1950 Chevy Stock to Hot Rod Project
 

Here is the 1950 Chevy as I picked it up:

Engine is has been replaced in the past and is a 56-62 235 thats 12 volt and pressure lube. Engine runs good, but carb need to be rebuilt since the accelerator pump is weak. Radiator was also replaced with a pressurized one.

Its a 4 speed on the floor.

Truck came with some VW bucket seats which I have already replaced with a Chevy Astro Van Seat (will post more pictures/details below)

When I got it it sat really low (as pictured) in the rear, to the point the rear tires would rub on the fender lip. The rear springs were missing a number of leaves, so I have since replaced those and got it up higher. Still need to go through and replace the shackles and bushings. Last picture shows the new rear ride height. Front is the same situation, missing leaves, so I'm looking for the missing ones, or a complete set since it bottoms out over bumps.

Wheels are not my style, but they are there so they will stay for now.

The body is in pretty good shape (drove 500 miles to pick it up). Some repairs needed on the rear fenders. The drives door has been overopened a few times and there is a crease in that cab piece where the lip hit. I will replace that part and the door hinges. Also have picked up a set of 1 piece window glass doors to replace the ones that are on there that have the vent windows. Going to rebuild the latches and window regulators before putting them on the truck.

I will get into the plans of the truck more in the future, but I want to clean up the body, do a whole drivetrain swap (thinking a 4.2L Trail Blazer engine and 4l60E trans) Will do some independent suspension and maybe a 4 link in the rear.

Want the truck to do 75 comfortably and be a hit at car shows.

Re: 1950 Chevy Stock to Hot Rod Project
 

Here are some pictures of the seat.

It was one of the quick release van seats with the latches. Cut the bottoms of the seat supports off to match the truck floor. Welded on 1/4 x 1.5" steel to the bottom and bolted to the cab floor.

Re: 1950 Chevy Stock to Hot Rod Project
 

This is basically what I'm shooting for, minus the air ride.

Re: 1950 Chevy Stock to Hot Rod Project
 

Few more pictures of what I have in mind for a goal:

Re: 1950 Chevy Stock to Hot Rod Project
 

What year Astro van is that seat from?

Re: 1950 Chevy Stock to Hot Rod Project
 

yeah those seats are working :metal: just loose the headrest's and your in there:metal::metal:

Re: 1950 Chevy Stock to Hot Rod Project
 

Seat is from a 96.

Here is some other discussion about seats, including another astro seat in that purple truck I posted (post 16)

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=433089

Re: 1950 Chevy Stock to Hot Rod Project
 

Time for a quick update. Unfortunatly I dont have the time or $$ to have large updates often.

I have the rear leaf springs out of the truck so I can rebuild the bushing and put new shackles on.

While they were out I took them all apart and sandblasted and painted each individual leaf. Got one side painted and back together. The stack is 1/2" shorter than when I started, so thats how much crap was in between them all.

Also got a bug to wash and try polishing the truck to see how the paint would look. Some elbow greas and polishing compound and I got the right half of the front clip done so far. Looks pretty good, I think its "hugger orange"

Too bad there is a bunch of pimer on the cab corners, front of the hood and the rear pass fender from the PO, but maybe I will try to color match those spots for the time being till I go full out and strip everything to bare metal and paint it up NICE.

Also took the carb apart and found it was partially rebuilt, but the power valve was stuck and probably why it was backfiring out the intake when I accelerated. Going to try it now that its loose then tear it all down and soak it and do a new rebuild kit.

Have a list of stuff ot order, going with Classic Parts. Shouldn't have any problem finding enough stuff to get to the 375 to get free shipping!

Re: 1950 Chevy Stock to Hot Rod Project
 

The UPS man dropped off my first (of many I’m sure) parts box yesterday. Came from Classic Parts.

Doesn’t look like much for $500, but it’s a lot of the stuff I need to get it on the road this spring (I hope)

The piece on the top is the patch panel for in front of the driver’s door. The one on the bottom is a lower door skin for one of the doors I got at the junk yard.

Speaking of doors, I started working on one of my single piece glass (no vent windows) doors I bought. The one for the passenger side will need the patch panel.

Now looking at what independent front suspension to put under the truck.

Also need to get the title transferred, license plates ordered and insurance before I can legally drive it on the road.

Re: 1950 Chevy Stock to Hot Rod Project
 

Look what I'm picking up this weekend....

Pretty Stoked!

Re: 1950 Chevy Stock to Hot Rod Project
 

Questions, comments, concerns, input?

I feel like I'm the only one participating in this thread.....

Re: 1950 Chevy Stock to Hot Rod Project
 

Looks like a corvette exploded, Guess you could call this a box truck?!

