1947 Chevrolet Loadmaster
Rich Winter
Janesville, MN
This truck is already in the old gallery, but I decided to move it over here also.
The truck is a '47 Chevy Loadmaster. I got it in 2003 from my neighbor about a mile down the road, who used it as a farm truck.
The first photo shows what it looks like now. The next couple photos show what it looked like when I got it. The paint is all original, except on the lower half of the doors, where I painted over the previous owner's name. It's amazing how well it buffed out!
The engine has been replaced with a 307 V8 out of a '68 Impala. This had been done by a previous owner (not the guy I bought it from). Not the prettiest installation, but it works. And, of course, it is 12-volt. I put an electric fuel pump on it and electric windshield wipers. Also replaced a broken manifold and gave it a tune up.
Other than that, and a good clean up, it hasn't needed much else. Eventually, I'll need to rewire it, along with a few more cosmetic improvements, etc. But for now, I'm just enjoying it as it is and driving it in a few parades, etc. Currently, it probably does not get driven 100 miles most years. It's licensed with collector plates, which does not allow for it to be used a lot. But I still put it to work occasionally for small jobs around home. I still have all the grain sides for it, so it could be converted back to a grain hauler in a couple hours.
