The Stovebolt Site Forums Welcome! Welcome Centre Do It Yourself (DITY) Gallery 1945 Chevy from the Netherlands - "Something New"

Today was an tensive day. Since I have the Chevy, I couldn't do a decent distance. But today, I had my DMV checking day to get a NL title and license plates. After a thorough inspection around and under the vehicle, he approved it. The mechanics liked the truck so that helped.

Only still to do was add a frame number on the chassis with a tack machine. Now I have to wait a day or 2 to get the papers back and we can go start making miles. Today I did my first 130km. Around 80miles. Loved it so far. But that also got me thinking what to do¦

I noticed that I have enough power under the hood. I got the 235 engine and she runs good. But when driving (try to drive) 50 mph it's noisy. I know its a truck etc. but I think she runs a bit to high in RPM. So a solution is Dynamat or some kind of isolation in the cab. But are there mechanical solutions for the high RPM. Who can help me? And keep in mind: I live in the Netherlands so parts are not plenty here.

An other thing i'm thinking of is paint. My Chevy is already repainted so I will not destroy any originality of the truck. But I love the US Navy grey. But that's just a cosmetic change which I still have time to think about. I normally participate in parades throughout the country with other club members in WW2 vehicles. And I think this truck is a rare sight in this hobby. There not a lot of them in the Netherlands.

Below a picture of the drive home from the DMV.

The bigger view of those "thumbnail thumbnails" can be seen in this Gallery Forum post.

Edit March 2022: If you follow Ronnie's thread here, you'll see he had a change of course and followed his passion.

"But my affection to WW2and the US part of it makes my lean to have this truck a part of my hobby. I added a picture below of my intention. "

You'll need to read his post and see this picture. Add to that, Ronnie put his truck with the new look in his Gallery Forum. Figured you may want to see the outcome. We also included both GF links in his signature line. ~ Peggy M

These trucks were geared to keep the engine running in the sweet spot (roughly 2800-3000rpm) which is going to sound to the modern ear like it’s about to come apart. Remember back when your truck was built the highway speeds were around 50, so, anything above 45 is going to cause sounds to come up from the road/frame and all moving parts. What you are experiencing is normal.
Yes, there are things, such as dynomat and products like it to soften the sound some. Things can be done to the drivetrain to lower the engine rpm but being located where you are will pose challenges. Good luck, keep on having fun.

There are gear sets for the rear end that could let you drive higher speeds comfortably but being overseas they would be difficult to get and expensive. Likely you'll just need to learn to live with the noise. Just leave for your destination earlier and enjoy the slower drive.

Excuse me if my opinion comes off as too strong-headed, but I am begging you not to change one thing with this truck. That model, in any condition, is hard to find over here in the states.
It is absolutely beautiful even if there are some warts on its body. They are supposed to be noisy. They are supposed to be a challenge to drive. They are supposed to leak fluids. They are supposed to be smelly.
Enjoy it for what it is. It is an absolute gem.

I definitely like the current color scheme. It would be a shame to change that. You could do dynamat and keep that invisible. Being noisy isn't a requirement like Carl thinks.

That is a beautiful truck!
As mentioned, 50 mph is approaching the upper limits of what the truck is designed for. You can probably squeeze more out of it, but as you've already noticed, it'll sound like it's coming apart. And if you do it enough, it just might!
Take good care of it and it will last a long time.

Wow, love your truck, and really like the colors, looks just about perfect for a 40's truck to me. I would enjoy it at 40mph and ensure the drivetrain lasts a long time - no sense to beat on a nice ride like that!

I'll take a bit of a contrarian position and get on Carl's bandwagon and say I'd pretty much leave it alone. It looks just about perfect to me. It's supposed to sound like it does. That said, the engine noise isn't due to bad stuff, it due to the mechanical fan (and lack of sound damping insulation).

Temporarily add a tachometer, see how fast you're going at say 2600 rpm. My bet is it'll be an acceptable speed for the steering and brakes but will sound like you're going much faster. That's something you can learn to live with, it's just the nature of the beast (confession, before I quieted my '51 down, I'd slip in a set of earplugs when making longish drives).

If, the need for speed becomes too great, look into changing the transmission to one with overdrive. Lots of options to consider. In the USA the Borg Warner/Tremec T5 (5 speed) found in '80s/90's Chevrolet S10 trucks is the transmission of choice. That transmission was used in many other vehicles and when you look at the world market there might be one in your vicinity. It'd likely require a adapter and quite a bit of research and conversation but "may" be a viable option.

