The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop motor & trans

I am a newbe, I just got a 1950 chevy pu with a six and 3 on the tree. I don't know what engine is in the truck. I wanted to know what is the range of years of engines that will work without major changes. I would like to put a late model 6 carb type and a 4 speed car type. What rear end to change to. Who offers a nice parts catalog. my engine is toast that why looking for upgrade change.

Thanks Victor

Welcome to the board victor! You've found one of the craziest automotive sites on the net.

Now for the truck: In 1950, your truck would have come with either a 216 or a babbit-pounder 235 with a 6 volt electrical system. The tranny would be a 3 speed standard with a non-syncro low. (Some trucks had 4 speed floor shifts with granny low). The rear axle would have a torque tube enclosed driveshaft and 3.90 to 4.5 something gears. Now many of these trucks got converted to 12 volts & later engines and trannies, so I can't say for sure what your truck has in it now.

The only 'newer' engines that will easily fit in place of your stock engine is a '55-62 full-pressure 235 straight 6, or a late '50s 261 straight 6. And since the 216/235/261 bellhousings are different from any '63-newer engine, you can't swap in a '63-newer tranny behind a 216/235/261. Also, the enclosed driveline requires a pre-55 tranny to work.

So the short answer is either stay with a 235/261 six, a 3 speed and closed driveline, or swap a newer drivetrain into the truck, but that will require cutting and welding on motor & tranny mounts & swapping out the rear axle for a newer truck axle.

This is just a rough overview. As you get into this and ask pointed questions, the fine points of the mechanical systems of these trucks will become apparent.

good luck and welcome!

chip

Victor,
Maybe you should just unload your truck onto me. That saves you a lot of work and keeps your driveway clear. Sorry....I was just dreamin Where in Nor Cal are you anyway? How did you find the truck ?

I'm sure you'll get a lot of replys to this post but I'll say that odds are if the engine looks old and stock it probably is a 216. Most people such as myself upgrade their engines to a mid 60's 235. The previous owner of my truck had already switched from column shift to floor shift, which is not that difficult to do. I'm actually emailing with a guy in Oregon who wants to change his truck from floor shift to column shift....go figure.

The next big question is, do you touch the driveline and rearend. Many (such as myself) still have the original torque tube (enclosed) driveline with the original 4:11 gears in the rear, while some keep their enclosed drivelines and change just the gears in the back to 3:55 (I'm pondering this myself).

You'll soon learn of such suppliers as: Filling Station, ChevyDuty, Patricks, BowTie, American Classic, etc, etc. All are easily findable on the net.

One of the best things you can do is do a search here on Stovebolt for any truck subject you might have. There's a vast amount of knowleged bottled up.

Look and you will find :p

You want another truck Craig? Just saw an ad for a taken apart 1949 1/2 ton with a best offer price. Sounds like it's gotta go. 650 area code.

to cmayna, I picked the truck at the swap meet last sunday in Sacramento. I live in roseville.

Victor,
Very glad to see that someone has shown interest in helping keep these rigs alive. Try to have it running by the fall so you can drive it to the wine country in Napa for a little stovebolt get together that I'm trying to create...

Tony, I just tried to email you but it was bounced back? Wazzuup ?

A little Stovebolt _what_ up in Sacto ? I'm up for driving my '49 up there if you're having a to do or summat .

-

Craig, Try again, everything working on this end, maybe server was down?

Oops, yes it is down. :mad:

Tony M.
I think you need to pay your provider bill. Yes on the '49. Need details.

Pleasanton a go ?

Craig

Welcome Victor,
I've been lurking around this website and these discussion forums for about 4 years. There is a wealth of knowledge here about old GM trucks. You did not say if you had a 1/2-ton, 3/4-ton or what? Only a 1 1/2 or 2 ton 1950 would have come with a Hi-Torque 235 6. Yours probably started out with a 216. A lot can happen in 50+ years, as others have said, so don't know about yours. Do search this website for specific topics and questions. Under the photo gallery is a great pic of a 47 216 Thriftmaster 6. Find that photo: does yours look like that? Side cover come up around the spark plugs? Valve cover with studs thru the top? Hands down the easiest and simplest swap is a 235 or 261. Be careful of the water pump with a 55-2nd - 62 235. There are a lot of purist here who insist on stock/original only. Don't let them scare you, it's your truck, do it how you want. I would recommend you take your time, though and plan ahead. Good Luck! and have fun....
Frank

I just had to fax a cancelled check over to network solutions to prove my domain was paid for. They said oops, sorry. They updated it right away but it will take 24 hours for the world to catch up. :mad:

Yes on Pleasanton, I will dig out the '49 ad. My email will work again in the morning.

thanks to all the people for the replys & info. I have a 1/2 ton short bed. bone stock and clean. the motor has two studs in the center of the valve cover. I'm still hung up about car type 4 speed. I know I want a 6 in the truck. What I need to find is a car or truck That I can take
engine, trans and rear end, any ideas ??

later