1953 chevy wheel base

jmc · 08-27-2007, 08:51 AM

Hi everyone:
I am looking at a 1953 model 1019 series chev project that someone has lost intrest in he has it sitting on a 1986 standard 1500 series or c-10 pickup frame. there are no fenders on the front of the '53 and I am a little concerned that there might be too much difference in the wheelbase between the '86 the and the '53.
I am told the wheelbase on the '86 is 117",does anyone know what the wheelbase is for the '53?
Has anyone put one of these older trucks on a newer frame?
thanks in advance
Jim

75K30 · 08-27-2007, 11:08 AM

welcome to the site;
That would seem to be very easy to fix regardless of the difference, if any.
I would imagine that the difference might not be exactly the same, but moving the rear axle is a snap.
Simply line up the front wheel wells on the spindle centerline, and get the bed aligned. Then use a plumb bob fromt the rear wheel well center to aligne the rear axle. If you have to move it foward, then you can
A: get longer leaf springs and move the front hanger foward enough to keep the axle centered under the wheel well.
B: Use the same springs and just move both hangers to relocate the axle properly.
By choosing the "B" option, this will aloow you to trim off any excess fram from the back of the trucks frame without changing any of the functional portion of the trucks frame. You will not sacrifice any strength this way, and is much better than taking a section of frame out of the middle like most "butchers" do.
Should be pretty easy to do. Ride heigth can be altered while you are at it too.

08-27-2007, 08:51 AM	#1
jmc Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1	1953 chevy wheel base Hi everyone: I am looking at a 1953 model 1019 series chev project that someone has lost intrest in he has it sitting on a 1986 standard 1500 series or c-10 pickup frame. there are no fenders on the front of the '53 and I am a little concerned that there might be too much difference in the wheelbase between the '86 the and the '53. I am told the wheelbase on the '86 is 117",does anyone know what the wheelbase is for the '53? Has anyone put one of these older trucks on a newer frame? thanks in advance Jim

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08-27-2007, 11:08 AM	#2
75K30 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 3,310	welcome to the site; That would seem to be very easy to fix regardless of the difference, if any. I would imagine that the difference might not be exactly the same, but moving the rear axle is a snap. Simply line up the front wheel wells on the spindle centerline, and get the bed aligned. Then use a plumb bob fromt the rear wheel well center to aligne the rear axle. If you have to move it foward, then you can A: get longer leaf springs and move the front hanger foward enough to keep the axle centered under the wheel well. B: Use the same springs and just move both hangers to relocate the axle properly. By choosing the "B" option, this will aloow you to trim off any excess fram from the back of the trucks frame without changing any of the functional portion of the trucks frame. You will not sacrifice any strength this way, and is much better than taking a section of frame out of the middle like most "butchers" do. Should be pretty easy to do. Ride heigth can be altered while you are at it too.