1938 Chevrolet 1/2 Ton Pickup
I bought this truck in 2012. My wife had passed away the year before, and I needed something to keep my mind busy and this truck was my way to do that. It had spent its life in North Dakota, and although it was well-worn, there was little rust and it was drivable. I’ve poked away at it over the past few years, and while it’s definitely not a show truck, it’s a fun driver around town.
I’ve mostly spent my time getting the truck into relatively reliable running shape. My first project was getting the interior presentable. I replaced the headliner, kick panels, windlaces, and a cracked driver’s window, upholstered the seat, did some painting, and some minor mechanical repairs such as pedal bushings. Next, I cleaned out the gas tank, added a fuel filter, and rebuilt the carb, replaced the hoses and belt, did some wiring, and replaced brake lines.
The biggest issue I had was a broken driveshaft. I was lucky that I was only a couple of miles from home, and I was just pulling away from a stop light when it broke. I was able to pull the shaft and get it welded at a local driveshaft shop. I took the opportunity to replace the okie bushing while it was apart, replace the rear leaf spring bushings, and also replace axle seals.
Most recently, I’ve been doing small things done such as getting the wiper motor working, putting some period correct wheels on it, and repairing a radiator leak.
The best thing about owning the truck is taking my co-driver, also known as my grandson, for ice cream on hot summer days.
Last edited by Hoff; 02/22/2021 12:52 AM.
