In my opinion the best plan would be to start with finding a later model one ton truck with the drivetrain you like and use as much as you can from it to build your 46. Your '46 radiator can cool a 350 if it's in good shape;get it rodded out before you use it. you'll have to use an add on cooler for your transmission,but there'll be plenty of room for one so that won't be a problem. Expect to build a lot of brackets and mountings for suspension and various components.It might be worthwhile to do some measurements to see what front suspensions will be near the same width as yours. It's likely a later one ton rear end will be a wider track than yours,so it stands to reason the front end from the same truck will also be wider.
On the half tons,there's been enough conversions that you can now buy a lot of the components ready-made,but when it comes to the one ton,you'll have to make a lot more of your components fit through your own creativity and the help of the good people on the Stovebolt forums.
I'd get a basic plan together,run it past the 'Bolt forum,and go from there.
There's several ways to go about a new/old mix. You could work towards setting your '46 onto a later frame and running gear;you could use your '46 frame and body and swap in later suspension and drivetrain;you could use your '46 frame,body and front end,and swap in a later engine,tranny and rear end;you could use your '46 frame and body,and use a later rear end,tranny,engine and a front sub-frame; I'm sure you get the drift. The point is,make a plan,research it as thoroughly as possible,and once you start cutting and welding,try your best to stick to your plan. (nothing ever goes exactly like you planned it,so you do need to be a little flexible to compensate for minor changes etc.) Trying to re-design a project halfway through construction will often make it a mess and cause enough frustration to take the fun out of the build.Making one big change usually causes changes to everything else that comes after it. Sticking with the plan may mean some struggles to make things work,but at least when that struggle is done,everything else in the plan will still be valid and do-able.
And LAST-ask questions! You have a treasure chest of experience available to you here at the 'Bolt;don't be afraid to use it!
Enjoy!
Speed
