1973–1987 Chevy K10 4×4 Pickup Chassis
The 1973–1987 square-body pickup is the truck a whole generation learned to drive in, and a four-wheel-drive K10 is the one they remember. The factory frame, with its solid front axle and leaf springs all around, was built for work rather than comfort, and it shows every mile.
A Frame-Werx chassis gives a square-body K10 modern independent front suspension, disc brakes sized for today’s traffic and a multi-link rear, while bolting to the original body mounts. The 1986 K10 on this page is a finished truck riding on one.
Fits
- 1973–1987 Chevrolet K10 4×4 pickups
- 1973–1987 GMC 4×4 half-ton pickups
- Single cab or crew cab, short box or long box
Known in the hobby as the square body or 73–87 K10.
What is underneath
Independent front suspension
Geometry, steering, hubs and brakes drawn from GM’s GMT900 platform, the same hardware beneath the 2010 Cadillac Escalade, so replacement parts stay easy to find.
Multi-link rear
Locates the axle precisely, so the truck tracks straight at speed and stays composed over broken pavement or a washed-out trail.
Rated to 800 horsepower
Engineered to carry modern GM Performance engine and transmission packages without a second thought.
Two-wheel, four-wheel or all-wheel drive
Configure the drive to suit the truck: two-wheel drive, electronic-shift four-wheel drive or full-time all-wheel drive.
Hot-dip galvanized
Every finished frame is immersed in molten zinc, sealing it against rust inside every rail and crossmember.
Bolts to the factory body
Built to the original body mounting points and proportions. No cutting, no drilling.
Galvanized, not just painted
Once fabrication is finished, every Frame-Werx frame is hot-dip galvanized. The complete structure is submerged in molten zinc, which bonds to the steel inside each rail and crossmember, including the places no spray gun or brush can reach. It is the same protection trusted on bridges and highway guardrail, and it means the foundation of your build will not quietly rust away beneath a fresh coat of paint.
Prefer black? An epoxy primer and flat black finish is also available.
Spec it your way
Choose shocks from a factory-style setup through Fox, King and Rough Country Vertex reservoir coilovers; brakes from a standard aftermarket package to Frame-Werx calipers and Wilwood big-brake kits; a 3.42, 3.73 or 4.10 rear gear; and a GM Performance engine and transmission package. Buy the bare frame, the frame with parts shipped loose, or a complete rolling chassis assembled in Minnesota.
Why we build it
Founder Sean Spraungel on how the Frame-Werx chassis started, why it was built and where it’s headed. Filmed by Classic Truck Performance at Dino’s Git Down 2025.
Watch a 1986 K10 come together
Bare frame to finished truck: a 1986 Chevy K10 built on a Frame-Werx chassis, in 26 seconds.
Guides for planning your build
Common questions
Will it fit my square-body pickup without modification?
Yes. It bolts to the factory body mounts with no cutting or drilling. Choose 1973–80 or 1981–87 in the builder, along with your cab and box.
Do you build crew cab frames?
Yes. Crew cab short box and crew cab long box are both options in the builder.
Can I buy just the frame?
Yes. The chassis is available as a bare galvanized frame, as a frame with parts shipped loose, or as a complete rolling chassis assembled in our shop.
What does it cost?
A bare hot-dip galvanized frame starts at $17,900. Everything beyond that depends on the parts you choose, and the chassis builder keeps a running total as you go.
How do I order?
Spec your chassis in the builder and review the estimate. Frame-Werx chassis are sold exclusively through K5 Squared, and a deposit reserves your place in the build queue.