I am thinking about buying a 1947-1954 Chev or gmc truck. Is the 3spd 1/2t or 3/4t 4spd a better daily driver? Also, with respect to lowering these vehicles, is there any benefit to getting a 3100 1/2t vs a 3600 3/4t?
It depends on where you live. I could dive a stock Model T as a daily driver. Cruising speed of the 3100.... 50-55 Cruising speed of the 3600... 45-50 Both trucks would prefer 45. Both are capable of higher speeds for short bursts but not long. In my opinion lowering a 3/4 ton is almost as silly as lowering a 4x4. You can do a lot more with a 3100. Personally I like them stock height with a rubber rake and reverses on the rear for a hot rod look. Bone stock is a good look too, especially on a stock truck... few problems. While not much on the top, Chevys are very peppy down low.
Define daily driver ? 80 miles of interstate or 20 miles of back roads or New York city traffic. The half ton 3 speed is a little more daily friendly. I owned a 3/4 ton flat bed with a Granny 4 speed and it worked good for what I used it for, but it was happy at 50-55 mph. My brother drove his 59 Chevy P.U. 6 cylinder 3 speed from Michigan to AZ and then towed a Monte Carlo back to Michigan on a tow dolley. Went back through Colorado through the mountains. It can be done ,but my brother is a little different.
Im keen on the 3100 If you decide on the early years try to find one with the later 235 54 / 55 1st trucks are getting harder to find, but they are out there Brakes, driveline and rear gear upgrades are readily availiabe in kit aftermaket form for the 3100, not so much for the 3600. .
3600 had the same front frame configuration as a 3100, a 1/2 ton axle will fit the 3/4 ton. They used the same springs, and this is a fairly easy way to go if you want to put disc brakes on a 3/4 ton, though you lose the 8 lug wheels. The rear is quite different, the frame had virtually no kickup on a 3/4 ton, and is narrower than the 1/2 ton. The frame is made of slightly heavier material than the 1/2 ton. Cabs are the same. Be aware that the 1/2 ton went to Bendix style brakes a few years earlier than the 3/4 ton did, and parts for 3/4 ton Huck style brakes are expensive, and drums are not reproduced (used thru 53 as I remember). Transmission is the same top gear either 3 or 4 speed. 1/2 ton used a torque tube, and the 3/4 ton used the same transmission with a hybrid driveshaft, using an open rear end usually with 4.56 gears. As stated there is no easy lower numeric gears aftermarket for this rear, there are sftermarket gears for the 1/2 ton.
1/2 ton will be easier, and worth more in the end by a bit. Both will drive like a 60 year old truck, but I daily drove one for years. An overdrive is nice if you interstate much.
Here is one of my favorite build threads https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/51-chevy-p-u-daily-driver-build-thread.570961/ .
I bought a 3k mile '52 GMC 3/4 ton, and spun a lower bearing driving it home. Stay away from the old Babbit Engines. They suck. Especially as a daily driver.
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