hello everyone. I'm new to the board. I just got a 1947 chevy I think its a fleetmaster. I need some help. Here is what I want to do with the car and if anyone has any info on the best way to go about doing it please let me know. 1st off i want to lower it. I know i could use blocks or cut the springs in the front. What is the best way to do that? 2nd I want to drop a V8 in the car. I have a 283 and a 350 have not decided which engine i want to use. Any imput there would be great. I have a saginaw 4 speed. what is the best rear end for me to get? I'm also looking for fender skirts if anyone knows of some and a Visor. Thanks I've have included a pic of the car so please give me your feedback. The car is very solid no rust. Can't wait to get this one done. Thanks
Nice looking car. For simplicity check out http://www.ch***isengineeringinc.com/ and the bolt on type kits (SBC, ******, rear end) they have for 40-48 Chevy's. They have some rear end recommendations in their blurb (60" flange to flange, 68-74 Nova, 67-69 Camaro rears). Search the hamb as well. There are a lot of 46-48 chevs owners on here that have posted tech articles, pictures, progress reports. You can learn a lot from what others have already posted and I am sure you can use springs etc from other cars and do it yourself for less $$$ ? I have a 47 Sedan Delivery that has a circa 59 ford 9" in it and the CE rear end kit. I also have a SBC and 4sp muncie. I just used a generic tubular trans xmember from speedway motors and made mounting plates on the inside of the frame rails. Mine was already subframed so I cant offer any advice for the front end. cheers ricki
Give a call to Fatman Fabrications. He has a builders guide on 47 chevy's which tells you what junk yard parts to use as well as NAPA part #s for other items you might need.
That car is a Fleetline (or Aero Sedan, as many people call it.) Probably one of the more desirable body styles of that year. My Dad had a 46 for a while... he really enjoyed it (except for the m***ive blind spot making it hard to back into a parking space!). There are many rear end choices for this car. 10-bolt GM rears practically grow on trees, and many of them are close enough to the correct width. 70's Camaros and Novas are the typical sources, but they often have 2.73 gears in them. There are 12-bolts, and Ford 8" and 9" rears out there that will fit as well. Another popular rear would be the 55-57 Chevy. Those will almost bolt in, but you'll need to drill a hole in the spring perch on the axle to move it rearward on the springs about 1.5". (Or make lowering blocks to do this.) For the front, there are dropped spindles available, as well as cut coils. But with the knee-action shocks (think of a door closer built into the pivot of the upper control arm), I'd highly recommend a Mustang II front end for this car. Especially if you want it real low. There are many kits on the market, and most of them have been discussed here on the HAMB several times over. Do a search on that and see what you come up with.
Several places carry the skirts (big Jim's, Filling Station, etc). They're easily identifiable from regular 47 sedan/coupe skirts because of the chrome trim on them that match your fenders
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