1949 Chevy 3600 into a daily driver

[Coach529]

Still changing my mind day to day on an eventual chassis change on Henry. Of course the options are unlimited.........

At the min I would like to rework the rear end.

Still daydreaming about IFS up front on bags and a 4 link in the rear on bags. I am not willing to do much more than raise my bed a couple inches which will get me damn close to layed out when I aired down.

Pondering picking up another stock 3600 chassis and building it over the summer while I drive Henry as is. Next winter swap everything over.........

[NEWFISHER]

Coach,

I re-read the thread and just have to say I love the build, dedication, family, photos, tattoo to honor your father and your dedication to getting Henry on the road. Your wavering decision to bag or not to bag, V8 or not V8 has been my dilemma also on my rigs.

I can tell you from MY EXPERIENCE that a 216 sucks. Stock worn out leaves and shocks suck and if your steering geometry and front axle angle are off it sucks too. With that said, I have found that NEW leaves from Jim Carter, new dropped axle/steering etc ( which you have) and a set of new dropped shocks placed in nearly vertical positions mad my Burb ride like a Cadillac.

A 250 with a shaved head, 194 intakes, dual springs, bug cam, lump ported, flat top relieved pistons, Clifford heated with Holley 390 and cast Langdons headers along with an HEI and 11mm wires and a hotter coil with make your 250 keep up with the V8's.

Unless you plan on laying frame and going through the steps to do so, driving a static drop is a lot easier, nicer ride in MOST CONDITIONS (air seems better on the freeway) and waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay cheaper. I just finished bagging the 65 and have driven it for a month. I chose the cheap route $1500, but used good quality bags, fitting, gauges, relocators etc. To do a Accuride system was another $1500 plus. Next time I will either decide to lay frame and stuff tires through the bed and fenders or go static.

I get bored not working on stuff, wrenching and planning etc. I am at that point now with the 65 and don't want " another insurance payment, street parking etc" as you mentioned. For me, it will be another project and then flip it. Keeping the Burb , like keeping Henry, and tinkering on other stuff that doesn't mean as much but dialing in the one that does. Hope that makes sense??

[Coach529]

FWIW, the 350/ 350 combo is going to happen. I plan on keeping this truck until one of the kids pry the keys out of my hands. Guessing this will not be the last engine in it.

Rough guess going IFS and a 4 link on bags will cost $5k....without a doubt.

I know my leaves and bushings are shot........and the shock set up is not ideal in the rear. So for is less than $1000 I could have all the suspension good (Or better) than new.

Hmmm.......Fish you have much wisdom. :-)

[NEWFISHER]

Originally Posted by Coach529

FWIW, the 350/ 350 combo is going to happen. I plan on keeping this truck until one of the kids pry the keys out of my hands. Guessing this will not be the last engine in it.

Rough guess going IFS and a 4 link on bags will cost $5k....without a doubt.

I know my leaves and bushings are shot........and the shock set up is not ideal in the rear. So for is less than $1000 I could have all the suspension good (Or better) than new.

Hmmm.......Fish you have much wisdom. :-)

You could book a round trip ticket out here, drive the Burb for a weekend and fly home, buy all the new stuff you need and still be money ahead

[Coach529]

Originally Posted by NEWFISHER

You could book a round trip ticket out here, drive the Burb for a weekend and fly home, buy all the new stuff you need and still be money ahead

You might be onto something there. :-)

Did you get OEM springs or lowered springs from Jim Carter?

My stock front springs are sacked out and pretty much flat.



The specs show the OEM springs should have 3-1/2" of arch (Dimension C)

[NEWFISHER]

^^^^ THAT IS YOUR PROBLEM!

Mine are OEM 8 pack with all new hardware and greasable shackles etc. at all 4 corners and when sitting static, have an arch in them like the picture

[NEWFISHER]

I wondered why yours looked lower than mine and we used all of the same components ( except the springs )

[Coach529]

Originally Posted by NEWFISHER

^^^^ THAT IS YOUR PROBLEM!

Mine are OEM 8 pack with all new hardware and greasable shackles etc. at all 4 corners and when sitting static, have an arch in them like the picture

That is what I am figuring. I will buy some new springs, but likely pull a couple leaves.

