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1950 chevy 3100 lost and confuzed

5K views 8 replies 8 participants last post by  Don Meyer 
#1 ·
hay there i got a 50 chevy 3100 tore down and gettin ready to blast the frame and gettin ready for new suspension kind of a budget so lookin for newer/late model stuff needs to be strong cause i want to put a big motor in found a 65 GM TRUCK for parts didnt know if the front and rear ends would work ... any help would be nice.....
 
#2 ·
#4 ·
IMO that front suspension is the worst you can use on a AD series truck. Being someone who was in your place five years ago on his truck project I would STRONGLY recommend you invest the money in a IFS kit. The subframes are not the best way to go on that series truck. Subs work very well on the Task Force series (55-59) but not the ADs. They wind up being more of a pain in the butt in the form of getting the front sheet metal to align properly during reassembly.

Take a look at most of the 48-55.1 project trucks for sale out there and you will find a large portion have subframes. Guess why these trucks are not getting finished. It is likely because the owner got over his head with the mod and is giving up.

If you have to use a subframe then the rear steer sub from 70s Novas (same as 1st gen camaro) is the best. The 60-83(?) suspension is much too wide and just looks odd. It is your truck but you asked the question. Good luck.
 
#5 ·
I would tend to agree with you on this subject, Houston54, although maybe not for all of the same reasons. You're not actually doing a subframe graft with this swap, just a crossmember change. All of your other points are valid, however.

My project GMC is a 1-ton panel van, so the aftermarket IFS option is out for me - they're engineered for lighter trucks with different frames than what's under my 1-ton. The PO put the IFS from an '80 Chevy 3/4 ton truck under it, got it shimmed in, and then lost interest in finishing it up, selling it (and a Dodge Dart) to me. The steering box and idler arm mount aren't even mounted yet.

I'm going a whole different route with this big mother, (138 inch wheelbase!) and doing a complete frame swap with an '83 Chevy 1-ton. This big mother just screams "BIG TRUCK" and I'm going with that. I've been collecting parts and a donor truck for the last 3-4 years and hope to actually begin stripping the donor truck pretty soon, then getting started on it.

bill78honda: I have a GMC, so I'm not sure about the Chevy model designations, but if the 3100 is the half-ton model, Houston54 is absolutely correct - save your money and get an aftermarket IFS kit designed for your truck. You may also consider the S-10 frame swap that's becoming so popular these days, but that'll require some pretty decent fabrication skills too...

Just my opinion.
 
#6 ·
70's-80's Jaguar IFS is supposed to be an easy decent swap. The whole jag front suspension comes out as a unit, it is held in with like 4 bolts. Spring rates are supposed to be real close as a V8 truck and jag weigh the same. ....and it has a chevy car bolt pattern.

My next AD is getting this swap.

FYI....all XJS's have posi rear ends. I bought a 79 XJS donor car for $300 (IFS and IRS and 4 wheel disc brakes!!!!)
 
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