Thanks guys for the info. Yeah this is my first build alone. I used to work with my dad a lot on all his cars, but haven't tried to do it all myself yet. My game plan right now is just trying to figure out what I have and what it needs. A lot this was just unknown to me. I wish it would have been bone stock instead of having modifications done in strange ways. Right now it's just making lists of what I need to do to get this thing moving in a safe / inexpensive way. I have the cab mount kit ordered, so I will get those areas ready to work on. So... a Pinto suspension? Is that common. I've heard about the Mustang II kits, but not a Pinto one.
You have a beautiful old truck & depending on what it is you want you can spend tens of thousands of dollars for the finished product or thousands of dollars. Everyone is right so far start reading anything & everything about your particular truck. Then get some pictures of the style or styles that appeal to you & go from there. As far as practical steps, if your serious about building this truck go and get an engine hoist or an A-frame And a body dolly to take the cab off. You'll need to anyway. Do you weld? With the cab off, REALLY inspect the frame. If necessary take a wire brush in a drill over all the welds & see what you really got before you trust it & build off of it. You'll need to anyway if you plan on primering &painting the frame. Wear eye & ear protection ALWAYS. one mistake in either category & you are already at 50 %. good luck & subscribed.
Mustang II and Pinto are essentially the same thing. Before you get too involved I would make sure it has been installed square and with the wheels centered in the front fenders. Then you will have to figure out the drive line. You need to make sure you can fit the radiator in when positioning the engine as you don't want to have to try and squeeze something in afterwords. Like mentioned above get a plan together and take it one step at a time.
Hey, checked out the suspension and it is square. The welds aren't the prettiest I've seen though. I need to look into switching it from a 4 lug to a 5 lug, like the back. I have some wheels that came with the truck, but are pretty heavily rusted right now. I want to clean them up and use them. I've been searching around, but haven't really found an answer to this. Is there a radiator I could use from a donor vehicle? One that will work with a SBC and has similar dimensions?
hi im in the process of finishing my 38 chevy 1/2 ton pu.put a sbc in with 700r4 in.if i was doing another i would change a few small things to make life easier.if i can help i will. radiator i purchased an aluminum rad from PRC radiators,direect fit.its just a little thicker to cool the sbc.i didnt like the mounting brackets so i made my own.you wont have to cut into the firewall.i fitted a SPAL electric fan,if you place the engine carefully you wont have to cut the cab floor either all the best chris
That needs skinny tall tires and fenders. I feel those Chevys are the best looking years. But hedging the rat look really detracts from its beauty.
You can order a kit from Fatman Fabrications that allow you to bolt on S-10/Monte Carlo/Malibu/Camaro disc brake rotors and calipers to the Mustang II/Pinto spindles, which gives you 5 lugs and better brakes. For the cab mounts, the pad I pulled from my truck was similar to conveyor belt material (about 1/2" thick).
i have the fenders, running boards and hood (all steel) still to fit.front tires 235/60 are hitting the anti roll bar so ill be fitting narrower tires and possibly rims to the front.chris
One of my fave years of Chevy. It might help you to know that '37 car and truck used the same ch***is, helpful when finding parts. Good luck, do a lot of research. This engine swap has been done many times, no reason for you to re-invent it.
Nice, love that truck! I'm still plugging away on mine. I almost have the cab ready for paint, but it's been rough. I will look up that conversion kit, I've been trying to find something to convert to 5 lug.
i love the truck.what front end are you using,what size tyres on what width rims please.how much is it lowered
It has a TCI front end with dropped spindles and TCI leafs in back with 3" lowering blocks. It has 15x6 40 ford style wheels with chevy hubcap clips screwed to them. I think the tires are 215-75-15.
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