Proper cab placement ?
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New User
Joined: Oct 2004
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Proper cab placement ?
This is a question in relation to the previous thread on "Transplanting a 49 Ford body onto a latemodel S10 rolling chassis."
Ok the the first obvious question is where can I find reference material on exactly where a cab should be mounted on a frame ? For instance do you:
1. find the middle (as in the balance point of the weight) ?
2. just line it up as far forward as necessary to make the wheels actually fit into the wheel wells ?
Thanks !
Ok the the first obvious question is where can I find reference material on exactly where a cab should be mounted on a frame ? For instance do you:
1. find the middle (as in the balance point of the weight) ?
2. just line it up as far forward as necessary to make the wheels actually fit into the wheel wells ?
Thanks !
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,328
Likes: 124
From: Iowa
Definitely door 2, perfect centering in the wheel wells makes all the difference between a good job and a poor one. And before you begin to fab a single body mount, here are a few things I would do first.
1. Place the engine and the transmission approximately in place and ensure the trans will clear the floor, exhaust will clear the frame rails, and you still have room for a thick radiator with an electric fan.
2. Set the box on too and see if you have to move the rear springs or alter the frame length.
3. Keep looking behind door number. If any of the wheels are not centered, the whole thing will look hurried and "incorrect"
1. Place the engine and the transmission approximately in place and ensure the trans will clear the floor, exhaust will clear the frame rails, and you still have room for a thick radiator with an electric fan.
2. Set the box on too and see if you have to move the rear springs or alter the frame length.
3. Keep looking behind door number. If any of the wheels are not centered, the whole thing will look hurried and "incorrect"
Last edited by fatfenders; Oct 13, 2004 at 06:09 AM.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,495
Likes: 2
From: Northwest Fl
It will be a lot easier if the original frame is available for reference.
Measure from the centerline of the front wheel back to the center of the front cab mount, if you need to adjust the front wheel to be more centered, this is the time t do it. Once you have found the centerline of the front cab mount, you must determine its height on the new frame. Most newer frames will have a dip in the general location of the cab so pulling a string level front to rear for reference will be necessary to insure all mounts are on the same plane. The location of the front cross member supporting the radiator and front sheet metal was the hardest for me to find since it is not level with the rest of the mounts.
You may also find that there is a hump or arc above the rear axle and on some newer frames; it will be higher that the floor of the bed. This may not be the case on the S-10, but something definitely to consider.
Measure from the centerline of the front wheel back to the center of the front cab mount, if you need to adjust the front wheel to be more centered, this is the time t do it. Once you have found the centerline of the front cab mount, you must determine its height on the new frame. Most newer frames will have a dip in the general location of the cab so pulling a string level front to rear for reference will be necessary to insure all mounts are on the same plane. The location of the front cross member supporting the radiator and front sheet metal was the hardest for me to find since it is not level with the rest of the mounts.
You may also find that there is a hump or arc above the rear axle and on some newer frames; it will be higher that the floor of the bed. This may not be the case on the S-10, but something definitely to consider.
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New User
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Thank you gentlemen as usual you have given me excellent advice. The original frame is not available for this particular truck, but I know where one is available that I can go measure. Thanks again and keep those great ideas coming!
