The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 1949 3800 pickup build senarios - Your input

I just purchased a 1949 Chevy 3800 pickup, original and intact. In other words it is all there, complete with the original drive train and 216 engine. Now I would appreciate your opinions on what to upgrade and still keep the original look inside and out. I do know that I am going to upgrade the wheels and tires. I have a 261 engine block and some 235 engine parts as well. Heads, blocks intake/exhaust manifolds, cam shafts, etc.

Your build scenarios would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Dean

Dean,
How would you be using the truck? For it's original purpose?
Do you want to travel at highway speeds?

If it's all there I would recommend getting it running and driving as is and make a determination from there.

Steve,

I just want a nice old truck that is mostly original; I would just drive it around town more than likley. It would be nice if it would go 55 mph though.

Dean

Build the 261 and buy the adapter that lets you run the 216 valve cover. Replace the rear gears with the readily available 4.57 gears from a 3/4-ton or the 4.11 gears if you can find a set.

That would give you an original looking truck that should easily do 55 unless you do something crazy with the tires.

I want the original 17" size tires, just will not use the bias ply, and use some type of suitable alloy wheels.

What he said. Remove the 2 rocker studs that hold the valve cover on the 216 and replace them with the bolts in that location in the 261 to use the older valve cover. If you want to build a hot 261 I suggest checking out and even joining Inliner’s International. Here’s an article from there that will give you a good start:

http://www.inliners.org/tech/261_build.htm

Find a rear axle center section from a 3/4 ton truck with the 4.56:1 gear ratio. That will raise your highway speed noticeably without having to do major modifications. The 261 engine will increase the load-pulling capacity, but not necessarily the top speed, unless you do something to raise the RPM on the top end- - - - -high compression, radical cam, dual carbs, dual exhaust, etc. That gets expensive in a hurry, and it's definitely not "stock" anymore.

Why not just put in the higher rear end gear, and keep the 216? It will still have enough power to run at highway speed, especially if you're not planning to haul 1-ton payloads
Jerry