Sun Jun 05, 2016 3:15 pm by Monsonmotors
Lloyd, If you don't want to cut the floor out of the bed or cab an almost flat or nearly flat donor frame is what you want. I think 80/90s Chevy full size pickup has that. Leaves out S10, Japanese pickups that have big kicks over rear axle. Every old (late 30's and up) 1/2 ton stock pickup frame I know of has a little bump in the frame over the rear axle. So the stock IHC bed can accomodate that, at least.
I have a few other suggestions as to donor, though. You want fuel injection, a/t, p/s, p/b, a/c, highway gears. You might find a carbureted pickup cheaper. However, they lack modern driveability, serviceability and parts availability. Do not under any circumstances buy a "computer carb" vehicle. By that I mean the horrendous 1980 or so to late 1980's carburetted trucks that have computer controls. TBI is fuel injection no matter how much it looks like a carburetor. Night and day difference in driveability, serviceability with fuel injection. It is SO consistent.
If you get a chance to go newer yet get one of the 2000s Chevy LS engine pickup donors ( 4.8, 5.3, 6.0l) trucks. They are the new gold standard. Stay clear of the early Vortec mid 90s up with the injectors inside the intake manifold. They are becoming a real expensive pain to fix.
I prefer vacuum operated power brakes. Hydro-boost is just added complexity on a gas engine, I think.
Are you gonna go 4wd?