1950 chevy Bel-air in the making

[christcrusader13]

Day two-three

So after getting the main project done (getting that caprice out of the yard and the old frame), it is time to mate these two together... (Be sure to brace your car before departure from it's frame if your floor is crappy.

A couple technical notes, for those who would like to mate a 1959, 1950, 1951, Chevy Bel Air, Two door Sedan, or Sedan to a Caprice Fame:

The floor of the 1983 Chevy caprice that I used, which probably applies to the 1978 caprice, impala, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, bacillary all Box Chevy, or Pontiac like models...

THE FLOOR cut out of the Caprice at the edge of the frame, or just inside the rockers end up being about 2" narrower than the width of the 50 Chevy... which worked out great! That meant an easier channel, which Is what I was planning on.

THE TRUNK PAN will be almost completely removed in order to mate the two nicely together. rear of the caprice trunk pan will have to be shortened a little to fit under the 50, as well ans probably a little off of the frame as well.

With those notes stated I will try to explain my methodology, so far.... My plan was to keep the caprice fire wall... but it was just too wide, to I completely removed the top of it just above where the factory seam was at. I also cut the rockers off of the caprice on both sides even with the frame all the way back to the fenders...

 

[christcrusader13]

Moving two into one....

After cutting the caprice down it was time to move them into one another...

Before I could move them together, I cut what was left of the floor out of the 50 Chevy.... then I had to cut what was left of the trunk out also....

 

[christcrusader13]

That's All for Now...

At the end of the evening we are finally resting on one another... there will be quite a bit of trimming to make this fit neatly together... so that will take place through the next week or two...

Also found out the block is cracked... I think... it looks like water froze in the block and it cracked it just below where the head meets the block, anyone ever heard of this?[S

Anyway, i am pleased with the two days of labor getting this far! [cl

P.S. Sorry for the blurry picture.. it was dark when I took it and had to use a 4 second open lens setting to get enough light to see... my hand weren't as steady after all the pushing and pulling and cutting and saw-zalling ...

 

[Ta2Don]

truck

I like the way you think Sir! [cl Your way of lifting and getting the 2 pieces ready to mate together reminds me of my cab removal adventure...

Diggin' the truck that edged into the pics as well!

 

[christcrusader13]

I like the way you think Sir! [cl Your way of lifting and getting the 2 pieces ready to mate together reminds me of my cab removal adventure...

Diggin' the truck that edged into the pics as well!

Thank you!!!!

that 64 that you see is Vicky... I'm still working on her build thread...lol

http://ratrodsrule.com/forum/showthread.php?t=31168

 

[Torchie]

Big progress in a short time. Going to be great.
Torchie. [P [P [P

 

[christcrusader13]

Channel Day 1

Big progress in a short time. Going to be great.
Torchie. [P [P [P

Thanks Torchie!



Slipped into the back yard after work and began working the body down over the frame...

I took a wild guess on the front after eyeballing the old firewall seam of the 1950 Chevy 2 door and the firewall seam of the 1983 caprice I took a wager that the two halve would meet nicely... so I cut out the both walls on the seams and man.... it worked out to be dead on! I was completely taken aback.... I've got a bit more work to do on fitting the caprices trunk pan into the body shape of the caprice... but I'm very glad to have made the more difficult part at the firewall hurdle...

I also channeled the 50's rear fenders so they would nestle better with the caprices floor. a little hammer and beating and away we go!

Took a stab at working the front end... looks like I will be removing the radiator to get a better idea of how to fit the front end [

 

[Torchie]

Very nice.
When you are done it's going to look like it grew that way.
Torchie.

 

[christcrusader13]

Any ideas????

Did a bit more channeling yesterday... decided to drop it to cover the frame and it looks a lot better IMO.

Also hooked up steering column, but it's a bit too long... any suggestions???? I compared this with another column I had from a firebird, but it was the same length... I'm thinking about building a dog house on the fire wall and moving the column further into the engine bay???[S

Anyways... looks like everything else line up pretty good, I've got to run a smaller tire up front, but that's no big deal...

 

[christcrusader13]

1949-54 Bel Air/Coupe/Sedan on Caprice Chassis Tech Notes 1

I figured this was a good place to insert some tech notes for anybody that might thing about doing the swap:

Before I start just want to give a shout out to Jon Haas for pulling this swap off and inspiring me. I never got to meet him personally, but he changed my life and inspired this build.

with that said.....

Cutting the caprice off the chassis and reusing the good solid floors was my plan, as well as retaining the wiring harness, so I would have lights, ignitions and all that wired already and cut down on time. Since I was working by myself I cut the top of the car off first. Then went to cut the rockers off along the side of the frame. When I got to the rear fenders I cut them off at the body, I will have a little filler work to do, but not too much. If you splice the caprice fenders then you can elect what you want to keep easier, this is probably more feasible when you have two people, one who can spot you while raises and lowers the 50 on to the caprice chassis. I cup the firewall roughly in half at the point as the caprice firewall is too wide to fit he cowl of the 50 Chevy and I also wanted to be able to use the holes for bolting up the 50's hood.

