Projects Looking for guidance, advice, encouragement.

Through some odd transactions, I recently became the owner of a 1936 Chevrolet 1/2 ton pickup. The body is in pretty good shape and the frame, suspension brakes and steering are mostly original. The only change is the rear end has been replaced with a Moser 9 inch Ford...still six lug wheels. The two big changes the previous owner made are replacing all the wood in the body with steel and replacing the drive train with a Chevy 383 Stroker and a 700r4 transmission.
Now on to my current dilemma. I have known for sometime that I wanted to build a traditional hot rod from the early to mid fifties. I think I can achieve that by simply removing the current engine and transmission, surely someone will want them, and replacing them with something more contemporary to the early to mid fifties time frame. My first thought was to swap in a Chevy Stovebolt 6 with bolt on speed equipment and a 3 or 4 speed truck tranny. Since I am brand new to this world I am asking my new friends in the H.A.M.B. family to weigh in on this project. I am also on a fairly slim budget...as far as my wife knows, anyway. Thanks for any words of advice or criticism.

 

Do it the way YOU want to! You can always sell the hot rod parts, to build it your way!

Oh…and go for it!


Bones

 

Running driving truck, don't take it apart.

Dress the engine in early 60s stuff, get rid of all billet aluminum, get a hood, start working on body and paint.

 

I like your plan. There is a decent amount of speed equipment for the stovebolt 6, and they can make some power, especially if you have a 261 to start with.

But the GMC 6 comes in much bigger displacements, and while speed stuff is pricer/harder to find, GMC 6's were a hot commodity in their day, a few were legendary. If you can find a good early GMC inline 6, don't rule it out.

 

I like 6s
But if I had a running truck if probably dress up the 350.
Period covers, intake, carb, exhaust if I wanted to fit that era.
Then get the wheels and tires handled.

 

I did some cropping, etc so we can see the picture better.

Hmmm....I'd put some miles on it before deciding what to do.

Nice truck

 

That truck is a sneeze and nose blow away from being just right. 6cyl hot rod shit ain't cheap, then you e effectively limited the fun you'll have with it, the long distance driveability, ease of parts and service. If it was installed nicely well then all the better. In the hot rod world we don't check numbers and date codes. Call it a 327 if need be. I'm not pissing on 6 cyl lovers, but somewhere down the line you'll be a tomato juice commercial. "I coulda had a V8!" Just sayin...

Quick edit, it looks like the poor ol thing is confused too. I get it, know where you wanna go, but on a budget especially you're almost home.

 

Leave it like it is with minor changes to make it "yours", drive it, tweak it, enjoy it. Then, after you've learned a bit about this crazy hobby, start building another car/truck in whatever style you want. My .02, not worth much, just cheap advice.

 

Keep the v8. Just get it to be a reliable cruiser.

 

Stick with the 383 and disguise it:
https://clampdowncomp.com/tech/383-sbc-build-part-iv/

Here's a pic, I've removed the OT injection:


Other than that, do some mild metalwork to get the rear fenders a little more period correct, and throw a hood on it. That'll make it period enough to enjoy for years to come. Going from a V8 back to a 6 is admirable, but equal parts self-defeating.

Oh, and I assume part of making it 50's period correct is ditching the fender-dump headers. That's a bit late 60's to me.
~Peter

 

I’d spend the $ for rear fenders
Then dial in the stance

 

Replace those headers with rams horns and put a hood on it. Good to go.

 

Don't do a thing YET. Sit in it, drive it...a lot, just to sort it out and make minor repairs or adjustments. Formulate a plan that you can change. Write down ideas and hoard money. Then go for it.
Best of luck to you.

 

Neighborhood kid bought a '53 Chev car (probably 20 years ago) and started to "work" on it. I explained to the kid (and his father) that if you take on too much all at once and end up with a car that is completely disassembled, it is EXTREMELY easy to lose your drive when all you see when you walk out to the garage is a massive pile of parts and pieces that USED TO resemble a complete car. I suggested he keep the car as complete as possible and focus on one particular project on the car.

