After 5 months of circling these 2 trucks I finally bought and brought them home this week. The better one (thankfully) is the deluxe truck with matching title. The other is the “parts” truck – I think it’s a ‘49 but am not certain. Came with a pile of spare parts too. I’m hoping to sort out what I need and then later I think the parts truck will have enough good bits that it can become someone (more ambitious’) project. My wife has always liked AD era pickups but with a couple kids, they’re not ideal family haulers. She has never had a classic/hot rod/whatever you want to call it of her own despite my attempts. She really likes the panel so my intention is to do this one so that she’ll be comfortable driving it. We’ll call it “hers” – but she’s good at sharing. Initial plan is stock chassis with ifs, 5.3 ls and automatic. I have plenty of sbc and 4 speed setups on hand but I think fuel injection and one of those transmissions made for shiftless people is more appropriate for this rig. Here’s a couple pics. Or not.. for some reason I thought we were doing pics here now. You’ll have to imagine what it looks like. Lots of surface rust and a dent in the passenger side rear fender. Got it? Good. The next imaginary picture is the parts truck. Lots of surface rust and a beautiful dent free passenger rear fender to swap onto the other truck. Third picture to imagine is of hoods, rear doors, bumpers and stuff stacked like cordwood that came as part of the package.
Been looking at lots of threads and pretty well confused and undecided on what front suspension/crossmember to use.
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There's a bench seat in the deluxe truck and another in the cargo area of the parts truck. No bucket seats though. The bench is on a riser that looks factory (like in my 51 pickup) - Anyone know if that was optional? Also, I haven't been successful in finding all that was included in the Deluxe package. Fender and window trim is obvious, anything else? There's a couple radios in the mix too. Hopefully they are the proper units. Gonna try and get it all organized this weekend and start IDing everything. Wish there was a boxful of fender trim carefully stored inside but I'm sure not to be that lucky.
There was a DeLuxe equipment option in 1947 - most likely chrome/stainless trim. That information is not online. If I remember, I'll check the 1947 Truck Data Book in my garage, tomorrow.
16 pages into the document you post it shows "deluxe equipment- panels, 3100/3800" but doesn't specify what that equipment is. Could be just the polished window and fender trim- that's what I'm curious about. My truck has a 2 spoke steering wheel with polished bands also, could be off a car or part of the deluxe? My 51 is so plain jane that I'm not familiar with what's a possible option or just been changed in the last 70 years. Thanks for the 1947 specs link Tim, Greg
Very nice rigs delux54panel, Do you happen to know all that was included in the package? thanks Jay Zed. I like rescuing vehicles before they return to the earth via rust mites.
You'd be correct. check attached The 47-55 1st series passenger auxiliary seat (RPO 263) swiveled on 2 brackets, they were bolted in 2 spots. 1 bolt on top and 1 bolt on the front face of seat riser. Check attached
Is there a difference between RPO 390 & 390B In the 47 salesman data book, RPO 390 For panel models, What is Garnish molding for side door windows? Chrome, stainless or paint.?
I also saw these Panels and seriously considered buying them as parts donors for my 51 (I need a Rt rear fender, Lt rear barn door and other small parts). I'm on the west side and with the wet climate, lack of suitable storage space, and to transport them a long distance it wasn't a good fit. Most of all they are too nice to break down for parts. So I'm very glad a Stovebolter picked them up to get one back on the road.
Spent a little time this afternoon trying to pull the rear fenders. I looked at the bolts up in there and it looked like 1/2” to me. Grabbed a 7/16 and 9/16 also just in case my calibrated eye was off a bit. 1/2” spun.. 7/16 was too small.. went searching for a 15/32”– too small! Not enough hair to pull any out, what next? Turns out the 12 pt socket slipped but a 6 pt 1/2” was it.
A couple turned and came out part way. One turned but didn’t come out at all. My guess is there must be nuts on the back side? Do I need to open up the inside of the cargo area to get at the nuts?
I recently pulled the fenders off the back of my ‘51 pickup- completely different.
I just installed my rear fenders - no nuts on the back side, although there may be cage nuts above the fenders that have come loose and are spinning. I assume you have the removable panels to access that area?
On the “shelf” inside/above the fenders there’s a plate screwed on- I wasn’t sure that I could reach each of the backsides through that hole. On my pickup I had to grind the heads off because of corrosion but if there weren’t nuts I didn’t want to do that and leave a mess for myself.. I’ll pull the plates when I go back out there and get some light in there. See if I can see what’s up.
