I recently purchaced a 1950 Chevrolet 3100 that the previous owner had begun converting to 4x4.  As best I can tell, he installed the transfer case, and front and rear axle from a mid 70's Chevy 4x4.  The transfer case (NP 203) and rear axle look fairly well adapted.  My problem is with the front axle.  The frame on the '47-54 chevys toes in about 6 inches in the front, making the leaf springs angle to the front on the stock 2x4 axle.  Well, because of the front differential, the leaf springs must be parallel for the 4x4.  To solve the problem the previous owner welded a spring hanger to a piece of flat iron that is welded on top of the frame - not a set up I'd be willing to risk my life on.  Has anyone seen a better, stronger way to address this problem? Or, would I be better off to scrap the '50 frame for a later model Blazer or K-10 frame with the '50 body sitting on it?  I'm planning on a 350/350 swap anyway.   

I never heard of that arrangement before, but  I have heard that a '70s Nova front-end is pretty common for that truck age range, but then that would'nt give you a 4X. You may want to run it past some frame shop guys. I had some do some creative work on a '77 Chevy I have and you can't tell the frame's bent unless you really go looking for it. Drives straight & true, but the front end alignment is held by spot welds. It's held up for more that 15 years that way so far. Doesn't eat up the rubber funny on the tires either. Those guys were magicians in my book. Have you thought about having the front axle shortened or lengthened - as may apply ?

Just some ideas for you - before you scrap what could turn out to be a diamond in the rough. They don't make them that good anymore, not anywhere on this ball !

Thanks for the ideas.  I've been doing some looking around since my last post and discovered that the front spring mount on the 1950 needs to be offset from the frame 4 inches to make the springs parrallel to each  other.  The frame on the '50 is about 45 inches wide and the springs are dirctely in line with the frame, even where it tapers down in the front under the radiator support.  The spring hangers on a '76 4x4 happen the offset the spring the same 4 inches because the springs are mounted outside the frame.  It shouldn't be too hard to find a donor in the local scrap yard to scrounge a set of hangers from. Thanks for the help