The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Late model powertrain with an older body.

recently I was looking at a 1939 chev 1.5 ton, the frame was really bad, the motor was seized and the box was a wooden box that was really rotted, when I looked at the body it was in fairly good shape, a small dent on the fender and the back window broken out and the wiring needed to be replaced. (keep in mind I am looking for a project for me and my son).
I got to thinking though, can the body of the truck be put on a one ton chev frame that is a dually. Has anyone ever attempted this and what type of problems did you encounter while doing this. If you could help me out with this that would be very much appreciated. Thank you in advance.

Chris.

You will find that most anything new is much to wide to look right under a narrow old truck.
Although if you don't need a heavy duty truck, the s-10 frame swap seems to be popular, and narrow enough.

Personally I like to use the original frame when updating an old truck. I think it makes a much nicer looking and more professional looking end product. From what I have seen, any kind of new frame under an old truck looks out of place, I don't like that.

My approach is to use the old frame then find a front axle with the brakes you want and then narrow it. Heavy duty rear axles can be found narrow enough.

Check out what I have done to update my AD Chevy truck in the links below.
Grigg

Grigg,

You bring up and interesting point. Is it possible to narrow a solid front axle by cutting and welding?

yes, check out my pictures on the link below.
I have about 10,000 miles on it now, about half the time with a load. I just pulled it to move it to another truck, stripped the paint and looked it over real good, no problems.

Before i did it I called More-Drop, don't know how you spell it, but they play with i-beam axles and are in CA. They said they could do it for me, but I had to ship them both of my axles, later I asked around about them and was not hearing good things...

So, I figured if they could do it then so could I. I called again and asked for some advice, as I expected they did not want to help me do it myself.

Does anyone have any experience and/or tips on narrowing the front axle assembly from a one ton (or so) 4x4 truck. I'd like to do what Grigg has done, but with a 4x4 twist. I'm assuming I'll be able to get axles with matching axle ratios, or swap in appropriate gears. I know it'll also take some work to locate the spring perches. Thanks.

Wrong end of the country to help you, but there is a 4x4 shop near me (near Seattle) that narrows big front axles for rock crawlers. That guy could do it and I'm sure there are shops in the East that can also.

As for putting a '39 on a modern 1-ton frame, I believe it could be done.
Click this link and look at the picture.
http://www.oldsub.com/images/2006/08/26/100_1437.jpg

I didn't put it in the post because its too big and I'm lazy tonight, but what it shows is a '36 Chevy 1-1/2 ton sitting on 1-ton running gear. yes your '39 is different in a number of ways, but front track isn't much different.

This guy widened the front fenders to fit over the new front axle. You can see the steering box above the bumper and if you look in the folder http://www.oldsub.com/images/2006/08/26/ at the pictures near the first link you'll see more detail of how this one was put together.

This particular truck was Diesel powered and was displayed at the ATHS show in Brooks, Oregon, late in August.