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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Brakes, Frame, Steering & Suspension => The Lows (Lowering/Drops) => Topic started by: peterpan on May 18, 2009, 11:02:31 pm

Title: 85 chevy 2 wheel drive with a camaro sub frame ?
Post by: peterpan on May 18, 2009, 11:02:31 pm

i am new to this site but not to Chevy trucks so please forgive me if this subject has been posted allready

i have a 85 shortbed that has a 4'' drop on the back and 3'' up front
but it has been wrecked on the front and the frame was damaged and repaired but not very good

i really want to save this truck but can't find a frame

so my options that i have are to put a camaro sub frame in it or change the front section of the frame with one that i have left over from making a trailer a few years back that is strait where i need it to be

i have a camaro sub frame allso

i know it can and has been done but would like to hear from some one that has put a camaro sub frame in a 73 to 87 truck


thanks for any and all advice or opinions

Title: Re: 85 chevy 2 wheel drive with a camaro sub frame ?
Post by: peterpan on May 21, 2009, 03:18:32 pm

i am allmost done putting the front part of another truck frame back on
all thats left is plate and box one side of the frame cut the frame so the 81 and up bumper fits and swap the core support mounts so all the body mounts are the same style

i cut behind the front cab mount and swapped from there forward its strait as an arrow now

i used a 76 front frame thats why changing body mounts and bumper mounting

Title: Re: 85 chevy 2 wheel drive with a camaro sub frame ?
Post by: Captkaos on May 21, 2009, 05:28:34 pm

Are you saying you went with another truck clip?  That is what I would have done.

Title: Re: 85 chevy 2 wheel drive with a camaro sub frame ?
Post by: peterpan on May 22, 2009, 05:10:57 pm

ya i went with a truck clip the camaro clip would of narrowed the front track width by 2 inches

and would of lowered the truck alot lower than i could with the truck suspension

but it was alot more work than i wanted to do

Title: Re: 85 chevy 2 wheel drive with a camaro sub frame ?
Post by: VileZambonie on May 22, 2009, 05:57:57 pm

I don't see how you would make a camaro modified strut work with an SLA suspension without some serious re-engineering.

Why not just do a full frame swap?

Title: Re: 85 chevy 2 wheel drive with a camaro sub frame ?
Post by: HAULIN IT on May 22, 2009, 09:16:47 pm

Vile, I think he was talking a pre '82 Camaro front, you know the ones like the nova's...4 big bolts & it rolls out (has upper & lower control arms), common swap into the streetrods. I know a guy that did just what you asked (Camaro front onto '73-up Chevy truck frame) but it had a '47 body on it. He didn't have frame & was building a "use what is free/cheap build". Lorne

Title: Re: 85 chevy 2 wheel drive with a camaro sub frame ?
Post by: peterpan on May 27, 2009, 11:20:08 pm

yes i was talking about the 70 to 81 camaro clip


and as for a frame swap i would of loved to find a 81 to 87 2 wheel drive short bed frame for my first choice and 73 to 80 as my second choice

but as i could not find one of them i had to move on to my third choice witch was cutting off the bad frame from the cab mounts forward and replacing it with a straight frame section from a truck i made a trailer out of (it was a long bed ) or use the camaro clip to get the truck lower than i ever could with truck suspension but that was more work than i want to do right now