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Putting Camaro front in 55 second gen
Hi! I just bought this 55. I have found a late 70s camaro subframe and I need a little direction of setting my ride height... Im looking for fairly low but totally drivable without bags. This will be my first front end swap... I know this site is a wealth of info, looking for some basic steps to setting ride height....
I have also found a 2003 s10 4x4 rear with springs and the mounts. I think I can get that in place with no problems. I have a 5.3 and 460le trans, computer, electrical box, air box, ac, power steering. Its a VERY complete take out, out of a 06 pick up. http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/m...7%20Medium.jpg |
Re: Putting Camaro front in 55 second gen
The best way I have found is to figure what distance the Camaro crossmember sits off the shop floor in a stock Camaro that year ( I slid under a car like my donor and measured from the crossmember center to the floor) and when you are setting the chassis up set the crossmember on blocks so it is at that height and all squared up and then match the truck to the crossmember. I did that on my 51 Merc and came out exactly where I wanted to be on height with no suspension mods to the subframe.
This is one one of my buddies did that is almost too low, the frame rail of the truck is going to end up on the same level as the bottom of the crossmeber rear legs of the Camaro putting the truck super low. Most guys set the trucks frame a bit higher on the subframe than that. It does show that you want the subframe and truck frame on the same level plane with each other no matter what the height of each is. http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...3-14-09004.jpg I've seen a couple of messed up frames where the builder tried to "build rake or camber" into the frame when he mated one with the other and that doesn't work One of the best tutorials on doing the swap is the one by Lux Blue on the Hamb. Read what he writes and says to do an shows and you should be in good shape. It's long winded because of all the comments but he did an excellent job of describing an showing how to do it the right way. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/t...ne-day.148978/ |
Re: Putting Camaro front in 55 second gen
I did mine exactly that same way. You can judge the ride ht. by the pic. by my name. It's low but very drivable for a toy.
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Re: Putting Camaro front in 55 second gen
Check out this install for detailed instructions http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/t...ne-day.148978/
It's how I did mine and it drives perfectly. |
Re: Putting Camaro front in 55 second gen
Personally, I have only done one of these so I don't have a lot to offer. One of the mistakes people make is thinking that mating it up to the truck frame and how and where it's welded is the most important thing, when really that is the least important. The most important is getting the suspension on that sub frame in proper relation to the truck frame! So getting the frame and the sub frame at ride height, and knowing the wheel base is right and the geometry on the sub is correct is MOST important.
But I ran an "all thread" to replace the shocks on the clip. I then tightened them up to drop frame down until the lower control arms were level, and the distance between the arm and the rubber bumper was the same as when it was on the Camaro. Being the Camaro and the truck are pretty close in weight, this worked out well. The trucks frame was dropped down to the height I wanted it too, the rear could be done first to be sure. This way all you have to worry about is getting the wheel base right, everything else is going to happen as needed. One important thing is check the upper control arm shaft angle with an angle finder while it's on the Camaro so you know what to put it at on the truck. Tack the frame into place and then install the front sheet metal on the truck to be sure the wheels look perfectly centered in the wheel wells. Then go back and finish welding it in place. If you do all this, the front will suspension will align exactly as it did on the Camaro. You can tell the alignment shop to ignore what they are looking at and align a Camaro. :D Brian |
Re: Putting Camaro front in 55 second gen
Good info Brian. Thank you, I hope to be setting this up tomorrow...
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Re: Putting Camaro front in 55 second gen
Easy job! Time to spin it around and start on the rear!
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/m...9%20Medium.jpg |
Re: Putting Camaro front in 55 second gen
Im going to try and put a s10 zr2 rear end in with s10 2wd springs and frame brackets...
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/m...4%20Medium.jpg |
Re: Putting Camaro front in 55 second gen
Nice work I'm going to follow along on this one for sure
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Re: Putting Camaro front in 55 second gen
Messin with stuff...:metal:http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/m...6%20Medium.jpg
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Re: Putting Camaro front in 55 second gen
hey, front tire is only flat on the bottom.......
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Re: Putting Camaro front in 55 second gen
How long before you get to the point of mounting front bumpers?
That's where I'm at now. I think I've got the steering figured out. |
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Wont be long, now that I have my rear suspension where I want it. I will put the engine and transmission in before I start making leaf spring mounts... http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/m...4%20Medium.jpg Something like this, maybe a little bit lower... http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/m...6%20Medium.jpg |
Re: Putting Camaro front in 55 second gen
Cool rig!!!
