The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Stock or mod?

I have just begun my '46 2-ton project. It has solid, if dented, metal and all good glass. My original thought was to drop in a later 235 and keep it relatively stock, as that would be easiest, if slow driving and not really useful.

My hotrod neighbor ('26 Studebaker, blown 350) is bugging my to drop a big motor/chop/lower/paint, etc. I mention this to my car-racing, engineer uncle and he tells me he has a complete '72 Eldorado 500ci drivetrain I can have for free. Now, this is really tempting, but much more complicated.

I seek wisdom. What do I need to consider before making this a truck that really hauls? :confused:

Having got three quarters of the way through a rather major rebuild/modification of a '56 1/2 ton I would say #1 Figure out from the start everything you want to do with the truck and get the project in your mind (and maybe on paper too)from start to finish. #2 Expect it to take three timesas long as you thought and cost twice as much as if you just went out and bought it.

consider: how do I make a machine this heavy stop form 70 miles an hour when it was designed to stop for 45.

that would be the big changes, add that the suspension was also not designed for that speed.

am I saying don't do it, Nope. just that this is the area that you will end up spending money on to make your free driveline safe. as well as the other modes needed to fit the engine and driveline under the vehicle.

personally, I perfer stockish, unless there are safety reasons to make it more modern. but that is just me. there are plenty of people who prefer to go more modern routes.

-Mike R.

I echo the above sentiments. I'm in the process of a frame-off on a '49 4400 and considered dropping a Cummins into my truck. Ive since dropped that idea.

Remember, most things that apply to half-tons don't to the bigger trucks. Completely different frame. The brake point above is a good one. Also, don't forget the rear end and tranny. That El Dorado tranny won't last long pushing that big truck around -- it's a car tranny, after all. And then there's the rear axle. It was designed, built and stressed for the 216/235/ babbitted straight sixes. Dump all that torque from the 500 into it and you will go faster. For a little while, anyway. You'll either destroy the rear axle or over rev the motor.

There's a reason you don't see hotrodded big trucks around (and they seem to be much cheaper to get than the pickups), and the ones you do see are old truck bodies mounted on late-model RV or duallie chassis.

Step back, take a deep breath and go hotrod something else. Big trucks are best left to enjoy life in the slow lane.

Regards,
John

gotta agree withe everyone else here - these big things won't ever handle or stop well enuff in anywhere near original form to be safe. or as much fun as hotrodding something newer or smaller. if you want a scary but still biggish truck, early big dodge cummins 1 ton has been my temptation

with the big ones, taking forever, and putting a little WORK into getting from place to place is half the fun. i'm a bit concerned with keeping up with traffic, and minimum speed limits and such, i;m sure i''ll get over that

The other responses are probably good advice, but as I read them I thought about a truck I saw this past weekend at the Canby Swap meet.

It was a 3800, so not quite as big as what you are dealing with, but it had a new rear with modern brakes, and a 350 under the hood. Flat bed with duals in the rear.

Transmission was an SM420 and the front axle & brakes looked stock.

This thing was for sale, so a little skepticism might be order, but the owner claimed it would drive down the freeway at 65 just fine, and that it was fun and easy to drive.

At the Puyallip Good Guys show in July there were two trucks sitting side by side. A 3800 and a 4400 both with 350s. Both owners seemed to think their mildly hot-rodded trucks were great to drive. The 4400 looked completely stock unless you crawled under it, or popped the hood.

So what am I trying to say? I think if you want to hot rod a big bolt you should go ahead and have fun. Just keep in mind that it won't be as easy as rodding a half-ton...

which is all I was really saying either, not that it can't be done, or shouldn't be done, but that it should be done with forsight and planning so you don't end up with a huge heavy vehicle running 70 down the road, and no way to stop it safely.

-Mike R.

Thank you all for your advice. The Eldorado tranny/axle would probably hold up if I didn't load down the truck or abuse the gas pedal. The better choice would be to install newer truck axles with appropriate brakes.

Since this is my first go, the semi-stock running gear is my choice, but...

The 20" split rim/tire combo is a concern.
My spare tire weighs 130 lbs! (I weigh 120)

Does the '72 Eldo have front wheel drive? That might be an interesting swap.