Thank you for this information because I was looking to get a trailblazer 4X4 chassis for my 58 Chevy Apache suburban, now I will look for a Ford explorer
That will be a cool ride. Here are the videos showing my 57 on the Explorer chassis. ua-cam.com/video/CPJOnqKosjI/v-deo.html and ua-cam.com/video/-cZgurt-gXk/v-deo.html
What about 53 Chevy 5 window with 4 wheel drive, which frame swap would you choose your speaking to someone that is trying to learn which frame to use thanks for sharing.
@@steamboat1341 mine was 4 wheel drive. But I deleted that and made it two wheel drive. If nit keeping 4x4. You have to gut the CV axle so you can put it back through the wheel bearing to hold it all together
Impressive lineup of common chassis swap donors. Thanks for the helpful information. I recently bought a 5.0 Explorer for my 49 Ford F-1 swap. Hoping to start the project in the next few months!
I am putting a 98 explorer sport chassis under a 57 chevy pickup. It is a good fit. I swapped in a trailing arm rear suspension to get the wheelbase correct without cutting the frame. Good luck with your project.
Great video! Nice to see all the common frame swap frames lined up like that. I used a crown Vic frame on a f100 pickup. Love the way it drives. Hope to do another frame swap sometime in the future. Nice to see the advantages and disadvantages of the other frames.
Thanks! The Tahoe is under the International. The Explorer is under the 1957. The Crown will likely end up under the 1965 Ford. The 1949 Chevy will get another Explorer. I think that I would like for find another Explorer to put under the 1963 Ford. I don't currently have a project for the Trailblazer or the S10 frames.
@@RandomRodShop did you have any major problems using the Tahoe frame and are you happy with the way it turned out? I had a Tahoe for a while and liked it. There's a lot still around and they have an LS in them so I'm thinking it would be a good start to a cheap hotrod.
No real big problems...Consideration of - how the fuel tank fits your project and how the width of the suspension will fit your project. Maybe the most important consideration is how much body drop over the frame. The more body drop, the more complication. Unless you are planning on a 4wd, choose a wide project.
Spot on man! Wheelbase mean's absolutely nothing to me doing this stuff. That is BEYOND easy to change. Track Width.... that's a whole nuther thing. It's almost what it is. Sounds kinda strange (and they are harder to find now) but my favorite chassis to find is actually the IH Scout 2. If you want it 2wd the Mustang II set up is very easy to add to it and it fits dang near everything (car or truck). The S10's..... I actually look for the 4wd version because they are actually wider than the 2wd and they don't use those goofy triangulated upper control arms on the front end. Ford's are tough, because the cheap ones are Twin I Beam up front, and I don't wish that on anyone........ lolololol. I played with that once, and once was enough for 12 lifetimes. Good stuff man, and again..... glad I found your channel. Keep this good stuff coming my friend.
Never had a Scout. I will remember what you said if I find one. 👍 I have a 4WD S10, but the grandson wants it so it is not for parts. I have started playing with the explorer chassis. It is amazingly rigid. I have found only two issues. 1. The frame is 2.5 x 5.5, which is means that I have spent some time deciding how/where to lengthen it. 2. The explorer has a strange upper control arm setup on the passenger side (I think😊). It is a two piece contraption. However, it looks like the aftermarket offers a one piece for both sided.
the wheel issue started with the phasing out of the rear wheel drive car ,dont know why the used it on suvs ,would an obs tahoe or suburban cure some of the issues with your Tahoe frame ? just a thought ,great video ,also a fan of the ford exlpoder frame ,happy trails .
Yes, the obs still uses the "old style" front brake setup but they did not offer a rear disc brake option. This is not a deal breaker, but I like the convenience.
The F1 is about 60-61 inches wide wheel mounting flange to wheel mounting flange. The Explorer is 59.5. I am putting this chassis under my 49 and 57 chevy pickups. Keep in mind the rear frame kickup will reduce bed depth and I am not aware of anyone selling drop spindles for the explorer.
1995-2000 are the ones I look for. The Explorer production between the 2nd gen and 3rd gen is confusing. Take a look at the Ford explorer wiki page to see all variations and production timing. Also, the explorer wheelbase will be either 102" or 112" so you will have to lengthen the wheelbase for your F1. I lengthened mine by installing a chevy trailing arm rear suspension, but others have cut and lengthened the actual frame. I made a video...ua-cam.com/video/CPJOnqKosjI/v-deo.html showing how I set it up for the 57 chevy pickup.
The 98 and newer is similar to the Explorer. The pre 98's have the twin I-beam front suspension....I think I have the years correct...The twin I-beam is a bit more expensive to lower and keep the alignment correct.
TIB went away in 95. More important is the torsion bar front suspension on Explorers and 4WD pickups. Post 95 2WD pickups have coil springs with an exception for the Edge models. Yes, there are 2WD Explorers and Edge pickups with torsion bar suspension. 8.8 Ford is not a GM 12 bolt!
Great detail! Look forward to seeing how your project goes!
Thanks
Thanks for the detail!
Glad to help. I have been frustrated many times because I could not find a straight answer to simple questions like wms to wms dimensions.
Love the sound of those cicadas. Good numbers on those frames.
I agree about the cicadas. It occurred to me that I have a G-body frame. At some point, I will get it measured.
Thank you for this information because I was looking to get a trailblazer 4X4 chassis for my 58 Chevy Apache suburban, now I will look for a Ford explorer
That will be a cool ride.
