Frame / Springs: camaro front clip on a 56 transtar

[slick138]

Has anyone done it here and does it fit up nicely or take a bit of fab to fit

[Mike Van Veghten]

Even if it fits "nicely", it'll still take a "bit" of fab work.
Even if the rails align (don't think they do), wall to wall, you gotta remember that all of the Camaro frames have a fairly large square cross section, vs. the Stude "C" chanel.
To do this right, you'll need to box the Stude frame for the last three or four feet (at least to near the back of the cab), and move one or both centerlines (in or out), then make various closeout plates for each side to properly fit the two frame sections together.

I helped a friend weld together a Chrysler front end to his 50 Stude truck. Even with the "frame" built by a chassis company to put the torsion bar suspension on his specific truck, it was still a lot of work.

Not much good in this world is free...or easy. Not meaning to dissuade you of doing this, but I'd look closly at what you want to do.
My feeling is, if you are a decient welder, fabricator, be able to do some designing of your own, you wouldn't ask the above question. This is the reason I've put these details out there for you to think about.

Mike

[bezhawk]

A Ford Aerostar van front end conversion is practically a bolt in swap, and you keep the original frame, and just add the suspension.

http://www.studebaker-info.org/tech/Frames/buddy/aerosusp.html

[slick138]

Thanks Mike . I am a welder so the fab/weld work is the easy part for me but wondering if there is gonna be to much headache involved getting everything else lined up .it's seemsthe fenders give me enough room but wasn't sure on everything else . I know I will have to make new radiator support

[PackardV8]

JMHO, but X2 the Aerostar conversion is so much cleaner, easier and works better.

I know I will have to make new radiator support

Why go to the extra effort to install an older tech front suspension? I know you're a fab guy, but put your time where it adds value.

jack vines

[studegary]

I have owned two Studebaker pickups with Camaro/Firebird front suspension clips. I did not do the initial build, so I can not help you with that part. I do know that it makes a nice driving pickup, sort of like a long wheelbase Camaro. Of course, as you know, you eliminate king pins and leaf springs and add pdb , ps, etc. in one fell swoop.

[slick138]

I have heard many horror stories about the Aerostar conversion on many other cars and trucks more than I have heard good so that steers me away and the camaro sub frame was givin to me for trade in fab work so that kinda seals the deal on that .not knockin the Aerostar at all just not goin with it

[PackardV8]

I have heard many horror stories about the Aerostar conversion on many other cars and trucks more than I have heard good so that steers me away and the camaro sub frame was givin to me for trade in fab work so that kinda seals the deal on that .not knockin the Aerostar at all just not goin with it

Just for our information, what are the substance of these horror stories? What about the Aerostar doesn't work?

jack vines

[slick138]

Suspension problems left and right know matter what was replaced and they eat up bushings pretty fast .now the one my buddy put on his could of been junk from the get go but the headache it brought and the money spent was enough for him to tell me stay clear and the other stories are similar with mainly suspension issue

[gephet]

The 56 pickup I have that was built by the late Ray Clerici has a 77 (or thereabouts, only made them for 4-5 years) Volare front suspension. It looks like a pretty nice fit to me (keeps Stude frame). The Volare set up used transverse torsion bars that cross under the front of the "axle". It rides and drives very good and has the Volare disc brakes. I drove it from CA to NH last year plus another 500-1000 miles last summer, no strange tire wear or anything like that. I'd prefer it be sprung a bit stiffer, but it rides and handles pretty well. I have been told that others have used this swap on both Stude's and early Ford pickups.

[slick138]

That's awsome I wanted to go with Volare when I got the truck .but the camaro clip fell in my lap

[cutitup]

IVE DONE A COUPLE STUDE pickups with Camaro subs wasn't hard at all lined up good great ride I did a volare not as nice a ride didn't care much for it if you do the Camaro youll like it

[bezhawk]

I like the general idea of torsion bars, however the transverse setup of the Volare puts all the mass and weight on the front end of the vehicle. Not a good thing in my opinion. Lots of rodders have used the S-1O frame, but they stop short and use the 2 wheel drive suspension with coil springs. I don't see much advantage for all the work.
If I were to start from scratch, I would make my own cross member, add corvette forged aluminum control arms, and use longitudinal torsion bars in place of the transverse leaf springs. I would also like to figure out an anchoring system like Packard to make the ride height adjustable easily. Air is too bouncy, and coil springs deliver all the road shock straight up into the frame. Torsion bars send the stored energy from a road irregularity into a twisting motion and not into the frame and body.
The added bonus is you don't get the mass of the spring as part of the suspension. Less unsprung weight is better. Some race cars go to massive trouble using strut arms, and remote springs and even large rocker arms to transfer spring loads. All in an effort to get unsprung weigh the lowest possible.

[gephet]

Just to be clear, I would not say the Volare swap makes for race car handling. It does make for a really nice riding and driving truck used under "normal" driving conditions, I can attest to that after almost 5000 miles in one last year. Building a street rod with 500+HP is a much different proposition than a creating a mildly modified 50+ year old truck with 200 HP and the objective of being able to drive it safely on the highways of today. It also a much different endeavor financially.

[slick138]

The 56 pickup I have that was built by the late Ray Clerici has a 77 (or thereabouts, only made them for 4-5 years) Volare front suspension. It looks like a pretty nice fit to me (keeps Stude frame). The Volare set up used transverse torsion bars that cross under the front of the "axle". It rides and drives very good and has the Volare disc brakes. I drove it from CA to NH last year plus another 500-1000 miles last summer, no strange tire wear or anything like that. I'd prefer it be sprung a bit stiffer, but it rides and handles pretty well. I have been told that others have used this swap on both Stude's and early Ford pickups.

IVE DONE A COUPLE STUDE pickups with Camaro subs wasn't hard at all lined up good great ride I did a volare not as nice a ride didn't care much for it if you do the Camaro youll like it

Good to hear . Gettin ready to get on it