1957 GMC 4x4 frame swap??? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

kapawso · 03-28-2009, 01:42 PM

I have a 57 GMC 100 that I am converting to 4x4. My stock frame is tweaked so I want to swap the body and put it on a later model 4x4 frame. What years and models are the best for this swap? It will be a daily driver, not a crawler. I have heard of people using the full size Blazer(mid 70's?) for this but the wheel base seems much shorter. I'm figuring on putting a flat bed on so it will make it easier. Anyone on here have something like this? Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

GRIMSS · 03-28-2009, 05:03 PM

check out post #177 on this link and ask that guy what he used.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=313194

kapawso · 03-28-2009, 05:31 PM

Thanks GRIMSS. I messaged him and another guy. I appreciate your help

GRIMSS · 03-28-2009, 05:44 PM

No problem. Nasty day here so wasting a lot of time on the computer.

kapawso · 03-28-2009, 05:48 PM

It's nice here. I'm going to get my ass outside and back to work. Didn't mean to rub it in.

GRIMSS · 03-28-2009, 06:16 PM

Sure don't rub it in. It's only rain, sleet, and snow.

kapawso · 03-29-2009, 08:25 PM

Can anyone point me to a thread on this topic? I have been searching but have not found anything with details.

57ToyBox · 03-29-2009, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GRIMSS

check out post #177 on this link and ask that guy what he used.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=313194

I PMed Dirtygrunt of post #177 Here was his reply on his 4X4 conversion.
By The Way.. thanks for the link GRIMSS

Hey sorry haven't been on here in awhile but as for my truck I used a 76 fullsize 4x4 chevy frame. All I had to do was weld on some frame mounts. I don't know about the s10 frame but some guys use them on two wheel drive models. Hope this helps let me know if you got any other questions.

57ToyBox · 03-30-2009, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kapawso

Thanks GRIMSS. I messaged him and another guy. I appreciate your help

Kapawso
Did you get a reply yet from those PMs??

kapawso · 03-30-2009, 10:36 PM

Yes sir! Thanks Diesel. These people on here are great. I really appreciate all the help. I hope to start my own thread when I get my donor truck. I'm hitting craigslist hard! Thanks again

justcuz · 03-30-2009, 11:33 PM

How bad is the frame? These old frames have straight side rails and are easy to bolt up the axles to. A lot more work to swap the body on a newer frame since all the new ones dip under the cab and will require some work to get everything to line up. Raised cab mounts and such. We did a 58 and it was pretty easy. 72 Blazer axles and transmission and transfer case. Stock springs 3 or 4 in block in the back from a Ford in the wrecking yard. Steering was the biggest deal and after some thinking we used a Dodge 4x4 bracket on the frame that lays a Saginaw PS box on its side for push/pull steering. We used this instead of the Blazer box. As I remember the Dodge sat closer to the frame so there was no tire rub on right hand turns. Another plus is these old springs are thinner leafs and much more flexy than the newer stuff, plus the bushings are easily replacable and have grease fittings.

renegade6 · 03-31-2009, 06:38 AM

Mine is a mod of a stock frame. The steering was taken from a Jeep pickup or wagoneer.

kapawso · 04-03-2009, 10:22 PM

my frame is bent enough to warrant something new. I'd be in as much work fixing what I have as it would to fab the body mounts. Plus I would have all the stuff from the donor, steering components, motor, a/c etc hat I want(need) for the build. This route wasn't my 1st idea but it is the one its taken so I'm going with it.

elpound · 01-28-2017, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justcuz

How bad is the frame? These old frames have straight side rails and are easy to bolt up the axles to. A lot more work to swap the body on a newer frame since all the new ones dip under the cab and will require some work to get everything to line up. Raised cab mounts and such. We did a 58 and it was pretty easy. 72 Blazer axles and transmission and transfer case. Stock springs 3 or 4 in block in the back from a Ford in the wrecking yard. Steering was the biggest deal and after some thinking we used a Dodge 4x4 bracket on the frame that lays a Saginaw PS box on its side for push/pull steering. We used this instead of the Blazer box. As I remember the Dodge sat closer to the frame so there was no tire rub on right hand turns. Another plus is these old springs are thinner leafs and much more flexy than the newer stuff, plus the bushings are easily replacable and have grease fittings.

Would you have any pictures of that dodge steering box setup? Getting ready to do a 4x4 conversion and a 57 2 ton.

