I've seen pics of speaker grilles/ash tray assemblies that appeared to be 100% stainless. Does anyone know where to find one? I can't seem to come up with anything...
49 Chevy 3600 65 Chevy K10 48 International KB-1 Service Truck 55 Willys CJ5 - Chevy 331 powered 26 Model T Roadster Rat Rod 70 Tucker Sno-Cat 442-A 96 Dodge 3500 Cummins dually flatbed x-cab 4x4 06 Jeep Wrangler LJ rock crawler If you can't fix it with a hammer, it's an electrical problem
There is no doubt that the radio speaker horizontal trim and glove-box door were painted from mid/late-1951 through 1953 (1952-1953 model years), due to metal needs for the Korean War (as were hub caps, bumpers, and grille.
Those components might have been chromed or stainless steel in earlier Advance-Design trucks? Maybe the same for the ash tray?
It would be nice to hear from 1947-1951 truck owners.
As shown on the image my 51, 3600 has stainless trim above the speaker grill and a stainless pull tab on the ashtray along with a stainless glovebox door. Don't know when in 51 it was manufactured.
I don't believe that there was a stainless speaker grill or ashtray, that was available for the AD truck. The glove box was available in stainless, up until 1951. There were an upper and lower stainless grill bars. They framed the top and the bottom of the radio speaker grill. They were a separate pieces from the actual radio grill. The upper bar had "Chevrolet" embossed in the bar. Or "GMC", depending on the make. The ashtray had a stainless pull available for it, up until 1951. I suppose that you could have gone to your local Chevrolet dealership and purchased these stainless components, if you purchased a 52 or 53. And replaced the painted ones, that came were standard on them. Perhaps somebody makes a reproduction "stainless" speaker grill and ashtray cover. Or, you could have a good steel set chromed. I have not had the actual experience of taking apart a number or stock AD trucks, like a lot of our fellow Stovebolters. I certainly do not pretend to know everything. Somebody told me once, But, I feel like a did a fair job in researching this issue for my restoration. Hope this helps. Good luck with your restoration.
Thanks for the replies. It seems that it's not a factory option and they were sent out for chroming...
49 Chevy 3600 65 Chevy K10 48 International KB-1 Service Truck 55 Willys CJ5 - Chevy 331 powered 26 Model T Roadster Rat Rod 70 Tucker Sno-Cat 442-A 96 Dodge 3500 Cummins dually flatbed x-cab 4x4 06 Jeep Wrangler LJ rock crawler If you can't fix it with a hammer, it's an electrical problem