The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 41 Chevy

Howdy all

I'd like to say a big thank you for letting me join this forum. There a bunch of dang nice trucks on here. First off I've never restored or come close to evening trying to restore a truck or any thing for that matter. But I've always loved the Chevy truck of the 40s. Well I have the chance to pick one up. The fella wants 400 plus I have 40 sheets of 3/8 cabinet grade plywood he wants. I got the plywood for nothing from another fella so I don't have any money in the wood. He says the truck is a 41 heavy half he has all the parts for it except the gas tank and radiator and the engine will run. This trucks running boards only run to the back of the cab. Why is this.
So I couple of ?'s I have for you fine folks
Does the running boards being short mean this is a certain model and can I put longer running boards on this truck.
Is it worth 400 bucks as is. I'll try and add pictures. So I don't think I can do pics.
Thanks for any help y'all
Mike

Here's some pics.

I hope
Mike

It is easily worth $400 as a parts truck. I'd be wary of the 'It runs but doesn't have a gas tank or radiator' part.

Does it have a title?

If the running boards haven't been bobbed they probably came from a flatbed truck. I don't think there is any away of determining if they came stock on this truck.

It is a 3/4 ton truck, not a "heavy half" ton truck. It should not be a problem changing to long running boards, though you may need to find some mounting brackets.

This is going to take a lot of $$ and a lot time and patience. First project - I'd suggest getting something in a lot better shape.

Yes it's worth $400 ... to the right person.

Just my 2 cents

Mike,
Depending on how much work you can do yourself, brakes, motor, etc.
Consider your final cost.
You can easily spend $10,000 - $13,000 in parts
Rebuild motor, at a shop, $2,000 plus They furnish parts
Paint depending on quality %3,500 -$6,000
Tires $500 plus
Chrome plating, bumpers, grill, etc, $3,000 plus
Body shop work approx. $65.00 per hour
Price of truck $400.00
You could easily put $25,000 into this truck

I'm not trying to discourage you just telling you what to expect down the road. It is a fun hobby if you have the time & money to invest.
If you decide to DIY can get a wealth of knowledge from this forum!
You may decide to purchase a truck that is finished and just enjoy driving it.

Either way good luck with you decision.
Harold

I would like to thank everyone for their sound advice. It's always nice to hear from folks that have been there and done it.

I work with this fellas dad and their both straight shooters. They rigged up a fuel pump and a gas can to get it running. He does have the bed with the tailgate. The bed has two stake holders? In front of the rear fender. Although at sometime one of them on the drivers side has been cut flush with the bed. I assume to allow for a spare tire. The fenders on the bed don't flare at the back. So I don't think their the right ones. Although he does have another set that does flare out and they come as part of the deal. All the parts are there plus a few extras.
If I do get the truck I want to put it on a newer frame so the brakes and all are modern. I would like to drive this truck every day.
I guess I'll probably wind up pulling the trigger on it. It sounds like I can get my money back out of it if I need to. I have four kids so it might be a fun project for us.
Thanks again, Mike

Don't even try the newer frame route, it's way to much work for the little you gain. You can swap in a drivetrain and still keep the frame. brakes are the same. add disk and bigger rear drums to what you have. Trucks with frame swaps always look funny, the track width and wheelbase never line up just right.

Do a brake update if you want, but just know that when properly set up, the originals do a darn good job of stopping. The one area you will want to change is gear ratio, as it is now, 45 to 50 mph is about tops.

Make due with the parts you have, fixing what needs fixed and rebuilding what needs rebuilt, it's the cheapest way to go. I painted my bumpers to save money, and powder coated anything that needed chromed with a $100 kit and old kitchen stove. Things like this can save a boat load of cash and can be swapped out anytime for better parts if you want. Change very little from what Chevrolet built, get it road worthy and get some drive time before planning any major work. I painted mine before driving it, I should have waited as there are somethings I wish I had done different. Its to late now, as I don't want to hassle with paint again.

Joe

The newer frame is actually much easier than some of the other options.

My truck is the best driving and handling vehicle I own, and I owe that to the S-10 frame that's under it. It's also extremely helpful that if you need a part and are 1000 miles from home you walk into a NAPA and buy it off the shelf. Can't do that with a stock truck, sorry.


That truck is well worth $400 in my opinion. Check the pictures of my truck. What I started with was similar to what you're looking at. Mine's on an S-10 frame and is a great driver. Mine started as a 3/4 ton (long bed with 2 stake pockets in front of the fender as you describe), but I shortened the bed to make it a short bed.

You can do a truck like that on the cheap, definitely. I've got less than $5k into mine. Only thing I farmed out was the exhaust and the powdercoating for the wheels.

Thanks for your replies fellas. Diffently more food for thought.
So many decisions!!
Mike

Sorry 46gmc, didn't mean to step on your toes, your truck looks good. Not many around here look like that. The photo of the speedometer says a lot about the truck. I bet the 455 pulls hard!

I will rephrase my post, don't go change the frame if you can't weld or fabricate.

Joe

Yes, you're correct in what you say about fab and welding skills being a necessity.

It's got over 8200KM (around 5000 miles) now, and I absolutely love the 455! I like the looks of your truck too!

Yup worth 400 bucks all day long, take your time enlist folks to help that like it as much as you that have skills you don't and bring it back to life!

I found one in a barn and after 5 months of work I was driving it, matter of fact I'm driving it to work today

I have pictures in my photobucket in my signature.

Thank y'all for your replies and advice. Y'all sure have nice looking trucks. I went ahead and pulled the trigger. I pick the truck up Wednesday!!! I'll try and post better pics when I get it.
I still haven't decided which route to go on the frame and running gear. While I can make two pieces of metal stick together I sure wouldn't call it welding!!! Luckily I have few buddies who are pretty handy at welding and fabricating. So that shouldn't be a issue. I'm sure once I get going on this I'll have a ton of questions.
Thanks again, mike

Welcome to the "Bolt" page, truck looks like a good find for the $$$ lots of work to do but start with thing that make it stop and go. Looks come later. The better it looks the more some one else will want it. Make it run good and stop the same and just enjoy it.

I'm with 41 Chevy: get it running and driving and then figure out what you want to do with it. It's a fun hobby and I can guarantee you'll learn a ton as you work your way through it. The best thing about the old boys like this is that you can do so much of the work yourself - they're just not that complicated. As I tell folks, mine doesn't hit the road without my toolbox in the passenger side floor. In almost 30 years I've been broke down beside the road several times, but only had to call a wrecker once when a fan blade flew off and cut my radiator hose.

BTW, 41 Chevy - love that truck - looks like you've got the big truck front fenders on it.

Good luck with it,

David

David, thanks we like her. She has change a little in the last 5 years, the body is complete the drive train is almost finished, and she still need plumbing and wiring at this point. The work goes on and on and on. LOL just kidding it is really a labor of love for these old trucks. Like your 46 looking really good.

will try to post a couple of update pictures soon.

The front fenders are 1/2 ton but the 225-60-15 R make them look bigger, just rollers for now.