The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop (Yet) Another Newbie Swap Question

I just bought a stock '49 Chevy pickup as a new spring project. The first line of business is to upgrade/update the suspension and drivetrain.

I just read a post about an S-10 chassis being a fairly easy swap for a '46. I'd heard this before, and wondered how well it would work for a 49? I think I have easy and cheap access to an S-10.

What would be the best/easiest/cheapest way to go? I'm also heard a '79 or earlier Camaro front end and rear end will fit.

Then of course there's all the new aftermarket Mustage II frontends, and new all around suspension packages to consider.

Bottom line, I want to lower it, upgrade the drive train to something that will be fairly dependable, and also handle well around town. Any suggestions?

Well, you can rebuild the original stuff, and it lasted this long... But more modern suspension will make it ride better. For example you can get brake conversions (if its a half ton) and give it disc brakes on the old straight axle.

The S10 would probably be easier than a front/rear clip as there are alignment and welding issues to solve - depends on how good a fabricator you are.

It does take some skill even for the after market mustange II, dodge dakota, and even corvette suspensions. You can see those in the Classic Custom Trucks type magazines.

So how much do you want to spend? The Mustang II would probably be the easiest, but all take a bit of work.

There are also ones that use Volare front ends.

On my 59 1 ton, if I changed it all out, I would loose the 1 ton rating, so I kept it all original and just made sure it worked right. For brakes, I got kevlar shoes that work very well. But its bumpy, etc, stiff springs, blah blah.

You certainly could go super high tech with gas bag springs etc. Might post in the HiPro shop and see what the consensus is.

I'd go with rebuilding the stock suspension,take some leaves out of the springs,get good shocks,get a dropped front axle,and change it over to disc front brakes and tapered roller wheel bearings.A good front sway bar would be good. It'd be worth getting the 3.55 gearset for the stock rear too. If you really wanted to,there's a kit available to replace the stock transmission with a Saginaw car four speed and keep the closed driveline.The beauty of this line of thinking is these things are largely bolt together parts,not a real lot of fabrication involved. As a result,you'll have a reliable truck when you're done,and will be more easily able to maintain and service the brakes and suspension.
When you get done with these mods,you'll probably be into your truck about the same amount of money as if you did the S-10 frame,trick rear end,rebuilt front end,etc,maybe less,but I think you'd like it more. (I know I would.)
It's your truck-you'll have to decide what you need or want on it. There's enough parts,conversion kits and tech lines out there to do pretty much anything you want to on your 49.Just be sure to think things through before you start pulling it apart,and it helps to take lots of pictures as you go;you can refer to them as assembly is done to verify locations and positions of parts.
Speed

Arnswine . . . said Corvette suspension.?!!

I'd like to hear from someone who has done this swap, or is familiar with it. I happen to have a 75 Corvette chassis already (another project). I'd assumed the rearend/rear suspension would be too radically different to work. Hummm.