The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop 48 chevy or not ?

i just purchased a 48 chevy 5 window 1/2 ton truck.i see things that look like this could be a 49,how can i tell for sure?

There are probably more differences, but the biggest I know is gas tank location. If it is in the cab, it's a 49. In the bed, it's a 48.

I suspect we will hear more from others.

Have fun!!!

the tank is in the cab,but the door windlace has the metal strips screwed down and the screwed in headliner center bow.those are supposed to be on a 48 only.could this be a late 48?i dont know much about these yet.

Hey 48 Chevy,
Both of my 48's have the tank under the bed. The serial number should have the Letter F in the code. FP for the half ton and FR for the 3/4 ton.
Ralph

48, do you have the "VIN" plate on the driver's door? What is the serial number? If you have the serial number, you can decipher it at this site:
www.americanclassic.com/

THE VIN TAG IS GONE.IS THERE ANYWHERE ELSE TO GET THE VIN ON THIS TRUCK?

Sorry, nope.

Ralphy,

I hesitated to comment on the first link you gave above because I know you have a lot of original documents. The link above has some information that does not match what Chevy Duty has in its brief run down of distinctive features of different AD truck years. I do not know much about differences between 47.5-49 but I think that a little of the 1954 Chevrolet Truck model information is incorrect (I think).

For 1954, the following information is questionable:

# Indented passenger rear fender for side mounted spare tire [ ? on driver's side in 1953-1955.5]

# Automatic Transmissions available along with a rare open drive line rear end [ ? closed drivelines with all 1/2 ton truck transmissions in 1954 - open driveline in 1955]

# Horn mounted on intake manifold [ ? horn changed in style (clamshell ?) in 1953 and was mounted on the intake manifold; the new-style horn was mounted on the radiator housing in 1954]

It is possible that some of the information from year-to-year was cut-and-pasted and might be questionned. Nonetheless, all the 1947.5-1949 information at the link might be correct.

As stated above, the Vehicle ID plate would have been the most useful item for dating the truck. As most of us are painfully aware, ID plates, and most other parts, have commonly been changed over the years (even though we have been assured that everything is stock).

Tim

How about lever shocks? They were 45-48 only as well, right?

Tube shocks were introduced for the '50 model year, I think.

IT HAS LEVER SHOCKS,BUT I THINK TUBE SHOCKS DID COME OUT IN 1950.IT MUST BE A LATE BUILD 48 I GOT THE TITLE AND IT SHOWS A 48.

Have you checked the engine casting date? The date is cast into the engine behind the starter. You may have to remove the starter to see the number. My 49 rolled off the assembly line in late April of 49. The engine was cast April 19, 1949.

i will look at that,thanks

48Chevy,

Rear cab mounts on 47-48 used a shackle arrangement under the center rear of the cab and had solid rubber blocks over the frame rails. 49 up used shackles on each side of the frame to the outer sides of the cab floor.

LOOKS LIKE MINE IS A HALF BREED.IT HAS PARTS INDICATING A 48 AND A 49.I HAVE A TITLE FOR A 48 .WHAT YEAR WAS THE FIRST 5 WINDOW CAB?