Awaiting delivery of this 47 Chevy. Has a hot 261 in it with the stock 3 speed. Looking for input on a 3 or 4 speed thats a direct swap while maintaining the closed drive. Any help is appreciated. It is getting dropped all around with more in the rear, teardrop skirts and a clean up of the deacklid with license going to the bumper. Came from a life in Georgia and most recently Alabama, any of you recognize it?
Looks like a nice one, business coupe no less. There isn't a 3 or 4 speed that you can swap and maintain closed driveline. Later 3 or 4 speed will bolt up, but then you'll need to swap to an open rear and 5 lug bolt pattern.
I am no help on your questions... But, great looking car! I have really started liking the 46-48 Chevy coupes!
Yep...I know of it. You got a hell of a deal. If that car had been available 8 months ago it would be mine, in my garage right now. As far as a 40s Hot Rod Chevy Coupe, I don't think you can do any better. I'll be honest, I'm not too thrilled with the direction you are going with it. It's your car so good luck with it. I'm a Hot Rod guy not a custom guy. If it was mine I'd just put gas in it. Congratulations and Good Luck with it.
Thanks, I dig your truck, miss my 51. Its going to tell us which way it goes, Im no opposed to hot rods!
Nice car for sure. I had a '46 for many years, called it the Panda Bear, with a Mayberry Barney Fife badge on it. Be sure to show us your progress.
I sure like it. These Chevy's are the sweetest thing you can modify and they make great cruisers and family cars. Of all the mods that I have done to mine, I never had to remove any sheet metal. Beautiful car to work on. Yours looks to be in outstanding shape, if you ever want to know anything, let me know.
One possible solution: as i recall, an early model truck 3 speed trans. , floor shift, w/ closed d/line works with no issues. But, its a truck trans. w/ granny gears, be prepared. Easiest cheapest way is a 55-64 rear end-perfect 61" width, 2" blocks, drill a hole in the perches to center the wheel. Use 3 or 4 speed w/ adapter and go. I did both ways to mine, i've owned it over 55 years, sold it 1 time when i went in the service and bought it back when i came home. Glad to see others like the 40's style coupes
@I Like Tacos If you decide on a ‘55 up open drive transmission, you don’t need an ‘adapter’ as such, but a ‘47 up truck or ‘55 / ‘62 p***enger bell housing to get the correct Trans bolt pattern. However, which of those is best for your use depends on the engine/trans mount setup you intend to use. If engine is side mounted, then you could use a trans tail shaft mount. If front mounts are under the timing cover, then mounts at the bell housing would be desirable. Another consideration is the clutch release arm opening on the bell housing. The primary disadvantage these days is, those parts aren’t lying around as plentifully as they used to be, but are still to be found with a little research and a bit of luck. Best wishes, Ray
If it were mine, one of the first things I would do is move that god awful gas filler. Never like that sticking out of the side of the car.
I agree, the gashole is one of the weirdest things I've ever seen on a Chev. I have a '46 Fleetmaster sedan in deep storage that was my wife's grandfathers. Bought new after the war and it came with bumpers! Her cousin and brother were going to "restore" it when they were younger. By restoring I mean removing the clock with a hammer and losing the engine! How in hell do you lose something that damn heavy? I wish it were a coupe. Goo de luck with your project!
My 48 Sedan and my 48 Coupe. My father bought the Sedan new in November of 1948. Sent from my iPad using H.A.M.B.
It’s one of those “easier said than done” situations. On the Business Coupe models, the fuel tank is just behind the front seats, ahead of the rear axle. It is a wide flat tank, separated from the front p***enger seat area (at least on ‘37/‘40) by a bulkhead and with a plywood deck above it. The trunk floor panel is fairly deep and flat and the spare tire is carried in a horizontal position. There is plywood luggage deck that extends forward to meet with the gas deck that provides a very flat and deep space for carrying whatever. The Deluxe Coupes have different trunk floor stamping (raised) and the tank is mounted at the rear under the trunk floor with the filler tube through the rear fender. Given the location of the tank in Business Coupe models, the best option I can see for eliminating the filler tube/cap would be to graft in a recessed filler with either a flap door or flush cap. On my ‘37 Business Coupe project, I chose to retain the location, but am replacing the filler tube protrusion with a flush mount bezel with a very shallow polished aluminum screw in cap which i bought from Yogi’s. My close friend and fellow HAMBER has a ‘37 BC and the forward tank was removed before he acquired the car many years ago, the original filler hole filled, and a different tank (I forget the origin) mounted in the trunk. It is in a forward trunk position but above/behind the rear axle hump. It has a flush style filler, similar to mine, but mounted much higher and rearward in the quarter panel. That has worked well on his car. Ray
I've always had a soft spot for these Chevy Coupes. My first hot rod build was a '48 Chevy coupe, 283/3spd/57 rear. My high school girlfriend striking a pose
Yessir, that was my old '50. Notice it has the little back window. Somebody put 1951 front sheet metal on that truck along time ago. That little coupe you have is a sweet car. Those are scarce in that condition. You are a lucky man because I have seen beater sedans going for more than what I saw that car priced at. Business Coupes are kind of their own little niche. I had a 50 Ford BC and a 52 Chevy BC. They're just cool. Again Sir, Have a good time with it.
Easist thing is to go with a tri-five rear that will bolt right in - perfect with! These housings accept ALL pumkins from '55 through '64, ratios from 3.08, 3.36, 3.55, 3.70, and 4.11. With your tall tires, I wouldn't go taller than a 3.55 - fairly common. Hard to beat the Sagnaw 4-speeds, as they weren't beat on like the Muncies. I LIKE the 3.11-low versons used in Vegas, Monzas - TWO grooves on the input shaft, funky counterbalance plates mounted on the tailshaft housing. Excellent gear spacing! ADVOID the Sags' with 3 grooves - 3.50-low is fragile! Next best is a 2.54-low, no grooves on the input. *****IN biz coupe!
The 261 is definitely staying. On the hunt for an appropriate rear. Have found Chevy/ Vette brakes. Picked up some 15 inch wheels and a set of 7.10x15s for it. Any feedback on a T-5 behind the 261?
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