OOBS front frame section in OBS.

[ccreddell]

For a myriad of reasons-lack of big brake options, no rack and pinion, etc.-I got a wild hare idea. If you could take an OOBS front frame clip, and replace the front cradle/suspension with a Dropmember, graft on the front frame horns from an OBS to carry the radiator support and front bumper, and fab new rails out the back like you would normally do for a SFBD, you could gain all the things mentioned above, have a narrower front track to boot.

This is where someone tells me what a hare brained idea this is.....

 

[DRAGGIN95]

Interesting idea, but a lot of work! Why not graft in a NBS frame stub, they make all kind of big brake kit's for them plus rack and pinion steering and you wouldn't have to buy a drop member.

 

[ccreddell]

I was under the impression that the track was wider on a NBS. I know the rear axle is a couple inches wider. And a DM also narrows the track width a couple inches more than it already is. Another thought is that they make a DM with C5 Vette suspension. With a C4 rear suspension, that would make a sweet autocross rig in a SCSB.

 

[ndians68]

^ i like the vette idea, but i guess i must of not read the first idea correctly, you want to swap them for the reason of a smaller track width correct?

 

[Pierced]

Would probably be easier/maybe cheaper to just get a custom rack and pinion kit and fab it up to work with the obs frame. Michigan Metal Works can build custom spindles that you could have setup to work with any type of brake setup you want. Just a couple options to consider. I have also been looking into a rack and pinion option for the obs as well and I think it could be done and not be too much of a pain.

 

[ccreddell]

^ i like the vette idea, but i guess i must of not read the first idea correctly, you want to swap them for the reason of a smaller track width correct?

Not just. See, Porterbuilt makes a replacement front cross member (called a Dropmember) for 73-87 C10s that takes care of the ground clearance issue, allows laying frame on 22s (maybe 24s), incorporates a power rack, and narrows the front track by a couple inches or so. There are also fairly inexpensive big brake options (and some not so inexpensive) all the way up to 16" rotors available for 73-87 C10s. When it comes to the GMT400s you get a drop spindle-and thats about it. So, I was just thinking that if you were going to do a SFBD anyway, it wouldnt be that much more trouble to swap 4' of an OOBS frame in between the fenders....

 

[Devs93]

a narrower track width would be nice and some companies are starting to figure that out along with builders. As Allen said MMW is on the rt direction but they aint cheap either. There is a member on here who has a Jaguar rack n pinion setup who is planning on runnin 10 in wheels up front cause he narrowed the track so much but that is also a fully blown custom frame. There is a couple more street source but they are also high end builds. imo instead of making the c10 frame fit the obs frame it would be easier to just front half the truck with all new stuff setup to exactly what you want then you can figure out the parts from there. Plus when its done you can say you built the front half yourself. oh also if you did that you could use the vette susp on the front except for the rotors

 

[ccreddell]

This is true. On the other hand, if I went with a Vette rear, I would just keep the 5x4.75 bolt pattern-and used the cool ZO6 red calipers

 

[ccreddell]

One other thing is; if I just used the 3-4' of the OOBS frame, the DM will already have the geometry set up and I could concentrate on body mounts and rear suspension pick up points. Oh, and DMs come with the LSX motor mounts already and dont require relocating the A/C.

 

[Devs93]

how diff is the width between the oobs and obs frame though?