The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Big Block in a Big Bolt

Ok i will FINALLY be picking up the '49 on the 15th; since I am planning on using it as a heavy hauler I have a 454 ready to drop in. It will eventually get an 8-71 blower but for now I need to know what to expect as far as problems go.

From what i have found, cooling, steering location and exhaust clearence are the most common issues. Is there anything else that I am missing?

Also, I have an aquiantence wanting to sell me a 1991 3500 Dually. It's just a rolling chassis but I am pretty sure I sould strip the body off of it and use the frame on the 49. That might clear up alot of the clearance issues.

Tell me what you all think.

Thanks...

I don't know about fitting a big block in an AD truck, but Bigbolt or 1/2 ton, you will run into the same problems. Seems to be very few folks that have pulled off that swap, and not much if any info on it.
The engine compartment on the small trucks up to about 2 ton is essentially the same, you don't gain any room by using a Bigbolt.

If you use the late model frame and axles/suspension, then the front wheels will be noticeably outside of the front fenders. Pull a tape and see what it looks like. For that reason among others I don't care much for a late model frame swap in an AD truck.

How will you use the truck?
Will the supercharger help or hurt those plans?

Grigg

I'm putting a 454 in a AD 2 ton and my biggest issue is finding headers/exhaust manifolds that will fit between the frame rails. Now I'm thinking about putting a 5.9 cummins diesel in it if I can find one before I figure out the exhaust issues with the big block.

One of the few things I ever gave up on was putting an Olds into a 50 GMC. And that was 50 years ago. Its so much easier to start out with a 55-59 that was built to house a V8. Putting a 302 into the earlier ones is so much easier. Putting a big block in one of the earlier ones is doable, but do you have the time? Are you building a race car or a truck to work with?

I have seen a big block in an AD truck and since I've seriously considered doing it myself I've looked hard at a couple of them.

Using the stock frame and suspension steering is probably your biggest challenge. I've studied one 1/2-ton with a big block that used stock frame and suspension and it used one of the power steering conversions that puts the steering box ahead of the axle.

The others I've looked at did not use the original suspension, and the one I've had the best opportunity to study using a subframe swap, not something you would do if you want to use this truck as a big bolt.

I think you can solve the exhaust problem by mounting the motor a little higher. Often motor swaps on these trucks put the motor lower than it needs to be, which complicates some issues while solving others.

It's a 1 and a half ton. Has a diamond plate welders bed on it right now but that will be replaced.


From what i can see on this truck, the wheels sit almost 6 inches in from the edge of the fender. Even is the wheelbase is noticably wider, with a high offset dually wheel, it should tuck.


I plan to use it as a hauler for my two car gooseneck trailer. With the two cars and the weight of the trailer it is right around 10k lbs. Add parts, tool and the coolers. We are looking at 12.5k (overshoot to avoid complications).

So I was already planning on an all-wheel disc conversion for that extra stopping power and atleast a 427 to power it. The blower is mainly for show and that little OMPH when needed. A 5000+ lb truck with a 12.5k trailer. Need a bit of horsepower to get up to highways speeds in a relative amount of time.


Ever think of ceramic coating the headers and dropping them through the fenders? Outside the frame rails?

if your going to use it as a hauler, drop a 5.9 cummins into it. they are unbeatable at torq and fuel economy and they can haul some serious bum!
this is at a stock configuration, no HI PO required for what your doing, but that is just my opinion. the most common problems with a cummins is:
firewall, forward clearance, and that funny u shaped frame member under the cab, i cut mine out , the exaughst is another issue but easly solved

http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2442641620103921726gqZuyQ
some one elses truck i found

http://community.webshots.com/album/563245182jnDQdH
my truck

I have considered the diesel route. I will have to take a gander at your images later. Work has a filter on that hosting site for some reason.

Yes, I plan on putting a 5.9 cummins in my truck when I do it. If you need all-wheel disc brakes, you may be best off getting some later axles from FedEx/Fritolay/UPS trucks and putting them in... New axle, heavier, and disc brakes. Plus, 19.5" radial rubber.

To put it in perspective, I have a guy here in WI that's selling me a front and rear axle, six rims with good tires for $500 total. Disc brakes all around. 6-Lug budd rims. (Didn't have any 10-bolt stuff.)

If I am not mistaken the 1 1/2 ton truck has the big front end ( larger fenders and grill than the 1 ton and smaller trucks. Like Grigg stated do some measureing the fender may cover the wheels better than you think. I have put a 51 ton on a 78 c-30 frame and the wheels do stick out noticably from the standard wheel location but I can live with that due to the added benifits of the more modern running gear and it did eliminate some of the issues with the big block. You can follow the links below to see photos of the my build which is a 454 in an AD truck but on a modern frame. Research is the best way to determine your plan and I have found that this is the best site for that.

Larger, but not much wider. The major difference is the size of the wheel opening. The width outside of fender to out side of fender is not much bigger than the smaller trucks.

Grigg

That truck looks fantastic. How much gap is there between the tires and the fenders width wise? I want to lower the front a bit as to give it a bit of a raked look. As well as allow the truck to sit level as I tow the gooseneck trailer.

http://www.stovebolt.com/gallery/godwin_rodney_1949.html
http://www.stovebolt.com/gallery/maher_shawn_1946.html
Check out these two trucks. The 46 is a 1 1/2 ton on a new gmc frame with 10 lug wheels and the 49 is a 1 ton where the fenders were cut to allow a drop spindle to be installed to give a better stance. I like both I have tried to contact them but have not been able to get a response. I think both listed emails sent back the mail message.
http://community.webshots.com/slideshow/568633139UrmOzO?mediaPosition=1 this is a slide show indicating the wheel spacing from above the front fender. Looks like some where between 1 and 1 1/2" to 1 3/4" depending on where you are measureing to. Hope this helps.

It does. Thank you and the '49 is almost exactly what i want to do to mine. Excellent...