The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Swap the Entire Drive Line? in my AD?

1948 3100 with 1956 235 and SM420 4 speed. But now what if I want Power Steering, and Auto trans? Must I convert everything? If so, can I buy a little running truck, so I know all the parts work well and go together, then switch all those parts into mine?
What would that truck be? Maybe even 4WD would be even better! V8, turbo V6, ? ideas?

Have you not converted to open drive line yet? If you have, what's the question? If you still have closed drive line, what's the question?
For your motor, possibly early power glide or Hydra-matic will work or an adapter for more modern auto. The older trannies are cast iron boat anchors.
A lot of your words indicate you are aiming towards more modern driveline, if so, you must convert to open driveshaft. 55-56 and up differential.

With a V8, many trans options TH350, 700R
The "more modern" trannies fit 63 and up motors direct.
Tranny bolt patterns became standardized 6 and 8 cyl. So your options would be from a 230 all the way to a BBC.
Power steering kits are available for your truck
Others may correct my memory on this stuff.

Yes, it is already an open drive shaft., But I was thinking just replace it all from a donor vehicle if I could.

"if I could" is the operative phrase .... could you?
got lots of money? good mechanic skills? good welder?

check thru the HiPo forum for lots of possibilities

Bill

Open,that's good, you can do just about anything. It's all been done before. Vendors have kits for all of it. Not sure why you need to replace the whole thing if diff ratio is OK. Anyway, you need to figure out what you want 6 or V8 and what tranny, You can by the motor and tranny from a running truck to be sure it's OK. Then get the obligatory cross members to mount motor and trans. Modify the driveshaft length to suit. Auto is much easier to install and cheaper to rebuild. Lots of info on this stuff here and web. A SBC with a 700R4 would be a darn good choice. Don't make it harder than it has to be.

Thanks, I'll check hi-po , too !

scot,swapping a engine&trans is not rocket scinance.i ensta&lled a chev 250 6cyl&700r4.i used this combo becaused ifound the eng on craigslist for 40.00.i got my 700r4 from craigslists also.it was advertised as 4.3 th350.the rest is history,the truck found a good home Bangkok,thialand.the most important tools you will need isor are depends which coast you be neary too.sawzall.3/8 drill and 2 9/16 wrechs.there no reason to hammer on firewall or mutilate the frame.keep your eyes open and your head up.

Thought I'd chime in on this post too. If you're considering going v8, auto, etc it can very easily snowball out of your control. My last project did this. I had v8, 400 turbo, camaro rear, ifs, etc. It seemed every time I went to the next step serious fabrication and modification was required because of the "updates" I had installed. Because of this (and the boatload of $$) I lost interest in my truck and sold. It was frustrating.
Now I'm not saying that restoring these old trucks isn't frustrating but I believe now that a person can mitigate how much frustration they experience. If you're paying a shop to do the modifications you may not be as frustrated (perhaps your wallet), but if you're doing it yourself make sure you know what you're doing.
I have begun a new project (2 actually) and I have been converted back towards the restore side. (Well maybe not pure restore) I have a PLAN. HAVE A PLAN!! STICK TO IT!!
Don't get in over your head. Enjoy the truck now if you can. Many people tear into decent trucks and never get to enjoy them before the work begins. I know from experience!

I hear rumors that you can take a s10 frame/drivetrain/etc and buy some brackets to mount up the cab and bed. devils in the details and all the little things that come with that type of swap. Not sure where I saw it (internet) but they sold relocation brackets that you could bolt onto the frame and body.

I measured the foot print of the wife's Durango...
Can't do that swap because she'll go out and buy a new car, further depleting my ever-dwindling empire.
Carl