I drove my '49 with a stock 216, then with a built up 235 and finally with a 350 smallblock. The 350 version was the on I enjoyed the most.
\'49 with 350 The stock front axle has mid 70's Camaro/Nova disk brakes with a manual dual master cylinder from the same type car. I used a brake proportioning valve from a 1/2 ton Chev pickup, again from somewhere in the '70s. The last rear end I had in it was a '69 Chev Impala 12-bolt. The brakes worked great.
The steering box was moved out about 2" and the hole in the firewall just opened up to let the column move over. I couldn't detect any noticable change in the angle of the steering wheel and it drove just like it did before the swap.
I ran the stock radiator w/o heating problems (even in 105 degree weather running across the desert).
The upgrades made the truck a very dependable, useful and enjoyable ride.
OlBlue
