So I'm buy what I originally thought was a 47 international, turns out after further inspection it's a 50 international, so I had a few questions concerning it and I've searched but didn't really find similar questions First, I prefer the looks of the front end on the 47-49 Inter.'s I'm not a big fan of the 50s, can I swap the Frt /grill off a 47-49 onto my 50? 2nd, I'd like to place the body on a s10 or Dakota frame and I've read the discussions about doing that on a 47, can it be done the same exact way on a 50? And 3rd last, it doesn't come with a bed, what year beds are the same or similar? Thanks in advance, and here's some pics Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
To answer several of your questions, get a measuring tape and get the mount location measurements off it and compare to the frame you want to use. If you have any metal skills, then the answer to your questions are yes, you can make them work. Looks like a cool find, anything wrong with the frame it is on?
I am not an IH expert but I am pretty sure that with a very little finagling the earlier sheet metal will mount up if it is not a direct bolt on. What you want to look out for on the S10 frame swap is the width of the frame. S-10s are real narrow and you may end up needing to use wheels with lots of offset. Used an S-10 short box ch***is un a '53 F truck and had to run 7 and 8" wheels with 2 inch back space. If the stock frame is solid I would use it myself. You can still buy brake parts etc for that truck from IH I am pretty sure. An IH 304 goes real well in one of those, they can still be found or the 304 out of an AMC is basically the same engine.
Great info and suggestions thank ya, before I fully commit to a frame swap I'm going to break it down to make sure it's useable, I think there's 1 rust hole that'll be an easy fix, But anymore and I may see how a 2WD Dakota with a magnum ch***is will work (I have it here) I really dig the 47-49 Int. front/grill, I'm hoping it'll be a straight bolt up job Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
The grille you refer to as '47-'49 is, I think, the '41 thru '48. The '49 is just like the '50 shown in the pics. When I was a teen we had a late 40's KB-1 that is what I think you are referring to. I am quite confident it WILL NOT bolt onto the '50 cab. The KB-1 has a much narrower cowl, more like a '37 thru '47 Ford truck than the L100 series IH of '49 up. As for the frame, a close friend of mine built a early 50's L series and used the original frame, adapting a GM 10 bolt rear end and an aftermarket MMII front end (wider than stock MMII by a couple/few inches). Based on the width alone, I would recommend you either keep the stock frame and upgrade it, or at an absolute minimum, move to something like the Dakota. As for a bed to match, IH pickups used the same bed/fender design through at least '56 as I recall, so that shouldn't be too hard to source. However, there are probably some other fenders that would be compatible. Dodge pickups from about '53 or so on up on any stepside have a similar contour to the original IH pieces, at least to my tired old eyes. Ray
I've had one of that series of binders and if it were me I'd keep the original frame rather than put another one under the truck. Those frames are stout as hell and didn't flex a lot like some of the others of the era.
304 out of an AMC is a totally different engine. IH engines weigh a lot more - remember it is a tractor engine.
That truck is not a 1950, its got exposed hinges so it is a 1951-52 L series (1949-1950 L's have hidden door hinges) and no the 1941-1949 K/KB front sheet metal will not swap over to your L, now a front clip from a 1953-1955 R or a 1955-1957 S will swap over to your L. The 1950's L-R-S sereis trucks are a bit ugly but after awhile they grow on you, at least thats what happened to me and now i have owned 6 of that body style.
Thanks guys, so now I know what I'm goin to be working with and what beds to look for, and it looks like I'll probably be using the orig frame. I will say it has a heck of a "patina" lol Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Your comment prompted me to look closer at the pics. I think it is at least a 3/4 ton, maybe a 1 ton.........in any case appears to be a full floating rear axle, and therefore a longer wheelbase/long bed model. Depending on your preference for bed length, it wouldn't be too difficult to shorten the original ch***is to the short bed truck dimensions. Still simpler than adapting a ch***is from a completely different vehicle. And, I agree with tanof's post about 304's. the IH 304 and the AMC 304 are totally different engines. Totally! However, the AMC 304, which looks similar to a small block Ford, and maybe weighs a few ounces more, could be a really good choice for an IH truck build. (also available in 290, 343, 360, 390 and 401 varieties) And, the later AMC engines were usually equipped with MOPAR 904 or 727 Torqueflites, another good ******. Since you are not going over the cliff with the lemming like GM and Ford crowd, the AMC powertrain would be a great "Independent" choice. Ray
Ok, dumb question, but I don't know so I'm gonna ask, what's the difference between the L, R, S IH's? Was it options, size etc? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
L,R,S were lines of trucks that IH produced, one after the other (Ks came before Ls , Rs after). The number will following the letter tell you whether it's a half-ton, 3/4 or whatever. 100 or 110 is half-ton, 120 is a 3/4 ton and so on. For a bunch more IH specific info check out www.oldihc.org. Most of the guys on that site are into restoration but there are a few rodders as well.
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