Chevy AD truck turned daily driver???

Okay before I piss anyone off, I want it to be known that I know very little about very little, and almost nothing about hot rods and what not. Also I hope that this topic doesn't offend the classics. That said, I love the old chevy trucks and I want to use one as my company vehicle, but don't think a nearly 60 year old truck as a daily driver is a good idea. I've seen that people use the s-10 frame sometimes, I was wondering if you could use everything from an s-10 and more or less "bolt on" the old body. Then you get the look, with the drivability.
Thanks,
bdiesel

 

nothing is going to be a direct bolt on and go. these trucks on s10 frames is going to be your best bet. but there is nothing wrong with keeping it with the original frame and just upgrading the running gear.

Johnny

 

I know an old guy who uses his mostly stock AD truck as a daily driver....just like he used to 40 years ago....the truck still works the same, you just need to reset your expectations to the olden days.

Or, spend a lot of time and $$$ and modernize it...but then you lose most of the old truck flavor.

 

I have a friend of mine that sells S-10 chassis swap kits for those trucks...personally I'd just swap in a more reliable drivetrain and leave the chassis alone...

 

I've owned quite a few of those old AD pickups I've driven them stock and started an s-10 swap. A word to the wise...Fuck that! it is way more of a pain in the ass then it's worth. Just get a new engin/tranny and rear end and call it good.Trust me.

 

the problem with old stuff as a daily is ............ well its old.


if the old truck is gone thru and every thing rebuilt or new it will be fine as a daily. but this means all suspension, steering, motor, wiring, fuel system and so on.

 

This AD truck (actually an ND because its a GMC) with a later rear axle to get a better gear ratio, and disk brakes on the front to ensure quick stops, is a reasonable daily driver in today's traffic.

It will run 70+ and as long as its moving is easy enough to park. The 53-year-old motor and transmission are reliable.

If you see me driving something else its because my wife and I have five licensed and insured vehicles and somedays I want to drive one of the others.

 

Here you go:
http://www.ad-engineering.com/

An almost bolt-on frame swap.

~Jason

 

Only 5? damn, you gotta get to work on some more old stuff!

(we have 7 last time I checked)

 

I say buy one that's already done, and not an F-10.

 

I'm not going to tell you what to do, but.... I have driven my 58 as a daily work truck in the Sprinkler repair biz, and lawn service hauling mowers, edges, weed eaters etc. for 3 years now. Averaging 150 - 200 miles a day. It has also doubled as our travel trailer hauler all over everywhere, our trash hauler, lumber yard go-getter, and all round work horse. Only upgrade is the motor and tranny.

Or least I was, I pulled it apart this year for a total re-do, I figure it's served it's time and deserves a easier life for a while! LOL

 

Okay, so let's say I can find one that's in good shape and I just want to change the drivetrain. I log a lot of miles, and with gas prices the way they are, what are my options for an engine? I don't want a big v-8, and I don't have to haul anything, I just want it to get me where I'm going with pretty good fuel economy.

 

A 60s-70s straight 6 would probably be the way to go, they fit into the AD trucks relatively easily (don't have to mess with exhaust/steering issues like a V8), and are modern enough that they are very reliable. Figure 15-20 mpg for rural driving, less for city.

 

The Chevy 250/292 was made up into the 80's and would be a good choice. Run an overdrive transmission like a T-5. But don't expect that big box to get the same mileage a sleaker modern EFI truck will get.

 

Could you use a more modern, late 90s early 00s, V6?

 

yeah, you could....but they're so short....

 

and you have computer crap to throw away

 

Is there such a thing as a v8 that gets mid-20s mpg?

 

Hmmm, that's a big truck. Maybe if it's setup with the "RV" cam theory. Somebody say how much MPG their stock 6-banger gets.

 

yeah dude if you put it in a yugo!

 

I wonderedthe same thing, so I did a poll by asking that question and more to the owners on another AD thread here on the HAMB via PM's. Over 50 owners responded.
Most had changed the chassis. An almost even split between Mustang II fron ends and S-10 swaps wit ha few other s thrown in for fun.
A few had re-worked the original chasis and running gear.
Most all (95+&#37said they were happy with their result.

