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I have a 48' Chevy Truck. It's an 8 lug 3/4 ton. I need some advice about how to turn this truck into a dependable daily driver!! Information about the front end, rear end, motor, and transmission would be greatly appreciated. Myself and a buddy are going to be doing all the work ourselves. So what's the best way to rebuild it?? Thanks in advance!!

Brakes first then steering and suspension.
Engine, transmission and rear axle.

While modifications can be fun when done by amateurs they most often do not lead to more dependable operation.

I'd suggest striving to make the key systems work correctly rather than focus on restoration or hot rodding.

That's my two cents.

Subs right, anything thats below the sheet metal rebuild to stock and drive it. With this done you can have a summers worth of fun driveing it and do the sheet metal the next winter.

I drove a 52 1 ton in high school as a daily driver and had very few problems, nothing major.
I recommend you upgrade to a dual circuit brake system probably with a booster, rebuild the brakes, and drive it.
Once you've driven it for a year or three you'll have a better idea of what you want to do next, and some understanding and ideas on what has been done and how you may do it.
My same 1 ton with a 55 model 235 and a 4 speed took me 8,000 miles or so around the country (in a month) with very little trouble.

I guess what I'm trying to say is make it safe, keep it pretty stock, and just drive it for a while before doing anything drastic.

Grigg

i agree with grigg. all three of my trucks i drove for at least a year during the summer feeling them out and getting ideas after i made them all safe to drive from the get go. after the first year i upgraded the engine in my 350 it was in the plan but it ended up being required. my dump gets an engine upgrade in the next few weeks and my 40 is schedule for an engine upgrade and OD unit installed. if a situation required it i can use anyone of my trucks as a daily driver.

Where do you find drums and pads for the 8 lug setup without it being very costly??

Shoes can be relined pretty cheap.
Drums you'll have to look for good used or NOS. Post a wanted ad in the Swap Meet section.
As a general rule don't turn the drums if you can avoid it, no need to waste good material on hard to get drums.
If they are out of round or extremely worn/grooved then you'll have to, but if they are round and not to bad just put new shoes in and give them some time to seat before expecting them to work perfectly/quickly.

Grigg

All great information above, first make her safe then go for more speed.

Key ?'s for a commuter:

How far to the workplace/school?

Urban or rural?

Two lanes, divided or Interstate?

See my signature below, closing in on 50k miles last 8 or 9 years only vehicle.

I agree, close to, or stock seems to be the most dependable! My 1-Ton is stock, with the exception of the dual carbs, and dual exhausts. I use it for work, and drive 35 miles every day of the week, often with a thousand pounds in it, which sure smoothes it out.
I am still running six volts as well. As long as you stick to the service schedule in the book, grease every thousand, etc, it should run forever. I've put about 13,000 miles on mine in the past year and a half. No major drama. Little stuff though, as my truck is not restored. I've rebuilt my starter, and replaced little stuff like that. Really though, even a truck ten years old requires the same amount of maintenance.

I'm now down to spending about ten bucks a month on the truck, other than gas and oil.

just wondering Grigg you said you can get your brake shoes religned,Im in the process of making my truck road worthy and wondering where to go to get that done? its my 1st old truck and im just use to buying new shoes from the chain auto parts stores like NAPA or Oriellys.

i used a place called "associated truck parts". they are a chain of big truck parts here in the east. any big truck shop should have the capabilities to reline your castings.

I would suggest defining what type of driving your "daily driver" is expected to do. Also consider type of loads and thoughts of pulling a trailor.

Yes, what type of driving? In the city I wouldn't want to be shifing all day, specially an old granny box. On a long highway you'll need some taller gears or an overdrive. In a small country town, bone stock would be perfect. You get the idea.