Projects New to H.A.M.B and I need some help

I didn't even notice the avatar. Dang.
I have built one hot rod 235 and it was as expensive as building a Cadillac, but it was cool. They are one heavy dude though. I had it on a 1960's Crower engine stand. Not sure a HF stand would have handled it.

 

Friend of mine had an XKE Jag engine in a HF engine stand.
It broke. Luckily it had something under it to keep it from messing it up.
10k engine, $29.99 engine stand.

 

I'm not a fan of dropped axles on pickups. I like the nose in the air and those Chev front ends are a nice setup. I am running a 261 in my 32 Bantam. These engines are old technology, but they were whipping the ass off flatheads when that truck was born. As already stated, the 216, 235 and 261 are all the same length, might just have to make new motor mounts. The 292 is an all together different breed of animal and I throw it into the same category as Corvette. I have 6 different intake setups for mine, dual Fenton, triple 97s, triple Carters, triple Rochesters, dual and triple Holly Webber 32/32 and triple side draft Webbers. They all work depending on the application. The biggest hurdle is the linkages. There is nothing like the sound of a split 6. Good luck and welcome.
Warren

 

The OP got off to a rough start but hopefully he'll stick around and learn from all the knowledge here on the HAMB. I was a lurker here for several years before I signed up and another couple of years before I became an Alliance member. That said I've had posts deleted for crossing the line into the off topic zone and I'm sure some of my posts have had some say WTF? Cut the guy a little slack unless of course he still continues to post about fuel injection, S-10 frame swaps, or some other OT stuff. JMO.

 

I say KISS (keep it simple Stu— ) the corvette stuff is going to be a lot of work and likely way to wide. The drop axle a lot ezer. Inline 6 or sbc your choice. Like @gearheadqce said auto is less work. Let your skills and budget be your guide
.

 

You need to decide what style of truck you want it to be: Modern street rod, vintage hot rod, beater truck..... Each have their place and usefulness. Only after you have evaluated what you want out of the truck should you start buying parts and building.

 

All jokes aside, I have done the vette stuff. Great if your building a pro touring something.
Not allowed here unless it’s some old vette stuff which is basically Chevy passenger car stuff I guess.
Anywho, some off topic advice. The newer vette stuff needs to be narrowed unless you like goofy front wheel drive looking wheels.
Where are the pics?

 

I will post more photos when I get a chance. So you guys know, I did read and understand the rules. I will be more specific with everyone. Currently I own a ‘37 Chevy 1/2 ton Pick up, original except the paint. The parts I have on hand includes ; a ‘62 Full pressure 235, ‘87 T5 5 speed w/ overdrive, also a ‘61 Chevy Corvette 4 speed with the front and rear suspension. A good start for a Hot Rod in my mind. Lived in Ben Lomond California, on my way to work one morning in my ‘59 Chevy 1/2 ton pickup, raining, dark, half way there a earth quake hit, boulder lands on road as I came around a corner, no chance to stop. Bent the frame and straight axle, made it to work, drove it home carefully. Ended up fixing all the damage except for the axle, installed a independent suspension. Did all the repairs myself, I am a welder. The difference in ride and comfort was remarkable. I just want to do this right but I also want to drive the wheels off of it. I realize the ‘86 corvette front and rear suspension with the driveline that I also have puts me in a different category. It may or may not be installed. If I need to be somewhere else let me know. Forgive me if I offended anyone.

 

No forgiveness needed.
It’s your truck to enjoy as you see fit.
Several folks, me included have OT parts on stuff. I try not to post pics of those parts of the build.
You will learn there are many grey areas here.
It’s not an exact science.
The wealth of info her is not surpassed by any other forum I am aware of.

 

Search function is your friend, there are several fantastic T-5 threads on here with guidelines to adapting it to just about any engine. should be no problem for you. since doing so will mean changing from a torque tube to open drive, the '61 Vette rear diff is a viable piece. but 5-lug. you can use later Chevy passenger car hubs and drums to convert to 5-lug or get aftermarket disk brake kit so your bolt patterns match.

 

Wow. You're not only 'taking the ball and the bat', you aren't even going to open the park...

 

I believe you'll fit in just fine sir, i was just making sure you realized what was going on here. If it wasn't available in 1965 or before, it's not supposed to be on here, but some things will slide by unless you hang a flashing light on it lol. Throw a T56 in your car because you have 4:56 gears and you need the double OD? cool! Just don't brag about it or post pictures of it. 1974 SBC? looks like a 283 out of a 64 impala, so it flies by. That's my tutorial from what I've learned. Weld wheels? Nope! Hell i posted them and got a letter in the mail with some weird white powder in it @Moriarity lined my ass out!