As for mine, I will be starting the S-10 swap....whenever I can finally get to buy house and a garage. But that's another story.

Glenn

 

yes there is but not on a truck, My 23T with a 1965 Corvette 327 bored .60 over with a TH350 gets 23mpg. with 2-200lb men in it.

 

that truck needs to be dropped to the ground!

 

work w/ what you have, upgrade.

 

I was a Stovebolter first, then a HAMBer. I've got the stock frame under one and an S10 under another. As far as parts and ride and such, the S10 is the way to go. As far as putting it all together, an MII or something up front might be a good idea because then you don't have to make body mounts, bed mounts, fender mounts, radiator mounts, engine mounts, and running board mounts. The AD Engineering kit is too much in my opinion for what it is when you can fab it all up with a welder, drill press, and chop saw . It does save time, though.

I've seen Volare, S10/Camaro/Nova subs, and Chevelle full frame swaps to go along with the MIIs.

I saw a guy in Piqua Ohio that took a later model (70's) frame and cut it off and slid it OVER his stock frame, made some spacers and BOLTED it together. Changed the rear end and drove the hell out of it. Looked stock height because of the way it was done but he loved it. I was a bit concerned that the whole thing could come apart on the highway but that was more of a bias because I was concerned of the quality of the gear he used.

There is a place here somewhere on the net where they show you how to take a 73-87 front clip, unbolt it from the frame, make 1/2" spacers, and bolt it onto your stock frame. Height is affected if you want it lowered because the track width sticks out to the edge of the fenders. That would move you up the scale 20-30 years.

As for 20 mpg, not too many of the full size trucks get that to start with. I had a '92 4.3/5 speed that would get 19-21 depending on the weather and conditions. I've got a 454/Auto now that gets 12! At $0.30 a mile for fuel, I make sure I know where I'm going before I leave!

 

One thing to take into consideration when you are figuring your fuel economy. It isn't just MPG to think about. It is $/Mile. If you have cut your insurance in half or more over a newer truck, you can take 1-2 mpg off your target and have the same budget. Plus you've got the cool factor.

Used to be Dr. Flue in Tecumseh, MI running around in Panel trucks. Ford, Chevy, IH, all from the 40s-50s. All sign painted with his logo. Been 20 years and I can picture the IH. Burgandy with Dr. Flue on the side with a chimney sweep running with his ladder in one hand and holding his hat with the other. He's got newer trucks now but when I was 18, that was the cat's ass and I wanted to be able to do that myself some day. You can't buy that advertising!

 

Dad and I have a '50 GMC 100

It has the 228 in it still (not stuck, but it turns hard).

FWIW the current plan when we get to it is to change the rear axle, probably replace the springs with the ones from Posies, a dropped axle (a friend has a couple) discs, maybe the roller bearing kingpins (SSBC 'Royal Kingpin Kit"). Some kind of overdrive, Nicson dumps and a couple carbs (with whatever intake we decide on). Power steering, maybe, it will depend on how it drives with whatever kingpins we get (I have heard people call the rollers 'poor man's power steering' but have yet to drive one so equipped).


Bluto claimed that kind of mileage here.

 

Mine's almost daily driver status, not sure what the mileage is yet.
250 six, 700R4, 85 vette rear.
The 250 six fits right in, but its about 1.5 inches longer, so you mount the radiator GMC-style, in front of the support.
I've had it up to 85 mph so far.

Front end is the Dakota kit from Industrial Chassis, ElPolacko is a member here. Very happy with the front suspension!

 

Yes indeed. It's called the LT1 as found in T/As and Z28s from 93 to 97. Our 95 T/A (recently replaced by an H3) routinely pulled off 24+ mpg at 80-85mph running the AC. An all time best of 26.7 we got on a weekend in northern MI. More work, very reliable, nearly maintainence free, no way even close to traditional, but you asked so...

 

If you know nothing about old cars/rods and want 20+ mpg just buy you a Nissan.