTINSR]

Of course with a modern frame or suspension it would handle and stop better, but does it need to be better? They worked for years and years and decades just like that, they WORK. With modern springs (there are a bunch on the market) that offer a better ride, with modern shocks, they can ride pretty darn nice. The brakes, it had pretty darn big brakes and they WORK. The ONLY thing different about drums is that they fade under extreme use. So going down a long winding road off a mountain, oh yeah, oh heck yeah drum brakes will fade away to nothing. But would that be something you are facing when you drive it? If so, there are disc brake kits that bolt right on.

Brian