When I changed my '51s transmission out to a T5, I bought a correct looking shifter (actually was from a Ford Model A) at a car show/swap meet and after tweaking it slightly, welded it to the T5 shifter stub. I've never shared this info before and it's never been mentioned by judges at any car show including concours type shows. A lot of old timers who drove these trucks new haven't noticed this major, yet near invisible change.

Again, NICE truck!

RonR

How close were you able to get your shifter to the original location? I’ve done some looking into this swap myself, but have the impression it will move a few inches to the rear no matter what you do.

JW51, you really can't do anything about the shifter being a few inches further back since that just the way the T5's made. However, it's a easy thing to heat the shifter rod and make the appropriate bends so it both looks fine and gives all the clearance needed to clear the seat when in 2nd. and 4th.

RonR

At one time back in the dark ages, I believe Patrick's sold a shifter setup for the Saginaw 4 speed that moved the shift handle forward and centered it over the trans case. I believe that with a little creative tinkering something similar could be fabricated for the T-5, especially since the shifter handle is already on center.
Jerry

Thanks all for your comments and will to think with me. To keep the truck like a 1945 looking truck will be on top of my list. But my affection to WW2and the US part of it makes my lean to have this truck a part of my hobby. I added a picture below of my intention. This because I have to do some welding on the doors. I don't have a nice original paint. Nor a great aged patina. So if I paint it now, I can also paint it in the future. It's not a big project.

As for the speed. I am by far not a speed maniac. My previous car was a 1940 Buick Special. That had a torque tube so I had no affordable options. I do drive long distances to events, so cruising speed is something I would like to improve.

As for shipping to the Netherlands, I do have a contact in New Jersey that can ship for me by container. There are a few options I know of but don't know if available for the pickup:

overdrive
different gears in rear axle
different gearbox at mentioned above

What should be a good option to save money for?

When it’s time for new tires, swap out the 600-16’s for easily found 6.50-16’s.
You’ll pick up about 5mph on the top end; and less RPM’s at any speed due to the greater circumference.

I have a 32 Ford coupe with a t5 in it. I had the trans rebuilt and had an s10 tail shaft put on it. It moves the shifter forward from under the seat. The procedure is online. I have a world class t5 with an s10 tails shaft

We have built several of these trucks and one certainty for all of them is they are noisy if driven at modern speeds. Even ones converted to door weather strip instead of the factory windlace. The cowl vent, windshield, doors, and any other part that moves are acceptable at 45mph and noisy at anything higher. Even the resto rod versions with all the floor board openings sealed, windshield sealed in place, and cowl vent welded shut will begin to lose a-c cool air at between 65 and 70. A triple layer, Lizard Skin, Dynamat, bubble wrap, topped with the jute pad and rubber mat muffles the noise but doesn't eliminate it. Engine noise can be decreased a bunch with a 1/2" thick felt pad laid on top of the rocker assembly; something I don't recommend but okay for parade/show vehicles. Beautiful truck I would drive in it's designed range and enjoy.

#1 - A 46 with V8, a-c, automatic,etc. Good a-c at 55mph and none at 70mph.

#2 - A $90k 40(same cab style) with radical re-work including weather strip conversion, ac good to 70mph:

Keep in mind increased cruising speed is a slippery slope, present minor issues get magnified. Ie: the brakes seem weak from higher speeds, the minor play in the steering seems more significant, the windshield leaks more air, body roll seems greater if you are even a little fast into a turn.
Besides, there is barely enough torque for fast cruising in a tall gear᠁.5th in my 46 w/T5 and fresh 235 is for tailwinds or downhill only᠁ or I’m going way faster than my comfort zone. 55mph/88kph is where me and my rig max out, 50mph is even better, I just mosey along and savor the journey.

Scrub those whitewall tires and the colors will really pop! Drive your truck for six months and you’ll fall in love with the way it looks now and won’t want to repaint it. That’s what happened to me.

Thanks all for the help and guidance. It's not that I want to increase the cruising speed a lot -- 50 to 55 is sure fine with me. Also the noise I can live with. But i don't want the engine over revving. So original engine is fine for me. I am most likely leaning towards changing the rear axle.

As for the color, it's not the original color and it's not done very neat. If it had the factory color, I would leave it alone. But I would love to take it to the events. For every maybe 700 vehicles in a parade, there I may be one Navy colored. So to break up all the green, I want to try this scheme first.


Edit March 2022: Ronnie added his truck to Gallery Forum' with the new color. Figured you may want to see the outcome. Added those pictures here, too. ~ Peggy M

There is a product called a mini tac. It is a small electronic tachometer and I think it runs on a watch battery. You run a ground wire and a sense wire to loop around a plug wire. It can be mounted on the dash with double faced tape. It will give you your rpm readout.