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5.3 and 4l60e. I did have to pull the manifolds to get it in...
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/m...6%20Medium.jpg |
Re: Putting Camaro front in 55 second gen
Ford Ranger brackets fit the s10 springs. Saved me a bunch of time making brackets... I did have to put the rears in upside down, to get the ride height I wanted...All tacked in, the truck sits on its own suspension again...
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/m...4%20Medium.jpg http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/m...8%20Medium.jpg |
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Re: Putting Camaro front in 55 second gen
nice build, what kind of engine mounts are you using for the 5.3 set up?
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Right now im waiting on a pair of energy suspenssion mounts. Ls to chevelle to bring it up a bit more. (Chevelle are taller than Camaro) Im going to put them on it and see if everything (A/c steering box) fits. If they are close, I will use them. If not, I will make my own, solid mounts....
The motor is just sitting on 2 by 4 scraps and the transmission cross member is just wedged in there to hold it up. The steering box is in it and all of the hoses from the ls, fit the camaro box! Im working on hooking up the column while I wait on motor mounts. |
Re: Putting Camaro front in 55 second gen
Great Job so Far, thanks for the pictures! where did you get the Ford Ranger Spring Hangers?
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Re: Putting Camaro front in 55 second gen
if you are going to use cast exhaust manifolds try the camaro style, they fit between the frame rails better.
looks good. |
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I may look for a set, otherwise I will be notching the sub frame. And putting a notch thru one of one of the lower control arm brackets... |
Re: Putting Camaro front in 55 second gen
Don't forget that the Nova used the same subframe/manifolds- might make your search a little easier
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Re: Putting Camaro front in 55 second gen
Good looking stance. And good find with the Ranger hanger mounts
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Re: Putting Camaro front in 55 second gen
the Camaro style manifolds I used on my mock up were from a 2000 (?) style Camaro. lots of room when used on the stock frame.
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Re: Putting Camaro front in 55 second gen
Great stance, but you need to put 250 Lbs of sheet metal back on it before you say it's where you want it. Happened to me. I thought I had it cinched, but when it was all back together, it was too low.
Also, radiator, bumper, air conditioning components, master cylinder, air filter and ducting, electric fan, and water. A set of 18's will change everything as well. All affect total ride height. |
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I will keep posting stuff, as long as there is a interest... I am going to try and get the motor set in the hole this weekend. Maybe get a steering column and manifolds set on... |
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Do you have a build thread on your truck to go with that pretty frame? I started fitting the front end, the lt side core support hits the steering box. Bad, like by a inch.... |
Re: Putting Camaro front in 55 second gen
Nice build...dug
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Re: Putting Camaro front in 55 second gen
Looking good.
Kim |
Re: Putting Camaro front in 55 second gen
Thanks guys! After I trimmed up the inner fenders to clear the new frame. I centered the sheet metal and the bumper, put it on jack stands, taped it so it couldnt "roll" I started making the bumper brackets. The bumper is flipped upside down too...
I had to butcher up the Lt side core support mount to get it to clear the steering box. (More on that later) http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/m...5%20Medium.jpg Cardboard template... I can ALMOST flip it and get Lt and Rt. The lt rail is trimmed back a 1/4 inch further than the Rt... I did have to notch the tray below the grill for bracket clearance... I will post pics of it after the bumper is mounted... http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/m...7%20Medium.jpg Engine sitting on some 3/16 mounts, I will add a gusset to keep them from collapsing when the bolts are tightened... I raised the engine up HIGH! The truck LS pan almost clears the camaro cross member... It hangs down 3/4... http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/m...1%20Medium.jpg |
Re: Putting Camaro front in 55 second gen
Looking Good ! Nice pictures
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Re: Putting Camaro front in 55 second gen
Coming along nicely.
Kim |
Re: Putting Camaro front in 55 second gen
I posted this elsewhere but no response... Anything wrong with this radiator?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/3-ROW-FULL-A...BV3OYa&vxp=mtr |
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More than likely from China but still may be good. Kim |
Re: Putting Camaro front in 55 second gen
It looks exactly like the made-in-china radiator I put in my 55 after a mishap with my battery hold downs a couple years ago. It'll bolt right in without any drama, seems to hold near a gallon more coolant than a stock 55 radiator and keeps the old, tired, 283 I'm running cool. Thats without a shroud or electric fan.
Hope that helps |
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