The Stovebolt Site Forums Welcome! Welcome Centre Brand new user with a lot of questions

Hello, I'm Andy. Im a farmer in Kansas, and I've finally made up my mind to begin the restoration of a 1946 Chevrolet 1/2 ton pickup. I'm not sure which forum these type of questions belong in, but I'll ask away. My goal is to build this pickup brand new from the ground up. Is it cheaper to buy a brand new frame with brakes, rear end, front and rear suspension, engine and transmission mounting brackets, and body mounting brackets that will fit the pickup exactly for $10,000, or buy an s10 frame or something like that, modify it to fit the pickup, and gather the chassis pieces one at a time? This seems to be the most important question on my mind at this time.

Hi Andy, welcome to the site! Not everyone pokes around here in the welcome forum so, your question may get more attention in the appropriate forum, (driveline, or maybe the hi-po forum since you are asking about a complete different frame than original). One of the first question back at you will be, what do you want to do with your truck? If you want to putter around on the farm, it would be a completely different build than making a streetrod to go fast just on the weekends, and something even different yet if you want something to drive daily cruising down the interstate at 90 mph. From your comment about an S-10 frame, it sounds like you don't care about keeping the original drivetrain and want something more modern under your old sheet metal, is that correct?

Welcome Andy, Good luck with the 46, yes, check out the forums as suggested. Good to drop by in the welcome centre but technical questions belong in the forums. Be sure to browse the whole site.
Leo

Andy, welcome to the STovebolt Page. Tons and tons of information here as we all believe Knowledge is the Best Resource. Guys and gals always willing to help.

Oh, and since your in Kansas don't forget the Stovebolt Reunion that is held in KC Mo. and watch for others from your area. They're around here!

Yes sir that's correct. I'm not going after original. The only thing original will the sheet metal on the outside. I want to use this pickup as a highway cruiser (poker runs and driving to car shows) and also give it the ability to break loose and spin the tires! The setup I've been toying with is a mustang ll front suspension, Chevy 350, t18 borg warner 4 speed, and a Dana rear end. Nothing is really set in stone, I'm just trying to get a solid plan before I even drag the truck out of the weed row.

.......a good solid plan" yes! that's the way to go. Many people tear them down in a day and then look at the pile of metal for a few years and then it goes somewhere else. Your to be commended on thinking it thru.
A lot of guys here, including me, are not "original". Be sure to check in with the "modified" questions in the HI PO forum for guys that have done similar things. We're here to help.

(I like to "spin'em" now and then myself)

Thank you, I'll take a look at the HI PO forum and see what I can find!