The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 3/4 ton frame to a 1/2 ton

Hello Everyone
I am finally starting to work on my truck after almost 4 yrs, hurray.
Now here is my first of many questions I will be having. I have a ¾ ton 1953 pickup and I would like to change it to a ½ ton. Question 1. Is the frame the same on both trucks?
#2 what do I have to do to the suspension on the frame?
#3 I want to keep the straight axel at this time what do I have to do the make it a 5 bolt rim.
Thank you for any help I can get.

Roger

The frames are not the same. The 3/4 has a longer wheelbase and
the rails are parallel from the cab on back, where the 1/2 ton frame is tapered from front to back.
The front springs are the same for both models.
You can swap a 1/2 ton front axle in place of your stock axle and get a 5 lug disc brake kit or use 5 lug car hubs if you don't want discs. And of course you can change out the rear for a 5 lug rear axle. These mods would really make your truck more like a car than a 1/2 ton.

Thanks for the reply. So there is not really anything I can do to this frame to make it a ½ ton. Is there anything I can do to get it to ride any smoother? I want to replace the rear axel to get a better high end on the road. I am going to use the original 235 that is in the truck and change the tranny to a 2 speed power glide.

You can try some poly spring liners and some guys take a few leaves out of the 3/4 ton rear spring pack. (do so at your own risk)
Keep in mind it's an old truck made to work and haul loads, not ride smooth like a car.
The original engine for your truck would be a 216, not a 235.

They may be the close to the same and interchange just fine, but the 3/4 ton springs hold more weight (barley), should be thicker leaves. At least that's how I see it in the truck data book, but still somewhat confusing.

Grigg

I don't have a truck data book.
When I had new main leaves made for my 3/4 ton at an old school local spring shop, the guy had mentioned to me that the spring packs were the same for 1/2 and 3/4 after looking up the specs.
The Chevrolet Master Parts Catalog also lists the same part number for '47 to '55 1/2 and 3/4 ton (except D-D) for front springs. I've also compared my 3600 springs with ones on a 1/2 ton parts frame that I have. That is how I got my information.

Thank you for the info and yes you were right, it is a 216. Now I have a 235 from a 1956 truck I could put in it. but it has an original motor in the truck an it runs. I am not sure which way to go with it. I would love to be able to drive it around longer distances. Or just give up and get a 1/2 ton frame and do alot of changing. How bad does a 3/4 ton truck ride and drive?

Drives like a truck, it is a truck, that's a good thing in my book.
My 1 ton took me around the country (8,000 miles in a month) as well as everyday driving for a couple years, it was great fun.
To change anything would be slightly faster gears, but not real fast; still need it to haul stuff (it is a truck). With the 32" tires and a 235 4.11 gears would be great, 3.73 would be to fast. As it was I had 5.14 gears when I drove it everyday, and 4.56 gears for the big trip.

But it depends on how you want to use it.
If you can drive 50-60 mph them mostly stock possibly with faster gears would be great.
If you want to travel with traffic on the highway you probably want more than a gear change. Think about brakes, steering, and more power.

Does it run and drive as is now?
I'd run it for a good while, before deciding to change lots of stuff.

Grigg