[NEWFISHER]

Originally Posted by Coach529

That is what I am figuring. I will buy some new springs, but likely pull a couple leaves.

""but likely pull a couple leaves"" carefull here. It will force a rapid decline of the integrity of the pack from what I have read. I would install the packs and give it a few months to settle. Just like articulating a 4x crawler, try to "work" the packs to help settle them and get them relaxed, then decide to pull.

[Coach529]

Originally Posted by NEWFISHER

""but likely pull a couple leaves"" carefull here. It will force a rapid decline of the integrity of the pack from what I have read. I would install the packs and give it a few months to settle. Just like articulating a 4x crawler, try to "work" the packs to help settle them and get them relaxed, then decide to pull.

That is a good point......

[48ChevBagged]

Just found this thread and pretty much went through the whole thing. Your truck is awesome and I like the ink work as well. Great job on the build. Looks great.

[Coach529]

Originally Posted by 48ChevBagged

Just found this thread and pretty much went through the whole thing. Your truck is awesome and I like the ink work as well. Great job on the build. Looks great.

Thank you very much!!

[49Fireman]

Thanks Coach for the inspiration. My father-in-law bought a '49 3600 for my mother-in-law a few years ago but it had a cracked block. After seeing your build, I am inspired to get her on the road. The plan is IFS from CPP with 2" drop spindles, a 350 with 700r4 tranny and a c-notch in the rear. Not sure what I'm going to use for a rear end yet. I will post my progress. This is my first project, so this will be interesting. Wish me luck.

[Bone$]

Your truck is bad ass and I love the family pics



What size wheel and tire combo are you running?

[mechanixman]

*Sorry for deviating from the thread temporarily*
Good lord! That looked just like mine when I bought it!!
albeit yours looking a whole lot nicer

[Coach529]

Sorry guys......I got distracted!!

Picked up a new daily driver and could not leave it stock. 2013 Tundra Crew Max.

Day I brought it home:



Ditched the topper:



It needed new rubber.....so I added some rims and a little lift too!!





Picking up Henry's 350/350 combo in a couple weeks and I will start that transformation!! Winter seems to finally be over......

[Root2812]

Originally Posted by Coach529

Winter seems to finally be over......

Shhhhh. You say that too loud and you'll scare spring away. Remember last year?

Nice looking truck you got.

[Coach529]

Originally Posted by Root2812

Shhhhh. You say that too loud and you'll scare spring away. Remember last year?

Nice looking truck you got.

Agreed.......we got 10+ inches just a week ago. Calling for 70's on Wednesday. Let the flooding begin!!

[mikec4193]

Hey Coach

I am loving this build...saving some family history and having fun with the present day family too...

MikeC

[Coach529]

Picking up Henry's new 350/350 combo this weekend, so I am gearing up for that!!

I plan on boxing the frame and using biscuit motor mounts.



New Alum radiator with electric fan on order.



Pictures to follow!!

[Coach529]

Got the motor and tranny home and on the stand.

Still deciding if I just want to thrown the engine in and drive it for the summer, or rebuild it.



Motor is a good runner. Advice?

[gumps10]

Clean it up and run it.....Work out the bugs of the motor / trans swap then rebuild it next winter small blocks are fairly reasonable / easy to find for a donor block to rebuild the way you want.....

Just my 2 cents ......

[99 to Life]

Or just run what you got now, work on the engine over summer and drop it in during the winter. Options are endless, however, I'd put it in once. To be safe, I'd atleast bust into it and see what is going on. Very worse case, run a compression test on the cylinders. I'v had one sbc have all great compression and on the #1 cylinder almost nothing, turned out it was a broken piston, so I tore it all down. Have a 235 that has the same problem, though I haven't figured out why it has no compression in one cylinder yet, didn't dig into it. So moral of all this is, its a great 5 min test that will tell you alot. But I'd just tear it all down, too much hassle if something IS not up to snuff with it.

[FarmerSid]

I'd freshen it up while you have it out and do it once. Won't take very long.

[Coach529]

Disassembly started last night. Front clip came of without too much of a fight. Hood and front bumper off tonight and whatever else I can get at.

Not enough hours in the day!!