The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Please tell me how to modify my 1946 chevy truck

Dear experts,
I have a one ton 1946 Chevy truck that I really want to be running and rolling. Right now the truck is all apart except for the motor and transmission. So in other words the chassis is free to work on and further dismantle. What is currently on the chassis is the old 216 CI and a 4 speed stick transmission. I don’t want that to stay on the truck. I would prefer to remove all of that including the rear-end and replace it with modern equipment. Specifically what I want, since this particular truck is a 1946 one ton Chevy, Is a 350 engine, automatic transmission and the rear-end to match it. So what I am aiming for is modern one ton truck hidden inside a 1946 Chevy. In the end I want the truck to go modern speeds on the highway, not the old 45-50 that 216 CI's did, so I know the rear-end and everything will have to be changed. I guess we will call it a modified 1946 Chevy pickup. So can this be done? I am sure we can find engines and transmissions and rear-ends in any bone yard or order it new. Will those items fit in that old truck and what else would we have to do to make the truck support such equipment? I would prefer that the old radiator stays on, but will the truck run with that old thing? Please answer these questions for me.
What are the best parts to put on this truck with a 350 engine.

In my opinion the best plan would be to start with finding a later model one ton truck with the drivetrain you like and use as much as you can from it to build your 46. Your '46 radiator can cool a 350 if it's in good shape;get it rodded out before you use it. you'll have to use an add on cooler for your transmission,but there'll be plenty of room for one so that won't be a problem. Expect to build a lot of brackets and mountings for suspension and various components.It might be worthwhile to do some measurements to see what front suspensions will be near the same width as yours. It's likely a later one ton rear end will be a wider track than yours,so it stands to reason the front end from the same truck will also be wider.
On the half tons,there's been enough conversions that you can now buy a lot of the components ready-made,but when it comes to the one ton,you'll have to make a lot more of your components fit through your own creativity and the help of the good people on the Stovebolt forums.
I'd get a basic plan together,run it past the 'Bolt forum,and go from there.
There's several ways to go about a new/old mix. You could work towards setting your '46 onto a later frame and running gear;you could use your '46 frame and body and swap in later suspension and drivetrain;you could use your '46 frame,body and front end,and swap in a later engine,tranny and rear end;you could use your '46 frame and body,and use a later rear end,tranny,engine and a front sub-frame; I'm sure you get the drift. The point is,make a plan,research it as thoroughly as possible,and once you start cutting and welding,try your best to stick to your plan. (nothing ever goes exactly like you planned it,so you do need to be a little flexible to compensate for minor changes etc.) Trying to re-design a project halfway through construction will often make it a mess and cause enough frustration to take the fun out of the build.Making one big change usually causes changes to everything else that comes after it. Sticking with the plan may mean some struggles to make things work,but at least when that struggle is done,everything else in the plan will still be valid and do-able.
And LAST-ask questions! You have a treasure chest of experience available to you here at the 'Bolt;don't be afraid to use it!
Enjoy!
Speed

Thanks, I am inclined to use the 46 frame, body front end and patch in the rest. I will get a thorough plan and come back to you.

I'm doing the same thing,installing a 350 drivetrain on my 46 1/2 ton with an S10 front end and a Nova rear end. Before you start maybe look at some of the books available on the market such as restoring your chev truck and how to build a hot rod chassis etc. Theres a wealth of knowledge in these books and from there you can make a plan on what to do. If you look into the gallaries section you'll notice a lot of 41 to 46 Chevs with different drivetrains and a lot of these stovebolters can gladly give you some great ideas.

Man, a '46 has drum brakes all the way around, a single cylinder master cylinder, and not a whole lot in the way of suspension.

Simply put, there isn't much (if anything) on a stock '46 frame that you'd want to go much faster than 45-50MPH with.. so about the only thing you'll be using from the original rolling chassis is the frame rails, anyway.

If it was me, i'd look for a later model (perhaps 70's) Chevrolet truck or Suburban that already has the engine, tranny, rear, suspension, brakes, power steering, air conditioning, etc and put your body parts on that.

You'll get done a whole lot quicker, get it done a whole lot cheaper, you'll end up with something a whole lot safer, and if you ever need to do repairs in the future, it's a whole lot easier to ask the Auto Zone guy for a radiator hose or drive shaft for a '76 Burb than it is trying to remember what the heck part you used when you shoehorned all that stuff onto a 60 year old frame.

Finally, if you ever decide to sell it, the resale value of a truck thats had a full frame swap is usually higher than one thats been cobbled together from various other vehicles.

I've wondered too if a guy could order a new rolling chassis with a non electronic crate 292 or 350 from GM for a decent price. It would sure be nice to start with new.

There are dudes that sell brand new chassis with IFS and all that jazz.. they can be found in the back of truck mags like that one the RF dude edits.. Classic Trucks or something like that.

They're supposed to be direct replacements for your stock frame.. but they aren't cheap by any stretch of the imagination.. in the "5G's plus" price range.. and thats for nothing more than a chassis.. you don't even get maypop tires at that price.

That's what I was afraid of. I've been thinking of starting a business and using bolts and thought that might be a faster way to get one on the road than a full restoration.

Also, check out Sublime's truck. I'm not sure what he all did, but that is one COOL truck!!