The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop '46 1/2 ton chassis swap

i own a '46 1/2 ton, that is in pretty good condition for sitting outside for 12 years. it's going to need some body work, and it's rusty, but the rust is just on the surface, and there are only a few minor dings and places where it might need a little welding. i have been researching ways to make it a reliable vehicle.
i did alot of resrarch on all types of s-10's and toyotas, not that i would want it on a toyota, and couldnt find any matching wheelbases. then i started looking at 4 door chevy cars, and found an exact match for the wheelbase. an early to mid '90s impala or caprice both have a 115" wheelbase, and seem like a good base that would save some time and money, because they already have power steering, disc brakes, ect.
before i buy a car and try this, i was wondering if anybody knew of anyone who had done this, or something similar with a '41-'46 chevy 1/2 ton before and succeeded.
Any info on this subject would be helpful, thanks.

Everyone has their own taste in rebuilding a truck. Do what you want and make it the way you can enjoy it. You will get lots of interesting ideas here from people much better qualified than me.

Did you check the track width too? It seems to me that it would be to wide. Also the 46 frame is only about 3 feet wide in the front which could make it difficult to attach the sheet metal.

Many of us are going with the S-10 T-5 behind a full pressure 235 and open driveshaft. Rear end choice depends on 5 or 6 lug and desired ratio. I am using a 79 Z28 Camaro rear with 3.42 gear. I am using the ECI disc brake kit on the stock spindles up front. I still need to fabricate for the booster and MC and re-plumb everything.

With "modern" brakes and transmission why wouldn't that be as reliable as a 90's car?

Spend some time surfing on this site. You will find dozens of Bolters that have web sites full of pictures and documentation on their reconstruction and fabrication.

I have compiled quite a bit of that information in one thread ovet at OTS. CLICK HERE to see it all.

I cant really say on the Impala question but i suspect track width is a problem there...but the right thing to do is either measure or look up the track width...but i would appreciate it if you kept me posted on the info so i can add the data to mine...

i have heard that an astro van rear axle and a mustang 2 front end clip work well with these trucks, and i did consider the track width, but i'm going to do some more research before i make any decisions. there is a caprice near where i live with all the options i would want for only $1,800 because of fuel injector problems, but i'd want a carb on it anyway. if nothing else, i'll probally check out some junk yards and get what i need for brakes. also, is the gas tank normally under the seat on the '46? mines not completely original, and that seems pretty scary to me.

The original gas tank was mounted underneath the seat...which many people do move for saftey...

i just measured the track width of my truck, and loked up the impala/caprice dimensions, and the impala/caprice track width.the impala/caprice has a 62" track width, and if i measured mine right, it has a 50" width. i dont know if that was supposed to count the width of the tires or not, but i measured like this:

{left wheel}<tape measure>{right wheel}

from the inner sides of the wheels. if i'm wrong in my measuring, and i probabally am, then there ia a good chance that my truck could fit on a caprice chassis with a 350 with relative ease.

Track width is measured from the center of each tire...and there is quite difference in 12 inches...especially when you get to putting fenders on the truck...and the front end is more narrow than the back is on the truck itself...
If you use a width with a 12 inch difference its gonna look oddball and youll prolly hafta change the rear end with a smaller one...

i just measured from the center of the left tire to the center of the right tire (Rear), and it's almost an exact 62". i have not measured the front yet, but the impala front width is less than an inch shorter than the impala rear, so i'm gonna have to hit the books some more. i'll keep you updated if this works out

I have a 46 2 ton that I am restoring. I also have a 85 Impala which I pulled the powertrain out of to put into a 39 Chevy car.I am going to pull the Impala body off of the frame to have the frame for some future project.Looking at the Impala frame,( the front clip is off), and the 46 cab,it doesn't look like a good match.The Impala frame would work better under something wider such as a 55 and newer cab.If you want to use a car frame,a midsize, such as a Nova, Monte Carlo, etc. would be better for width,and lenghten it to fit. After putting a Mustang II type front and Nova rear on my 39 frame, I would suggest upgrading what you have.It makes a neater, cleaner looking vehicle when you are done. Jim.

i understand that the impala frame is larger than the original pickup frame, but there is no way that the frame is wider than the axles are. i am not nessicarily going for an original truck look, and i understand that it's not just going to bolt on.i dont have any experience cutting frames and adding or subtracting legnth, so i'm just trying to find something that dosen't need that kind of work. i dont mind if it has to ride a bit high, because i can allways lower the suspension and make it look more original.

I have an 87 S10 front clip and a Nova rear end on my 46 and looks pretty good so far.Right now it looks a little narrow in the front but I think it needs wide 15 or 16 inch tires to fill in the fender wells a bit.The front of the 46 is quite narrow so I don't know if the impala frame would work. Hope you find the right combination.
Bob T

I followed a Bolter build here a few years ago. Bolters handle was Sublime. He had the ability the shop and did an impressive photo gallery. I was always eager to see his accomplishments combined with his talents. A search on his name will still bring you to his photo gallery. Maybe some of his shots or photos will help. Good luck
Dan

I took some quick measurements on the Impala frame.Behind the front wheels, at the firewall, it kicks out to 58-59" wide.Sits basically under the inside edge of the rockers.The width at the back of the 46 cab is less than that. Bob T , my brother just moved to M.J. If I get out there sometime, wouldn't mind seeing your project. Jim.

And that's really the problem trying to use any modern car frame. Those that have frames are almost all PERIMETER type, meaning that the frame is out in the rockers and too wide to fit under the body of an Art Deco or Advance Design truck.

The S-10 stuff is a little narrow under an Advance Design truck, I'd suggest you check and see if it would be a better fit for your Art Deco truck. I suspect that's going to be your best bet in a frame swap.

Well, I know I'm jumping in here late and with a little different tack, but why not use the original frame. It fits! There are lots of aftermarket and wrecking yard stuff that you can bolt on to make it ride and look good. The tried and true MII front end and Nova rear are pretty inexpensive and work well. I've seen a lot of subframed and re-framed trucks that just don't look right anymore. The track is usually too wide. Just a thought. I stuck with the beam axle, mono-leafs, removed leafs and poly-lined the rear springs.