1949 Chevy Truck with a 5.3L
 

Ok well I finally got to drive my 49 Chevy truck, and well its easy to say the Advance Design (name of these trucks from Chevy 1947-1954) well is very advanced now.

I started with a small block 350 and a stock 49. The tranny was in the bed and there was no driveshaft. The truck hadnt run in a long time but had been recently painted, not to my quality but good enough. I picked it up locally from an old tree farmer and now its on the road as my Rod.

Here is the start:
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The NOT END because as you can Im not done, still got to finish the bed and some other stuff. I havent even washed it.

Just thought I'd give ya a sneak into my garage. It runs and drives awesome. Still have that old feel with the power to back it.

I retained the front axle, 4" drop though. lowering blocks in the back. I cheaped out and went with the new Cherry Bomb muffler I like the sound of it, 2x1 exhaust kept it quiet just like I wanted it. 32" Lokar shifter connects to my 4L60E and then back to the stock Saginaw rear end. Im putting a temp bed in this weekend (plywood) so I can get to a show next week and then this winter I'm making my own bed and my dad is going to sew my interior (white and black tuck and roll). Im also looking for an intake as you can by the duck tape ensuring the MAF doesn't fall haha. I ordered one but it was the wrong size, hopefully it will be here soon.

Hope you guys like it

The best part was pulling into to Autozone to have them test the computer when my SES light came on. The guy didn't want to walk outside till I told him just follow me man, I know what Im doing and took the OBD II from him. His jaw dropped and he couldn't believe it.

oh it was the MAP sensor, still figuring out what the deal is.

JC

That's awesome! Bet the look on that guys face was priceless. Sounds like it will be very clean when finished.

I hope to get cleaning this next week. I have a few days off and I want to get some carpet or something for the floor. Definately going to get some sound deadener too. I might have to sell this next year or sooner as the bills are getting tight but I really want to keep it and make it my parts hauler. Its freakin sweet and my first full build. The whole truck is freshened up, with new wiring and all.

One great thing was the Sanderson Headers (S10 model) they fit perfect. I wasn't going for speed on this build, more for reliability and thinking it should look as stock as it could like what chevy would have done if they had this motor back in 49. I tucked the computer and the wiring up under the dash. The heater works (wife's choice). Next I'm going to figure out a way to install some interior lights under the dash so I can see something at night if I drop it, found that out the hard way. Im going to make a nice battery cover as you can the rusty metal one on the passenger floor is well rusty and doesnt fit the way I want.

Still have lots of things to tighten up and finish working on, but it'll be fun figuring out different things.

I will say this might be my last LS style swap. I have lost interest in the fuel injection side of this and the wiring issues.

Very cool.....distributorless ignition, EFI, meets kingpins!

very nice truck. l;ike the engine choice.

nice project but I like the five window in the background. one day I'll have one but it may be a while.

nice ride, congrats.

Great project.. give me a little kick to do something about my 1948 Ford F-1 truck.. all stocker right now.. If only I could find a cheap 5.3 or 6.0L ... I'd have winter project. LOL..

I just sold my spare 5.3 to my exhaust guy. His kid wants to put it in a RX7 and I knew I wouldnt use it anytime soon. I did just get a killer lead on 4.8Ls if anyone is interested.

Im working 12 hour days right now but Ill get the new clean pics up here soon. Going to spend a few hours covering wires with nice braided loom and such. Thanks for all the kind words guys. It was a long and tedious task but a great achievement for me!

And that 5 window, well thats for sale, if interested please PM. Its a killer base for a great project, I just spent too much on this one and well now I have to sell some stuff off.

Great truck!

I have a 50 that is about my 5th project in line. But it was my Grandfather's (Patrick), and I want to pass it to my now 5 year old son (Patrick), when he is old enough to drive. It is ruff, it was a used farm truck until the 80's. I learned to drive in it at 11 on the farm (4 on the floor baby!). Anyway, its pretty stock except the 3/4 ton 4 speed, and diamond plate bed floor my grandpa put in back in the day. I added 15x8 rallies (at 16) and a new style fuel pump (at 11). I want to do a swap down the road.

Any sites you could recommend for research?
Where did the drop axle come from?
Is that the stock rear... didn't it have an enclosed driveshaft?
Stock brakes?

Dummy's
 

Who did the brake lines for you? It looks like shit. I will give you 500 dollars for it?

Wow. That thing looks awesome. I'm gonna subscribe to keep up on this. If you decide to sell it, PM me.

It is not the stock rearend but similar. I am unsure what it came out of, you are right enclosed driveshaft would be the stock. Im guessing maybe a late 50 rear. Not sure though.
www.Droppedaxles.com for the axle. I think 4" is too low for scrubline, 3" might be the best and add some monoleaf for the extra couple inches. Sid is the guy, he is amazing to work with and tell him I sent ya if you could.
I frequent the HAMB, but they dont like my conversion so I just get different ideas there. I dont go to much else. I just get stuff from here and there. I used to have friends who were into this but we have gone our separate ways.

Well I got the temporary bed installed tonight, figured out my O2 sensors were backwards, but the exhaust was too hot to switch em, was fighting it running really rich all the time.

I cleaned it and am now looking for some carpet for it.

Thanks for the response guys. Makes the build that much more fun.
Ill post some new pics soon. Been busy at work.

Good looking truck. It's hard to beat these GEN III engines.

Yeah, The HAMB sees this drivetrain as taboo, not traditional. I just keep my hood closed.

Hamb is good for researching trad stuff, but gen III/IV engines are not popular there.

I'm thinking an electric choke carb setup for my Merc, just waiting for the body to get repainted.

This pic looks neat.....truck looks good....probably fun to drive and enjoy. Good job

^I don't know why you would do that PSJ... I think you should go either one way or another. If you're putting in a gen 3, don't be ashamed of it... Let the carbed undrivable crap be available for the purists and traditional folk, you're effectively taking a very efficient and drivable (cruiser combo) setup and turning it into dinosaur technology. That would be like mounting a cannon with a fuse on an f-22 raptor! Like the other dude said, keep your hood closed if you plan to go to the hunnert pileup or something of that nature, they're not gonna be any more excited to see the coil packs anyways...


Plus I've never seen a merc with an ls1 in it... I'm sure they're out there... Such a cool looking car, it would be fun to be able to drive one everywhere!

You'd be amazed at some of the LS powered "early cars & trucks", it is becoming quite popular....and why not, it's the hot rodder thing to do. Most people look at my engine and say ".....what the heck is that??".............I don't run coil/fuel rail covers and with my airbox mounted on top of the intake it's just too "mechanical looking".

Oh I've seen em all... Around here theres even an ls powered hup mobile... I just think if you're going to do the conversion, be proud of it. There's no hiding an ls1 completely... and why would you! Its always cool to mix old school styling with new technology... that never gets old!

Great build so far.
 

Nice job. Love the stance and the white walls. Have fun cruising around. Awesome garage you have there. I wish I had room like that to work. I have a '53 5 window that I "finished" back in July. Well, it's on the road but I don't think these projects are ever 100% done.