The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Panels 'N Burbs 1950 1 Ton: Making it a driver?

If the 1 ton panel I picked up today is anything like my old Super Dump (1953 in the gallery), I'm in serious speed restriction. I think the dump never topped 49 mph, down hill, with a tail wind, and me rocking forward to give that extra "push"

That said, I've got a local Chevy truck yard that I'm sure I can score a few things. I've also got a spare 1/2 ton set up that I could use to change the front to 5 lug discs but is that a bad idea due to the weight of this monster?

I have read a lot about folks struggling with 3/4 and 1 ton brakes. What are my options?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z198/Danimal_9395/49%20Panel/

Here's what I hauled home today. It was supposed to be a '49 but running the VIN it is a St Louis '50.

Hi Dan,

Same rear gears, so probably just as slow.

I'm building a '55 1st GMC 1-ton as a driver/trailer puller. I replaced the rear with a GM 14-bolt with 3.42 gears and I'm putting a Cadillac 500 in mine so speed won't be a problem.

I'm swapping the IFS crossmember from a 70's 3/4-ton under mine to provide disk brakes and power steering.

Niiiiicce I love PANELS. Maybe because they look like a nice place to hide when the wife finds out I drug something else home. So you think it was built here in st. louis, was just on top of that building doing a inspection about a year ago. Looking forward into seeing what you do to the old boy.

Well, this one is going to go to Sweden in the end for another guy on the HAMB but that doesn't mean I'm not pursuing the second one that is local to me. The guy wants a bit more than I want to spend and, like I said, I've got a 3/4 ton frame and I COULD get it ready by doing the swaps that OldSub suggests. I didn't realize that the 3/4 tons had disc brakes on them. I may have a link to something there.

Is it the same type of swap that was done with the 70's 1/2 ton where you need to make like 1/2" spacer for each side of the frame?

Similar but not as simple as everyone says. The sides with the spacer are easy. The bottom of the frame does not match the crossmember where they need to bolt together.

Check the wheelbase on the 3/4-ton frame against that of the 1-ton. The 1-ton is a foot longer.

Yep, 1 ton is longer. I didn't realize that at the beginning. I bought a second 1 ton last Saturday. Not THE second one, another second one. I'll still end up with the local one. Next year now!

Anyway, this one already has a '79 heavy half cradle and suspension in the front. A little too wide but I'm looking for Eldorado/Toronado wheels to correct some of that with off set spacing. The guy welded the chunks of the 79 frame in so it is pretty much a done deal there. I'm not going to even think of how much grinding it would take to put it back to original. Easier to clip it with another stock frame than take out what he's got there. I'll live with it, we're going 454/TH350 anyway!

Does anyone know if there is a build thread for the one that is used on Doug's Trailers site? 1950 claims to be on a 1990 1 ton chassis. Not sure how that fits, neither 1990 wheelbase is 137" that are close to that size.

Can you post a link to the trailer site? I would like to look at it. I don't recall seeing a build thread but a few pictures may trigger a memory.