I purchased a 1949 (1950) Chevy 3600 truck that appears to be in original configuration with an in-line 6-cylinder engine and 4 speed floor shift transmission. The title says it is a 1949 but the serial number decoding indicates it is actually a 1950. The shock configuration (tubular type) appears to confirm the 1950 rather than 1949 vintage (see photos attached). The overall thought is to have a great looking functional truck that I could drive and take to car shows.
I am in process of disassembly to identify what needs work (primarily body rust repair in the typical locations) and developing my project plans. The original concept was to convert the drivetrain to utilize a SBC 383, coupled to a NV3500 transmission, with a revised ratio (4.11) in the original rear axle, update the brakes to disk front and rear, but retain the original suspension and axle mounting/springs with the wheels and tires updated to more recent technology. An alternative concept is to retain the original 6-cylinder engine and transmission and basically restore more or less to original. I would probably still upgrade the front, and possibly rear brakes to disk as well as update the wheels and tires to more recent technology.
I suspect that there a number of opinions regarding the two concept paths and would appreciate input before I decide which path to take.
