In a world of compromise, some don't. But that's probably not the best approach to take, especially if your names are Steve and Darlene Sworen. If there's one thing the Sworens know how to do, it's compromise. You see, Steve is what you call a Mopar aficionado, and with over five highly desired Mopars sittin' in his garage, it's a pretty safe bet as to what he would buy next if it were up to him. However, his wife Darlene is the opposite: she would rather represent the Bow Tie. And considering Steve had enough toys of his own, Darlene was on deck when it came time for their next project.
Being a Chevy fan, Darlene wanted something that suited her, which meant not a Mopar. As the two looked around, a little lightbulb went off when they ran across this '46 Chevy truck. The truck was well on its way to being finished when they found it, but that didn't stop them. In fact, Darlene lucked out, because the previous owner had the same ideas for the truck-well, for the most part, at least. So the Sworens decided the '46 would be their new non-Mopar vehicle.
Once in the Sworen's possession, Steve went to town finishing the '46. With much of the truck already done, it was basically a matter of finishing up what was left to do and refining things to their liking. Underneath the truck there were no complaints, as the running gear had been fast-forwarded 60 years into the future. The straight axle up front had already been ditched for the modern Mustang II setup. Giving the Sworens their desired ride height up front are coilover shocks. Out back, the OEM rearend was replaced with a dependable Ford 9-inch. The rearend was also set up with Posi-traction, 3:73 gears, and coilovers. Up front sits a 435-horsepower Chevy 400 with a Holley 750 carburetor and MSD ignition. For looks, the Sworens had the Moroso valve covers painted to match the truck's exterior. Feeding the powermonger is a new 20-gallon gas tank tucked between the framerails on the truck's underside. Backing the Chevy powerplant is a Chevy Turbo 400 with a trans cooler.
When it came time for the exterior, there was only one thing on Darlene's mind: blue. But before the truck could undergo some cosmetic surgery for a waxable surface, some work needed to be done. The door handles were the first to go. Then the front and rear bumpers were tossed aside as well. In the back is a custom roll pan with taillights molded right into it. Up front, the bumper holes were filled to emphasize the '46's commanding grille. As for the turn signals, they were relocated behind the grille for the same reason. Inside, the bed floor was raised up, and a set of custom wheelwells were fabbed. With the body as close to perfect as it could get, it was time to lay down several coats of a Ford Blue found on their lineup of '99 trucks. To finish off the truck's look, Darlene choose some Cragar SS wheels with faux knock-offs. On the inside of the bed, new wood and stainless trim were laid down for a fresh look.
On the inside, the truck was fast-forwarded 60 years ahead again. The Sworens installed an entirely new interior. For the most part, everything is made of light brown cloth, including the hacked-up S-10 seat. As for the rest of the interior, it was painted in the same Ford blue. Although the Sworens did opt to go with some billet trim, such as the gas pedal, door trim, brackets and more, the dash inserts are all Mother Nature. Sitting inside those dash pods is dark wood to match the center console and bed. Last but not least, what modern-day vehicle is complete without A/C? Exactly. For that reason, a Vintage Air unit was installed. With everything said and done, Darlene couldn't be happier to see her Chevy amongst the Mopar fleet, and as for Steve, he's all smiles and grins as well. CCT