Casey’s Customs is at again with another budget chassis swap build. This time around, he’s chassis swapping a 1951 Chevrolet with an AWD, 6-cylinder 1999 GMC Jimmy donor and has set a budget cap of $3,500, but will still add airbags to the GMC suspension.
Editor’s Note: Casey refers to this build as a Rat Rod. While the Chevy sheet metal may be ratty, this is certainly not a rat rod, but a budget example of swapping a late-model chassis under an older car or truck body at home with normal tools and not much other help. For more information about swapping chassis and drivetrain, see our Body / Chassis Swap Overview.
Additional note, Casey uses colorful language on occasion. If you’re some sort of softie, or you got the kids on your lap, be advised.
- Casey’s Previous Build: 1954 Ford F100 / 2000 Lincoln Towncar Chassis Swap for Under $1,000
Stripping Down the GMC Chassis Donor
In this opening episode, Casey strips down the GMC chassis donor and takes it for a spin…
Casey works to get the ’51 Chevy (mostly) stripped and off of the old chassis…
Casey goes over the budget and asks for answers about air suspension for the donor chassis…
Casey gets the ’51 Chevy floor stripped out and he starts fitting the body to the donor chassis…
Casey gets the Blazer rear-end all stripped down and ready for the airbags and repositioning the rear axle…
Casey gets started on the airbag suspension and modifies the frame…
Casey wraps up the rear airbags, drops the front end, and places the ’51 Chevy body on the new donor chassis…
Casey finishes up the rear airbags and puts the ’51 body on the chassis for the last time…
Casey mounts the body to the chassis and starts cutting the front end up, and opens a package that has a new part for the build!
Casey finishes mounting the body to the chassis and starts lengthening the front end…
