here’s nothing better than walking into an old barn to find a dust-covered truck sitting in a back corner waiting its turn to be brought back to life. Regardless of whether it’s been sitting in a farmer’s field, back lot of a salvage yard, or even in a barn, there’s plenty of work ahead should you decide to take on reviving it back to street duty. Choosing to retain its well-earned patina gives it a winning hand when it comes to the cool factor. Nothing looks more bitchin than a well-balanced truck showcasing its history for everyone to appreciate once it hits the scene. The 1946 Chevy Art Deco–Series truck in our story has been a long-term build evolving over the years as an affordable hauler with a focus on stance, improved handling, and dependability for the next chapter.

When taking on any build, it’s a great idea to have a plan to follow, laying out the steps needed in order to reach your goal. In this case, starting with a well-preserved truck was a plus, eliminating the needs for any structural or rust repairs. From ground zero, we wanted to focus on updated handling and braking, so it made sense to start with the chassis. Once separated from the cab and bed, it was stripped of all original factory parts, including the driveline, brakes, and suspension, then blasted clean. Inspection proved it was straight and rock solid, making it a perfect base to use. The team at Rothspeed in Milton, Vermont, got busy by first boxing the entire frame and following with updated suspension components (1937-1946 Chevy Mustang II with universal four-link), all anchored by QA1 adjustable coilover shocks. Updating the old factory binders to four-wheel disc brakes was a snap thanks to Classic Performance Products (CPP) 11.75-inch slotted and cross-drilled rotors, forged aluminum hubs, and Big-Bore calipers combined with their exclusive HydraStop hydraulic brake-assist system.

When it came time to address the driveline it was imperative to consider performance and dependability, since the truck would be seeing plenty of miles once completed. A Chevrolet Performance 350ci crate V-8 was treated to several performance upgrades, including an Edelbrock dual-quad system along with an MSD Pro Billet ignition, Vintage Air Front Runner accessory drive system, and Flow Tech rams horn exhaust manifolds, all available from Speedway Motors. Dyno’d and tuned by Green Mountain Gear-Heads in Williston, Vermont, it was delivered complete with a freshly rebuilt GM TH400 trans to Procision Industries in Taunton, Massachusetts, for installation. Shop owner Pat O’Brien handled the rest of the buildup, incorporating plenty of parts from Chevs of the 40’s and Speedway Motors, as well as paint, detailing, plumbing, exhaust, wiring, and fabrication in preparing the truck once again for street duty. Let’s follow along with a timeline showcasing the build as we lead up to its completion.