The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 42’ or 46’ ? Help needed...

Hello all, I’m a new member. I have an old farm truck I just acquired from a 43 year old ownership; It is titled as a 45’, but she (the previous owner) said it was a 46’. It has current CA title and reg but is registered to the engine number. The VIN data plate in the engine bay is missing. The engine is original as well all the running gear (axles etc) I Have used the information on this website to look up some of the identification letters and numbers but I still have not definitively determined what year it is: It had engine BD747xxx and rear axle stamp on housing is BK 1690. The truck also has the following features which may help: 6 boards in the bed, split (with seam) original headliner, passenger door with lock on door not handle, and the later style inner front fender braces. So Based on the information on the site some of these features would indicate that it is later as in 42 to 46 but they only talk about differences between the 41 model and the later 42 to 46 models I’m trying to find a difference between 42 and 46 model. The numbers on engine and rear axle seem to indicate its a 42’ but what about the date? 1690? Help!!

We always made '46 bed wood with 7 boards, '42 beds with 6 boards. I can't help you with the other features.

Mark

1942 has a rubber grommet that seals the gas filler neck to the body. The later ones have a metal stamping held on with screws that retains a leather seal.

Steve

Chevrolet Models made from 1942 through 1945 all had the same engine and rear axle prefix codes.

Based on the info provided it would seem like your truck is a 1945 model.

Your engine is BD747xxx making it the 746xxxth engine made out of the Flint Engine Plant (starting at 1001). This would probably put your engine into 1945 when it was assembled. Look for a cast date code on the passenger side of the engine block.

The Rear Axle is coded by 'calendar days', so 1690 would put in into mid May 1945 assuming the 1942 model started October of 1941.

The transmission will also be stamped, but it will be on top by the edge of the cover (hard to see with it in the truck.

Mike B

Thanks, mine does have 6.....

Thanks, Mine has the rubber grommet around the gas filler; so if it is in fact a 45’ would this still be right? are 42 and 45 same?

Mike, all great info thanks! I will check the casting date on the engine and post it here as soon as I can... so if my truck has the 42’ features
mentioned above by the other members (6 boards in bed and rubber grommet between fas filler and cab, are these features shared with 42’ and 45’ both?
Thanks again....

During the war, my understanding is, rubber was in short supply and often substituted for with leather grommets at least around the gas tank neck. Leather was apparently used at least up through the DP series of trucks made up to at least June of ‘46. Sparky, my ‘46 came off the assembly line in June ‘46 and had a leather grommet.

Other than materials changes due to supply and demand (as noted by others) the 1942 thru 1945 trucks are the same...there were no major tooling/design changes made during the war.

Mike B

Seems to me that a '42 would have the back cab glass held in with screws instead of rubber with a locking strip. Could be wrong though.

D. Bush

I also read about some unique things about certain years having NO rubber on the accelerator pedal, but instead just “slots”. Also my inside door handles are the raw steel type with the bakelite coating. Would this be indicative of a 45’ model??