54 1 ton flatbed...looking for ideas

[rcbildr]

This last week I did a trade with my girlfriend/fiancee..her 54 1 ton flatbed farm truck for my 85 diesel suburban. She definitely made out on the deal, but I really wanted the 54 and was ready to move on...all in all everyone is happy. She's been talking on and off about maybe getting rid of the truck, but I've always wanted a truck from that era and this one has spent it's whole life on the road I l live on. I think it would be a cool truck to have even though it needs a ton of work. My goal right now is to get it running and driving...then restore it later on.

First the plan was when we restore it was to give the truck a modern drivetrain, but now I'm thinking about keeping it close to stock. I'm not sure if I want to do that because I'm thinking (for now) of building the truck to be a tow rig/hauler. Has anyone stuffed a small block in one of these and kept the stock frame? I did a search and all I've come across are trucks that have been subframed. I'm wanting to drop in a 350/th-400 and swap out the rear with a slightly newer dualley rear end...but I haven't really found any info on that. Has anyone doen this? Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[72smoker]

I'm in the same boat with you. I also would like to see if there is more info as well.

[Trekster]

I have a 1950 1 ton dually that has a 350 in the original frame. I kept the SM420 4 speed and straight axle. I put front disc brakes on it. Dually flat beds are fun and unique.

[Trekster]

http://i1172.photobucket.com/albums/...7/IMGP2674.jpg
Here's a pic, maybe.

[andsonsvd]

Hey Trekster,

I have just purchased a 48 flatbed dually, did you keep the original front rims with the disc brake front end? Im going with a 350 and turbo 400 box, and want to keep the orginal diff and wheels, and thought maybe just a power booster will work with the drum brakes (they have all just been rebuilt to std)

Thanks Shane

[Firebaugh]

You might want to think about a Cummins drive-train. I have a 52 Chevy 6500 that is getting a drive-train just as our 66 Chevy,64 Chevy and 82 crew cab. They are all duallys, 12 valves at about 480 horse. I gave up on gas and went diesel Cummins in everything we own.
Horsepower and mpg in diesel....

[Trekster]

I went with 16" one piece rims instead of the original 18" three piece rims. Look for 70's-80's Chevy 1-tons, they will have the 16" rims.
Shane, does your truck have a brake booster (hydravac) under the cab? Mine did but I installed a dual cavity master cylinder. If so, your brakes may be OK. Honestly, you are not going to want to drive a 1 ton truck very fast anyway.

[1953chevyroc]

Just kidding, but I really want to see it. LOL

[andsonsvd]

Originally Posted by Trekster

I went with 16" one piece rims instead of the original 18" three piece rims. Look for 70's-80's Chevy 1-tons, they will have the 16" rims.
Shane, does your truck have a brake booster (hydravac) under the cab? Mine did but I installed a dual cavity master cylinder. If so, your brakes may be OK. Honestly, you are not going to want to drive a 1 ton truck very fast anyway.

Trekster,

I would be concerned that 16" rims would be hard to get here in australia, what type of disc brake kit did you use?

I dont think there is a booster with the truck as it has been striped, I was just considering a Powered booster from tuckers truck for the drum/drum.

thanks Shane

[rcbildr]

Originally Posted by 1953chevyroc

Just kidding, but I really want to see it. LOL

This is the only pic I have of it right now. It's got a lot of rust to deal with, but I'm hoping for now just to get it running soon.

[Trekster]

Andsonsvd - Can you get 18" tires? That may be your best bet. I made my own disc brake brackets and used Chevy 4x4 rotors and calipers.

Rcbildr - Looks like there is alot of potential there.

[rcbildr]

Originally Posted by Trekster

Andsonsvd - Can you get 18" tires? That may be your best bet. I made my own disc brake brackets and used Chevy 4x4 rotors and calipers.

Rcbildr - Looks like there is alot of potential there.

Thanks! I've got a set of 16" rear wheels off a motorhome for the back, I would've had the fronts too but there was no safe way to remove them once my friend had them loaded on the tralier....he cut up a motorhome for scrap. Other than taking the carb apart for a rebuild, I haven't done much to the truck yet.

How did you mount up the 350? Did you find a different bellhousing? So the stock trans is an SM-420? Sorry I haven't done much research on this beast yet. My 63 has been taking up most of my time. Thanks for your help.

[Trekster]

For the bell housing, I used one out of a 1957 V-8 truck. Any V-8 bell housing from about 55 to 67 should work, just don't use one that had a hydraulic clutch. I moved the engine forward 1 inch for more distributor clearance and had to lengthen the driveshaft 1 inch. The clutch linkage still works just moving the engine a little.

[Atomsplitter]

That truck looks too big for a 1 ton, more like a 1-1/2 ton in the picture.
Must be either my eyes or the beer.....or both.
Good luck on the project.

[rcbildr]

That's one thing I'm not really sure on. IIRC When I decoded the VIN it said the truck is a 3800 and I haven't been able to get a good answer as to what that really means. I found one place that said it was a 1.5 ton. My girlfriend asked a couple friend she knows who are really in to the older stuff and they said it was one ton. Either way it doesn't really matter right now....I'm not ready to start buying parts for it

[72smoker]

That looks just like the truck my brother bought. His is a two ton I think.

[Trekster]

8 lug or 10 lug? If it is 8 lug, it is a 3800 1 ton.

[rcbildr]

IIRC it's eight lug 18" wheels. My girlfriend asked this question on stovebolt.com and they said it's a one ton because it has 18" wheels.

All this talk makes me really want to get going on it, but it's 4th in line. I need fix the gas gage on my 83 one ton, get axles back under my 63 chevy truck, and reassemble my girlfriends 48 chevy 4 door. Sadly all this work is going on outside and it's been raining the last few days. Oh well, it will happen son enough.

[Sam03]

cool project keep us updated.

[whitedog76]

If it has 8 lug wheels, it's more than likely a 3800 1 ton. If it has had the big 5 pattern, it's probably a 4100 or 4400 truck.

http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com...esto/54159.htm

If it is a 4000 series truck, you can swap in a 3800 frontend.

As far as the rearend goes, a 4.57 gearset is plentiful from 3600 series trucks. They used it till 62. Should be a direct bolt in. You can try to find a 4.11 from the 68-72 trucks, but good luck on that one.

Another option is the 14 bolt. Look for cab and chassis trucks from 73-88. The 63" WMS is what you would want. You can find them in typically in 4.56-3.42 gear ratios. You'll have to cut and weld spring perches, but It'll be worthwhile for better top speed.

Disc brakes, that's another ball of worms. It's DIY for the most part. There is a guy working on a kit for the "Big Bolts" over at Stovebolt.com. The 3600 and 3800 guys like make self are on our own.

Here's what I'm working on. http://s1074.photobucket.com/user/wh...02582516623688

[OrrieG]

This thread is two years old, what happened?