1949 sheetmetal swap

[Hidden Valley]

Howdy Guys Just wondering if anyone has ever changed or swapped out the fenders on a 1949 chevy big truck 2 ton for 1/2 ton. I picked up a 1949 chevy big truck 2 ton , but I want to put the cab and front sheet metal on a 1/2 ton frame. I am sure the cabs the same, on all the trucks, and I'm sure the fenders are larger. So I will have to buy new 1/2 ton fenders. But how about the hood, inter fenders . core support and grille. Will they swap over to the half ton also . Can I get away with only buying fenders for this 2 ton to 1/2 ton change or pickup build. Thanks for any help or advice you can offer

[whitedog76]

You'll need pretty much everything from the Big truck. The only thing that might interchange would be the Rad support. The upper hood latch panel is different between them though.

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by Hidden Valley

Can I get away with only buying fenders for this 2 ton to 1/2 ton change or pickup build. Thanks for any help or advice you can offer

the only thing that will interchange is the headlights. the grille, core support, inners, hood, etc even the hood hinges are all different.

also, I think the rear cab mounts are different between 1/2 ton and 2 ton, the 1/2 ton 1949 will use shackles, and the 2 ton I believe is mounted on ears on the frame.

[whitedog76]

I'm going to go backwards a little bit here. I don't think the rad support will interchange. You'll need everything from the big truck.

I went thumbing through the Factory Assembly manual... Anyway, the side mounting brackets on the rad support are different. The 3100-3800 are the same, the 4100-6000 trucks are the same with the exception of the 5000 series bull nose trucks.

On another note, the 3800 and larger trucks use a center mount on the rad support, whereas the 3100 and 3600 use a dual mount. Kind of strange since the 3100-3800 use the same sheet metal. Another thing, the 3800 and 4100 use the same Chassis Dimensions. This leads me to believe, the entire front clip from a big truck will bolt to a smaller truck. Confused yet?

BBEEP has melded some truck/small truck sheet metal on his Suburban.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...e=8&styleid=63

Here's a good comparison of big/little sheet metal.

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...-chevy.743582/

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by whitedog76

I'm going to go backwards a little bit here... You'll need everything from the big truck.

he has everything from the big truck, his truck is a complete 2 ton, and wants to swap to the smaller fenders. he will need everything from a 1/2 ton front clip.

arent the front wheels in a different position between the 3800 and the 4100? so even if he put his 4100 front end on the 3100 frame as you suggest, I think the wheels would be further back.

[whitedog76]

Looking here at the old Manual's, there doesn't seem to be a difference in the axle center lines, whether you have a 6000 series or a 3100. The measurement GM has for "front of dash", which I'm assuming means the firewall, and the axle centerline is 17.75 or 17.76. In my book that's about as close as it gets.

http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com...esto/54060.htm

http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com...esto/54114.htm

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by whitedog76

Looking here at the old Manual's, there doesn't seem to be a difference in the axle center lines, whether you have a 6000 series or a 3100. The measurement GM has for "front of dash", which I'm assuming means the firewall, and the axle centerline is 17.75 or 17.76. In my book that's about as close as it gets.

http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com...esto/54060.htm

http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com...esto/54114.htm

yes you are right. I couldnt remember if someone with a big fender frame swap had to move their cab back, looks like I was imagining it.

[whitedog76]

You may be thinking of BBEEP's build. He did a bunch of different things. I think the final result was the big fenders with the front portion of the smaller one. He may have even moved the wheel arch too.

[mr48chev]

This is what happens when you set a big truck on truck with the small truck front fenders.

The guys got it pretty well right,

Nothing on the nose interchanges except the individual grill bars, There is about an inch and a half difference in the height of the sides of the grill as the bars are spaced a bit further apart. the trim and the core support but the bolt holes to bolt the core support to the inner fender are in different spots so I have read. I haven't compared what I have out here to verify that though

The radiator out of a 1-1/2 or 2 ton will bolt right in a half ton and give added cooling but you are still dealing with radiators that are over 65 years old.

The big truck cabs will bolt directly to the 3100 frame. The only issue you might have is if you have a 47/48 cab as they have a single mount in the back while 49 and up use shackles. I have a 4100 1-1/2 ton and a cab off a matching 1-1/2 ton and both have shackles at the rear.

[whitedog76]

I do dig the the longer, flatter hood. If the wheel openings were a little smaller, I’d think about using bog truck sheet metal.

[mr48chev]

That part could be fixed with a little cutting and welding. Or just run real big ugly rims and be done with it.

I'm going to use the top of that hood or another big truck hood I have with the bottom of a small truck hood when I section my new cab to get that better looking slant out on the nose and hopefully less sheet metal fitting right at the front.