The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop 1937 cab 3/4 ton to half ton

Is the cab on '37 1/2 ton the same as the 3/4 ton? I want to put 3/4 ton cab on a S10 frame. Am I on the right track?

I believe the cabs are the same. I think the major difference was in the fenders as the 3/4 and larger had bigger wheel openings. 6cylindersovertexas will most likely be along soon and he is the EXPERT on 37's!

Can I put 1/2 ton fenders on a 3/4 ton (I assume that I can without a problem).

What is the major difference between the 36 and the 37 (just the grill)? It seems that the 37 is the most desirable of that body style. If so... Why?

Thanks.

37 had 2 body styles, a high cab and a short cab. It might not be more desireable, but it is more available. Chevy abd GMC were exploding with growth in that period. They produced a lot more vehicles in 37 than in 36, and a lot more in 36 than 35. WWII slowed small truck production in the early 40s, but up till then, GM was really starting to crank out some serious number of light duty trucks.

In 1937, Chevrolet made only one cab for their trucks. So, if you have a 37 cab, you have the right one. Chevrolet made two styles of front fenders, the 1/2 ton truck style and the 1 1/2 ton truck style. The easiest way to tell the fenders apart at a glance is that the 1/2 ton truck fenders had a "notch" in the front of the fender for the bumper bace to attach to the frame, a 1 1/2 ton (big) truck did not have a notch in the front of the fender for the bumper brace. The wheel openings in the fenders were larger for the 1 1/2 ton truck, but is not as quickly recognized as the fender "notches".
In 1936, Chevrolet made two cab styles, the high cab, which was more-or-less a carry over from the 1935 cab design. That cab was manufactured in the earlier part of the model year and in the second half of the model year, the 36 low cab design was introduced. The cab itself was looks just like a 1937 cab, but there are a few differences. The 1936 cab windshield has a slightly different shaped windshield and there was some wood bracing under the dash of the 36 low cab truck. In 37, the line of the windshield was smoothed out and all the wood was removed from the cab.
In addition, the 36 grill and fenders are quite a bit different from the 37. 37 was the first year for the "fat fender" look and a bold, advanced design - the radiator cap was under the hood.
1937 1/2 ton fenders and 3/4 ton fenders are the same.
Hope this helps!

Joe

darn! This prewar stuff really has me confused. Joe is the expert on 1937. Thanks for chimin in and setting us straight.

Mainjet... good luck on your truck.

Like I said, You da man, Joe

Thanks, guys! I just hope we have helped Main Jet with his question.
December, 2008 I will have my truck for 30 years. I still don't know everything about 37-38 Chevrolet trucks, not even everything about 37-38 Chevrolet pickups, but keep learning!

Joe

You definitely helped. I've always wanted a 37 hot rod. I've got a line on a 3/4 ton with a flat bed that an old farmer "needs" to get out of his way. I've never been able to afford the 1/2 ton trucks I see for sale 'cause they are always too nice. And if I had the money, I'd have a hard time buying a nice, all original truck and dismantling it to make a street rod. So I'd like to get this truck and make the one I want out of it. So... can I build a cool 1/2 ton hot rod even though I have a 3/4 ton cab and fenders? Sounds like it so far. Am I missing anything? My initial thought was to put it on an S-10 chassis, but that may be too wide. Any suggestions?

Joe, don't forget the '38 cab. They look just like the '37 only they have a hole in the right rear corner for the fuel filler neck. 38's are different from the firewall forward, hood and grill, but the fenders are the same as long as you stay in the same ton rating.

Mainjet, don't buy car parts for your truck. The '37 cars look about the same but will not interchange.

Joe

Mainjet,

I just completed the very same project. Actually, I just took my first test drive last night. Anyways, I took a 1935 1 and 1/2 ton truck and converted it to a 1/2 pickup using most of the original parts. I used the original frame, but shortened it to the right wheelbase for a pickup. The only thing not original is the engine, transmission, rear end. They all came out of a 1967 ford mustang. For the front end, I found a 1940 1/2 ton pickup axle with wheels...much to my surprise it bolted right in and I was able to leave the original steering in. I will try to send you pictures if that helps.

Just for info. the '35&'36 front fenders are the same from 1/2 ton to 1.5 ton. '37 and on are a different game. I'm looking to do the same conversion with my '36 to an S10. I hadn't thought of using the original chassis but it's worth a shot.

Thanks for all the help guys.

I've looked through some of the charts that I've found from fellow bolters and can't really tell if the S10 is too wide a chassis for a 37 body or not. Any thoughts as to what is better than an S10?

I went and measured the frame on my '36 last night. It is exaactly 36" outside to outside. the front wheels are 55.5" center to center. It's kinda looking like the frame is too narrow for almost anything new. Don't know where to go from here.