55.2-59 1957 Chevy truck 3600 4x4 Frame swap (HELP)

[Bridgeman57]

I am understanding that the S-10 complete frame swap is kind of the way to go? Cab mounts line up pretty good? It has a 4x4 front end and read from a donor. Not exactly sure what yet. I need some info on the frame swap and what’s the best way to go for 4x4?

[layinrocker65]

Do yourself a favor and search more

[Rickysnickers]

Probably the best thing to do is use your stock frame, if it's in decent shape. I think it would be easier to stiffen it rather than go through an S-10 frame swap.

[mongocanfly]

im thinking a s10 frame would be way to narrow for a TF truck...there are some nice 4x4 builds on here ...id read up on those...like old57s build....http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=726477

[mikebte]

Originally Posted by Bridgeman57

I am understanding that the S-10 complete frame swap is kind of the way to go? Cab mounts line up pretty good? It has a 4x4 front end and read from a donor. Not exactly sure what yet. I need some info on the frame swap and what’s the best way to go for 4x4?

I have not done this, but my understanding is an 80s blazer is the best fit for a frame swap. Seen a few swaps that turned out real clean with a short wide 55-59 truck body.

[Bridgeman57]

So got the axles power washed and here are the pictures. Hopefully y’all are better help then the internet.

Pictures of front and rear diff. Front diff has the bar across.
The small numbers are on the 4x4 transfer case
Not sure if the Red Cross member is homeade or not haha.
I found all the numbers I can.

620216- Front Passenger drum
346821- Transfer case
GM74- Rear Axle

[mongocanfly]

if all that's already under the 57 why do you want to do a frame swap?
corp 10 bolt front axle
12 bolt rear axle
346397 is a 203 t-case...not sure where your getting 346821
and partial homemade crossmember

[Bridgeman57]

I don’t necessarily want to do the frame swap. Just trying to figure out the best way to do the build. The steering box is on the outside of the frame (not sure if that’s the original spot for it) ,steering shaft is build a bit weird. After market shock mounts as shown in picture.
I will have to have a shop figure out where all the mounts will have to be. (Engine,tranny and shocks)
I would like to put an LS and 4L80 in here. Is the 203-T CASE compatible with those tranny’s?

[mongocanfly]

if that frame is a 4x4 frame then the steering box outside the frame rail is correct...youd never be able to move it inside the frame and it still work

[1project2many]

Is the 203-T CASE compatible with those tranny’s?

203 from THM 350 has different input spline count than 4L80E output. Not sure on 4L60E... I must be getting old.

BTW, this is going to get dang confusing with two threads going. Maybe you could put the important stuff into one thread?

[_Ogre]

Originally Posted by Bridgeman57

I am understanding that the S-10 complete frame swap is kind of the way to go?

your understand is incorrect. best frame for 55-59 truck is the oem frame

Cab mounts line up pretty good?

not at all, everything would have to be fabricated from scratch

It has a 4x4 front end and read from a donor. Not exactly sure what yet.

best to figure out what you have before proceeding

I need some info on the frame swap and what’s the best way to go for 4x4?

while the s10 is a decent swap for the 47-55.1 crowd, it is to narrow for the 55-59 trucks. most frame swaps for any truck start out strong with good intentions and eventually end up on craigslist or ebay for a fraction of the $$$ spent on the project. unless you have a strong fabrication and welding background, do not proceed down the frame swap path. you will get lots of advise on frame swaps, imo your wasting your time and money

[Bridgeman57]

Well I understand. I don’t want to get myself in a situation where I have it all tore apart and have a bunch of stuff laying around.
I’m getting an 81 blazer for free with 1/2 ton axles. Should I just use the axles from the donor or not even get the free blazer??

[mongocanfly]

Free is always good......usually......what's wrong with the axles you have?...

[Bridgeman57]

Well not much really. Besides the steering and suspension needing to be rebuilt. But that has to be done either way. I can rebuild the axles accordingly. Not sure what’s going on with the shock mount. Originals has been cut off. Not sure how the LS motor mounts will mount up with the 57 frame. It’s an open frame. Will I need to enclose the frame for a stronger mount??
Do I keep the shock mounts that are there now so I can have 6 shocks on the front axle but there is no shock mounts in the rear.

