I am a new guy that needs a lot of help

[Packhorse32]

What a great day to find this site! I joined today. I have been a truck enthusiast and huge fan of old iron as long as I can remember. Problem is sometimes you join the truck sites that are on the net, but they are geared towards restoration more than modification. I can really enjoy restoration by itself, but it just doesn’t answer all of my questions as to how to build my Hot Rod. As you can see in my Avatar I have a 1946 Chevy truck in pieces. I mean she is rough! It came with a ¾ ton frame and all the old fixins, but I just don’t want it to stay that way. So here I am, and thank you for having me.

So to start with I need help finding a direction with my truck. Where do I start? Seems to me that most people go with a 350/350 combo, which I kinda like, and some do the s-10 frame swap. Which is better for frame swaps and what about engines? Is 350 the answer for a hot rod/rat rod?

I am gonna be the first to admit that I don’t know much at all about how to get this project perfected. I need a lot of help and advice on building this rod.

My decisions so far are to make it a half ton truck. I have not decided which frame to use though. Advice on other truck sites vary from using an s-10 to getting ahold of an original ½ ton Chevy frame from 1946. I like the old 46 frame idea but then I will have to find a way to put better brakes and steering into it, which would require a clipped front end of some sort and the back end has to be switched as well.

To make a long story short-can you guys help me out here? Please do. I am open to learning everything I can before starting this project.

Thanks tons guys, and i look forward to hearing from you all.

[Ed Rodder]

my first truck 50 F1 I reworked the frame with a mustang II suspesnion chevy 327 and 700r4 and 9" rear end. This next truck is a 53 chevy and I am going to put it on an 85 S10 longbed. I think it will be easier and cheaper(got an 85 s10 and 4x4 blazer for $400). I wish it had the 4.3 motor I would have left it in with the trans but since it is a 2.8 60* motor it goes and in goes a sitting around 305 and 350 trans and the wider rearend out of the 85 blazer the rear ends are too narrow from the S10 rearend. still cleaning up the firewall and getting ready to strip the s10 down. Plan to have a bunch of my friends kids over to dissasemble the s10 and have some fun. going to be a flat black daily driver. Good luck let us know what direction you go. Ed ke6bnl

[moparjack44]

First thing, I believe I would move the cab forward..

Welcome to here, but not going to be very helpful to you, cause I never done a truck or a Chevy, but I think you will be able to get lotta good help here.

Jack

[Itoldyouso]

Welcome to the forum.


Don

[VWstreetrodder]

Dunno about the S-10 swap, that sounds like a good place to start for the simple fact that the front suspension will be LOTS better and it's cheaper to get the modification parts should you want to lower it. However, there are a load of excellent Mustang II based suspension kits that you could weld onto your frame without much fuss. If you opt for the stock frame tho, look into boxing the rails & adding a couple cross members to stiffen her up. In the current state, this is the best time to do it.

Chevy 350 is one of the easiest engines to find parts for and you can make loads of power with them. The 350 Trans is a good one as well, same deal with finding parts, but I like the 700R4 that Ed is running. That 4th gear is a nice thing to have when you drop it in an old truck like that. I'm betting it has a pretty low gear ratio in it & it's nice to be able to go highway speeds w/o turnin 6K RPMs! The best part is the 350 & 700R4 was a common setup in the Chevy Astrovan, and there always seems to be a couple in the junkyard waiting to be pilaged.

Looks like a fun toy ya got there, have fun with it!

[Packhorse32]

Well thanks so far for all you guys have contributed. Is there a thread here at this site on boxing the rails and adding crossmembers to frames? Or do we need to start one. Pictures help a lot! Hey im country-dont read good!

I have 2 trucks now- one is drivable- you can see as well: