46 Chevy 1.5 ton to laying frame!

[Gravehunter]

I got my grandfathers old 1946 chevy 1.5 ton truck give to me. It was the farm work truck many years ago. It had been sitting down by the ditch for roughly 30 years. The only thing left was the cab and front end. Engine, tranny and back half of frame where long gone. It had sank in the dirt about 4” over the years sot he bottom of the cab as pretty much gone.

Plans:
Chop top, cut off the bottom to get rid of rust
Shorten bed
Fenderless
All new frame
Mustang II front end
Bagged front and rear to lay frame
Chevy 350 and 5 speed trans

First some pics from where it sat. The truck has been there so long.. when I was a kid I can remember shooting it with guns, busting out the windows.. etc… I guess there is some karma coming around to bite me I the ass!

 

[Gravehunter]

Chopping the top 6”

 

[Gravehunter]

Mustang II front end:

I initially planned on running this front end all stock for the simple reason of cost.
While looking for some new ball joints.. I found an air bag and A-arm kit on closeout from a going out of business sale. I got the entire kit.. new A-arms, bags, shocks.. etc.. for $400.
Swapped over to a manual rack.. and then just had to go through the tedious process of stripping down the old front end and trying to prep it to look decent. Luckily because I lost my job I had all the time in the world and not much money….. so it was worth it to me. Otherwise I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone!
Its all done now though and I have have less than $800 in the entire front end and all parts and new except the cross member and the spindles.
New parts: tube a-arms, shocks, bags, brake hubs, brake pads, bearings, manual rack.

 

[Gravehunter]

Frame:

I used 2x4”, 3/16” thick tube. All Z-s have an internal fishplate as well as a fishplate on both sides of the outside. Behind the cab Z-s are 45 degree and the front is 90. The front is welded up and then completely enclosed with 3/16” plate an all sides. There will be a corner gusset in there as well, but I’ve not put it in there yet.

I made my initial frame from 2x4 wood to get my dimensions. Then made a level table to make the frame on.

 

[Gravehunter]

Mustang II front end.. welded in place.

 

[Gravehunter]

Mockup:

Tossed the mock up engine in on the 2x4’s and put the cab on mainly cause I have family coming for the holidays that want to see it. But it gives it a little overall view of what it will look like.
At this stage on the body there is roughly 5” cut off the bottom of the back of the cab and 9” cut off the bottom of the front of the cab. That just an estimation as I did it in so many little steps to test.. I lost count.

That is also in its lay frame with bags down stance.

That’s all for now.
Thanks to this site and a few others for all the past posts and info shared that led me to this stage.
I’ve never done anything like this before… so its all been quite a learning experience to say the least.

NOTE: The front frame horns are way to long on purpose.. I will trim them down to size once I know the final location of radiator.. grill etc….

 

[roddguy1]

Well for a first time builder I think you've got it looking great. You obviously did your home work before you started cutting. A+ for making that independent front end look right at home on this build too. I'm usually not a fan of them on an open wheel rod. [cl

 

[Sam_Fear]

I'm with Rodguy1 about the IFS - great job! That's a clean set up. Aw heck, the whole truck looks good!

 

[fuzz]

So...how many bullet holes did you fill? LOL.... Great job on the build. Keep the pics coming.

 

[whytesmoke]

great job gravehunter looks sweet

 

[falconvan]

Looks great; you got a MII the old fashioned way, out of a real Mustang. Really nice work so far!

 

[Rev Tex Devlle]

GREAT build gH , WHAT YOU DO WITH THAT GRILL WHEN YA WAS DONE WITH IT?

 

[42chevy]

Way to go! That is a really nice build

 

[Gravehunter]

Well for a first time builder I think you've got it looking great. You obviously did your home work before you started cutting. A+ for making that independent front end look right at home on this build too. I'm usually not a fan of them on an open wheel rod. [cl

Thanks, i appreciate it. Its my first hot rod of any kinda actually. Never even owned a car in my life.
Yah i did A LOT of research on multiple sites and bought a couple books(Tex Smith) that members had reccomended several times.

That front end did come out much better than i thought it would. And i think with it tucked close to the engine and then add a rad and grill.. it will hide it pretty well.

 

[Gravehunter]

I'm with Rodguy1 about the IFS - great job! That's a clean set up. Aw heck, the whole truck looks good!

Thanks !

 

[Gravehunter]

So...how many bullet holes did you fill? LOL.... Great job on the build. Keep the pics coming.

oh man that was a task. I wish i could go back to when i was a kid.. and kick my ass for vandalizing that thing! LOL I shot it up... busted all the windows.. busted up the dash guages, jumped on the roof... etc.. The bullet holes in roof ran water in the over head dash.. console.. whatever and rotted all that out. Half the rust in this truck is my own fault. My Dad was laughing about that!

 

[Gravehunter]

great job gravehunter looks sweet

Thanks!

 

[Gravehunter]

Looks great; you got a MII the old fashioned way, out of a real Mustang. Really nice work so far!

Thanks

 

[Gravehunter]

GREAT GOD gH , WHAT YOU DO WITH THAT GRILL WHEN YA WAS DONE WITH IT?

I think i'm going to use the original grill.
I cut the sides off and mocked it up.

 

[Gravehunter]

Way to go! That is a really nice build

Thanks!