converting to half ton

[michael bustamante]

OK Iv`e decided I will keep my truck, and instead of swapping chasis I`m gonna go old school and keep my original frame underneath my 49GMC, and keep it longbed, (custom cab) I tried adding pics but it says theyre too big. Any ideas how to shrink them to add them to this site so I can show you all what I got?
Anyways here's what I think I`ll do. I want to convert the 3/4 ton to the 1/2 ton but I want to keep the 4 on the floor trans and rebuild the 235 thats in it now. origional 1/2 tons are torque tube but 3/4 are standard u joint type. what would I need to do about swapping the front axle to half ton, just find a doner or ????
Also what rear end seems to fit best in stock location either coil or leaf? i'm not afraid to modify. but I know I need the rear to accept a u joint. is a Nova rearend a good swap out?
I was gonna modify to street rod but I saw an origional 5 widow 50 chevy with a clean engine compartment and a cherry 235 sitting in it and I knew thats what I wanted. these are great trucks!!

[mbgmike]

If its an 8 lug hd front axle you will need to locate a 1/2 or light duty 3/4 ton front axle. They bolt up. The 8 lug front axles have a larger spindle diameter. Get some new u-bolts.We have ours made but speedway motors has them fairly inexpensive. Also If I remember their are two widths but I've always used the wider width.

On the rear you can use a camaro or firebird rear. (If you wanted to keep it an 8 lug the 16 passenger late model Ford rears are an easy swap.) You will need to change the perches on the rear and I have forgotten the u-bolt number. You will probably have to shorten the drive shaft some. No big deal. Usually less than $100.00 The stovebolt pages and some of the other sites have some Tech articles. The nice thing is you can have a truck that you do not have to shift to get out of the intersection at the traffic light.

Getting the old parts off is the hardest job. I agree that they are great trucks in the stock or close to stock form A clean 235 is a good looking motor
Also on the earlier years you have to move the rear end to line up with the fender well

[michael bustamante]

I`m pretty sure it is a heavy duty front axle, its an old stump puller truck, with the thick metal bumpers.
youre talkin the 70`s camaro rear end right? I should be able to find one of those pretty easy.
thanks for the info. i really appreciate it
Mike

[1-ton of fun]

70's nova rears are also the same width as the f-body's, just try to make sure you get the 8.5" 10-bolt rear vs. the 8.2" 10-bolt.

here is a picture that helps you identify the rear by the shape of the diff cover

[mbgmike]

youre talkin the 70`s camaro rear end right? Correct

You are in NM and Patricks antique auto is in Arizona I believe. These guys are great. These are the only trucks they work on and are a wealth of info. They know A hell of alot more than I do. of course alot of people do

[michael bustamante]

patricks antique auto in AZ? I`ll look em up now. thanks

[1-ton of fun]

http://www.patricksantiquecars.com/index.htm

[solidaxel]

Patrick will love you as you are not hot rodding it!!
He loves the old stock ones, you will see when you talk to them.
The Camaro or Nove are the right length you will have to R&R the perches and maybe change the size of the U-joint but that stuff is avalible in NM. They are in Casa Grande right off the highway a bit

[michael bustamante]

I thought about hot rodding it but I saw that engine compartment and said "hey I got a cobwebbed version of that now!!" so I think instead of dropping a donated 307 I`ll keep it straight 6. now. what year drums/hubs 5 lug will work with a donated 1/2 ton front straight axle 50's car drums? Maybe I`ll get my hands on a 1/2 ton 6 lug rear end from a 60`s truck and convert it to leaf?? then I could keep my front end 6 lug too.
I see money leaving me