Frame swapping

[Frankinmetz]

Okay so I have a 1981 Chevy C10 regular cab long bed and I'm interested in possibly doing a frame swap with a newer vehicle. What measurements do I need to get?

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[Vbb199]

But why?

And wheelbase (center to center of front to back)

 

[Frankinmetz]

But why?

And wheelbase (center to center of front to back)

Right before the rear axle it looks like it was split or cut and someone did a **** welding hack job on it. I'll have to get pics when I get home, I just didn't know if it would be worth replacing, fixing properly, or finding another c10 frame.

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[Scott91370]

SO not another vehicle of different type, but a replacement frame?

I know here longbed frames are not too hard to come by. I have one that I need to get rid of.

If you know a good welder (s)he could fix it without issue.

 

[Ken B]

I am gonna have a 85 K10 frame and other parts when I am done using it as a donor for my project...I assume a c10 and k 10 frame are comparable?

 

[DoubleDingo]

I am gonna have a 85 K10 frame and other parts when I am done using it as a donor for my project...I assume a c10 and k 10 frame are comparable?

Comparable, barely; compatible, not likely.

 

[Ken B]

thanks, I did not know, I figured there were people here who would know for sure.

 

[Frankinmetz]

SO not another vehicle of different type, but a replacement frame?

I know here longbed frames are not too hard to come by. I have one that I need to get rid of.

If you know a good welder (s)he could fix it without issue.

I wouldn't be opposed to using a vehicle of a different type, I would go newer vehicle if I did that for the modern suspension setup.

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[peats]

you're asking for a whole world of hurt!! if it was me i would repair what you have.

 

[Bextreme04]

The amount of cutting, modifying, and welding required to get a different frame to fit right is way more than just fixing the frame right. Also, I can't imagine that you are going to find any more readily available vehicle than a 73-87 C10/20 longbed. All of those will have identical frames to what you have. The C20 frame is the same dimensions as the C10 frame, but a little bit thicker metal. The 1 ton frames are actually taller as well as thicker and will not be a direct swap. A K-frame will also work, but you would need to swap the entire front suspension stuff over and that's its own PITA.

 

[Frankinmetz]

The amount of cutting, modifying, and welding required to get a different frame to fit right is way more than just fixing the frame right. Also, I can't imagine that you are going to find any more readily available vehicle than a 73-87 C10/20 longbed. All of those will have identical frames to what you have. The C20 frame is the same dimensions as the C10 frame, but a little bit thicker metal. The 1 ton frames are actually taller as well as thicker and will not be a direct swap. A K-frame will also work, but you would need to swap the entire front suspension stuff over and that's its own PITA.

Thank you, I really only have about 4 bad spots and I can easily get the C channel to repair. My welding is not so bad either so I can chop and weld if I have to.

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[Bextreme04]

Thank you, I really only have about 4 bad spots and I can easily get the C channel to repair. My welding is not so bad either so I can chop and weld if I have to.

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Make sure you are cutting it out at a 45 degree angle and also placing bracing plates over the weld area also if you do that.

 

[Scott91370]

Really wish we were closer, I have a perfect lwb frame here I am selling.

 

[Raider L]

@Frankinmetz,

@Bextreme04 is correct about the cut and weld. You tube should be full of video's on doing whatever kind of repair you need to do. In the case of a vehicle frame which is cold stamped alloy steel it's heat affected zone damage that causes the weld to fail. But the failure proneness can be averted by making sure your cuts and patches are not straight across from each other, but at an angle. I am a highly qualified welder in everything from pressure vessels to aircraft and back again, heavy hydraulic equipment repair, and heavy deep well land based oil field equipment welding with years of experience. But all that time I never once welded a vehicle frame. I've seen it done and know how it's done but isn't it weird I never struck an arc on a car frame for anything. I tried to keep my experience progressive but there's not much call for guys who welded on airplanes to do welding at car repair shops.