The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Panels 'N Burbs 1951 Chevy Suburban with 3/4 tn rearend & a 1951 235 PG Engine, Factory?

So, I'm at this car show and I see this 1951 Chevy Suburban.
It has a 3/4 ton rear end with open drive shaft with 4 speed on the floor.
The engine serial number says: JAD 018019.
Plate on drivers door hinge pillar says: 5JP-A 5604
Owner says it was ordered by the Colorado park service.
The Engine serial number JAD 018019 turns out to be a:
J = 1951
A = Passenger car
D = RPO 317, Powerglide Trans, 235 Engine w/hydraulic lifters, Assembled in Flint, Michigan 1951 Passenger car Specs.

So, do you think this truck was ordered by the Colorado park service this way?
Looks factory stock to me.
1951 Suburbans normally came with a 1/2 ton rear end with a enclosed drive shaft and a 216 engine with solid lifters.
1951 Chevrolet Suburban Pictures

What did the floor board look like, did it have the hole for the clutch pedal? Did the mat have a hole for the clutch pedal? What did the shifter look like? Did it have a power glide indicated on the steering mast? Did it have a 3/4 ton front axel too? Did it have a 3/4 ton tire carrier underneath? Sometimes the previous owner has not done the research and states everything he has heard without investigating to see if it is the truth.

GMONIZ Questions:

Q.What did the floor board look like, did it have the hole for the clutch pedal?
A.Yes, And a factory clutch.

Q.Did the mat have a hole for the clutch pedal?
A.Yes

Q.What did the shifter look like?
A.Like a factory 4 speed manual transmission shifter.

Q.Did it have a power glide indicated on the steering mast?
A.No, A factory 4 speed manual transmission steering mast.

Q.Did it have a 3/4 ton front axle too?
A.Do not know.

Q.Did it have a 3/4 ton tire carrier underneath?
A.Do not know.

This truck has a Factory 3/4 ton rear axle, with a 1 piece open drive shaft, and a Factory 4 speed on the floor manual transmission.
The Factory 4 speed manual transmission has a 1951, 235 passenger car powerglide engine attached to it.

Could it be possible that the Colorado park service ordered this truck with a:
1951, 235 passenger car powerglide engine along with a 3/4 ton rear axle?

What are the odds that someone put the same year 1951 235 babbit pounder PG engine in a 1951 Suburban.
If the original 216 engine blew, why not replace it with a full pressure 235 oilier.

Too many questions to ask and without the truck in front of you I don't think they could be answered. One big question regarding the rear end is; what springs did they use 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton, my guess is 1/2 ton.

The 4.57 gears were stock but I believe 5.14 were an option in the 3/4-ton. I wonder if his speedometer calibration is matched to the rear end, this would give an indication if the factory did this.

Back in the day, we would put the cheapest engine we could find and not worry about being original when we broke down. This looks like it was cobbled together and not by the factory.

edit note: reread your information, I kept on thinking it was a power glide and not a four speed manual transmission. I can't think of any reason the factory would go through all the trouble to install a power glide engine and put the stock truck four speed behind it.

GMONIZ Questions:
jorb Answers:

Q.What springs did they use 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton, my ..guess is 1/2 ton.
A.You took the words out of my mouth.
..That is what I was thinking after I was driving home from the car show.
..I should have taken a picture of the rear leaf springs, but I looked at them and they had 10 leafs.
..I do not know the visual difference between the 1/2 & 3/4 ton rear leaf springs.

The 4.57 gears were stock but I believe 5.14 were an option in the 3/4-ton.
That is a good point, the owner states it was used for towing and does have a beefy rear hitch & ball.

I can't think of any reason the factory would go through all the trouble to install a power glide engine and put the stock truck four speed behind it.
Higher horse power engine for towing. 235 vs. 216, The rear of the engine blocks are the same.

edit note: reread your information, I kept on thinking it was a power glide and not a four speed manual transmission.
That's Good, Now we're on the same page.

Fun stuff!

I know they made a 1/2 ton and 1 Ton version of the panel. I haven't heard of a 3/4 ton for the Suburban or the panel. Some panels were converted to function like a Suburban.