Rescued Cummins-Powered 1946 Chevy Stakebed Truck

The majority of the vehicles we feature are newer pickups and semi-trucks that are typically adorned with new gadgets, electronics, and the latest in diesel technology. While we love to learn and explore new advancements as much as the next guy, we also have a strong passion for older vehicles as well, and celebrate the achievements of diesel’s beginnings and growth. Take, for example, this cool 1946 Chevy hot rod hauler.

This featured truck was originally built in 1946, and it was originally purchased for use as a workhorse on a chicken farm in Bonsai, a rural area of Northern San Diego. It served many years on the farm before being becoming inoperable, and dormant until the current owner rescued it.

Chevy Hot rod

The 12-valve makes the perfect mill for this hot rod.

Joel picked up the truck for a mere $300, knowing it would be a special project and should be kept safe until it could be revamped. Finally, while gathered with friends one evening enjoying a few cold ones, a plan was put into motion.

One evening, Joel and a few friends were talking about the Chevy over a few beers. Somehow, the conversation turned to a fairly new Dodge Ram work truck that had recently been involved in an accident by one of Joel’s employees, resulting in a total loss. The fortunate side of the accident is that it ultimately provided the powerplant donation for this beautiful Chevrolet.

Chevy Hot rod

“The favorite part of the build, for me, was making the 5.9-liter Cummins fit when everyone said that it would not,” Joel said. After a little work with an oxy/acetylene torch on both the Dodge and his Chevy and with the motor hanging in place, Joel confirmed that the transplant would fit. Since the interior and other mounting positions were dependent on these two items, it made sense to start there.

Commencing in 1993, the build of this Chevy hot rod hauler took about 12 months to complete at a cost of about $5,000. Since Joel already owned the engine, and the truck was mostly intact, it didn’t take a whole lot to complete. Additionally, Joel’s collection of spare parts and the ability to perform the work and fabrication himself helped to keep costs down. “What motivates me to continue building is to see what could be there when you start with just a pile of parts,” he said.

Joel is no stranger to building such projects as he has previously built a 1946 Chevy Pickup, 1946 Chevy Panel, 1932 Ford Roadster, and several others along the way from the time he was about 15 years old. Anybody who has been involved in a project build knows that no matter how clean or original the car was to begin with, some things always take special attention to make them fit.

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One interesting aspect of this Chevy hot rod as Joel explained it was, “Removing the electronics from the Cummins and adopting drive pulleys to fit was an interesting experience. We also had to build our own radiator to get enough cooling in such a tight package.”

After some research and effort, he made the 12-valve Cummins run on as few electronically controlled components as possible, which makes it look a little more vintage than it actually is. “Most people who see the truck think that the drivetrain came in the truck back in 1946,” Joel said. “It’s always funny to see folks scratching their heads on that one.”

This would definitely give us a little chuckle as well, but it also drives home the fact this is one of the things we think most people really love about the diesel. While the majority of newer diesel engines are heavily electronically controlled, engines made as recently as the 12-valve Cummins can be run almost entirely mechanically, since at their base, the diesel engine is beautifully simple and robust — and in this case doesn’t look out of place in a vehicle from 70 years earlier.

Specifically, the engine is a 1991 5.9-liter Cummins 12-valve, producing 175 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque. The transmission is an A518 TorqueFlite with overdrive, hooked to a torque converter lock-up switch located on the Lokar shifter.  The rearend is a two-speed 6.03:1 high, and a 7.99:1 on the low end.

Joel also mentioned that if he were to ever rebuild his Chevy hot rod hauler, he would like to add a third axle to really make it stand out. Additionally, this would allow the truck to carry an increased payload both from additional axle and spring capabilities, and another set of tires to spread the load – which would be most beneficial considering the truck is wearing factory wheels and tires measuring in at 9.25×20 inches. While Joel doesn’t use this truck to haul much more than his vintage dragster anymore, we think another axle would be a cool addition as well.

Joel also used some random heavy-duty components he already had, such as the master cylinder out of a Dodge van, and the brake booster from a Ford F-600. A Saginaw power steering system was also installed, along with a remote transmission cooler and an electric fan. PacBrake supplied the 12-volt air compressor with an onboard air tank which is mainly used to run the airhorn and for airing up tires.

The cab is in its stock form, with no other body panels aside from the front fenders and the running boards. As you can tell by the pictures, the stake bed has been removed and Joel built his own framing structure to support the dragster. In the spirit of repurposing items to create this build, the ramps are actually portable military landing strips.

chevy hot rod

Although not diesel-powered, the front-engine dragster still deserves a second look.

Joel also went on to make several of his own additions, though he was able to disguise them well with the help of polished aluminum diamond plate boxes that cleverly disguise a winch and 12-volt battery used to winch the dragster on and off the truck, in addition to the air tank. The transmission cooler is set into the floor behind the cab with the fan mounted below.

You may have recognized the shape of the side-mounted fuel tank, which is a polished beer keg. Joel did the modifications and welding himself, and is proud of the car art displayed there.

Photo gallery

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The dashboard has remained mostly untouched and the speedometer portion of the dash really does a solid job of portraying the age at which this truck was born. In an effort to make sure this 5.9-liter Cummins remains within the operating range, Joel also added a pyrometer inside the cab.

We were happy to meet Joel and check out his Cummins-powered 1946 Chevy. While it’s not always a guarantee, we know that this car owner will be a friend moving forward, and we’re sure we’ll visit him again for another feature. Our significant others are probably the only ones who can truly attest to our love for new diesel trucks and new diesel technology – whether they want to hear about it or not. That being said, we do look forward to the moments when we spend time around a vehicle with some real patina, and those that have been cruising the planet longer than most of us on the editorial staff.

We absolutely love seeing diesel engines installed into older vehicles whether it’s for work, play, or show. The diesel engine is an awesome powerplant and we look forward to seeing more builds like this in the near future!

About the author

Brent Davis

Brent was born and raised in Southern California. After earning a Bachelors Degree in business marketing from California State University San Marcos, and a project management certificate from the University of California at San Diego, he decided to turn a lifelong passion for automobiles and motorsports into a career. Brent has a specific passion for diesel-powered and all-terrain vehicles that have helped him haul and recover recreational toys over the years.
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