Project low and slow as my son calls it. 1949 Chevy 3600 that was last registered in 1974. Been in my family since almost new as far as I can piece the stories together. Been sitting in the barn for 30 years, but it was driven into it when they parked it. Being a 3/4 ton is the biggest challenge, mainly with the lack of availability of taller rear gearing. 4.56 gearing will not work for me. I would like to cruise at 60-70 on the highways. So changing the rear and is a must. I do have access to a 61 GMC 1000 parts truck. Does anybody know if that rearend is the same track width as my stocker? I have no idea what the gearing in it is. Not even sure what was available that year. What other common vehicle rear ends would I use? The front I am looking a donor 1/2 ton axle and brake set up to take care of the front change over. Eventually I will lower it and install a brake upgrade and power steering. Any advice from someone who has done this transformation?
I have read a bunch on there......but have a tough time getting people to answer posts. I will try to be more patient.
What engine/trans will you be using? A Toyota 4Runner rear should fit and will give you highway gears (and a matching 6 lug pattern), but I wouldn't recommend it if you want to make alot of HP/torque.
To start the 216 and the stock 4 speed. Maybe a 235 and a T5 sometime in the near future. No huge HP in the future.
61 rear would also be 4.57 They used that rear in Chevy trucks thru 1972, and 4.57 is what you'll find mostly...with the occasional 5.14 thrown in for good measure. I have a 33 57 chevy one ton (3800) that I shortened to the same length as a 3.4 ton, and put in an 80s suburban 8 lug 14 bolt rearend, with 3.73 gears. With the tall 235/85R16 tires, it goes down the road ok at 70. I did add a big block in front of the granny gear transmission, though. Stock front brakes and suspension. And it sits pretty high.
Yea. Upgraded brakes are only available for 1/2 tons and I really do not need the 3/4 hauling capability. If I had been given a choise I would have prefered a 1/2 ton, but this is what my dad gave me. It has been in the family to long to part with.
Has it been in the family too long to cut it up? Beware that the 3/4 ton frame is quite a bit different than the half ton frame....i'ts like 10 inches narrower in the back.
Sometimes that straighter frame makes mods a lot easier than on the half tons with the frames that spread out. Coach 529 I put a 56 Chev Half ton rear axle under my friend's 53 and it works great. the truck also got the 56 235 and three speed at the same time. They put a custom built camper on it and went on a 10K road trip with it. I'm not sure what the rear end's gear ratio is. I'd look into the Toyota rear ends though if you aren't going wild on power. one of those might be easier to find with highway gears and in good shape.
There really should not be much cutting unless I notch the frame for clearance. I have heard the frames are different, but it should not be a big deal.
Look at that 61 gmc rearend, it might be a Dana 44 or Dana 60, and it might be 3.54 ratio. It will be 6 lug, and the correct width. What are your plans for the front of the truck? You said something about "low and slow" in your first post...can you elaborate?
Awesome....I will look into that rear on the 61. The front is going to get a 1/2 ton drop axle from Sid with 1/2 ton brakes. The plan is to drop it 4-6".
Either pull some springs out of the pack or buy a monoleaf for the rear. Yes, I am plannin on leaving it a long bed at this time.
just drive it as is and look for a 1/2 ton to mess with. If its been i n your family i wouldnt touch it.
That would almost be easier........but if I leave it stock it will likely never get used, except for an occasional parade, if even then. I am going to keep all the stock stuff and everything I am going to do is reversible incase at some point I want to return it to stock.
Found this snippit of info over at Stovebolt: Turns out that a 1955 through 1962 1/2-ton units will all fit. Three ratios were available through those years: 4.11 with an overdrive transmission 3.90 with a standard transmission 3.38 with an automatic transmission. The donor truck I am pulling from has a standard tansmission so it will be 3.90. Perfect.
Actually its both, they use the closed style to the carrier bearing then open from there. Had it on my 3/4 ton.
Were the 1/2 ton is closed from the differential forward correct? So I do not need to worry about that until I do a tranny swap.
Might get away with the stock drive-shaft till you do the trans swap, a bit of juggling with the U-joint might be necessary. If it were me, I'd go ahead and go to 5-lug on the rear because the disc kit is most cheaply available as 5-lug.
I will give that some though Unclee, even though I pretty much have everything lined up to go the 6 bolt route.
Why? If you get all the original stuff working, it will be like every truck was in the 1950s....and they did get driven all over the place, and worked hard every day. You just have to switch your mind into that mentality, and you can drive it as much as you want.
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