Re: 1950 Chevy Stock to Hot Rod Project
 

Looks like a real solid start. Are you mounting the suspension custom or with some sort of kit?
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Re: 1950 Chevy Stock to Hot Rod Project
 

mind if I ask what you paid for the vette parts? i've toyed with the idea of getting a vette rear for a while now

Re: 1950 Chevy Stock to Hot Rod Project
 

This thread is one I'll be following closely. Looks to be a good solid truck to begin with and the vette stuff is sweet. Ive been searching craigs list daily looking for 48-50 to build myself. Most of the kits for adapting this suspension is very pricey at least to me anyway. I'm working on a 85 chevy c-10 now,but someday i'll be in a AD! Keep it going with lots of pics and details we must have details!
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Re: 1950 Chevy Stock to Hot Rod Project
 

I need to come up with a few parts for the complete vette front and rear, so it will come out to be about $1000 which appears to be the going price if you can find something local. Ebay will get you there too, but then theres shipping and the rear is large.

I'm planning on Flat Out Engineering front and rear crossmembers.

I know in the end it may not be much cheaper, but I figure Vette vs mustang 2 and a 4 link I will have a lot more to show for (polished front and rear components, coil over shocks, a truck that actually HANDLES).

Re: 1950 Chevy Stock to Hot Rod Project
 

Been working on rebuilding the stock leaf spring rear end. Sandblasted, primed and painted each leaf, new bushings and shackles. Pretty much ready to put on the truck now. This will be my temporary setup till I get enough saved up to do the vette rear swap. Will need a different tranny (stock one from 1950 is a torque tube) and custom driveshaft.

Also started cleaning up the vette parts I picked up last weekend.

Pictures are just wiped down with brakecleen. No polishing yet. Cleaning up quite well.

Re: 1950 Chevy Stock to Hot Rod Project
 

Got my roll pan installed and tail light brackets and lights put on.

I dont think the roll pan will be the final solution, so I will just screw it on for now. I would like to do something that is more creative/less off the shelf. Mabye with integrated tail light and some other neat things.

Lights are stockers and the brackets are slightly modified stocks. The tail light are both right side so the left wouldnt have the licence plate light in it.

They are actually both upside down I think, but I will just leave them for now.

The tail gate is a real pile, but its the color of the truck. I want to get a new one eventually that has hidden latches.

Re: 1950 Chevy Stock to Hot Rod Project
 

I'm still alive and still have the truck.

Well, last night I put the most miles on the truck I have since getting it. Probably 30 minutes of driving.

There is coolant coming from somewhere, need to isolate the overflow line and put a catch can on it to see if that is where. Going to also tighten up the hose clamp on the bottom radiator hose since that is where things are wet (also where the overflow line is though). It doesn’t look too bad, so I’m not super worried about it.

Temp stabilized around 180, so I don’t think there are any overheating concerns.

Carb is still too lean, need to run with ½ choke or more during acceleration. This is my second carb, which probably needs rebuilding as well. Attempted to rebuild the first one, but the kit I got has a different accelerator pump hookup than what is there so that didn’t work. Also picked up a Carter carb that is in rough shape, but the carters are supposed to be better, so if I can get that one rebuild that may be a good solution.

Stopped at a buddies place and shut the truck off. Did not have enough battery to restart. We found a loose connection and then were able to get it started by jumping. Might have just not been charging, or I have a charging system problem. Will need to check volts when its running. The alternator belt is in rough shape and shows signs of slipping so that might be part of it. Will replace that.

Steering is dicey at higher speeds. All the ball joints are adjustable so you can tighten them up without replacing them so might try to do that along with any adjustments to the steering box.


Also working on cutting rivet heads off and getting all the unneeded brackets off the second frame I purchased so I can box it and put in the vette crossmembers.

Re: 1950 Chevy Stock to Hot Rod Project
 

Caught your post today, glad to see your still working on your baby. The vette suspension should be real nice. Will the kit put everything in the correct location, or will you need to put body, front end and bed on to check??

Re: 1950 Chevy Stock to Hot Rod Project
 

Here are the details on the frame etc:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=456481

The crossmember kits would located the axles correctly. I may look at moving the rear slightly (up to 1" front or back) to better center the wheels in the fender openings.

Re: 1950 Chevy Stock to Hot Rod Project
 

My thead goes that way too. I judge it off the views and not the replies.

I think the tail light brackets are supposed to go on the back of the stake pocket. Otherwise, it's looking great!

Re: 1950 Chevy Stock to Hot Rod Project
 

By back I assume you mean front (opposite of what I have)?

That would look better, good catch!

Re: 1950 Chevy Stock to Hot Rod Project
 

yup, opposite of what you have.

Re: 1950 Chevy Stock to Hot Rod Project
 

Thanks, switched them around and it tucks the lights in closer and hides the brackets!

Re: 1950 Chevy Stock to Hot Rod Project
 

Just ordered Flat Out Engineering's front and rear crossmember kits.

Didnt get shocks yet. Air Ride Technologies makes coil over shocks now, going to let them get out into the market for a while then might go that route.

They have some trick ones where they switch from soft to sport with a push of a button on the dash.

Re: 1950 Chevy Stock to Hot Rod Project
 

Got all the stuff cut off the frame. Lots and lots of rivets to grind heads off of and pound out. This is evident by the swiss cheese side rails. Will fill in all the holes I dont need and weld nuts on the inside of the frame for the ones I do. Hoping I can find a fab shop that has a hydraulic punch that can make little circles for me to weld in the holes. Going to have it sandblasted, then I will start on the welding and boxing.

