[claysmith55102]

How hard would it be to put a 66 body on a 2000s tahoe frame? I found this frame with disk brakes and 5.3 ls for 1200 and was wondering if i could fit my 66 elco on it.

the wheelbase only has a one inch difference.

 

[Vdv8]

Unless you have a lot of free time/money, I surely wouldn’t do it. It’s not simple. Where’s your frame? I’m sure a junkyard or Craigslist should have a A-body laying around somewhere.

 

[claysmith55102]

I have the frame but it is bare and doesn't have brakes fuel system engine mounts or anything. I almost think it would be cheaper to make the Tahoe frame fit

 

[Vdv8]

“on paper” and “reality” always work opposite of each other unfortunately. Too slim of a cost difference for me to go messing around with that kind of work. I’d personally just rebuild the stock frame. Maybe someone on here knows how it can be done and what the cost of it is for you. I haven’t seen a Camino on a Tahoe frame yet, but I’m sure someone has done it.

 

[Sledge Hammer]

People have put car bodies on 4x4's all the time, so it can probably be done. It will be a lot of fabrication as it is not likely that any of the body mounts are in the right place. Bumper mounts will have to be fabricated. Better check the track width. I think the Tahoe will be wider. Good luck.

 

[B52bombardier1]

I think an S-10 swap would be easier but I still wouldn't do it. With all of the aftermarket brake, steering and suspension upgrades that are available for our vehicles, there's not much point in doing a major frame swap.

If its that 5.3 LS engine that most attracts you, simply use the Holley swap parts for the engine mounts, oil pan, fuel system, headers and transmission cross-member. They have done all of the engineering so that you don't have to.

Rick

 

[Matty man]

If you have the skills and fabrication tools I say go for it. If i was doing this I would shorten the frame by that one inch so it looks stock and looks like the Tahoe frame is thicker and might stick down and be more visible but you would have a nice riding El Camino afterwards maybe 🤔.
Good luck!!
Matty man

 

[11thhourfabrication]

What are you trying to accomplish with the frame swap? It looks like a 2WD frame from the Tahoe so you have look into the time spent making body mounts and possibly relocating the rear axle to correct wheelbase issues. It can be done, but will the end result be better than the alternatives available. Remember it will cost you 2 to 3 times what you estimate plus countless hours to do it correctly. Hope you have a big shop and plenty of tools.

 

[Eotnak]

The simpler the job sounds in theory, the harder it will be in practice.
You're thinking about all the things that need to be done to the original frame and assuming you don't need to do at least the same amount of work to the Tahoe frame. You'll definitely be doing more work trying to retrofit that truck frame, and that's assuming the ride height will look right.

 

[pitts64]

The 58 up Chevrolet had the best front suspension going. They still use the front steer linkage to this day. They have many ways to stiffen up the dreaded X. If you were to put a square frame around the X you would have one strong frame.
The 55-57 Thunderbird had one, I never understood why nobody ever tried to make a track car with one..I'm thinking there are other issues.

 

[RET423]

That Tahoe is easy to shorten, if you look at the frame each side is 3 sections slipped into one another; you just cut the rear sections loose and trim a little, then slide it back together and weld it up.

The steering box is pretty close to where you need it to junction with the 66 shaft, flaming river sells the steering U-Joint that will rejoin the 66 steering shaft after you cut it in a convenient place.

You will have to fabricate the body mount pads and cut the Tahoe mounts off but on the 66 the body mount layout is pretty consist so it's not hard to get everything where it belongs.

The very front and rear will need some fab work to get the bumpers to look right but it is not too bad, getting the fuel filler to the Tahoe tank will be the tricky part, using a Chevy express tank that fits between the rails in the rear is a pretty simple solution but then you have to extend the Tahoe fuel lines to the back.

After that it is just the same challenges as with any. LS swap like getting a gauge cluster to work but there are many options for those challenges.

The Tahoe brakes, handling & ride are absolutely awesome as well as the wheel & tire options, this would be a great rig if you know how to fabricate 👍

 

[Sledge Hammer]

Sounds like maybe RET may have done something like this before.

 

[RET423]

I have a 4x4 65 El Camino that I built on a 73 chevy C10 frame years ago (not the right way to do it 🤣), I have since done a lot of mods using the 99-06 GMT 800 chassis that are used in the Tahoe, Yukon, Suburban, Escalade, Sierra and Silverado's and the way GM made those chassis universal to all of the models (whether 2wd or 4wd) is really amazing; the SUV version has level frame rails so making a car 4x4 conversion with those is much easier than the way I did it 30 years ago!

I will likely redo mine one of these days with an SUV GMT 800 chassis like the OP has, it would be MUCH lower than what I ended up with using the pickup chassis from the 70's (it looks like a kids rig now, which I thought was cool back when I did it 😁) but I would like to try and see if I can get it looking like it would have looked if a 4x4 was an El Camino option from the factory back in 65.

I have never messed around with the S10 chassis but I understand that they work well for old car chassis conversions as well, if I ever find a good deal on an S10 chassis I will buy it and experiment with that 👍