Old body new frame?

jeepdud · Post by **jeepdud** » Tue Mar 23, 2010 8:44 pm

This is my first post. Yea me. Have been lurking in the background for about 2 years. Now to the question. Has anyone dropped an old m37 body on a new frame such as the H3 it has same wheel width and length. I have a stock running 53 and a parts truck that has an okay body that I would like to make an awesome daily driver. Would love comments and suggestions on why to do it or not to. Thanks. "the newbie Matt"

Master Yota · Post by **Master Yota** » Tue Mar 23, 2010 9:40 pm

Anything can be put on anything with enough time or money thrown at it. The stock frames are pretty stout though - my question would be why change it out for a newer one? Unless you're looking for IFS in the front for a nice ride maybe? I would think that its more work to fab all the body mounts and make it all square, rather than just fabbing a few engine mounts and repowering (if thats the route you're planning).... These trucks actually ride pretty cushy on the factory suspension. The rather spartan interior is what usually makes or breaks an M37 as a daily driver...

Good luck with whichever route you decide upon, and don't forget the pictures!

Post by **Cal_Gary** » Wed Mar 24, 2010 5:32 am

Welcome aboard Matt! My preference would be to stick with the stock frame, as every conversion I've seen left the frame rails totally exposed with the upper body riding too high-looks awkward and dangerous to me.
Gary

rixm37 · Post by **rixm37** » Wed Mar 24, 2010 7:20 am

Hi Matt welcome here. I have thought about putting the cab and bed on a new frame. I have seen some pictures on the web I think using suburban or blazer frames. Could look bad.
But!!
Look at what Josh and Master Yota are up to, it's fantastic. Check out their build threads.
very cool.

k8icu · Post by **k8icu** » Wed Mar 24, 2010 12:11 pm

Yeah what Yota said....Enough time and money and anything is possible. One thing about the M37 frame as compaired to more modern frames is that the M37 frame is some what A framed. What I mean by that is that at the front of the truck (cab forward) the frame rails move in and get more narrow where as a most modern trucks are more H frams in that the rails stay the same distance apart front to back. I'm not sure if that would make attaching the front sheet metal more difficult or not.

But it's your project and if you got the means and want the challange I say go for it and also like Yota said keep the pictures coming...

refit1701 · Post by **refit1701** » Wed Mar 24, 2010 2:15 pm

I'm not expert at modding but you'll find we love to see someone else getting work done!! So we love pics!!

Whatever you decide to do, we will be here with advise if we can help.

SierraM37 · Post by **SierraM37** » Thu Mar 25, 2010 7:05 am

JeepDud - Here is an article on a guy who put the M body on a Suburban Chassis. I have two M's - and I've considered doing everything your thinking plus more. The first is going to be stock except for 4 wheel disc brakes, power steering and seatbelts.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2377952/2#guestbook

My donor truck, time and money permitting I MAY bob it, put D60's underneath and repower but I MAY offer the parts up to collectors who might put the beast to better use. Shipping heavy parts from CA to anywhere may make that prohibitive but I'm no there yet anyway.

As mentioned, you can do anything but just remember, the modern stuff will NEVER, EVER be made as stout as stuff was in the '50's, and particularly these truck were, when steel was steel and men were men!

Master Yota · Post by **Master Yota** » Thu Mar 25, 2010 9:36 am

SierraM37 wrote:As mentioned, you can do anything but just remember, the modern stuff will NEVER, EVER be made as stout as stuff was in the '50's, and particularly these truck were, when steel was steel and men were men!

I'll definitley agree with the strength of the body, and even the frame to some degree - but I'll happily take a modern D60 or Np205, or NP435 or V8 over the original power train anyday. The original axles are sorely outclassed when it comes to modern forgings. Thats why we swap them out in the first place...

But the stock stuff is tougher than any other 50 year old driveline that can be found out there.

jeepdud · Post by **jeepdud** » Fri Mar 26, 2010 12:10 pm

Thank you all for the advice and suggestions. Glad to know other people are as crazy as me. If only we could get our wives to be as crazy as us life would be so grand. If and when I do this pics will flood this place. Thanks again.

Old body new frame?

Old body new frame?

Here's One

Re: Here's One