Has anyone done or know any one (other than west coast customs who did a 67) who has adapted a corvette rolling chassis to fit under a chevelle or other full framed car?

I was just thinking that if I wanted my car to handle real good I would need control arms, spindles, springs, sway bars etc etc after all that it would come close to the cost of a rolling chassis with motor and everything. I know the wheelbase is about 10 inches shorter so the torque tube and all that would need to be extended but does anyone know the track width of the vette compared to the velle?

Jay Leno put a late 60's Toronado ver a C5 Vette chassis, and the body had to be widened at the bottom to fit over the Vette framerails.
those Toronados are freaking HUGE, so i think a Chevelle might require even more work.

I saw that on HD theater this morning....didnt see the part on widening the body cuz I just caught the end of "rides"

Has anyone done or know any one (other than west coast customs who did a 67) who has adapted a corvette rolling chassis to fit under a chevelle or other full framed car?

I was just thinking that if I wanted my car to handle real good I would need control arms, spindles, springs, sway bars etc etc after all that it would come close to the cost of a rolling chassis with motor and everything. I know the wheelbase is about 10 inches shorter so the torque tube and all that would need to be extended but does anyone know the track width of the vette compared to the velle?

Gotta give ya credit for just thinking about this. I don't think that what you are talking about has been done and I am a Vette owner who wants to do something similar to my Vette so I keep an eye on the people selling frames. I also have an A-body car so that is where my interest in this originates.

Something predating the torque tube Vettes is the way to start especially if you don't have access to Jay Lenos $$$$$$$$$ and Jay Lenos staff. At least then you are dealing with a standard driveshaft. This sort of swap is done all the time for C2 and C1 cars using C4 suspensions on custom built Vette frames by Paul Newman and others. NO it is not Paul Newman the actor. They also modify stock Vette frames (C1 suspension and C2) to accept C4 suspension parts. These frames that are modified or made from scratch are in the $10K to $15K range. Remember that is a price for something that the frame shops have already engineered, tooled up for with jigs and whatever. They have aleady worked the bugs out. If you have a shop start from square one and do the job the hard way what do ya think that could cost???? I hate to even think about it! To my knowledge no one has done this work for the A-Body cars yet.

Without the availability of a turn key frame I suspect that the way to accomplish what you want is to graft a C4 frame front and frame rear to the Chevelle chassis, This is a MAJOR and EXPENSIVE undertaking. If you know a good welder who has done this stuff or things like it AND who is willing to work cheap this will still be a BIG job. Essentially you cut the front off the Chevelle frame then ya cut the rear off the Chevelle frame. Now weld on the front and rear of the Vette frame and you can bold on the Vette components. Sounds simple! RIGHT!!!!!

A comment on the Jay Leno Olds. They did not "widen the body" in the strictest sense of the word. I believe that they had to redo the area around the inside of the lower door sills because the frame they built was made of steel tubes with a cross section that did not allow the sill area and the rails to come together nicely. If you ever see the video or the TV show...the rails were HUGE in cross section and there hadda be a reason they decided to build them that strongly.

I think this is way outta bounds as far as cost and difficulty until someone comes up with a "turn key" ready to start bolting parts on frame for the A-body! Even if that happens consider what someone is gonna charge for the frame. Alll I have heard about is some front end kits that allow R+P steering to be installed. I have not heard of or read any reports on how this stuff works.

There are lots of mods to the front end as far as better brakes and better geometry A-Arms but the IRS is not on the horizon right now as far as I know.

i think it's Morrison that sells an A body frame the uses C5/C6 front suspension, but not the rear supension/transaxle setup.
the 3 link solid axles setup on those frames is said to be almost as good as the Vette IRS- and far more durable- but without the complexity.

I saw some pictures of one done on a camaro, the floor has to be highly modified especially in the rear seat area. But for someone like me who has a floor and trunk like I do, I def would not feel bad about cutting it up.

Also has anyone had any experience with hot rods to hell truck arm suspension. Havent seen anyone running it and I think it something a little different than "off the shelf" parts.