Frame swap on older wagon

I am looking to find an older wagon mid 60's threw mid 70's have not decided for sure yet what model. This is a pretty broad question with out having a specific car I understand. But I was wondering if any one has swapped a newer 95 or newer truck frame onto an older wagon. I am thinking about doing this. This way I would have newer running gear, powerbrakes & steering, disc brakes, newer and easier to find parts. As well as updated engine & tranny with fuel injection or TBI. I will be setting up the car to pull my 1977 Glastron- Carlson CV-23. Any thought ideas or projects like this others have done.

Thanks in advance.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1976-Chevy-Malibu-Wagon-4x4-/151253367059?ssPageName=VIP%3Awatchlink%3Atop%3Aen&fromMakeTrack=true&nma=true&si=boZx7YgkgNXI7GczU4iD%252B3LNrCI%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

 

I am looking to keep the stock ride height. I dont need a mud truck.

 

Just pointing out that it can be done. Only example I could find with a quick Google search.

 

I would say the first step would be to find your wagon then get a center to center wheel base measurement, then start looking for a suitable truck frame that matches the wagons wheel base. From that point it's a matter of fabrication and engineering to adapt the drivetrain, trans, engine, etc...Civardi makes a good point however, it's been done and can be done again. The ride height can be pretty much anything you want it to be.

 

All it takes is money and a touch of crazy.

 

What he said.

 

Thats what I figured just wondered if someone had done one or new of one that was done and could say buy xxxx car and xxxx truck and to swap you just need to do X. ( I never get that lucky though)

I had a friend that used to put 350's in 2dr S10 blazers and he could tell you everything you needed to do of the top of his head to make the easy swap.

Is the wheel base and frame for a wagon the same as a 4dr model? Or is the wheel base all together different from 4dr to wagon model on the same year and make? I am thinking it is just sheet metal that is different or is frame all together different?

 

On my 74 Satellite the wheel base was about 4" longer than the 4dr sedan version. I don't know the scoop on the other auto makers. There are some members who have done similar swaps so maybe give them time to see your post and you may get that magic formula dropped in your lap. It seems to me that more sedans would have the same wheel base just for ease of production. Good luck in your quest for knowlege. :2_thumbs_up_-_anima

 

I have a couple of friends who are all the time swapping old cars onto S-10 frames with SBC 350 engines added.
I've also heard the S-10 is not really a great chassis to use. Something about crappy steering and suspension. For a wagon I'd want at least a 1/2 ton truck of whatever brand wagon I was using. A longer wheelbase can be shortend but I wouldn't care to add to the frame. Just too much extra work.
Personally I'd rather change the front and rear suspension on the wagon I have or just rebuild and beef up what's there. A 60's-70's wagon already has decent suspension..

 

Keep in mind, too, that some of the big wagons from the 60s and 70s had a towing rating that is a match for, or even exceeds, that of some of the 1/2 ton pick up trucks out there. Properly equipped, a 72 Estate Wagon was factory rated for 7,000 pounds of trailer, and they were built with that in mind when the towing package was ordered. IF you come across a mid-80s Country Squire or Colony Park with the 351 and the factory Tow Package, it carries a factory rating of 6,000 pounds. Most older pick ups trucks had a rating of 7,000, for the full sized trucks, with the big engine. With smaller engines, or on the smaller trucks, like the S-10, your tow rating is LOWER than the big wagon.

 

Right Mike. I see no advantage to swapping to a truck frame. Only more work. Swapping the engine, tranny, and even the rear end to later makes sense. But with those 60's and up wagons most already have decent drive trains.
My own 55 Chevy wagon has a later engine and tranny with rebuilt front end componants and added disc brakes. 60's and up already have dual master and disc brakes. Replacing shocks and springs always improves the ride and handling. All much easier than a complete chassis swap.

 

Thanks for all the replies. I will have to narrow down what I am going to do/ use and make a game plan from there.

 

One thing to keep in mind when talking about towing, is to consider stopping power, not just towing capacity. my tahoe says 6500 lbs towing capacity, IIRC. I recently mentioned that to my son-in-law, and he claims his Durango has a towing capacity of 8900 lbs. I'd hat to tow that much weight with a Durango and have to stop it quickly.....even with trailer brakes.

 

What you are talking about will require a lot of research. You've got to compare wheelbases, suspension layout, body mount locations and a hundred other things to determine if 1) it's possible, and 2) how much modification work you have to do.

I have heard that the frame design of the '79-'91 Ford 'Panther' vehicles (Crown Victoria, Country Squire, Merc Colony Park, etc) will fit underneath a mid-size ford from '72 (or so) to '78... In other words,

The frame under this:
(This is member Taranau's CP by the way, since totaled...)
View attachment 30722390002_large.jpg?v=0


MAY fit this:
('77 Mercury Cougar Villager)


You do need to do some analysis on this. What are you actually looking to accomplish? If you want better performance, better suspension, better braking, etc., all that can be done by upgrading what you have, rather than swapping in an entirely different frame and drive train. You can add aftermarket electronic fuel injection to quite a lot of older engines these days. You can change the 'old feeling' suspension by completely rebuilding what you have - new control arms and bushings, tie rod ends, shocks, the works. Some aftermarket parts work great, too. Brakes - if your old ride has front drums, most wagons are easily adaptable to a disc conversion, along with adding boost and a dual master cylinder.

As they say, more than one way to skin a cat.....


Marshall