1949 Chevy 3600 into a daily driver

[Coach529]

Thanks guys. Right now he is sitting underneath a pile of snow as I finish my garage.

Hopefully after the new year he will be warm and inside.

[PurdueSD]

Yikes... That's sarcrilege. I've got an open spot in my garage for him!

[Coach529]

Well....small change of plans.

I had plans of building up a semi hot 261 to put in Henry. After adding up my want list and getting prices it looked like I might have to put that on my "Eventually" list. Cash flow is tight after the garage project, the Holidays, etc.

Henry's 216 was leaking and burning oil at an alarming rate last fall.......so something needs to be done soon.

Fast forward to this weekend. Spent some time bird hunting with my Uncle. Turns out he has a low mileage 350 and TH350 tranny he would like out of his way. 65,000 on motor and 50,000 on tranny. Both out of a mid 60's Nova Wagon.

I was originally against putting a V8 in Henry.......but the price was right on this set up.

From what I have read in the past seems like a pretty simple install.

Who can point me to a couple good posts on SBC installs in AD's?

[_Ogre]

send me the rest of the nova wagon

[Coach529]

After some investigation it turns out it was a 1974 Nova. L65 SBC.

[NEWFISHER]

Oh my. As much as I like the inliner in the Burb I can say that I love the HP of the V8 in the 65 and the tire burning, giggling like a school kid smiles that happen at every " GO" light.

[Coach529]

Originally Posted by NEWFISHER

Oh my. As much as I like the inliner in the Burb I can say that I love the HP of the V8 in the 65 and the tire burning, giggling like a school kid smiles that happen at every " GO" light.

As much as I wanted to build up a hot 261, it is just not in the cards right now. I can build a very mild 350 for less than a 1/3 of the money.

I have two guys I work with that both race stock cars....I can probably pick up most stuff I need to little or nothing.

[alaska gasser]

You can pick up a tranny and motor mount set up from Speedway or elsewhere for really cheap. I just helped a buddy install this set up in his '50 this month and it was really easy. If you look at the crossmeber kits, it's fairly self explanatory.

Too bad you aren't closer, he just pulled out a strong running 6 banger to make room for the V8.

[NEWFISHER]

People tell me all the time that an inline 6 is cheap to build and to hot rod. I tell them you can have 3 v8s for what 1 250 cost to make 200hp and tell them to look it up. They always are shocked and then think its cool the burb has a built 250 that sounds like a v8.

Go with the v8 and then when Henry is done, start building an inliner on a stand in the new shop. Then you can start looking for a 60-66 to put it in!

[Coach529]

Originally Posted by NEWFISHER

People tell me all the time that an inline 6 is cheap to build and to hot rod. I tell them you can have 3 v8s for what 1 250 cost to make 200hp and tell them to look it up. They always are shocked and then think its cool the burb has a built 250 that sounds like a v8.

Go with the v8 and then when Henry is done, start building an inliner on a stand in the new shop. Then you can start looking for a 60-66 to put it in!

Ha......you read my mind.

Building a 261 was expensive after I started checking into it, and I got the motor for cheap.

The 350 was never the plan originally, but plans change. The price was right and it will work perfect. Eventually I would like to find a 3 deuce intake and carbs to make it more era specific, even though they did not make a 350 until the late 60's.

BTW, Henry is now inside in the warm shop.

[mechanixman]

Just a couple things on the V8 swap. Double and triple check clearances around the V8 when you install it. Because mine was so low, I had to cut the original motor mount out of the front cross member to make room for the harmonic balancer. (The picture is of the mount cut, but still sitting there.) This didn't matter to me because I'm not going to swap in the original motor anyway, but if you do the same, it may make for a sticky situation down the road.

If you're planning on making a tripower intake, start looking for parts now. People like to overprice those parts, but there still a good deal here and there. I spent 2 months looking for carburetors at a cheap enough price. Finally found a member of this forum that had 3 for sale at $25 each.

[99 to Life]

coach, just read this whole thread. Luv the truck. I really like longbed and the mods you made. also digging the I6 and drop axle. I'd just look for a decent running 235, keep this thing more OG. Heck build another truck and put a SBC in it, just my take. I got quite a few of these trucks. I think I might just do up the 3/4 ton I got too. My 52' will be along the lines of your truck, as long as I don't change my mind, teetering with IFS and bags with it, but man I just luv the drop axle flavor. oh, my names Henry btw, nice garage too. keep up the good work.

[dubie]

still one of my favorites builds. This truck has such a time less look to it.

[Coach529]

Originally Posted by 99 to Life

coach, just read this whole thread. Luv the truck. I really like longbed and the mods you made. also digging the I6 and drop axle. I'd just look for a decent running 235, keep this thing more OG. Heck build another truck and put a SBC in it, just my take. I got quite a few of these trucks. I think I might just do up the 3/4 ton I got too. My 52' will be along the lines of your truck, as long as I don't change my mind, teetering with IFS and bags with it, but man I just luv the drop axle flavor. oh, my names Henry btw, nice garage too. keep up the good work.

You bring up some good points, but here is the deal from my perspective.

I cannot justify another truck. We currently have 4 vehicle floating around the yard, and my daughter will start driving within a year or so, so that will add another. We live in town, and I hate to have stuff sitting on the street. Storage/ Parking, insurance, $$$$$, all play into this.

IF I did build another truck, bagged, SBC, whole nine yards, I can see Henry hardly ever being driven. Then what is the purpose??