Thinking I will paint the inner rails with some weld over paint, you guys know of anything good?

Re: 1950 Chevy Stock to Hot Rod Project
 

I got my first of 2 boxes from Flat Out Engineering today. Front kit is backordered a few weeks.

I have not fit the parts up yet, but the fabrication and welding is beautiful.

Going to mock what I can up. Need to get the frame cleaned and boxed before I can weld in these parts.

Here is what came:

Re: 1950 Chevy Stock to Hot Rod Project
 

6 hours and 7 bags of sand later I got the frame blasted. Saved about $125 doing it myself but what a PITA!

Still going to weld in temp beams and remove the center crossmember and blast that area.

Re: 1950 Chevy Stock to Hot Rod Project
 

Well I came across a powerplant on craigslist a few weeks back for a decent deal so I jumped on it. Its a GM 6.0L LQ9 out of a 2002 Escalade with 40K miles. Same engine used in the 3/4 ton Silverados. 345hp and 380 ft lbs of torque from the factory!


Bought a 2000lb engine stand and hung it off there and said no way. Flimsy junk. SOOOO, I built my own stand from scratch with big casters on it. Took a week of nights in the shop, but at least I wont have to worry about it breaking and ruining the engine. May also be able to run the engine on it as well.

Going to pull the wring off then stick it in the corner of the shop so I can get back to work on my frame till I get some more $$.

Re: 1950 Chevy Stock to Hot Rod Project
 

Really cool stuff goin on in this thread.

What trans are you planning on using?

I commend u on deciding to fill in all the rivit holes- thats gonna take a while but will b worth it. I had thought of welding a plate inside the channel and then filling the holes w/ body filler, but ur route will have a better payoff.

How low will the frame sit? Have u taken any measurements? Im trying to figure out where the top rail will sit still.
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Re: 1950 Chevy Stock to Hot Rod Project
 

Dont know on the trans yet. I would think a mild built 4L60E with shift kit and billet servos should be able to handle the engine and weight of the truck, but then again a stock 4L80E would probably be fine as well, but they are bigger, longer, heavier and consume a little more power than the 60.

Broke right now, so I will do some more research as I save up.

Re: 1950 Chevy Stock to Hot Rod Project
 

Thanks to parkwood for the tips on this.

The last two nights I have been filling in unused holes in my truck frame. Took a little while to get the process down but now I think I have it. I have probably done 15 holes so far. Most have been 3/8” diameter. If they are slightly smaller I drill them out to 3/8 so I can use standard rod stock.

Picture descriptions:

So, first I cut rod stock to a measured length to give it a little protrusion out of the hole so it can be ground smooth with no divot.

Holes with a chamfer for better weld penetration and slug in the bottom hole.

Slugs tig welded in.

Backside.

Ground smooth.

Once the holes are done, then I will do the weld nuts on the inside of the rails so I can bolt things to them once I have everything boxed.

Re: 1950 Chevy Stock to Hot Rod Project
 

Got my Flat Out Engineering front crossmember this weekend. Bolted up the C4 parts, looks pretty sweet! Will get the coilovers when I can afford them.

Re: 1950 Chevy Stock to Hot Rod Project
 

This thing is gonna be quite impressive when you get it done. That suspension along with that engine will make it a blast to drive. Nice looking parts and great work so far!

Re: 1950 Chevy Stock to Hot Rod Project
 

More work on smoothing out the framerails. Removed the area where the rear leaf spring shackles mount and another part that bumped out and put in 10 gauge plates and welded them in.

Also got some "Carolina" hot rod side mirrors. Really need side mirrors for driving in traffic, especially with the small back window in these trucks. I can see where having the side windows would make visibility a lot better!

Re: 1950 Chevy Stock to Hot Rod Project
 

Looks great! I hate filling holes... someone told me about using a copper spoon, but all in all, Its still a pain in the ass!

Also waiting for my flat out componets... how long did you wait for yours?

Re: 1950 Chevy Stock to Hot Rod Project
 

Flat out...hmmm

I think it was 2 week on the rear and almost 6 on the front. They were way backlogged. Didnt make me happy and as I look over the rear components and start working with them I'm finding a lot of little things that I dont like.

The fabriation and welding is top notch, but there are a bunch of things I would have done differently.

I dont know if Don got sick of me pointing this stuff out or what because its taking him forever to get back to me...

I ended up buying the replacement bushings for the vette stuff because Don said that would fix some of the fitup concerns, but the ones I have tried so far did not fix them...

Hope we can get it all figured out because I really want to make this corvette stuff work under the truck.

Re: 1950 Chevy Stock to Hot Rod Project
 

I have some conserns about the rear end as well, as I built mine. I didnt want to pay for the rear end kit, but am really thinking if I did a good enough job building it myself... Oh well, we'll find out!

Re: 1950 Chevy Stock to Hot Rod Project
 

subscribed. I want to use this kit for the front of my truck too. Are you mostly having problems with the rear fitment or the front too?