An 86? Isn't that a uni-body with struts? If I'm right it wont work.
But depending on the width of the frame rails the front cross member from a Ford Areostar works great! And is an easy swap. Or try the Volarie front end. Or go with a Mustang II.
I think the Areostar is the Cheepest and easiest way. I've done all 3 of them and it was the fastest so far.

 

I think you are thinking of the 70-81 front steer units. That would probably be the most popular junk yard conversion.

 

Second thought...

I have a 64 1/2ton Chevy truck I was going to put in a sub-frame off a 70 Nova. It all sounded like a great idea, until I talked with the head guy at the local frame shop. He indicated to me that type of conversion is real hard on tire alignment! ...hard to maintain. I HATE the type of problem so at his suggestion I maintain the original suspension and just added disc brakes and 2" drop spindles to lower the front. No problems to date with alignment, and it's been 18 months now. My 2 cent anyway, Good Luck! ...Mark

 

if i was to get a front clip i would run a clip out of a late 70s camaro. easy to get parts for and the geometry is set up to handle good.

puting one of these subframes into any vehicle is only fab work ya know...take the time to get the geometry correct.....camber etcetc and you will run into no problems with allignment if its done correctly.

whats the differance if the clip is in nova sheetmetal or vintage truck metal...where does the allignment come into play????

 

Re: Second thought...

I have a 64 1/2ton Chevy truck I was going to put in a sub-frame off a 70 Nova. It all sounded like a great idea, until I talked with the head guy at the local frame shop. He indicated to me that type of conversion is real hard on tire alignment! ...hard to maintain. I HATE the type of problem so at his suggestion I maintain the original suspension and just added disc brakes and 2" drop spindles to lower the front. No problems to date with alignment, and it's been 18 months now. My 2 cent anyway, Good Luck! ...Mark

The suspension under your 64 is completly different from a straight axle that is under that 51.

 

http://www.rit.edu/~cjq2155/subframe.htm

http://50chevy.freeservers.com/intro.htm

http://hotrodders.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12595&highlight=monte+carlo+pickup

http://hotrodders.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12526&highlight=monte+carlo+pickup

http://hotrodders.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=11978&highlight=monte+carlo+pickup

http://hotrodders.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12373&highlight=pickup+clip

http://hotrodders.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12627&highlight=pickup+clip

http://hotrodders.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12401&highlight=pickup+clip

http://hotrodders.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12382&highlight=pickup+clip

http://hotrodders.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12103&highlight=pickup+clip

 

i just put a mustang II in my 51 3100 and found it pretty easy.
parts are easy to get.
if you can't weld then its not so easy.
i got just the front crossmember and the rest of the parts i got from the bone yard.

 

i just put a mustang II in my 51 3100 and found it pretty easy.
parts are easy to get.
if you can't weld then its not so easy.
i got just the front crossmember and the rest of the parts i got from the bone yard.

they make a bolt om M2 cradle for those who cant weld....joe

 

aerostar FE's

i wanna see pics of an aerostar front suspension installed in something besides a aerostar!
last one i looked under didn't look too adapable.....
not saying it's not done, i just wanna see pics..

 

sub frames

I put a '70 camaro clip on my '48 Ford F1 ,and if I had to do it over I personally would rather do a Mustang II .It's easier for a novice rodder to do than cutting & welding a clip .
Check out the 2nd website Willys listed and check out the info .about bolt on independent suspension on his page 2 .I read this article when it was first published ,but couldn't remember when it was .(thanks Willys!) This looks about the easiest I have seen ,when it comes to suspension swaps . Rick

 

hwy wicked fab, how much of a bear was it to put that clip in? i have a 73 camaro donor for a 40 chevy tow truck. thanks

 

Tony@AirRideTech Quote:
"The suspension under your 64 is completly different from a straight axle that is under that 51."

