The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 1951 Chevy 1ton Radiator support spacing

On a 1951 Chevy 1ton what is the height of the radiator support spacing and what is used??..joe

Joe - I looked through the 1947-54 FAM and found that the 1 ton 3800 instructions are listed same as the 4000-6000 Series Big Bolts for mount design and shims, but only says "Shim as required". The diagram shows 1 thick rubber pad with what appear to be two metal rectangular shims about half as thick as the rubber pad. That is on the radiator support that has a single center mount point to the cross member with 2 bolts attaching in line with each other front to back. The 1/2 and 3/4 ton diagram shows a dual pad design radiator support that uses a single bolt in each mount, with pads and shims with a single bolt hole.

I believe the rubber pads where about 3/16-1/4" thick and the metal shims where about 1/8" or a bit less IIRC.

Nothing found for a spacing specification in the Shop Manual or GM Heritage Center 1951 Chevrolet Trucks Data file specifications either.

Since this spacing directly affects your hood, fender and cab alignment, I think you would be okay to start with the thick rubber pad(s) and a couple flat shims as a starting point. You probably will need to adjust after you get to the rest of the front end install and adjust based on your hood alignment.

Others will be along to offer their take on the subject soon I'm sure.

PS - Most of our usual vendors offer the rubber pads and/or shims.

The frames are the same from front to rear of cab, so the radiator shim should be the same for all trucks 3100 thru the big bolts. The only difference is the COE's which have a subframe that the cab sits on.
For what It's worth, when I put my truck together, I used no shims under the radiator support, just the rubber pads (one thickness.) I had the cab at the specified distance between the frame and the cab floor front and back.