Since I finally have a house, a garage, and I'm actually making room in it for this truck I'm ready to start in on it this winter. I'm bumping this thread back up because I did in fact buy the complete driveline from the '54 car I mentioned above. 235/powerglide/3.55 car rear. I've got some more questions, and since the truck has no bed I'm doing the driveline work first.
I'm looking to make the truck a bit more useful in terms of moving and stopping, but obviously I don't want to make it modern (no disc brakes, no v8's, etc). I'm not using the powerglide, it just came with the deal. The '54 engine is good because it fits without changing the radiator or anything. Got a few questions about the rest of it.
I'd like to do a Patrick's Saginaw 4spd conversion. It says it's for '47+ trucks. Anyone install one of these into a '41-'46 Chevy pickup? What's so different? I know I'll need a later bellhousing, but I've got one of those on the 235 already. Will it mount up to the truck torque-tube or will I need a whole later rear (I do already have one from the car)?
The car rear with 3.55's is nice, and I'd like to use it, but I've read Jim Merritt's article and I don't know if I can find the correct 6-lug axles/rear end for that swap. Can I remove the mounts from the truck rear and weld them onto the car rear or are they too different externally for that?
I can also change the truck to 5-lugs up front, which would open up my wheel choices a bit. Are there any easy ways to do that and retain the stock brakes and axle? While I'm at it, is there any way to get better brakes up front while keeping it looking fairly stock? Later drums or something along those lines? I intend to to some light hauling with the truck, as mentioned above, and better braking is always appreciated.
Anyone got any other good tips/tricks/parts swaps for this series pickup? The engine is getting minor mods too. For sure a head rebuild with hardened seats and shaved a little, fenton headers, a good vintage intake, a cam, etc. It was a good runner with only 32k miles so I'm hoping I can just hone it and put in fresh rings, and leave the bottom end mostly alone.
