The Rodding Roundtable

Motorhead Message Central => Rodder's Roundtable => Topic started by: mrloboy on November 01, 2017, 07:07:12 AM

Title: 54 Chevrolet frame
Post by: mrloboy on November 01, 2017, 07:07:12 AM
A friend of mine starting building a 50 Canadian Pontiac using front and rear suspension from Chassis Engineering. The frame is the same as a 50 Chevy. He has the Chassis complete and it looks great. He then had the opportunity to buy a mint 54 Chev sedan. Question is, will the 54 body bolt to the 50 frame? Or what alterations are needed to adapt it. I looked in my Hollander interchange and they show different frame numbers for the two. I always thought they were the same! If all else fails, I guess we remove the kits from the 50 frame and transplant them on the 54 frame.
Title: 54 Chevrolet frame
Post by: idrivejunk on November 01, 2017, 01:19:24 PM
I was looking at aftermarket frames for later years and noticed that 49-54 frames are available. So although its a guess because I am unfamiliar with that year span, I would say chances are good that the 54 body can fit on the 50 frame. Again, it's just a guess but here is what I saw-

https://www.artmorrison.com/49-54chev.php
Title: 54 Chevrolet frame
Post by: mrloboy on November 01, 2017, 04:29:00 PM
It sure looks like we can make it work. Thanks for the link! Rick
Title: 54 Chevrolet frame
Post by: enjenjo on November 01, 2017, 05:53:26 PM
The Hollander numbers will be different if a bracket changed, or the bumper mounting holes are different or any thing similar to that. As far as I know the basic frame is the same.
Title: 54 Chevrolet frame
Post by: crdnblu on November 02, 2017, 08:56:27 AM
Hollander Numbers; all these years of working on cars, & I'd never heard of them.  Googled the term, & now I understand!  Thanks for educating me.......
Title: 54 Chevrolet frame
Post by: mrloboy on November 03, 2017, 02:06:47 PM
i have two Hollander Manuals. One is an original covering 1948 and down. The second is a reprint I purchased from Dragich that covers up to 1956. With a yard with hundreds of vintage cars, they sure have been useful over the years! I have sold many of my cars, but the manuals aren't going anywhere! 😃
Title: 54 Chevrolet frame
Post by: enjenjo on November 03, 2017, 08:16:06 PM
If you have one of the old ones they have a section that will tell you things like a 50 frame will fit in a 54 car if you take bracket A off the 54 frame and install it on the 50 frame. The reprints don't have that section. By the way, I just made that example up. :D
Title: 54 Chevrolet frame
Post by: mrloboy on November 04, 2017, 01:09:41 PM
Yes, my original manual has the notes, but none under these frame listings that I could find. It is a nice option. Usually to do with mounting hole placement. I've run in to variations between US and Canadian built cars. Not much mentioned about that though. 😊 Rick