My 37 came from the Norwood Ohio plant as a cab and chassis or with a factory ? flatbed that is long gone,I have the remains of the original tail light bracket which looks close to the reproduction that I have on the truck now but I have a regular bed on it now and was wondering how the bracket attached to the frame as its missing part of it. There are two holes in the frame near the rear that I presume it would attach at.
Does it attach to the frame or the tail light bracket so that the license plate can be illuminted by the tail light? A different animal to be sure but my truck bracket that looks a lot like your picture attaches to the tail light mounting studs.
Jeff - Just a thought after not being able to find much of any info on your GC that came without a bed (would have been identified as "CCAB" on the data plate I think according to the below snip from a 1937 Chevrolet data PDF from the GM Heritage files).
I think the bracket would have been mounted on the end of the frame cross member (left side) similar to the larger 1-1/2 ton flatbed models (if there are any holes there). Otherwise they would have had to use a right angle mounting bracket to bolt it to the frame end side rail holes you show.
As far as finding info on a "factory flatbed" for the 1/2 ton, none of my resources are giving up any info on that, at least yet. Still looking.
~ Dan 1951 Chevy 3 window 3100 Follow this story in the DITY Gallery "My Grandpa Carl's Truck and How it Became Mine" 1966 Chevelle (Wife's Hot Rod) | 2013 Chevy Silverado (Current daily driver) US Army MSG Retired (1977-1998) | Com Fac Maint Lead Tech Retired (1998-2021)
Does it attach to the frame or the tail light bracket so that the license plate can be illuminted by the tail light? A different animal to be sure but my truck bracket that looks a lot like your picture attaches to the tail light mounting studs.
I can not remember how it mounted,I took it apart in 1977. I do have a flatbed tail light bracket for a 36 which is different.
First off, the ‘37 still used the oval tail lights. ‘37 Cars and later pickups used the rectangular ones you have. Here is a picture of my Carter reproduction and they mount to the stake pocket like you have. If you’re just curious about the original flatbed mounting, I’m no help. I would put a rubber grommet in that frame hole for the wire to run through though.
Larry Old man᠁Old truck᠁neither one goes very fast. All you need in life is TIME, PATIENCE and MONEY. If you are missing one component, you'll need an abundance of the others two.
Jeff - Just a thought after not being able to find much of any info on your GC that came without a bed (would have been identified as "CCAB" on the data plate I think according to the below snip from a 1937 Chevrolet data PDF from the GM Heritage files).
I think the bracket would have been mounted on the end of the frame cross member (left side) similar to the larger 1-1/2 ton flatbed models (if there are any holes there). Otherwise they would have had to use a right angle mounting bracket to bolt it to the frame end side rail holes you show.
As far as finding info on a "factory flatbed" for the 1/2 ton, none of my resources are giving up any info on that, at least yet. Still looking.
Not much info seems to be out there for those trucks,did not find any info on the overload springs either and I do know the Ford trucks of that era could have came with a flatbed from the factory but do not know about the GM trucks. One would have thought a company would not have bought a truck with a bed and removed it and installed a flatbed but they could have found a truck at a dealer and made it the way they wanted it but it did have running boards for a flatbed and did not look like they were modified.
First off, the ‘37 still used the oval tail lights. ‘37 Cars and later pickups used the rectangular ones you have. Here is a picture of my Carter reproduction and they mount to the stake pocket like you have. If you’re just curious about the original flatbed mounting, I’m no help. I would put a rubber grommet in that frame hole for the wire to run through though.
I have the correct tail lights that will be going on,at the time the truck was put togather I liked the later tail lights better.
Jeff - Not sure if you've ever seen this but the 1936 Chevrolet Service News Bulletins has a detailed listing of the https://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/bulletins/36csn58.htm for cars and trucks. Nothing in there directly mentions an offered flat bed for the GC 1/2 ton or the auxiliary springs for the GC either. But there is a lot of info to supplement/support the GM Heritage files 1937 Chevrolet Truck PDF.
Although the '37 PDF doesn't display a drawing of the GC with cab (Model ID - CCAB), the 1938 Chevrolet Truck PDF does show a drawing of the "chassis with cab" (also designated "CCAB"). The screen grab below comes form the '38 PDF and clearly shows the model including running boards and rear fenders, so it likely IMO that the '37 GC came similarly equipped.
I think the only way to perhaps gain more definition to these questions could come from a 1937 Chevrolet Truck Salesman's Data book. If you're interested enough to dive after more details, you can order a reprint of a one from Jim Carter as LI189. Lots of sellers offering them, but Jim Carter has the best price I could find.
~ Dan 1951 Chevy 3 window 3100 Follow this story in the DITY Gallery "My Grandpa Carl's Truck and How it Became Mine" 1966 Chevelle (Wife's Hot Rod) | 2013 Chevy Silverado (Current daily driver) US Army MSG Retired (1977-1998) | Com Fac Maint Lead Tech Retired (1998-2021)
Jeff, I know I'm late to the party here, but I have your answer, if you still want know. The bracket was just a simple piece of strap that was bent at a 90 degree angle. It bolted to the side of your frame and to the end of the rusty bracket in your picture. The data plate on a 1937 truck did not tell anything about the truck, itself, but the series. All 1937 1/2 tons were series GC. The tag would look the same if the truck was a Pickup, Panel, Canopy, Suburban, or Chassis-Cab. Other info on the tag is place of manufacture, month of manufacture and sequential number of manufacture. I hope this helps. Sorry to be so late.
Jeff, I know I'm late to the party here, but I have your answer, if you still want know. The bracket was just a simple piece of strap that was bent at a 90 degree angle. It bolted to the side of your frame and to the end of the rusty bracket in your picture. The data plate on a 1937 truck did not tell anything about the truck, itself, but the series. All 1937 1/2 tons were series GC. The tag would look the same if the truck was a Pickup, Panel, Canopy, Suburban, or Chassis-Cab. Other info on the tag is place of manufacture, month of manufacture and sequential number of manufacture. I hope this helps. Sorry to be so late.
Mike
Its been so long since it was bolted to the truck I had forgotten how it mounted,I most likely took that part off the bracket thinking it was something my uncle rigged on it.