The ultimate goal for me. A daily driver, plain and simple. I refuse to have a garage queen. My initial goal was something more original, but I am slowly changing that tune.

A SBC was not in the original plan either, but a free motor and tranny changes a persons vision quite a bit. It would have cost me $2000-3000 to build a 261 and find a decent tranny.

FWIW, drop axles are great, and somewhat affordable but man it rides rough. Roads in this town suck. Long term I will be looking into IFS, probably with bags Fr and Rr.

Either way, this is going to pretty much be a long term build for me. Tinker and modify in the winters, and drive all summer.

[99 to Life]

I feel yah. space is always an issue. I luckily have alot of land but hardly any roof space. I spent alot of this summer building fencing and gates to hide my stuff. I have 3 registered vehicles now and yeah I feel yah, keeping up with insurance and registration etc, you better be using them. I'd like a little of everything but if I'd only have to pick 3 it would be a truck, a suburban and COE, tho I'm doing a belair for the fam. But.... everything else I do I'd just sell. I guess I like trying different builds, I enjoy them. I wish I had a truck like yours thats been in the fam for so long, I think that is a great story. No one is gonna know what your body is riding on and or your engine when you drive past them and that is the most important part, driving them. Do you, I'm a fan of most all of it I6, Sbc, EFI, LS etc. It all moves and its all chevy so keep it up. The only benefit to having more rides is more options, you get tired of burnouts, dive the sixer, visa versa. have you thought about a t-5 swap at all?

[Coach529]

Originally Posted by 99 to Life

I feel yah. space is always an issue. I luckily have alot of land but hardly any roof space. I spent alot of this summer building fencing and gates to hide my stuff. I have 3 registered vehicles now and yeah I feel yah, keeping up with insurance and registration etc, you better be using them. I'd like a little of everything but if I'd only have to pick 3 it would be a truck, a suburban and COE, tho I'm doing a belair for the fam. But.... everything else I do I'd just sell. I guess I like trying different builds, I enjoy them. I wish I had a truck like yours thats been in the fam for so long, I think that is a great story. No one is gonna know what your body is riding on and or your engine when you drive past them and that is the most important part, driving them. Do you, I'm a fan of most all of it I6, Sbc, EFI, LS etc. It all moves and its all chevy so keep it up. The only benefit to having more rides is more options, you get tired of burnouts, dive the sixer, visa versa. have you thought about a t-5 swap at all?

If I could drive Henry year round, I could easily ditch a vehicle, but he will not work during the winter in NoDak.

The T5 interests me, but the ease of an auto sounds nice too.

[99 to Life]

I had my 51' out for the pittsburgh autorama last year (100mi away) hit a snow storm half way down. Salt everywhere, pissed me off. Salt is the worst, along with my garage that sweats and rusts everything. always a struggle to overcome. i'd love to have a year round whip, but I drive long distance twice a week so gotta get good MPG, hmmmm maybe I'll be doing and LS swap in my 51' now!!! they get great mpg 23-25 I'v heard numerous times.

Im doing a t-5 swap on my 52'. My friend makes adapters to mate them up. Let me know if it ever comes up and you need one. they are decent price compared to the high dollar stuff out there.

[Fleet '66]

I just read through your whole build thread. Great job on this truck. I love the patina on Henry and you do real justice to it with your photog skills. You nailed the stance and everything's perfect. I hope the SBC transplant goes off without a hitch. It's too bad the 261 didn't work out but the V-8 will be fun too. Keep the pics coming.

[Coach529]

Not much to report, Henry's has been chillin in the garage waiting for his new motor and tranny to show up.



Still plunkin away on the garage. 75% of the electrical is done. Just some tidy up work and we can call it good.

Finally getting my bench built and some tools put away.



I got some Ink done on the inside of my arm in tribute to my Dad. Had to include "Henry". Hoping to get it finished up in a couple weeks.

[Elder Rogue]

On your post #394 you finished your outboard springs mounts for the s10.

How has that worked out for you?

I was thinking about doing this same thing.

Love the stance and look of your truck; it's one of my desktops now.

[Coach529]

Originally Posted by Elder Rogue

On your post #394 you finished your outboard springs mounts for the s10.

How has that worked out for you?

I was thinking about doing this same thing.

Love the stance and look of your truck; it's one of my desktops now.

It works pretty good, but the ride is rough on bigger bumps or when loaded. The leaf springs are very soft and that combined with the shocks being layed over and less effective results in the rear end blowing through the suspension travel very quick.

Easy solution may be some overload springs.

[Elder Rogue]

Thanks for the response.

Maybe on my build I should plan on the shocks as upright as possible and if that still is lacking then overload springs.

Ether way, I am still thinking that mounting the S10 springs the same as you did is the way I want to go.

[Coach529]

Originally Posted by Elder Rogue

Thanks for the response.

Maybe on my build I should plan on the shocks as upright as possible and if that still is lacking then overload springs.

Ether way, I am still thinking that mounting the S10 springs the same as you did is the way I want to go.

I think some higher quality short stroke shocks would be the ticket.

Good luck!!

[99 to Life]

nice garage and ink, I'll be getting my truck on my arm sometime. got 1951 on my knuckles. bench looks dope too, gotta love re-purpose art.

[Coach529]

Originally Posted by 99 to Life

nice garage and ink, I'll be getting my truck on my arm sometime. got 1951 on my knuckles. bench looks dope too, gotta love re-purpose art.

Thanks Man!!