03-28-2009, 05:03 PM	#2
GRIMSS --------------- Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Central Missouri Posts: 1,791	Re: 1957 GMC 4x4 frame swap??? check out post #177 on this link and ask that guy what he used. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=313194 __________________ 2001 GMC SIERRA 1956 Chevy Panel *Build Page* with a Scott's Hotrods IFS 1953 Chevy trucks *Project Dime Time* 1968 Camaro 1968 Volksrod "NOBACK" 55-59 one piece window *Video* 55-59 one piece window *template files* Jared

03-28-2009, 05:31 PM	#3
kapawso Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tehachapi, CA Posts: 11	Re: 1957 GMC 4x4 frame swap??? Thanks GRIMSS. I messaged him and another guy. I appreciate your help

03-28-2009, 05:44 PM	#4
GRIMSS --------------- Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Central Missouri Posts: 1,791	Re: 1957 GMC 4x4 frame swap??? No problem. Nasty day here so wasting a lot of time on the computer. __________________ 2001 GMC SIERRA 1956 Chevy Panel *Build Page* with a Scott's Hotrods IFS 1953 Chevy trucks *Project Dime Time* 1968 Camaro 1968 Volksrod "NOBACK" 55-59 one piece window *Video* 55-59 one piece window *template files* Jared

03-28-2009, 05:48 PM	#5
kapawso Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tehachapi, CA Posts: 11	Re: 1957 GMC 4x4 frame swap??? It's nice here. I'm going to get my ass outside and back to work. Didn't mean to rub it in.

03-28-2009, 06:16 PM	#6
GRIMSS --------------- Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Central Missouri Posts: 1,791	Re: 1957 GMC 4x4 frame swap??? Sure don't rub it in. It's only rain, sleet, and snow. __________________ 2001 GMC SIERRA 1956 Chevy Panel *Build Page* with a Scott's Hotrods IFS 1953 Chevy trucks *Project Dime Time* 1968 Camaro 1968 Volksrod "NOBACK" 55-59 one piece window *Video* 55-59 one piece window *template files* Jared

03-28-2009, 01:42 PM	#1
kapawso Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tehachapi, CA Posts: 11	1957 GMC 4x4 frame swap??? I have a 57 GMC 100 that I am converting to 4x4. My stock frame is tweaked so I want to swap the body and put it on a later model 4x4 frame. What years and models are the best for this swap? It will be a daily driver, not a crawler. I have heard of people using the full size Blazer(mid 70's?) for this but the wheel base seems much shorter. I'm figuring on putting a flat bed on so it will make it easier. Anyone on here have something like this? Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

03-29-2009, 08:25 PM	#7
kapawso Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tehachapi, CA Posts: 11	Re: 1957 GMC 4x4 frame swap??? Can anyone point me to a thread on this topic? I have been searching but have not found anything with details.

03-30-2009, 10:36 PM	#10
kapawso Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tehachapi, CA Posts: 11	Re: 1957 GMC 4x4 frame swap??? Yes sir! Thanks Diesel. These people on here are great. I really appreciate all the help. I hope to start my own thread when I get my donor truck. I'm hitting craigslist hard! Thanks again Last edited by kapawso; 03-30-2009 at 10:37 PM.

03-30-2009, 11:33 PM	#11
justcuz Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Location: Alta Loma, Ca. Posts: 930	Re: 1957 GMC 4x4 frame swap??? How bad is the frame? These old frames have straight side rails and are easy to bolt up the axles to. A lot more work to swap the body on a newer frame since all the new ones dip under the cab and will require some work to get everything to line up. Raised cab mounts and such. We did a 58 and it was pretty easy. 72 Blazer axles and transmission and transfer case. Stock springs 3 or 4 in block in the back from a Ford in the wrecking yard. Steering was the biggest deal and after some thinking we used a Dodge 4x4 bracket on the frame that lays a Saginaw PS box on its side for push/pull steering. We used this instead of the Blazer box. As I remember the Dodge sat closer to the frame so there was no tire rub on right hand turns. Another plus is these old springs are thinner leafs and much more flexy than the newer stuff, plus the bushings are easily replacable and have grease fittings.

03-31-2009, 06:38 AM	#12
renegade6 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Texarkana, TX Posts: 443	Re: 1957 GMC 4x4 frame swap??? Mine is a mod of a stock frame. The steering was taken from a Jeep pickup or wagoneer. __________________ Brandon 63 Biscayne https://www.pro-touring.com/threads/90718-63-Biscayne 57 Chevy Truck (sold)http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=321380 72 K20 Long bed stepside (wife's) 72 K20 Long bed 396 (flip or keep...?) The latest build: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...76#post8438476

04-03-2009, 10:22 PM	#13
kapawso Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tehachapi, CA Posts: 11	Re: 1957 GMC 4x4 frame swap??? my frame is bent enough to warrant something new. I'd be in as much work fixing what I have as it would to fab the body mounts. Plus I would have all the stuff from the donor, steering components, motor, a/c etc hat I want(need) for the build. This route wasn't my 1st idea but it is the one its taken so I'm going with it.



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