 

This place is not a museum but it is a time warp....... with a bit of wiggle room. The usual goal is to build it like Grandpa would have, especially in appearance. You can fudge a little with things like radial tires and disk brakes but not so much with newer issued wheels, for example, because that crosses the "appearance" timeline.
It's common for new guys to have to acclimate and get their head straight with the culture of this very particular forum. Think about wearing Nike shoes to a Civil War re-enactment for your first HAMB forum inoculation.

 

Using the '61 Vette rear would almost be a bolt in so that sounds like a good move. The Vette front will get you a slightly smoother suspension and 5 lugs, but having to deal with that goofy 3rd arm steering setup would make me think hard about trying it. I personally would use a dropped axle. Ya might get lucky and find that you can use the Vette (49-54 car) brakes on the truck axle/spindles??????
And if it was me, I'd put in a SBC with the T5. The Stovebolt might be interesting, but unless you really work it over it wouldn't be hot rod enough for me.

 

Merry Christmas everyone. Hope Santa is good to all of you!

 

Merry Christmas to you. I have a sbc in my avatar and the 235 or 261 or maybe a GMC would be good. With your pickup, my mind went to the last version I6 produced by GM. I'm thinking 292 with forged pistons a suitable cam and some forced induction possibly provided by exhaust flow. Remember ,HP is a mathematical conversion and torque is what moves the truck down the road.

 

Merry Christmas to you. And now, since you are here, you cannot leave. We want to see more of your truck as you build it.

 

Just got done shoveling 8 inches of fresh snow off 2 decks and 160 feet of sidewalk. While partaking in this popular northeastern wintertime activity I am thinking about my ‘37 Chevy pickup. If I had a second ‘37 1/2 ton frame I could get a great head start with this project. Does anyone out there in H.A.M.B. land know where I can secure a decent ORIGINAL frame at a reasonable cost? Please let me know. Off to tackle the driveway with the snow thrower.

 

When you said you have a 1937 Chevy pickup I immediately thought of this '38 Chevy pu:



So I'm thinking you should do something similar. Or at least I hope you will. This is a hot rod forum; and that, my friend, is a hot rod.



.

 

38 Special, one of the most awesome drag vehicles and the nicest couple you will ever meet.
Warren

 

This probably requires spare underwear, or Depends. To the OP, welcome to another PA hotrodder. Reading the comments here, you should be damned glad you didn't try to join 15 years ago! See you around.

 

Decided I am going with a 3” dropped front axle and keeping all the original steering. Would still like to use the inline 235 w/ T5 tranny just because it looks very easy. I also thought about rebuilding the 235 and put in front of the original 3 speed and keep the original rear end with better gearing. Good ideal or bad? Has anyone put a 350 or smaller V8 in front of a T5 with any success? I was told the T5 may not be strong enough. Many thanks to all that have offered their advice and knowledge as I get properly whipped into shape here!

 

Things sure have mellowed since then , for the better I think.
harleyd20, If things are closer to normal this summer , maybe we can hook up at a cruise. Bill

 

48stude, Not sure this project will be ready by then. Once it is done I will definitely be out and about. I will post progress photos as I can. Must wait till spring before I even get started. Who did your top chop?

 

I'm the guilty one. I did the chop in 1990. Do you go to any cruises in or around the Pittsburgh area? Bill

 

Welcome from a Pa. hotrodder, drag racer. Stick around .

 

harleyd20, like you, I am a Noob with an old Chevy truck. I may have inadvertantly mentioned in a reply to someone's post that I am using an OT sess ten rear axle with disc brakes and a tee five trans, but I seem to have gotten by with it. I also mentioned that I am going to use a 250 six, but I read somewhere that 3rd generation Chevy sixes came out in 63, so I dodged a bullet there. I look forward to progress reports on your truck! My advice FWIW is build your truck the way you want it, and keep your head down!

 

How are you going to use it? Mostly shows and cruise-ins? Just a driver? High-dollar paint job or just look decent? Will it get used as a truck--the occasional load of firewood or trip to Home Depot? Henrietta the '38 Ford pickup is no stranger to the junkyard to get some parts or Home Depot to get the stuff for a project around the house.

 

Plan to use the truck for what it was designed for, daily driver, parts/grocery getter, burn outs, everything else you can think of. The ‘59 Chevy pickup I built in California was driven across the country 3 times (6 times if you count the return trips) was a everyday driver as well. I personally can’t afford to build a truck and not get my money’s worth out of it. Not to mention that I just can’t stand to drive the plastic crap that is currently on the streets.