1950 Chevy 6400 (2-ton)

So I bought this last night;



Plan is to clean it up, s**** the dump bed and make a nice flatbed on the back of it, will be a towing rig. Thinking of repowering with a 472-th400 cad . Anyone else have any good ideas?

 

Love these trucks! Please keep us posted on progress. Box and lift make good profit as trailers around here. Will be sweet ride when you are finished.

 

I love my 1/2T but I really dig the proportions more on the bigger AD trucks.

 

Hmmmm how about a ***mins diesel with an Advance Adapters 2spd overdrive between the engine and a 5spd ******?

 

Does it have a 2-speed rear?

 

It does for now

 

My Dad used to have one of those in flat bed form. Great truck. He had a matching 54 1/2 ton at the same time. He would chain down a cab-over camper on it and drive it all over the state.

 

Look around for a vintage curved corner flatbed. The cool styling on 50s era fratbeds has always caught my eye!

 

For a tow rig, I'd agree with a turbo diesel. You can get them cheap enough at a junk yard, and they make crazy numbers with just a little breathing on. Not to mention they run forever so if ya get one with around 100k on it it's just a puppy. If you don't already have a re built Caddy motor you'll have to do a re build and **** will add up fast. I'd bet the diesel at the end is the better deal. What are your plans for the suspension?

 

I've got the same truck. I put it on a low 86 dually ch***is with a 472 cad. It fits nice, looks way cooler than a small block, and 375+hp and over 400 ft/lbs of torque, it works great to tow. I just had to widen the front fenders to fit the wider track. Hope to finish this year sometime. Nice to see someone else improving a "big bolt" instead of just restoring it. Have fun.

 

I obviously like that model of truck just a little bit and that one has potential.

I've got a 1-1/2 ton that I'm thinking about doing the same thing to that PKap did on his.

 

Here are a couple pics as it sits. About 5" under the front bumper when done. I will have the steps on it as well which will make it look lower


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Haveing a wrecker drag it home for me tomorrow, see if i cant get it running by the weekend

 

Well got it home today, here it is on the back of the hauler;



and now in mine;

 

Looks good! Does it have a lot of rust?



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Not to bad for rust, this was in service all the way up to the year 2000

 

Got the truck to fire off today, needs the carb rebuilt. And the whole truck needs to be rewired.

 

Are you planning a suspension and braking upgrade? A modern rear end bolts right up to the spring stack for better gearing and brakes. I changed my frame mainly because I was scared of the brakes (lived in the mountains at the time)


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Yes, In fact I already have inline the front and rear from a 1ton gm motorhome, gives me a dually rearend, and the front end will bolt to the original frame with a 1/2 inch spacer on each side. pretty simple swap for better brakes, handleing and gearing.

 

Well I rebuilt the carb and got the truck running. And I even lifted the dump bed. I also moved it forward and backwards under its own power. The carb is ****ed up tho and really wasn't a great candidate for a rebuild the top has a big chunk broken off of it from some one being a little over zealous trying to keep the air cleaner on. I can't get it to low idel. Pics to follow.

 

bed up;



Underside;

 

Well, been working on getting this running better. The carb is junk i need to find a carter YF, and the 235 exhaust manifold has three cracks in it. I'm going to have to find a replacment for that. two steps forward one step back.

 

So are you planning to drive it as it is for a while? Several of the restoration suppliers sell the carbs for a couple hundred bucks, and lots of parts on the stove bolt forum.


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heck you might as well just pull the motor and drop that SBC with auto in for the misses! Too damm cold out to be messing with stuff just for the sake of doing it!

 

Dont worry, im sure you will end up with this engine far before you actually need it, and then it will be a good runner lol.

I gotta get it running as it is for now so i can do some stuff with it.

 

Well I got the truck running good, changed the intake old one was cracked. Working on cleaning out the fuel tank. It's pretty gross inside. I used electrolysis to clean out alot of rust. now im going to have to clean out the rest of the varnish and then another shot of electrolysis before i seal it up with the por15 tank sealer. Then its onto brakes and she will be a driver

 

Cool, let me know if you can get it up past 55! ( about my trucks stock limit)

 

Pkap i will let you know, but more than likely the old beast want see freeway speeds till a rearend change. looking for a p30 rear to keep the original wheels.

 

heres some video's of the dump truck running;

http://youtu.be/9N_38Pheqag

http://youtu.be/WFAzCv9xwUc

 

Well after cleaning out the tank, de rusting and sealing it. I ran new lines and with clean fuel actually being pumped to the carb the truck is running alot better!