46 Coupe on an S10 Chassis

Unknown

Can anyone provide some basics for putting a 46 Super Six business coupe body onto an S10 or other similar chassis ?

rambos_ride

I've never done one - but, your question is pretty broad in nature...what is it you're looking for information on about doing this kind of swap?

Unknown

All I'm really after at this point is which chassis, year and model, would work best. My plan is to use an entire platform from perhaps an S10 longbed or some other more suitable setup with its drivetrain and all and JUST drop the coupe body onto it.



Any dos and don'ts would also be a great help.

[Deleted User]

blaiser wrote:

All I'm really after at this point is which chassis, year and model, would work best. My plan is to use an entire platform from perhaps an S10 longbed or some other more suitable setup with its drivetrain and all and JUST drop the coupe body onto it.



Any dos and don'ts would also be a great help.

Ahh, if it were just that simple. My first don't would be not to even think about doing this unless you have tons of knowledge and experience doing this kind of swap or the help of someone who has. DO make sure that the wheelbase matches that of the coupe (with the front fenders on) and that the width of the wheels also will work without any interference. If these do not match, DON't go any further. Next, is the thought of linking the steering box with whatever type of steering column is going to be utilized. Then there is the monumental task of fabricating all the body mounts as well as the front mounts for the front clip (front fenders, grille, hood, radiator support, etc.) so that when assembled the body, fenders, hood, etc. will actully fit to one another. Then, DO think about what modifications are going to be made to the floor structure of the coupe to 'fit' to the frame you use. Believe me, it will not just drop on there. Then there are the many little things that have to be worked out like fuel filler to gas tank, bumper brackets (assuming you plan to have the bumpers), and whether or not the engine location of the chassis is going to fit into the coupe body. These would be some of the basics.

rambos_ride

blaiser wrote:

All I'm really after at this point is which chassis, year and model, would work best. My plan is to use an entire platform from perhaps an S10 longbed or some other more suitable setup with its drivetrain and all and JUST drop the coupe body onto it.

Any dos and don'ts would also be a great help.

Just for basics, I'd like to see you go the a "more suitable" setup - you don't want your nice sedan riding like a truck

Rarerodder points out some of the gotcha's to think about.

A lot will come down to your fabricating abilities, space and tools available and of course time and $$.

If I were contemplating this type of swap I'd want to have a gantry, 4 post lift or other lifting apparatus to easily raise and lower the body for fitting by 1 person...that way you don't have to rely on someone helping you all the time.

For a sedan, I'd be thinking of a later model Cadillac or other luxury car for a platform.

I'd think it's more feasible to drop a unibody shell onto a chassis and be ok with re-inforcing the mounting points - it's not feasible to drop a early model sedan body onto a unibody platform unless you planned on welding the entire body to the floor pan...and even then I'm not sure how safe that would ulitmatley be.

rambos_ride

Oh - yeah - a laser level is an absolute must for getting alignments straight - like the centerline of the car to the chassis.

Ol racer

Hello,

A friend of mine is doing this conversion with a '47 tudor Hudson using the whole S10 drive train and about 80% finished... It looks good, sets low with a nice rake. I will send him this Link and ask him to share some details.

rambos_ride

Ol racer wrote:

Hello,
A friend of mine is doing this conversion with a '47 tudor Hudson using the whole S10 drive train and about 80% finished... It looks good, sets low with a nice rake. I will send him this Link and ask him to share some details.

Does anyone know the weight difference, if any to the s10 vs. the sedan stock ? Just curious...

bent metal

I agree with ALL of the precautions and planning that should be done before tackling a project like this. But, as Rambo has said, "It's only metal and you can always weld it back like it was." haha Or something like that? I think you should think it through! But, more importantly you need to know where you want to end up and what it will look like when it's done. You have to know what the end result will be or you will lose momentum and it will never get done. I've done a sort of similar project. Took a Jeep and twenty-four Essex body and put them together. The Jeep's wheel base was thirty inches too short, so I had to stretch the frame. That meant boxing, fish plates, gussets, blah, blah, blah. I did use a string for a center line (important). Had the frame up on jack stands to level it. Then, just do it. I know some people might be worried about advising you to jump into a job like this. I think it's YOUR responsibility to make sure you are doing everything safely and that you can weld with good penetration and that it's engineered good and all of that. I think if it were my project, I would do as suggested and try to find a chassis that already had the right wheel base and width and that had originally carried about the same weight as the Hudson. If I found something that was close enough, I would go for it. Sounds like "Ol racer" is going to be the biggest help to your specific project. His pictures should help you a lot.

