The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop 1949 Chev 3800

I am bringing up the truck from the farm soon.... when I was growing up there was a guy close to me that mentioned that a pre 88 Chev from suspension bolted right up to a 1/2 and 3/4 frame.... I wanted to see if anyone has done this for a 1-ton. I am thinking it might be the same, but wanted to see what everyone has done for their from suspension.

I am going to a daily driver that still looks like a truck. I love the look, but a restoration might just not be possible as the block in the truck seems to be cracked....

First welcome to the Stovebolt. The right place to get some info on old bolts.
I cannot speak to your question but I can assure you there is at least two or three guys that have done this already. Hope they see this post.... in fact, you would be better posting this question in the Engine and Driveline forum for more exposure and answers.
They may have done it on 1`/2 tons but there is a lot of info here on the bolt.
Good luck and keep us posted and there are no stupid questions around the garage!!!

Thank you very much! I should definitely repost in there!!!

I am pretty excited to get going on it...

Though I wish I could turn it into a 1949 electric LOL!!!! That would make the tree huggers out here love a classic =)

There are a couple of guys discussing this now in the HiPo shop. Hang on and I'll put you over there.

Click on "IFS for my 1-ton".

Also check out the 1-ton forum, "Tons-O-Fun".


Welcome to Stovebolt.

Hey Verge welcome to the Stovebolt!

I'm one of the guys talking about this swap in various other threads. I've seen two 1-tons already done and I'm doing one right now.

I have not done this on a lighter truck, so I'm not sure I can compare the process, but I have pictures of what other guys did, and first hand experience as recent as earlier today working on one myself.

But first, motors for that truck just aren't that hard to find. If a restoration is what you really want, don't let a broken motor stop you.

If that's just a convenient excuse to build a hot rod, drop the excuse and proclaim your true intentions. I for one will be right there with you.

Do you ever get to the Seattle area? I'm on Bainbridge Island, which is the patch of green straight out from the Seattle waterfront. My project is here on Bainbridge and there is another 1-ton with a pickup IFS less than two miles from me here on the Island.

Mine is not finished and the other one has travelled very few miles since being completed just recently. Since I wanted to build a true driver I searched until I found an example of this swap that is on the road and has seen some real use. I can arrange for you to see both trucks.

I found a guy who did his swap 11 years ago and has used it to winter in Arizona and travel to Maine every second summer. I've seen the truck four times, the first running down the freeway. The next day it was in the parking lot at the ATHS meet in Brooks, Oregon.

A couple years later it was at the ATHS meet in Shelton, Washington, and while I didn't catch up with the owner there, I did note his name from the show card and was able to find a phone number for him.

The fourth time I saw it was at his shop near Roy, Washington. I was able to ask questions and crawl under it with a camera. This guy would be harder to catch since he is retired, single and very mobile. He doesn't do Internet and appears to only answer the phone when it suits him. I want to be him when I grow up.

Any way, find the threads on this topic, read up, and then start asking questions. I always appreciate another mind chewing on the challenges a project like this creates.

That is amazing thank you! I was just responding in another thread. I actually do get down there a fair bit... soon I think for a Mariners game! I am about 5 minutes from the border! Though I do wish my truck wasn't 2 provinces away... but that makes for a completely different issue =) I need to get a garage up here to store it before I can even think about transporting it all the way!

Thank you again! I have been reading through and the worst thing is that if I would have found this site 10 years ago... i think the truck would be on the road by now!

On the engine side.... I think it is more because I actually want to drive the truck. I am not going to go full street rod or anything.... I am thinking.... updated classic =)

The only part of the truck I am not sure about yet... it has the long dump box on it.... Still trying to decide whether I should try and rebuild that part of the truck as it is a very cool feature... but has to weight a TON... no pun intended....

Then of course if it does weight that much... what are the trade offs on fuel if I leave it on there =)

You will have to excuse how much I am writing... the truck has always excited me and the problem is that it has been a while since the truck project has seemed like a reality to me again!

Let me know when you're going to be down and we'll try to set something up.

The dump bed weighs a ton... And you'll burn more fuel moving it around. Plus either you'll be stuck with a transmission that supports a PTO or you'll have to find a way to power the dump without the PTO. Or never dump it.

The 1-ton down the road from me has a dump bed but last I looked had no power for the hoist. It has a 350 Chevy and a TH 400.

I have a '55 1st GMC Suburban I can drive daily that has a stock type motor in it. It does just fine but weighs a lot less than a 1-ton with a dump bed.

Working with a limited budget or limited time its often easier to create a driver staying as close to stock as possible. Modifications take a lot of effort and often money to make them work well enough for daily use.

Hey ontheverge. I posted a pic of a 65 one ton IFS over on engines and driveline if you want a visual. I have a long dump that I'm going to cut down about 2' and keep. The sm transmissions have a 6 bolt access plate on both sides that can accept a PTO, which drives a shaft to a hydraulic pump for the dump cylinders. Newer NV4500 (5 speed) and NV5600 (6 speed) use the same standard access plate. Soooo you get the benefit of that high gear od instead of the 1:1 in the old tranny.

I plan on approaching the fuel problem with a diesel power plant and 3.73:1 dif.