Here are the videos showing my 57 on the Explorer chassis. ua-cam.com/video/CPJOnqKosjI/v-deo.html and ua-cam.com/video/-cZgurt-gXk/v-deo.html
Good information on center of wheel line to center of cab mount. I did that exact thing on a 54 GMC I put on a 98 blazer frame. It worked out perfect
It seems a lot better than trying to position the cab after its setting on the frame. We will be doing a 49 chevy sometime after the 57.
@@RandomRodShop new subscriber here and enjoying the videos on this build
What about 53 Chevy 5 window with 4 wheel drive, which frame swap would you choose your speaking to someone that is trying to learn which frame to use thanks for sharing.
@@steamboat1341 mine was 4 wheel drive. But I deleted that and made it two wheel drive. If nit keeping 4x4. You have to gut the CV axle so you can put it back through the wheel bearing to hold it all together
Impressive lineup of common chassis swap donors. Thanks for the helpful information. I recently bought a 5.0 Explorer for my 49 Ford F-1 swap. Hoping to start the project in the next few months!
I am putting a 98 explorer sport chassis under a 57 chevy pickup. It is a good fit. I swapped in a trailing arm rear suspension to get the wheelbase correct without cutting the frame. Good luck with your project.
Great video! Nice to see all the common frame swap frames lined up like that. I used a crown Vic frame on a f100 pickup. Love the way it drives. Hope to do another frame swap sometime in the future. Nice to see the advantages and disadvantages of the other frames.
Thanks! The Tahoe is under the International. The Explorer is under the 1957. The Crown will likely end up under the 1965 Ford. The 1949 Chevy will get another Explorer. I think that I would like for find another Explorer to put under the 1963 Ford. I don't currently have a project for the Trailblazer or the S10 frames.
@@RandomRodShop did you have any major problems using the Tahoe frame and are you happy with the way it turned out? I had a Tahoe for a while and liked it. There's a lot still around and they have an LS in them so I'm thinking it would be a good start to a cheap hotrod.
No real big problems...Consideration of - how the fuel tank fits your project and how the width of the suspension will fit your project. Maybe the most important consideration is how much body drop over the frame. The more body drop, the more complication. Unless you are planning on a 4wd, choose a wide project.
Spot on man! Wheelbase mean's absolutely nothing to me doing this stuff. That is BEYOND easy to change. Track Width.... that's a whole nuther thing. It's almost what it is.
Sounds kinda strange (and they are harder to find now) but my favorite chassis to find is actually the IH Scout 2. If you want it 2wd the Mustang II set up is very easy to add to it and it fits dang near everything (car or truck).
The S10's..... I actually look for the 4wd version because they are actually wider than the 2wd and they don't use those goofy triangulated upper control arms on the front end.
Ford's are tough, because the cheap ones are Twin I Beam up front, and I don't wish that on anyone........ lolololol. I played with that once, and once was enough for 12 lifetimes.
Good stuff man, and again..... glad I found your channel. Keep this good stuff coming my friend.
Never had a Scout. I will remember what you said if I find one. 👍 I have a 4WD S10, but the grandson wants it so it is not for parts. I have started playing with the explorer chassis. It is amazingly rigid. I have found only two issues. 1. The frame is 2.5 x 5.5, which is means that I have spent some time deciding how/where to lengthen it. 2. The explorer has a strange upper control arm setup on the passenger side (I think😊). It is a two piece contraption. However, it looks like the aftermarket offers a one piece for both sided.
I prefer widening the stance on my vehicles. plan on doing it with my' 77 El Camino.
Are you making it wider by using deep dish wheels or are you frame swapping?
Well done very good video
Thanks.
Very helpful information 👌
Thanks. Your 1950 Ford looks like a good start for a project.
the wheel issue started with the phasing out of the rear wheel drive car ,dont know why the used it on suvs ,would an obs tahoe or suburban cure some of the issues with your Tahoe frame ? just a thought ,great video ,also a fan of the ford exlpoder frame ,happy trails .
Yes, the obs still uses the "old style" front brake setup but they did not offer a rear disc brake option. This is not a deal breaker, but I like the convenience.
Looking to frame swap my 1949 ford f1 any recommendations?
The F1 is about 60-61 inches wide wheel mounting flange to wheel mounting flange. The Explorer is 59.5. I am putting this chassis under my 49 and 57 chevy pickups. Keep in mind the rear frame kickup will reduce bed depth and I am not aware of anyone selling drop spindles for the explorer.
@@RandomRodShop gotcha. What years should I look for?
I forgot...The Explorer has the small ford lug pattern (5x4.5) not the big ford pattern (5x5) like your truck - If that is important to you.
1995-2000 are the ones I look for. The Explorer production between the 2nd gen and 3rd gen is confusing. Take a look at the Ford explorer wiki page to see all variations and production timing. Also, the explorer wheelbase will be either 102" or 112" so you will have to lengthen the wheelbase for your F1. I lengthened mine by installing a chevy trailing arm rear suspension, but others have cut and lengthened the actual frame. I made a video...ua-cam.com/video/CPJOnqKosjI/v-deo.html showing how I set it up for the 57 chevy pickup.
Ford ranger frame?
The 98 and newer is similar to the Explorer. The pre 98's have the twin I-beam front suspension....I think I have the years correct...The twin I-beam is a bit more expensive to lower and keep the alignment correct.
TIB went away in 95. More important is the torsion bar front suspension on Explorers and 4WD pickups. Post 95 2WD pickups have coil springs with an exception for the Edge models. Yes, there are 2WD Explorers and Edge pickups with torsion bar suspension. 8.8 Ford is not a GM 12 bolt!
4/2/2024 =532
It's an amazing number to me! I thought when the subscriber count hit 100, I had hit the big time. 😊
Thanks for your support.