Now I've seen everything!

[talldogg]

Now I\'ve seen everything!

Yesterday on the way home I saw the coolest/oddest thing. I saw this Astro van on the other side of the road and what caught my attention was the HEIGHT of the thing. As it got closer I noticed that it was lifted and had 33"s on it! And here's the real kicker! It had a solid axle differential up front! No IFS for this Astro.
So I figure they had done a body swap. The only other body swap I've seen around here was a Nova on a lifted truck chasis. All of which got me thinking. I recently bought a '74 K5 as a parts truck (it's beyond repair) which means I'm going to have a spare rolling chassis. So, what body swaps have y'all seen? Maybe I'll consider doing a body swap for my next project, something different.

It's not what you buy, it's what you build!

 

[Emmettology 101]

Re: Now I\'ve seen everything!

You name it!

GTO's, Lemans's, Caddies, Pintos, Monte Carlos, etc.

The best yet but I haven't seen it A VW bug on a 3/4 ton chassis. This guy was telling me he bought a 3/4 4wd p/u and shortened the frame. Then he took a Bug body and cut the floor so it sat down on the frame so it looked lik it came factory and not like someone just slapped it on. He said he was going to run a 350 and maybe 35's. I would really like to see it when it is done!!

Mike

See <font color=green>EMMETT</font color=green> -&gt; http://emmett.coloradok5.com

 

[OFFRDK5]

Re: Now I\'ve seen everything!

One word for ya:

Bummer



SK-15
J**P...it's whats for dinner!
http://SK-15.coloradok5.com

 

[Panther]

Re: Now I\'ve seen everything!

Not that it's strange or eye-catching or anything, but I liked the S-10 body on the blazer frame in the Nov issue of Peterson's. It would be a pretty great trail truck.

<font color=blue>I don't get stuck, I'm just in the mud when I stop for lunch

- NJFourWheelers</font color=blue>

 

[Jeff427]

Re: Now I\'ve seen everything!

I have seen a 69 Camaro on a 4x4 chassis, a Chevette (with a snow plow), a Lincoln Continental, and a Fiero. The Fiero was the best built of them all, believe it or not, looked almost factory.

Jeff427
<font color=red>Mud Dog Off Road Club</font color=red>
http://muddogoffroad.coloradok5.com

 

[Blazer1970]

Re: Now I\'ve seen everything!

Any pickup truck '59 or older, if you can find a halfway clean body. Most of them have wheelbases that are pretty close to a Blazer, or the box can be shortened easily.

Tim

1970 Blazer CST 4X4 350 SM465 NP205
1987 Suburban 4X4 350
1988 Chevy Pickup 4X4 350

 

[BigJim85]

Re: Now I\'ve seen everything!

El Camino man, or SK-15's idea. Also, down in Ouray, CO one of the 4x4 tour places has a lifted Falcon, that thing's pretty neat.

Call my rig an SUV... And I'll tear your lungs out.

 

[Grim-Reaper]

Re: Now I\'ve seen everything!

That may have been the Astro that made FourWheeler.. I think they ran it in last years tough truck. If it was real nice looking I believe it was it...they call it FlexiVan
We got a guy around here with a triamph spitfire body on a shortend Blazer frame with a 454, 1 ton running gear and 40's.

Diging it in the dirt with my K5's
Grim-Reaper
http://grimsk5s.coloradok5.com/

 

[Jeff 86K5]

Re: Now I\'ve seen everything!

A 1948-1953 Chevy Pick-up looks good on a Blazer running gear.

I've seen a Monte Carlo, an El Camino, a Pinto, and a 55 Chevy 2 door post.

My Buddy had a VW beetle on a Blazer frame that would go anywhere.

Jeff 86K5

 

[Jeff427]

Re: Now I\'ve seen everything!

How about a 1941 Chevrolet Ultra Deluxe Sedan on a Blazer chassis.

Jeff427
<font color=red>Mud Dog Off Road Club</font color=red>
http://muddogoffroad.coloradok5.com

 

[riz]

Re: Now I\'ve seen everything!

<font color=purple> I saw a VW on a 4x4 chassis once at a local mud hole, and it looked great. It also went like a bat out of hell. It had 40" swampers under it. I talked to the guy about it for about 1/2 hour but never found out where he was from, I would have liked to see it again when I had more time. I never did find out, even the other guys there didn't really know who he was, it was like he just heard about the event and showed up. I'm glad he did, it was one of the coolest looking 4x4's I've ever seen ! And I've seen a lot.</font color=purple>

<font color=purple>L8r,

.Riz.<font color=purple>

 

[6.2Blazer]

Re: Now I\'ve seen everything!

One of the 4x4 mags had an article several years ago about a company who converted Astro vans to 4wd by using a solid front axle.

 

[Nike]

Re: Now I\'ve seen everything!

I did a 74 or so Chevelle Laguna station wagon on a 74 Blazer frame one time, and a friend did the same thing. They were neat. I think I lengthened the Blazer frame about 4 inches, not really a hard job, but be sure to box it. Wiring was pretty simple, and I just made some body mounts out of square tubing and used an old rubber conveyer belt that I cut up for the rubber. Nike in Mo.

Blue

 

[BLzr4x4ngkid]

Re: Now I\'ve seen everything!

Saw a new body style Trans-Am on a 4x4 frame. Looked really sweet too. It was set down on the frame too, so it looked stock. I think it had 35's, but they looked really wide for 35's. They were Boggers and they might have ben 40's. It looked sweet. It had working 4wd and everything. Pretty cool. I do like the looks of the old body style Chevy trucks on the Blazer frame though. There's a guy that works out here at Raytheon Aircraft that has one with 35" Swampers on it. Sweet looking truck and my uncle also had one about 15yrs ago.

"Don't hit me with them negative waves so early in the morning." Odd Ball--Kelly's Hereos

 

[Michael]

Re: Now I\'ve seen everything!

This is a little off topic, but.....there is a new kit out for the Fiero called the "Jalapeno" that converts it into a baja type look.... pretty cool for a Fiero. Check it out: http://www.cybercars.com/mnfr/fierohq/jalapeno.html

Michael

http://jmartin.net/parker/goose.htm

 

[talldogg]

Re: Now I\'ve seen everything!

About the Jalapeno, all I can say is "Aye caramba! Crazy gringos!" LOL

It's not what you buy, it's what you build!

 

[BurbinOR]

Re: Now I\'ve seen everything!

My wife has an All Wheel Drive Safari (same thing as an Astro) and it does excellent in snow and sand. Of course, no ground clearance but it is a true framed vehicle and pulls a trailer nicely, and damn if you can't get through some pretty deep sand with it........now it could use those 33's and a lift!

<font color=black>'79 - 406 TPI -<font color=orange> K5#5 - <font color=blue>See it at---&gt;http://www.blazzinor.coloradok5.com

 

[talldogg]

Re: Now I\'ve seen everything!

BlazzinOR
Don't forget the LT1 swap!

It's not what you buy, it's what you build!

 

[BurbinOR]

Re: Now I\'ve seen everything!

Ooh, man, I can only imagine my wife driving her "soccer mom" van with 33's and an LT-1 TPI under the hood.........makes me break out in a cold sweat.

<font color=black>'79 - 406 TPI -<font color=orange> K5#5 - <font color=blue>See it at---&gt;http://www.blazzinor.coloradok5.com

 

[californiak5]

Re: Now I\'ve seen everything!

Try a 67-69 Camaro Body. A friend of mine put on on a mid 70's Blazer frame with 36" swampers and it looked great. He was also a hell of alot more stable on off camber hills.

I have to agree with the Puddy Cat.