YO Tony ...I'm aware of the differences between the 64 & the 52. BUT this thread is about splicing on the front suspension off a unitized body car (84 Firebird). I'm only relaying what a the local frame guy told me about the problems doing such a move. Anybody still wants to do it, then you have my best wishes!!! Just trying to be helpful. ...Mark

 

Actuaslly the Camaro IFS is a superior design than the pinto.
The lower A arm pivot point are further apart adding stabiliyy & are beafier. With Globat west upper A arms installed the front end keeps the tread in contact w/the road. Large brakes from a full size Cad, Buick, Olds can be installed.
Comments welcome: Don Meyer, Phd-Mech Engr

 

Actuaslly the Camaro IFS is a superior design than the pinto.
The lower A arm pivot point are further apart adding stabiliyy & are beafier. With Globat west upper A arms installed the front end keeps the tread in contact w/the road. Large brakes from a full size Cad, Buick, Olds can be installed.
Comments welcome: Don Meyer, Phd-Mech Engr

That may be true but it still doesn't alter the fact that Camaro/Firebird clips are too wide for 47-54 AD trucks. (A Nova clip would be a better choice). Additionally these clips require a higher skill level to ensure the installation is safe and aligned correctly.

If someone intends to use their truck as a street rod and not a work truck then the Mustang II will easily be able to handle the stress, provide its correctly installed including the strut rods. The problem with clips is that its too easy for someone without the proper skills to screw up the alignment and wind up with something less than desirable. (They work fine when done correctly though.) At least with a good quality Mustang kit the average shade-tree can complete the installation in a weekend without too much hassle and wind up with a safe, streatable, and trouble free IFS. (Provided like I said the system is installed as Ford designed it and the strut rods are not eliminated.)

Centerline

 

......(Provided like I said the system is installed as Ford designed it and the strut rods are not eliminated.)

Centerline

Hallelujah!!

 

Centerline - Do you know what the width of the Nova clip is? The Camaro is 37" to the outside of the rails.

I just brought home a 53 Chev trk. today.The width of the frame at the axel centerline is 28." I have put a Camaro clip on a 48 Chevy pickup but, do not recall how I did it.....looks like the Camaro frame rails went to the outside of the trk frame which. would not look the greatest.

Thanks Don

 

Centerline - Do you know what the width of the Nova clip is? The Camaro is 37" to the outside of the rails.

I just brought home a 53 Chev trk. today.The width of the frame at the axel centerline is 28." I have put a Camaro clip on a 48 Chevy pickup but, do not recall how I did it.....looks like the Camaro frame rails went to the outside of the trk frame which. would not look the greatest.

Thanks Don

The '67 Nova had a tread width of 56.5". In 68 it was increased to just over 59" and increased again in '75 to 61.3" which is just about the same width as a Camaro.

Here's a link to a site where the owner installed a Camaro clip on an AD truck. He did a really nice job, however he had to widen the front fenders 1 1/2" to compensate for the wider track of the Camaro clip over the stock GMC tread width. Here's a link which explains the different body mods he did.

Centerline

 

Its' going to be easiest to switch to Mustang II style front. Clip work requires alot of extra welding alignment versus putting in a custom-fit Mustang II style front clip. There are soo many to choose from, it's hard to go wrong.....you won't even need rack extensions on the 51. parts are way easy to come by too.

*just my opinion.....:thumbup:


FatManFab
Art Morrison
Chris Alston
Speedway
TCI
No Limit Engineering
Heidts

the list goes on.......

 

The 47-53 Chevy trk has the same track as a 1978 Camaro. Where people get into wheel to fender problems is when they use a wheel w/not enough backspacing.
DON

 

Chevy truck with Aereostar front suspension

********************

 

advertising on the board is not allowed.......please edit

 

11ECHO, Who ever told you a camaro subframe swap was hard to align must have aligned some that where installed improperly. As for your truck the cheapest and IMHO the best conversion is the 73 to 86 chevy 1/2 ton p/u complete front cross member and disc brakes and new style motor mounts. We swapped a 81 into a pro street big block 65 and it was cheap easy and works perfectly. Today I finished helping Peewee put a 80 camaro front clip in his 48 F1 and it looks great. We installed the rest of the running gear from a 91 pontiac firebird.You are correct about the newer ones having struts and unit body.

 

The 65-67 nova is 58''
The 68-72 nova is 60''
The 78-up Monte Carlo is 58''
And the Camaro/Firebird is 61.5''
these are flange to flange.

I have used the camaro in a 48 Chevy truck,
And I just put a nova in a 58 Chevy truck,Both worked out great,But I would run the Nova,1.5'' help's with the tire choice. :thumbup: