The Stovebolt Site Forums Welcome! Welcome Centre Do It Yourself (DITY) Gallery 1946 Chevy Truck - "Tales from a weekend mechanic"

Well back in June this truck came available. I showed it to my wife and she thought we should buy it -- two leaky tires, no brakes, driver handle doesn’t let you out unless you roll down the window and reach outside to open. Hasn’t been driven since the brakes went out two years ago.

But it does drive and runs pretty good. Need a few things done, some I can fix and some others I can’t fix.

I bought new tires, had a master cylinder put on and got a new inside door crank and drove it home from the shop. Was a fun day. Took the family for rides with big smiles.

Originally I had wanted a 1950 5-window Chevy pickup but when I looked at the 1946’s over the past year, I liked the looks of these better. I think it was the chrome in front that won me over.

It still needs a working horn, working on changing taillights and brake lights from 4 to 2, changing parking lights to front blinkers, adding door hinge mirrors on both sides.

I also have a locking door handle and the lock below on passenger side. I did order 2 locking outside knobs but otherwise I would like to keep pretty much original.

Been designing the new seat covers, will need some bed replacement done and I need to get the speedometer working also.

Will be my driver for errands. Looking forward to the upcoming summer driving and working on a few things and someday have maroon changed to a deep metallic blue and keep the black.

I also want a Fulton sun visor and fabricate a spare tire rack to box.

Been enjoying reading through the forums. Thanks for that.

You say you want a Fulton sun visor. Isn't that what's already on it?

PO told me it may be from a ford. I was looking at the 800 series with the hinges on the outside. This one is screwed to the rain gutters.

I like the current color combo. I've always debated having my '46 vs '47-'54. Lots of parts for the later models, but I too like the uniqueness of the '46.

Welcome! I grew up with a '46 1 ton pickup. I've always liked '46's myself.
I think your truck looks great just the way it is. But it's yours, not mine.

I love the art deco trucks too. That expanse of grill is just awesome. Welcome to the forum, and good luck with your creampuff

I also like this color combo. I have always wanted a deep dark blue. That will b final change and may be a bit before that happens

Looking forward to playing with and driving. More of a weekend mechanic. I also have a 1950 Farmall cub and nice to have these forums for expert advice

It looks just fine. I'd leave that can of worms closed.

If your goal is to be near original, as available in ‘46, my understanding is, those visors were not available for that model year. In ‘46 the emphasis was on meeting demand as fast as possible after the end of the war. The visors became available for the following model years.

However, The Filling Station has reproductions listed in their online catalog for 1937-‘53 cars and trucks.

Thanks. “Mostly original”. I think just the visor, tail lights, and locking door knobs on outside.

Yes I realize that the visor is not original. I do like the looks of the Fulton. For now I will leave as is. As far as door locks go. I would like to be able to lock my doors. I will check out Filling Station though. Thanks

Welcome to the 'bolt. While I'm partial to the 39-40 front end, the 41-46 front ends are beautiful. Have fun driving it before you tear it apart!!

It does need a little work but most things can be done and drive at same time except of course body work. Thanks

I have collected enough parts plus the lock for the under the bed carrier for my 46 1/2 ton truck. I do need to order the nut with a groove in it for the lock yet. Some parts from a gentleman with a 46 truck and a 46 panel truck and the rest from eBay. All for 275.00

A lock for the spare tire is a nice addition.

The key was sticking quite a bit but been lubing it up with pb blaster and working it so it is starting to loosen up now

I don't think anybody needs to worry about thieves stealing spare tires and rims for Art Deco trucks, these days.

No I agree. Just thought it was cool. Hopefully it will unlock after I get everything thing together and need the spare🤣

Well I guess I need to some better mice control. 2 cats in the garage and went to get the registration paper for taxes out of the ripped glove box and found some cat food and mouse droppings. Good thing I didn’t put new glovebox in yet. 2 mouse traps and package of deterrent pouch and one brown mouse in the trap. Little devil. Thought the truck was safe. Good thing is I got him before he got my new seat. No trust in those cats. Sadly our best mouser died a month ago. I think the two left just like to play with mice.

Have the mirror arms on. I do have the correct pins. Drivers is an original from eBay and passenger is from Jim Carter.

I have the plates on with the correct bracket's and taillights. I have my new chains on also. I need to work on removing the old signal lights.

What's the deal with the tailgate? It looks pretty rough compared to the rest of the truck.

Well…it’s the way it came. You can’t see the other hinge PO welded it to stake pocket. I didn’t have enough room to show both lights due to too much junk in the way. So the tailgate and hinge will need some work but it does work for now. It’s hard to tell on front fenders but they are welded to the piece in between. And the front emblem may have the wrong colors. There may be a few more secrets but I can drive and stop it!!

Glen - The truck is looking great and really coming together. I'm sure you are chomping at the bit to get in and just drive and enjoy. I know I would!!!

Just a suggestion from your pic of the tailgate chains, if those covers are rubber/plastic, make sure they have small hole (about a 1/4" to 3/8" will do) in the bottom of the 'U" to promote drainage. You don't want to get water/debris trapped in there and start a rusty chain event -

Can we expect to soon see a post in Who uses their truck as a truck? on whatever first good excuse you can come up with to make the maiden voyage? Very much looking forward to that.

The tailgate looks fine to me. Make these trucks too nice and then people are too afraid to drive them.

Very nice truck. Enjoy it.

John

Otto, here is the whole tailgate the day I brought “The 46” home.

Tailgate looks in good shape ,just needs to be sanded were the seam is and scuffed up for some paint .Every one looks happy looking out the back window ,I would be too

That is a few moments after unloading from the trailer. I had to use the help of my daughters to stop. Although it was going uphill and we had about 100 feet before we hit the garage!

About the tailgate. I was wondering if I cleaned up and then primed it with rust proofing then paint. I would like to have it painted deep blue sometime in the way future. Maybe I could get some paint matched to do the same color for now. I also have a huge area on roof that should have something done

Broke the far left mirror arm for the passenger side removing it😢. Still fit in ok after I painted it. Hopefully it doesn’t brake off the first drive. I think it will be ok. Just you and know it’s broken. Can’t see the broken piece when installed. Have both of the mirrors on anyway. Keeping my eyes open for the original steel one.

Looks good. I'll be adding a passenger side mirror and I found a 5" round convex mirror at Advance Auto. I'm hoping it will help with any blind spots on the right side.

Mine are 5 inch. I think I bought from Jim Carter

We are getting a lot of rain washing away the salt so hoping to go for a ride next week.

I had my seat recovered last spring. Not quite stock but springs were replaced. Now I don’t need a seat cushion to be comfortable.

Busy fun day today. Had the door stopper since last year. Installed that today. I noticed the old one on passenger door had a type of spring on it and new came with a cotter pin. Not sure if the spring is obtainable or even necessary. I put rubber to the inside as passenger door is. Guessing that may be correct. Put all new door handles and knobs on today. I found the handle on my drivers door has short bolt in. When I took it off I see why. Old bolt broken and inside. Another project for a rainy day. Also had a little time to start loosening my floor so I can put the 4 speed in sometime. Also removed rotted glove box and put a new correct bolt in the vent, that works good now.

Seat looks great. I want to get mine recovered, but I want fabric. This vinyl gets awful sweaty in the summer.

Yes, I thought about comfort but sometimes my dirty feet friends ride and I opted for easy cleanup!

Sound choice!

Removed my seat yesterday to blow out underneath the gas tank. Not sure if I can coat or paint it with anything but no leaks on that yet. Before doing this I went for a short drive 10 minutes or so. Initially after I started it I had a little moisture aerosolized coming out the heater vents. It lasted 5 minutes or so. No wetness noticed inside of heater case but through the vents, I see core may have a small leak. Any way went for short ride after the cleaning. Working some on freeing up floor pan also.

Glen

Finally after some thought about using copper for a bus bar I decided to use the pipe to hold the 30 amp circuit breaker near the starter on the firewall and another piece of the copper for the fuse block on the firewall for a mock up. I didn’t want to drill any more holes and found a few bolts sticking out with room. Need to trim the copper up and paint them but I think it will be easier access for wires. I’m hooking horn, light switch, regulator, and ignition switch from ammeter to the fuse block. Should wire from ammeter to fuse block be 10 gauge?

So the copper pieces are just being used for mounting, not for conducting electricity? I think 10 gauge is correct for your wire between the ammeter and fuse block.

Others will chime in with their knowledge and experience.