Sound proofing

I removed the rubber floor mat and brushed on two coats of Rust Bullet on the firewall and floor. After it dried, I put down a layer of Dynamat Extreme. Hopefully this will help cut down on noise and heat in the cab. Time will tell...

New Wheels

I decided on using Wheel Vintiques 38 series "Hot Rod Rallye" wheels with chrome "Baby Moon" center caps. While not original, they don't look out of place.

The front wheels are 15 x 7 with BF Goodrich P225/60 tires. The rear wheels are 15 x 8 with P255/50 tires.

New Rear Axle

Since finding new rear gears that fit in the original rear is almost impossible, I decided it was easier and cheaper to replace the entire rear axle. I found a good rear axle from a 1969 Chevelle and installed 3.73:1 gears to give me the road speed I was looking for. The track width is about 1/2 inch narrower than the original rear, but it fits perfectly. I also has the standard Chevy 5-lug hubs, so I'll be able to use 4 wheels that look the same.

After accounting for the new transmission and rear gear ratios, first gear is now geared almost exactly like it was before, but top speed in overdrive is now around 88 MPH. I can comfortably cruise down the highway at 65 for 70 with plenty of power for the hills.

Overdrive

I bought a used Borg-Warner T5 5-speed transmission off eBay to replace the original gearbox. I will also need to change the rear gearing to get my ratios where I want. The T5 is a great match for this truck. It was originally on a mid-80s S-10, so the bolt pattern was the same as my 261. I had to find a new clutch disc with the right number of splines, but I used the original clutch fork and throwout bearing. I also had to get a new driveshaft made with the correct slip yoke and length.

Power Brakes

Since I plan on turning this truck into a driver, I am willing to sacrifice some originality in exchanged for better driveability. The first thing to be addressed is the original "Huck style" manual drum brakes.

After considering a number of different options, I decided to bite the bullet and install a complete Independent Front Suspension kit from TCI. This kit will give me better suspension, much better brakes, better steering, and the standard 5-lug hubs will match the new rear axle I'll be installing later.

The kit consists of a custom made crossmember, A-arms, GM spindles, coil springs, and a steering rack. I opted for the optional tublar A-arms, and got 11 inch discs rather than the standard 9 inchers. Installation began by boxing in the first 24" of the frame rails. After some careful measuring, the crossmember was welded in place, and the remaining assembly was a simple bolt-together process.

1951 Chevy 3600

I purchased this 1951 Chevy 3/4 ton pickup after seeing it listed on ebay. The seller lived only a few miles from my house, so I was able to go take a look at it and take it for a test drive. After agreeing on a price, I drove it home.

The original six-cylinder 216 engine has been replaced with a later model 261. It provides almost twice the horsepower of the original, as well as better reliability, but it still looks like it belongs there. It takes a trained eye to recognize the exterior differences in these engines.

The three-speed and the rest of the drive train is all original. Because of the super-low gearing, top speed is only about 52 MPH.