So basically I can either use what I have now and rebuild them or get the FREE 81 Blazer and use the 1/2 ton axles and go from there

[mongocanfly]

That's just a aftermarket shock mount...6 shocks is overkill in my opinion. I'd ditch that thing and use a quality single shock....boxing a frame is a great way to strengthen it...if your gonna be paying a shop to do all this work I wouldn't fret about it...let them figure it out..
Your putting up pics of bits and pieces of a truck...are these from the 57?

[Bridgeman57]

Stepdad is trying to convince me it will be easier and better to do the 81 swap but I think it will be better to just leave it the way the truck is now and build it up. What do I do 😬😬

[Bridgeman57]

The shock mounts that are on the front axle have 3 shock mounts per side. 2 in the middle and 1 on the back of the mount

[Bridgeman57]

Yes I agree on the 6 shocks is way over kill for a daily driver. And yes, the pictures are from my 57. I don’t wanna pay the shop to much $ but it will be worth it in my opinion.

[Bridgeman57]

OGRE said that the steering box is originally located on the outside of the frame on an original 4x4? I will most likely have to switch out the shaft correct? And mount the steering box in a safer location. Also, the turn radius with larger tires isn’t a problem with the box on the outside?

[mongocanfly]

Like ogre pointed out unless you have a strong fab background you'd be money ahead to let a good shop do this...and if the 57 is already setup and done correctly there would be nothing wrong with the setup...but a lot of these conversions are hacked together..id get a good mechanic to look it over in person and advise you how to go...
What do you mean by doing the 81 swap?

[mongocanfly]

Let's start over...has the frame on the 57 been swapped with the 4x4 conversion?
Steering boxes do mount outside the frame...if it's a 57 body on a late model 4x4 frame then the steering box location should be ok....

[Bridgeman57]

I honestly can’t figure out if it was orininally a 4x4 or not. We are having a hard time figuring it out. I was told it’s sitting on the original chassis and springs with 70’s or 80’s running gears. I don’t know much about the steering , steering box etc...

[Bridgeman57]

There is also I bar that runs under the front Axle. I looks like someone added it on for stability? It mounts on both sides of the axle

[1project2many]

has the frame on the 57 been swapped with the 4x4 conversion?

No. As a current owner of a '57 and a former owner of a pile of 55-59 trucks, I can see a stock frame in the pictures.

I honestly can’t figure out if it was orininally a 4x4 or not.

There's almost no chance that it was a 4X4 truck.

We are having a hard time figuring it out.

If the truck was a 4X4 in '57 it would have been a NAPCO conversion. NAPCO trucks have a stock rear axle, an added transfer case with a small driveshaft between trans and transfer case, and an added front axle. All the shock line up with the factory mounts. The transfer case is on it's own well made crossmember. The front axle bolts up the front springs without needing new spring pads.

What you have is typical of how a backyard guy would do a 4X4 conversion in the '80s. That's a Blazer or half ton truck stuck under the stock frame. The giant spacer in the crossmember is part of the frame of the donor truck. The big blocks in the rear axle have to be there partly because the front springs in the donor vehicle have a reverse arch. The steering box was moved to the outside of the frame because it's power steering, and because the stock drag link doesn't connect to the new front axle. I can't tell from the pictures but most of the time the stock original crossmember was left intact.

Why do I know what this swap looks like? Because when I got my first truck as a kid, built from a pile of parts, I desperately wanted to make it 4X4. I looked at every 4X4 converted truck I could find. What you have could have been built in a couple of weekends "back in the day."

I would keep the stock frame. I would also spend time to decide what this truck is going to do for you... Wheelin' rig? Hunting outfit? Show queen? Better to decide now.

[Bridgeman57]

Wow thank you! Needed to hear that haha. And I just want to keep it 4x4 as a daily driver. Take it hunting and fishing when I want. Play in the snow. Nothing serious. Just have and drive as a normal truck. Nothing fancy