1949 IHC KB2 Rat Rod - S10-based

1949 International Harvester KB-2 Description

Our 1949 International Harvester rat rod was a project to use up a lot of S10 parts we had left over from other street rod projects. We had a 2wd short wheel base S10 pickup that we had already upgraded all the running gear so we decided to reuse/recycle it by putting on a '49 IHC KB-2 cab.

The engine is an almost new Chevy 2.8 V6 with an Edelbrock intake, Holley 2 bbl carb, 1.6 lifters, mild cam, headers and a glass pack muffler. It has power steering and power brakes. The radiator is aluminum with an electric fan and the engine electrical is all new (cap, rotor, wires, coil and ignition module). It is coupled with a S10 T5 5 speed transmission and the differential has 3.40 gears. We also installed a new starter, clutch, pressure plate, flywheel, throw out bearing and U joints. The front rotors, brake pads and rear shoes were also new and it has a front sway from a Blazer. The gas tank is out of a Blazer for higher capacity and it has a class 3 receiver hitch. All wiring and components are new with a obsolete Magellan GPS used as a speedometer. The wheels are stock S10 wheels with 90% tires and full disk hub caps.

The cab is installed so that the front wheels are centered in the fender openings and 1.5” wheel spacers were added to have the tires centered under the fender lines. Because it is a rat rod, there are rust holes in various places but none that affect the cab's integrity. The box is from a 1952 IHC pickup that has been shortened and narrowed to fit the frame and made to look as stock as possible. The floor of the bed is made from pressure treated lumber and sealed with varnish.

It is a running and driving rat rod. Like all rat rods, there are always things that can be fixed/redone. The new owner can just keep tinkering on it or leave it ”as is”. It is a cool old truck with a clean North Dakota Pioneer title as a 1949 IHC.

On the unfinished side, the driver's side door window is broken and the passenger side door window is missing. All the door mechanical pieces needed are there for both but trying to get glass cut here is just not possible.