As far as lining up the bodies, the rear fender area is a little trick, but works out well, it took a little bit of cutting and re cutting to get it to work out how I wanted... Lining up the rear wheels is the best way to get your body placed on the chassis without a lot of headache. I recommend leaving the trunk pan of the caprice in place, as it will aid you with a big landing pad for your 50 to rest on while you work out the other logistics... that's if you don't have a life and can life and lower the car at will...LOL.

The firewalls worked really well for me: I cut the 50's fire wall just below the flat area where the master cylinder and fresh air vents mount. The caprices firewall was cut 'even' with the opening for where the heater box goes through the firewall, I eyeballed this and didn't measure anything and it worked out well.

My plan was to channel the body so that the frame would be hidden. The frame of the caprice is taller than that of the 50, so channeling was needed to accomplish the look I was after. I will end up fabricating [ a piece from the rocker to the floor, that will be about a 1" step up lip, which will be virtually unnoticed once the car is finished.

The frame is definitely long in the front and in the back IMO. In the front I cut off the horns as far back as possible to clear the nose piece. This is the same as I did for me 40 Chevy, to it was no surprise there. The inner fenders from the 50 will need to be reworked to fit the new A-arm size as well as difference in the frame, and if you plan on bagging it, you may as well unbolt them and fit them in later with your ride layed out with the wheel/tire combo you want to run. At the rear I will be shortening the frame horns to fit under the roll pan I'm thinking about doing for the back of the 50... provided I don't find a bumper that works.

After mounting the front clip on I noticed a few things, there is still plenty of head height for a high rise intake and carb to tuck under the hood and there is NO room for a mechanical clutch fan and full size radiator.... so two options, I can swap to a thinner camaro radiator I have sitting around, which is thinner, but in any case I'm definitely thinking I'm going to have to run an electric fan.

Also, I will have to run a slightly narrower tire up front, but that's no biggie, I'm thinking about opening the front fender open a bit anyway, as to have a bit more room for larger rims.

 

[Torchie]

Looking great. Especialy since you channeled it more.
Not real hip to Caprice steering columns so no help from me there other than to think that if it has a coupler you could cut it there.[S
[P [cl [P
Torchie.

 

[clamor]

So are you doing all your lowering by channeling? Any via suspension?
-Chaz

 

[christcrusader13]

Looking great. Especialy since you channeled it more.
Not real hip to Caprice steering columns so no help from me there other than to think that if it has a coupler you could cut it there.[S
[P [cl [P
Torchie.

Thanks Torchie!!! I have the old column and wheel, but it doesn't tilt and with my long legs i need a tilt, but I may be able to figure something out.

So are you doing all your lowering by channeling? Any via suspension?
-Chaz

Chaz... Channelling is just the beginning .. i think I'm going to do a little spring work.. I eventually want to bag it and sit her on the ground [cl

 

[clamor]

Chaz... Channelling is just the beginning .. i think I'm going to do a little spring work.. I eventually want to bag it and sit her on the ground [cl

Oh look at you, layin' frame & rollin' on dubs!

[P

(I'm just going to ignore the bowtie)

-Chaz

 

[hansgoudzwaard]

Also hooked up steering column, but it's a bit too long... any suggestions???? I compared this with another column I had from a firebird, but it was the same length...

An S-10 tilt column ? I don't know the length, try pick -a-part .

 

[christcrusader13]

Good suggestions guys! I"ll snoop around and see what I can find, I've got a schedule that Torchie has put me up against lol

 

[christcrusader13]

Mwwmwaauahahhaahahaaaaa

[

Picked up a power plant from my pops house for a simple swap...

Also, got the big jaw puller out and got the S-10 wheel off the front that was stuck on the hub and swapped those large tiers out to a set of smaller ones I had sitting around...

I discovered my front end it crooked and I have a bit more trimming around the frame to do in order to get it to fit right, I will do that after I get the 'new' motor set in place...

Weather is looking messy this weekend, but i'm going for the swap anyway... no time to lose!

Also did a mock up with the column, looks like I need to take 6" out of it, but the column is made weird so I may have to find one I can take 6" out of easier.... It looks good with the door closed... I have the old column, but I was wanting to retain turn signals, hazards and ignition stuff from the caprice, so it's plug and play....

also a little blood shed to help the day go by hahahahaaa

 

[Torchie]

Nice cut.[cl Now your starting to act like me. Wife is always curious as to why I wear my insulated Carhart overall while working in the garage. Even in the summer. I'll just show her this pic.
So the Caprice column is the one that you are trying to use? You might look at something from an S-10 Bound to be shorter and you may find that it is still plug and play. And shouldn't be too expensive.[S
Good luck with it. Hope the weather holds off for your swap.
Torchie.

 

[Bamamav]

That column looks just like the one I have that supposedly came from a S10. If it is the same, it would be easy to shorten the bottom since the actual steering shaft is a double D.

 

[christcrusader13]

Two Birds... One Stone

Allrighty...

Went to a bone yard and picked up a Fiero column, it turned out to be about 6" too short, to i ended up cutting the bottom off of the caprice column and sleeving and welding it to the Fiero Column.... (Will post pics at some point

S-10, camaro, Bonneveille, Cadillac, and just about every other GM column are the same length as the caprice column...

Also tackled the motor swap, turn out the old motor was cracked just below the top of the block, so I'm glad I pulled it... (BTW Torchie, can I have a week of my schedule back for this motor swap?)

Did a mock up on column, hoping to have it partially in place this evening