Sorry guys..done a lot of digging already thus far, but it's safe to say that my 53 belair chassis has seen its better days. Many years of sitting down in the dirt/sand before I rescued her back to life took quite a toll on her. My question is, would any of you guys be able to confirm whether or not all frame/chassis are or are NOT the same from 49-54(taking into account being either 2/4 door of course)? I have recently come across a 51 Chevy deluxe chassis and was wondering if I could pick this chassis up and build it while I still enjoy driving my 53 until I'm ready to eventually do a chassis swap..your help is much appreciated! Crossing my fingers on this one..perhaps some of you have done something similar..
You can use any '49 thru '54 Chevrolet car chassis as a replacement for yours. Only the convertible is different and that difference is the heavy X member reinforcement. There is no difference of consequence between 2 and 4 door or station wagon chassis in those years. Ray
Frames all interchange, ragtop is just braced more. Bear in mind that the '49 has terrible Hucks brakes, and the '53/54 has different front uprights that drop the front an inch and a half. Also a '54 automatic car will have 3.55 gears for better cruising. '54 rear springs are softer for better ride, less leaves. Oh, and the '54 automatics had the trans X-member bolted in, not rivetted. All in all, a '54 automatic is what to look for.
Sweet..thanks for the info fellas! Yea R Pope I picked up a 3.55 rearend out of a '54 powerglide car just this wknd, just wondering if I shouldn't have picked up the whole car bc frame and other parts were in much better condition than mine. So Hnstray there is no difference in length of frame/ body mounting points between the 2/4/or station wagon cars? Sorry just trying to be certain before I shell out the cash..
There was a slight difference between the frames used for sedans versus hardtops. From the outside they look the same. However, GM welded a reinforcement strip inside the "Hat Section" to the frame rails for the hardtop models. As others have stated, the convertibles had a large crossmember.
You are good to go! Pretty much all the differences have been covered. Functionally you won't notice a difference.
update info: the frames are the same for 49-52 and 53-54 BUT the outriggers ( brackets) on the frame that the floor bracres bolt to are different!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you will need to swap these ouriggers ( brackets) the switch from 49-52 to the 53-54 or back, the ems guy www.emsautomotive.com
The front "spindles" are different 53-54, using the 49-52 spindles will "raise" your 53 slightly. Some owners of 49-52 cars will use the 53-54 spindles to lower their cars roughly 1 inch. I am Butch/56sedandelivery.
I believe it is the "spindle supports" (uprights) that are different in king pin boss height, not the spindles themselves. Ray
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