So, hypothetical situation, if a guy had access to a nice hot rodded tri-five chevy chassis, but didn't have a tri-five body of any kind, what else would be a somewhat straightforward fit ? Pickups ? other GM products? What have you guys seen ?
I am sure you can make mounts for other vehicles to fit depending but the wheelbase of the 1955 chassis and I think on Road Kill web site as a list of similar wheelbase and track widths . Google may help as well.
I'd bet even other GM's of the era would be a poor fit. it is a rare project where a chassis swap of any type is the best or even a good way to go.
Man ! you guys are letting me down, I was hoping it was going to be something like: "Yea, oldest trick in the book, change two body mounts and a 55-59 Chevrolet pickup cab bolts on !" or some such awesomeness......
Same year Pontiac. Anything else will have no real value when your done.Ive seen some real cobbled together messes that the owner will never get their money out of at sale time.
A buddy of mine put a 62 ChevyII on one for a dirt/pavement modified in the early 70’s in So Cal... did quite well, won some features..
I fully admit, I have seen some pretty terrible chassis swaps......But, some times they work out pretty well ! I recently put a '50 Willys jeepster on a off-topic midern chassis, and its incredible how well it fit. both in size, shape, contour and even little details like ease of bumper bracket re-location and the lack of required surgery to the body or even inner fender wells ! It does happen !
Lots of tri-5 Chevys out there in various conditions, don't discount 4 doors and wagons. Easier (IMO) to go that way.
My Dad used a ‘55 chassis under is ‘37 Chevy coupe modified . Look in CL , a guy in Brownsville deals mainly tri five bodies and parts . Not saying you won’t have to do the usual body repairs but he has some.
Get the tape measure out . We put a 1971 Chevelle chassis under my 1962 Nova and had clearance inside the rockers . People who tell you no , probably never did it .
When I was in X-Ray School in Tyler, Tx., 1982-84, I hit as many drag strips as I could while I was there. Used to be, of all things, a VW Bug body that sat on a shortened, Tri-Five Chevrolet chassis, that was drag raced. Don't remember much about the car, but I personally would't recommend doing that to a Tri-Five Chevrolet chassis. Now I see by your profile, you make fiberglass bodies; what do you have in mind? I am Butch/56sedandelivery.
56sedandelivery; I used to make fiberglass bodies for Model T's and 32 roadsters, but I sold the molds several years ago. I don't really have any project in mind, I just know of a local chassis for sale, and it seemed like a fun mental exercise to see what else would go on it. I was kind of hoping for a pickup option...... I already have enough projects, but if a swap seemed easy.............
There were all manner of generic glassfibre sports car bodies made in the '50s, meant for common American chassis. Some are sought after today but there are probably more abandoned projects than well-built complete examples around. See: https://www.undiscoveredclassics.com/forgotten-fiberglass/
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