The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk need help identifying items on 1955 3100

hi.

I have a 1955 3100, and am trying to verify the authenticity of several items on the truck.

#1

is this rear bumper original for a 1955? I could not find a pic of it anywhere.



rear bumper



#2 are these hooks original? the truck has these hooks on several parts of the back. looks like a tie-down location maybe?

hook



#3 it looks like it has/had a spotlight. is that factory, or did someone add it? on the inside there is just a a handle; it is not hooked up to any power.

spotlight


#4 the front fenders have these turn signal lights. was that a factory option for a 3100? are the lower 'regular' turn signals (under the headlights)supposed to work in addition to the ones on top of the fender?
front fender turn signal


#5 there appears to be the same type of turn signal lights on the rear, as #4 above, but they are attached in such a way that part of them are blocked when viewed from behind. are they factory, and are they in the correct mounting location?
rear turn signal
rear turn signal - 2



#6 in the pics for #5 above you will also see a fender mounted light. is that factory, or did someone just throw them on there.


thanks in advance!

Rear bumper is aftermarket. Many styles were available from dealer and elsewhere. Hooks are aftermarket. Spotlights were available as accessories. A turn signal kit was available as accessory and aftermarket. Yours are unknown source. Rear round are not designed for that truck and the fender tail lights are from a panel or suburban (55-59). Wrong lens for 55.2 panel/suburban.

many thanks!

as a result of the info you provided, here is my plan:

#1
going to take the bumper off and put a 'normal' one on from LMC.


#2
I think it might be a cleaner look without them, so I will remove the hooks.

#3.
it would be cool if I could get that spot light working, but that can wait until I get other things sorted out. for now I will leave it be.

#4
not sure what to do with the fender mounted turn signals. might be a cleaner look without it. they are so big and seem out of place on a small truck. I am leaning towards removing them.

#5
and
#6

will take them off and replace with the correct lights.

thanks again!

You can convert parking lights in front to also be turn sig and convert stock rear tail to be turn also. Dual filament socket and bulbs, wired correctly. Take off lights on top of front fender and switch rear to stock. Spotlights look nice if installed correctly. With spotlight and the turn signal add on's, your truck may have been a utility company, school/municipal truck. That's how they equipped them back then. You may find other signs of that. (things mounted on truck or dash).

Though the hooks are not original, they sure would be handy for tying stuff down. If you leave them, you won't have to look at the holes where the bolts used to be.
Carl

I've spent the last couple of years doing the opposite


...Picked up an old Barden Bumper... to be installed soon.

Drilled the bed and installed some tarp hooks
...pic...
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Reinstalled a unity safety light.

Refurbished and reinstalled some old aftermarket AMI tail lamps that were once on the truck

...pic...
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I like the higher tails, I believe the help due to tailgaters or 4x4 who cannot see the low setting tails
...click..



Even fixed up the old beat up original emblem...to be reinstalled some day
...pic...

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...pic...

Your truck was probably once an old ranch or farm truck.
It will look good restored or left as is.
Make it so you will enjoy it.