'52 styleline suspension...

[52deluxe]

Hello everyone, I just stumbled accross the forum here recently and first off let me say...wow....wealth of knowledge here and hope to provide some myself.

My current project is a 1952 Chevy styleline special sport coupe, i picked it up in south texas for 1400 bucks with an inline six w/ 90,xxx miles and still running. After decoding the block, turns out it wasnt the original motor (babit rod motor) so now comes the fun stuff. I have already purchased the front and rear suspension, i will be using the front and rear clips from a 1984 corvette (dana 44 rear) along with a LM7 (LSx based iron 5.3 from a 2002 yukon) mated to a T56 (for the cruises i plan to take when complete.



My question is this, how hard is it going to be to graft the from clip to my current frame? from my quick measurements i seem to be about 1.5 inches too narrow between frame rails to just bolt or weld up the crossmember and shortening this cross member is a big no no from what i have researched, or any irs/ifs components for that matter. Do you think i would be better off building a conpletely new set of frame rails better suited to my suspension i deas or modify my stock rails?


sorry for the long post, hope the read was enjoyable at the very least

[52deluxe]

no opinions or anything? geez thanks guys....

[syborg tt]

if you have all the right stuff (frame table) i would suggest making a new frame.

how about the track width - how close is it to what you need.

[52deluxe]

track width is a little wider with the vette suspension, but not enough that some custom backspaced wheels wouldnt solve.

[syborg tt]

there are benifits to using a stock frame but in your case i pretty much think you wouldn't find any.

[52deluxe]

well i have the original frame on the car, if i were to build new frame rails, i was just going to mock off of the originals for body supports and whatnot. along with making it tubular. if i used the stockers i was just going to box in the majority of the rails and add some bracing here and there

[BRIAN]

Try Bob at Progressive. Great guy and sells some nice conversion stuff. There is also someone in Goodguys mag that sells a crossmember deal that is pretty cheap. I can't think of the name?

[52deluxe]

Try Bob at Progressive. Great guy and sells some nice conversion stuff. There is also someone in Goodguys mag that sells a crossmember deal that is pretty cheap. I can't think of the name?

i have the suspension already, and i have a good deal of chrome-moly tubing to fab the x-member.