Martin Bass's

1954 Chevy 4100 1.5-Ton Truck / Grain Bed


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09 May 2005
#1094
 

From Martin:

      This is my son Terry Bass doing the power-washing on the day we got it running.
(Saturday, April 30th)
.

 

      Here is a photo of my 1954 Chevy series 4100 with the grain bed installed. It is a 1.5-ton with a GVW of 14,000 lbs. I believe this was the heavy duty option.

      The truck started life as a wrecker for a Chevy dealership in Kansas in 1953. It was never registered as sold until the dealer retired it in 1954 and put the hoist bed on it. It was then sold to the Schneweis family in Claflin, Kansas where it remained until I bought it in early April of this year. It came with the grain sides and also a set of stock racks. The previous owner said they could get five head of cattle in the truck to haul to market. When I bought the truck it had only been out of service one year.

      The engine had spun a rod bearing and the local mechanic told the owner it would cost more than the truck was worth to fix the motor. The motor lower end was apart and after three weeks, my son and I got it running. I put new rod bearings in it and we pull started it. Sounds great with no knocks or strange noises.

      The truck is completely stock and original. As you can see, the hoist works, too.

      There is some minor body work needed on the left front fender and the left cowl panel where the wind got hold of the drivers door and over-opened it.

      This is not our first experience with the AD-type trucks. Terry and I built a 1953 Regular Cab shortbed 3100, stock except for 12-volt conversion, for his 15th birthday (he is now 32). He is now Street Rodding it with a Camero subframe and 350 V8.

     Hope everyone enjoys the pictures.

Martin Bass
"Justhorsenround"
El Reno, Oklahoma
(25 miles west of OKC on I-40)


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