Keep asking questions, I know I've got good solid advise from many of the people here. Then go for it, be safe, and post a lot of pictures!

Unknown

Thanks for all those who responded

Unknown

rambos_ride wrote:

Does anyone know the weight difference, if any to the s10 vs. the sedan stock ? Just curious...

Dan, from uship.com;



e.g., a 93 S-10 Blazer 4-door, 2WD



* Curb Weight: 3780 lbs.

---

A "S-10" might be a pickup, that would weigh less, obviously.



A S-10 might be 2WD or 4WD;



I have a wrecked/rolled 93 S-10 Blazer, that I potentially plan to use the subframe from to put on the 2-door Super Jet so I'll have 4-whl disc brakes. Food for feasibility thought.



More.....



I plan to use a S-10 posi differential with disc brakes; 54" flange-to-flange; anyone know the width of the Jet differential (flange-to-flange)? ________"



centerlines distance between spring perches? _____ "



I should know soon.

Unknown

I put an s-10 under my Nash, worked great. I used the long wheel base, cut it down 5.0 inches, left a lot of my uni-body supports in, and just drilled down the center of the floorpans, installed rubber bushings between the body and frame(old radial tires cut into squares) and bolted it together I made mounts on the lower firewall to mount to the frame. My problem was the wheel base width was to narrow, so I used a wider rear, and 1.500 spacers for the front. Small block chevy, etc. Runs and drives great, but as pointed out, I have done this stuff all my life so experiance determines your complicity factor. Just di it safe. Hope this helps.

[Deleted User]

bluenash wrote:

I put an s-10 under my Nash, worked great. I used the long wheel base, cut it down 5.0 inches, left a lot of my uni-body supports in, and just drilled down the center of the floorpans, installed rubber bushings between the body and frame(old radial tires cut into squares) and bolted it together I made mounts on the lower firewall to mount to the frame. My problem was the wheel base width was to narrow, so I used a wider rear, and 1.500 spacers for the front. Small block chevy, etc. Runs and drives great, but as pointed out, I have done this stuff all my life so experiance determines your complicity factor. Just di it safe. Hope this helps.

Wow, Great looking Nash. How did you get the S-10 chassis tucked underneath so nicely? Again, it looks great.





Dave W.

Unknown

It was just one of those that go under nicely. I didnt channel at all. It layed on the frame great, and remembers-10's are narrow so that helped also.







If you look at the side you might be able to see the sides, I dont know. Dakota frames are wider, wheel base wise, might try one on my 41 Buick

Unknown

A "S-10" might be a pickup, that would weigh less, obviously.



A S-10 might be 2WD or 4WD;



I have a wrecked/rolled 93 S-10 Blazer, that I potentially plan to use the subframe from to put on the 2-door Super Jet so I'll have 4-whl disc brakes. Food for feasibility thought.



More.....



I plan to use a S-10 posi differential with disc brakes; 54" flange-to-flange; anyone know the width of the Jet differential (flange-to-flange)? ________"



centerlines distance between spring perches? _____ "



I should know soon.







The Blazer is a little wider wheel base wise, and a better choice than the pick-up. If I had it to do over, that is the way I would have went. Are you using a V8 in your project?

Unknown

Sounds like a good project and probably not any more work than using a fatman front end. the fender on the front will requre some aditional fab. Please let me know how it goes. S

Unknown

I have a 1993 S-10 Blazer (rolled over in accident) that I will consider selling if there is any interest; engine & tranny are removed; tow it home, remove the body and start building your street rod.



I'm located in Memphis, Tn



901 753 1130



John