The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop what to do???

I have a '53 chev 1 ton flat deck pick up. Top speed 70km/hr (45mph for my US buddies). I figure I have 2 ways to go with this. Either a) start at one end, and replace the front suspension, rear end and work on everything in between, or b) mount the cab on a newer chassis. Anyone have any strong opinions / ideas on which wasy I should go.

If I go with b, any suggestions on what to use as a donor chassis ( have access to an '86 S-10, but is that too small?

Don't forget option C.

Keep it basiclaly stock and enjoy it for what it is.

What are you trying to achieve?

I would just go to a higher gear ratio in the rear end if you goal is to get better hiway speeds.either a new ring and pinion set or a later model rear end.or you might want to consider an overdrive unit or auxillary transmission.

Only you know what you want your truck to ultimately do, and with enough customization, you could turn it into the first Advance Design submarine if you wanted to. But I also like option C. For me, part of the attraction of the old truck hobby, is going back in time. If you keep your truck original and slow you will likely travel on secondary roads, which were last generation's highways and experience your truck the way its original owner's did. Going slower and staying off of the interstate highways will also offer more opportunities to spot other old vehicles in search of new homes.

^^ well those cubans had that floating AD "boat"...but a submarine would be indeed interesting...

As for the topic at hand, change the rear gears is what I would do.

What rear do you have? A 1 ton should have a 5.?? Even changing the pumpkin for a (common) 4.57 should help some. Straight bolt-in replacement. Loosen the axle shafts at the hubs, pull them a couple of inches, and unbolt the carrier. After you pick the 200 lbs off your head, bolt in the new one. Good time to check the u-joints. If your tires are big enough, you don't even need to jack it up!

What rear do you have? A 1 ton should have a 5.?? Even changing the pumpkin for a (common) 4.57 should help some. Straight bolt-in replacement. Loosen the axle shafts at the hubs, pull them a couple of inches, and unbolt the carrier. After you pick the 200 lbs off your head, bolt in the new one. Good time to check the u-joints. If your tires are big enough, you don't even need to jack it up!

As stated only you know what you want. I drive a truck that GM designed for highway speeds when I'm in a hurry. I went with C and I stay on the backroads too. In my 1-ton, 45MPH already feels like 85 but the 3rd member swap was too easy to ignore and donor trucks are laying around everywhere you look. I think I'd have to replace everything from the steering box down in order to feel safe over 45, but then I would no longer have a vintage truck!

Some guys really get nervous about high speeds in an old truck. I had a 350 engine in my '53 3/4 ton, everything else stock (except the pumpkin which I swapped for a 4.10). Had it up to about 85 several times on the highway. Bouncy, rattley, but not too scary. Recently put a '54 235 engine in, still can do 65 fairly comfortably. My advice: find a later 235 (54-62) or 261, (got my 235, running, for $300) do the pumpkin swap (paid $250 for my 4.10 pumpkin out of a '72 Chevy van). More power and speed, but still a stovebolt.

From like 47 through 72 all the one tons have full floating rear ends. If you find a late model suburban in a junk yard that has an automatic, it probably has 4.10 gears. I have had this same problem and here's what I did:

My 59 1 ton had 5.26 gearing - so if yours has a 235 6 in there, that's probably what you have as well. That's how they got the 6 to haul a ton.

The solution is easy though. You unbolt the axles and pull them out a bit. Then unbolt the back of the differential and pull out the the case end with gears and all. (both at the bone yard and on your truck when ready to install) Then get the donor 4.10 gear set and bolt that in. Put the axles back in. Fill with oil, and you'll have a much higher top speed. I then put on the tallest 85 series truck tires I could find and that helped too. I can go 55 mph with out too much trouble.

My next project is to install a watson overdrive I recently bought, however, I am still fighting with my 47 cj2a jeep that just let go the rear engine seal. (dang it) Got to get that did first.

The gear swap is really very easy.