Need some direction before I get started. 1946 Checy

[frenchsquared]

I just bought a 1946 Chevy Pick up. I have been looking for the right one for a few years now.
I have not picked it up yet. Will do that this weekend.

The bed is missing.
I was told it is a 1/2 ton. I dont know. It looks like a 1/2 ton but it has 8 lug wheels.
So must be 3/4 axles. It is on a 46 frame. No engine, no tranny.

I want to keep the old look, get it low, and get it driveable. I have no
intentions of making it a racer. I want a nice cruiser.

For parts I have.
A 1980 C20, good 350/th350, good frame. Nice running and driving truck.
And...
A 1996 S10, short bed, regular cab with a bad engine.
And...
95% of an air ride set up for either frame. Just need brackets

Im trying to decided if I should keep the 46 frame, use the s10 frame or use the C20 frame.

I like the idea of keeping the 46 frame, but I want to be able to lower the truck. In a
perfect world where money is endless I want the trucked bagged. I have everything
to do that to the S10 or C20 except the 4 link and the front bag mounts.

I have no idea how I would bag the 46. I have not really even seen the front suspension on one.

I have been Googling for days. I know the S10 frame needs to be narrowed.
It seems the C20 frame is the easier one to use.

What frame would you all use?
Do you know any good sources for parts like motor mounts and tranny mount?

[old yelr]

Measure the wheelbase, if it's 115" it's a 1/2 ton if it's 125.25" it's a 3/4 ton. Also, I noticed that the grille is GMC and the hood is Chevrolet. Not sure which way you should go there but I personally like the GMC grille. If you look at the top bar on the upper grille there is a square missing and thats where the GMC piece fits. The hood sides for a GMC would have a big trim piece that says General Motors Truck instead of the trim bars.
I think the C10 frame is too wide for these trucks going by what I've read on here. The S10 frame would be a better choice as it already has IFS etc. but the wheelbase for a shortbed s10 is only 108" so you would be coming up short there. If you go with the original frame the are a few company's like Scott's Hot Rods and Flat Out Engineering that make kits for IFS and IRS for these trucks.
There are lots of vendors that have parts but you will probably need to do some fab work.

[frenchsquared]

Wheel Base is 115".

I have a Camaro sub frame and a Camaro rear diff.
The front of this truck is 5 on 4 and 3/4. The rear is 6 lug.
It is not an 8 lug like the original seller told me.

I am leaning towards the Camaro parts if they will fit. I know I can
buy new stuff that will fit easily, but I am trying not to spend a ton and
not take 5 years to get this on the road.

The C20 is very close in width. 1/2" wider. That is defiantly doable.
The S10 is like 3" wider. From what I have read the S10 in not a good fit.

-------------------

Is it better to add the Camaro parts to the original frame?
OR
Is it better to move the body to the C20 frame?

[frenchsquared]

Im going to use the 1980 C20 frame.
I already have the 47 cab sitting on it. Looks like I will need
to widen then fenders or get a custom offset wheel.
i think the wheel base is just a couple inches to wide.

[old yelr]

I think the track width is where the downside of using the C10 frame is. It's too wide for these trucks. The S10 has a track width of around 55" if I recall and the C10 is probably a good 10" wider.

[frenchsquared]

I noticed that.
I am looking at ways to narrow the wheel base.

[old yelr]

Have you had a look at shaunatk's build? He's using an S10 frame, maybe you will get some insight from it.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=431631

[frenchsquared]

narrowing the frame on an S10, seems like more work then just using the 47 frame and
moving everything over.

His is coming out great... but my S10 frame is about 3 inches wider then the cab on my 46.
and like 10" wider then the original frame.

[Zach B]

That 46 frame is strong. There are many parts available to modify your suspension to a more modern type. Ultimately you just have to go to the rights places such as LMC. They sell a mustang 2 conversion and I think you can get a rear axle that will work. The s-10 is cheaper in parts however as you said it has to be narrowed.
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[hyatt]

thats not a 46 grill Looks like a 42

[hyatt]

here is a 46 grill

[old yelr]

Hyatt, the grill in his pictures is a GMC grill not Chevy.