The Stovebolt Site Forums Welcome! Welcome Centre Do It Yourself (DITY) Gallery 1946 Chevy 1/2Ton in Utah - "Here We Go"

My truck I replaced one wire at a time but I did not buy a kit only wire that way I can run the wire next to the old one even though it is in a wrap with others after they were all replaced I put them in the loom .we will see if anything sparks when the battery is hooked up

I would do it the way Kevin did but I know you've already removed all the old wiring and have a ready made harness to install.

With less than 10 circuits, I think you'll be able to get it all laid into position in just a day and secured and hooked up the next day. That's doing it at a leisurely pace. You'll be fine once you get started.

I don't think I'll be wiring anything more on the passenger side, so I decided to install the running board. Hind sight was I should have installed the running board before the front fender, since the fender sits on top. I just loosened the bolts on the fender and was able to get enough movement to get the bolts on the running in place. But still, it was a lot of work to get all the holes to line up and get the rubber gasket installed between the fender and running board. Still need to get the bolts installed on the rear fender though. That's for tomorrow.

Also, added the top half of the front grille and the flat cover (not sure what it's called).

Great continued work John. Learning as you go like the rest of us - hahaha!

IIRC, that upper panel behind the top grille section is called the upper radiator baffle.

Looking good sir!

Hey John, it's hard to tell from your picture but your gas cap looks like it might be a Studebaker gas cap.
The center looks like it has the stylized "S" on it. Does the center swing open for a key?

Yes. That is the cap that came with the truck. I don't think I have a key. I do have a new cap though.

That's pretty cool. Not a Studebaker though.

From a Google Lens search: This is a vintage "Goodwise Lock" locking gas cap, model #400. It is a chrome-plated, military-style cap often used on classic vehicles like 1946-71 Chevy/GMC trucks and Jeeps.

I think it would be worth getting a key made for it and keeping it on the truck.

Found my bumper brackets, so spent "15 minutes" in the garage today and installed the front bumper. Not a bad job when things line up.

That's like adding a smile to the day! Glad your back in the swing and making progress.

Adding a smile to the truck.

I planned to install the rear bumper today, so last night I went to grab it and could not find it. It has been sitting outside for 20+ years and I don't remember putting it in the garage or shed. I was thinking, "Who would take my bumper?" But then I got on the ground and looked under my flat bed trailer and there it was. Last time I used the trailer I guess I backed it up a little farther than usual and covered the bumper. Relief! Anyway, got it installed after picking up some bolts. I'll need to get the exhaust pipe angled down a little so it doesn't blow straight into the bumper. Or maybe I can add a spacer to help angle it down a little. The truck came with this rear bumper. Looks like it was fabricated or was this something you could purchase off the shelf? It's pretty heavy duty.

Looks homemade to me. How thick is that steel?

3/8 inch steel. Pretty beefy.

Looks good.👍

John

Not sure what kind of metal is used. It's been outside in the weather for 20+ years and not very rusted? Looks the same as when I disassembled the truck.

Today I worked on the headlight buckets. Each had one stud that broke off when I disassembled the truck. I got them both drilled out and the square hole looks to be 3/8". I'll look for a carriage bolt that might fit.

Got the headlight buckets installed during half-time. There used to be some turn signal lights mounted on the buckets, but I used some rubber plugs to cover the holes and I'm planning to mount some turn signals down low on the front bumper.

Those are cool signals on top do you not have the lenses for them or you don’t want them up top .

Okay I seen the rubber plug now. You could make your parking light into turn signal by changing to a double filament socket and using a amber bulb

I'm going to keep the little park lights on top of the bucket. Here's a picture I found when I was starting to take it apart. It has that light on the bucket with yellow lens in front and red on the backside. I guess I could put them back, but I'm not sure I like them sitting there. I've seen some with the light down by the bumper and I'm thinking I'll make a bracket and mount them down there. Nothing set in stone yet.

I would take the big lights off but convert the little park lite to a signal light /park light .

That's what I was originally thinking, but I was wondering if you could see that little light blinking with a headlight right below it? I have some vintage 4" fog lights I was going to convert to turn signals. I'll have to figure it out when I run out of stuff to do beside "WIRING"! Wiring is coming though. Goal tomorrow is to wire in the rear tail lights.

I agree with you John, those lolly pop lights don't look like right sitting on the headlights. I'd also move them to the bumper if I even used them at all.

Just stick your hand out the window like I do. It works every time and I didn't have to fool with any wiring.

I agree that those turn signal lights hung on the side of the headlight look awful. My truck had that style up on the cab (ala Mickey Mouse). They were the first thing I decided to dump. I converted my front park lights to dual filament for turn signals.

Here's a picture of the turn signals I removed and one of the lights I might use down on the bumpers. Maybe I can use these as fog lights and convert those parking lights turn signals. I just want other drivers to see that I'm signaling my turns.

Yes - this is definitely old school and I like that too! 😊

If you use those fog lights as turn signals, other drivers will definitely know that you're turning.

Those "Mickey" lights on top had to go. Good choice.

The parking lights on a '46 are really too small to make good turn signals. Kevin's truck is an AD which has larger ones. Those work a lot better for that.

On the '46 that my Dad had, it had the larger type lights, but they were mounted a little farther back on the fender, and not on the headlight bucket itself.

Even in that position I don't care for them.

If front signals are even added at all, the bumper is the best place for them IMO.

It’s all just opinion John, but if it were my truck….
What about old style semaphore signal arms? They were apparently factory options up to 1949. I see them advertised from time to time. My grandfather had them on a Morris Minor he used to drive. When we were kids we all thought they were the coolest ever and loved seeing them come out when he turned a corner.

Where do they mount on a art deco truck?

Beats the heck out of me Otto. I’m just offering an idea of my own. If John wants to use them, he’ll figure something out.

I thought from your post that you had seen them or knew where they were placed. Do they get stuck on the cab behind the door or something?

FYI, HERE is what a semaphore signal looks like, installed on Luke's truck. They're controlled by a cable arrangement. They used to be on school busses when I was a kid.

No semaphore signals for me! 😲 And not drilling any new holes in the head light buckets or fenders. I'm thinking I'll mount my lights down by the bumper brackets. So many thoughtful ideas. I'd never heard of semaphore signals - I'm still learning from you guys!

Ya, I don't blame you. Lights down on the bumper look a lot better.

Got my windshield crank installed today. Pretty straight forward - no issues.

Well, it took a few days, but I got the fuel level sensor and rear lights wired up. A job I've been putting off, but it wasn't so bad. I didn't take many pictures. Just keep pushing forward.