Next thing I know, the paint is stripped, the hood/fenders/doors/trunk lid are off it, the engine/trans are out, the entire interior was removed, all the glass had been pulled and the wiring was in a box. The project stalled at that point (as predicted) .... it then sat for years (taking up a LOT of space in his fathers garage) before being sold off.

My advice ... keep it a driver and upgrade/change things while continuing to drive it. Put a hood on it if you don't like the look of the engine

 

Good advice! I had a young friend that bought a 1951 Ford pickup, about 20 years ago, Faded paint, but a complete running pick up! He tore it apart, tried to chop it, cut it all to pieces. I caught him before he took the v-8 Flatheadvand transmission to the junk yard. It now sets in the shop on the ranch! His mom got tried of the pile of junk by her house and the young man loaded the truck in pieces and took it to the scrap yard….with out my knowledge!




What a waste of a nice truck!






Bones

 

I wouldn't fix something that isn't broke. If you got a good running small block and transmission I wouldn't change a thing. That is one good looking ride the way she sits and it's better to drive it and enjoy it and you might want to change your mind about altering anything. I can't begin to count the number of guys I know that started down the path of how they "wanted it to be" only to find they should have stopped while they were ahead.

 

Welcome!
That p/u is a great start.
Since you did ask for advice..I'd traditionalize that V8, and improve on the foundation that someone started, and like the others have advised.."make it your own".
Good luck, keep us posted.

 

I agree with what others have said here. By your own admission you say you have a limited budget. Building hot rods even if you have a lot of knowledge and experience is not cheap. Projects never go exactly as planned and usually cost more then you had planned. If the current workmanship on the truck is good I would start driving it, go to some car shows, learn a bit and then determine what you like and dislike then formulate a plan for the truck. What you are proposing starting to disassemble is what a lot of folks here would like to achieve. You may also decide the hobby is not for you after getting involved and the truck as it is now will be worth far more then a project torn down in pieces. With that said it’s your truck to do with as pleases you.

 

Taking a running ,driving truck apart has been the death nail of many a hot rod , as iothers have pointed out dress the engine in period valve covers, breather and install a hood, add some steelies and small hub caps.

Then concentrate on the body and interior.

Send The Moose a photo of your truck and ask him to do his magic, his photoshop work is amazing. HRP

 

Just drive it. Looks a lot like one that is around my area. Guy has a blast with it

 

Wow, a lot of good advice and, lightning fast as well. You all make some very good points and the consensus seems to be to not do anything yet, drive it for a bit...I think that is what I will do and also start looking into how I can disguise that motor to look like and older SBC. It does run like a champ so, there is that old "if it ain't broke don't fix it" saying. I am redoing the front brakes now with new drums, shoes and rebuilding the wheel cylinders. It still has the original juice brakes from 1936. Thank you all for all your well thought out advice. Expect to hear from me again. Love this place.

 

Proper rear fenders are definitely on my short list. The ones on it now were made from four trailer fenders from tractor supply. Two welded together on each side.

 

Steel wheels, hub caps, 1"whitewalls or blackwalls. Then make the engine look older or a hood. Never take it apart until it really needs to come apart.

 

I have the hood and the sides, I just need to get rid of the fender headers so I can fit them on the truck. Red steelies with baby moons are also on my short list.

 

You're headed in the right direction!

 

Glad you are taking the advise you are getting. Enjoy your hot rod truck. Keep us posted.

 

Just a bit of a road map here, there's nothing wrong or hateful about a 60s hot rod look either. Not everything has to be steelies and whitewalls to create a vibe. Bitchin mags and narrow whites or old fatter belted tires. Grab a few 64 thru 68 hot rod and car craft mags, rod n custom too. It was a 2nd coming and you're nearly there now.

 

Oh I agree. I love the hot rods of the 60's as well. My brother had a 63 Biscayne (I think) gasser about 67 or 68 with a 409. I thought he was cool back then, I was in Jr. High.

 

Great advice above!!! Run it and enjoy!!! Nice truck

 

It's perfect for the hot rod class at Drag week. As others have said drive it as is. Enjoy it.
Make it a 60's drag truck . A lot less money.
6 cyl won't be cheap or easy to do. I like 6cyl's have 6 of them.