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Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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| | | | Joined: Mar 2015 Posts: 58 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Mar 2015 Posts: 58 | Hey guys. I need your help. I bought a 1948 Chevy 1 ton in December. The guy didn't know much about it but told me it was a dump truck. It has a longbed on it and a giant hydraulic dump underneath. I can't find any others like this, so I was wondering if it is very rare or custom built? I'll try to post some pictures soon. Thanks! (P.S. it also has some other goodies that I can't figure out, like something that looks like a spotlight base on the roof?) | | | | | Joined: Mar 2015 Posts: 58 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Mar 2015 Posts: 58 | Also the gas filler cap is on the driver's side? It is in some riveted on panel and I checked the passenger side but it seems filler free. What's up with this? | | | | | Joined: Jan 2015 Posts: 914 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2015 Posts: 914 | Post the vin number then the model can be figured out. | | | | | | Neverdone Unregistered | | Neverdone Unregistered | Was a picture posted ?? If it was it is gone now
Dan | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,270 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,270 | In 1947 and 1948, the fuel tank was not in the cab (it was between the frame rails in the rear - under the bed). Here are locations of serial numbers. | | | | | Joined: May 2015 Posts: 236 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: May 2015 Posts: 236 | It is likely it was built under the bed or between the frame rails. But with the dump hydraulics it is possible it was moved behind the seat for space purposes.
Baking in the nice desert sun, breathing life back into a 48 3800 5 window.
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2015 Posts: 58 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Mar 2015 Posts: 58 | | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,270 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,270 | The Vehicle Serial Number 1948 truck 21 = Janesville, Wisc plant FS = 3800 = 1 ton C = month assembled = March | | | | | Joined: Mar 2015 Posts: 58 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Mar 2015 Posts: 58 | Thanks for the help with the vin, but I am still wondering if it the bed was swapped from a dump box to a longbed? Did they make trucks like this in the factory? | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,270 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,270 | One size bed was available on a 1-ton truck. You can find specs at the link I gave above: http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/chevyresto/4869.htmA dump box was not available from a GM factory. A dealer/buyer could send a cab/frame to dump box supplier. | | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 . | | . Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 | I note the running boards are the short ones as would come with a cab and chassis, not a pickup. It looks like they were that way to start with, not shortened after the fact.
My guess is one of three posibilities...
Sold as a flat bed dump and later, perhaps much later a pickup bed installed.
Or pickup originally and early or later it was made to a dump bed, running boards were changed.
Could have been ordered as a cab and chassis and assembled with a dump mechanism and a new pickup bed when about new.
Certainly there are other possibilities too. Coming as it is now from the factory new was not one of them. Could have left the dealer or upfitter as it is now though. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2015 Posts: 58 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Mar 2015 Posts: 58 | Thanks for all your help guys! It looks like a professional job, not some average Joe slapping a longbox on. Thanks again. | | | | | Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 6 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 6 | The guy I bought my '48 3800 (with dump box) said his great uncle or whoever bought the PU in Montana and it came to the dealership with NO box and the rear fenders strapped to the frame. The dealership supplied an aftermarket box, dual cylinders, belt driven engine mounted hydraulic pump.
I was told that many companies offered/sold small dump boxes for pickups in that era. My box is shorter than the 9' bed and has a faded, unreadable metal tag riveted to the LF corner of the box. | | |
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