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I've got a 1954 3100, but I think it's a first series 55...It has an open driveshaft, but the hood emblems still say just 3100...any other way to know for sure? help

It's a 55 first
The open driveshaft gives it away easiest

WELCOME TO THE FORUM!!!!!
Let us see some pics!

If its a '55 1st the second and third characters of the VIN will be '55'. Check the VIN.

Maybe I've got this wrong, but just out from under my truck, and see an open driveshaft...universals in plain sight and it has a center bearing...I've always thought that an enclosed driveshaft had a tube directly from the rear end to the trans...confused here..VIN is H54A018587

There is a chance a previous owner changed the rear end/driveshaft? More than likely....

Andrew

Doubt it..bought from the widow of the original owner who bought new...It came from Mississippi and I brought it with me when I relocated to Illinois..Sure would like to get rid of that 3.90 gear though, especially with the 4spd granny

Your VIN says 1954 1/2 ton... Should be a closed driveline. Open driveline would be 1955 1st or 1954 3/4 ton... A puzzle...

A puzzle it is...I'm sure they never made any mistakes on the assembly line back then..truck is truly all original, no rust and will go anywhere, just not real fast..thanks for your help..I'll see if I can get some pics on here.

Shooper, is it a long bed or short bed?

short bed with side mount spare..chrome grill and flat bed rails..Does not have oil filter or brake lights..must have been options

shooper,

Does the grill have any paint on it? Is the metal behind the front parking lamps chromed or painted? This has nothing to do with '54 or '55 differences - just interested in seeing if the grill has been rechromed or repainted).

Can you find the casting code on the rear end? It is two letters followed by a number (maybe 3 or 4 digits).

Tim

The assembly manual shows an open driveline option for 1954 3100. RPO 316 Heavy duty transmission (3 speed, column shift). See section 0, sheet 10 of the factory assembly manual. Also described in the 1954 shop manual. The drawings were helpful when I converted to open driveline.

The oil filter was an option but it shure ought to have brake lights.

Grill is all chrome with no paint..panels behind parking lamps are painted..truck is in the carport and covered with tarp..little chilly out there, and I have a broken foot, so couldn't really get under far enough to get to the front casting and find the numbers..dark too.. By the way, do you know how to get my window glass out? Just have that small access panel at the bottom of the door and my glass is cracked..Thanks

Could never find a brake light switch, hydraulic or electric to activate lights...Got tailights and turn signals...any suggestions where else to look?

Should be down low on the firewall. Close to where the steering column comes thru.

That VIN says 1/2-ton '54. I don't believe GM used a center bearing on short box trucks. Someone changed it.

It's 50 years old, I would not trust the widow's memory about changes made to her husband's truck. Its not original.

Gord, the picture you cite is inconclusive. In fact, the whole book is. Nowhere in it have I found a closed driveshaft. Check sect.0, sheet 15.05, showing exposed U-joints at the rear on a 3100.

Also:

ref. sect.4 sheet 1.00, dated 6-26-53. REAR END SUSPENSION INSTRUCTION, MODELS 3100: The illustration clearly shows an open driveline rear end housing.

ref. sect.4 sheet 2.00, dated 6-26-53. PROPELLER SHAFT & UNIVERSAL JOINT INSTRUCTION, MODELS 3100: The illustration clearly shows an open driveline propeller shaft.

I believe that all '54s were designed to have an open driveline but for whatever unknown reason it didn't turn out that way.

That high serial number is obviously toward the end of the '54 run. It's possible some were built with the open driveline prior to the switch to 55 serial numbers.

I suppose Cletis could be right but I have never seen or heard tell of a verifiable open drive line factory 54 or seen a written GM reference to a hotchkiss '54. Most likely is an owner upgrade--maybe 55 parts.

appreciate the help on this drive shaft thing..if I get the casting number off the rear end, will that tell me anything? truck is solid as a rock and has no other modifications..odometer still works, and is reading around 425,000...gotta love driving an old truck to cruise and grin while everyone else is worried about their a/c, leather seats, cd players, etc...when steel was steel

shooper,

The rear end casting code might help to identify the rear end. If it starts with an N it is a '55 1st series (the '54 enclosed-driveshaft rear-end started with an M).

If it starts with another letter (other than M or N), it is another year. The second letter indicates the manufacturing location.

By the way, the 1954 1/2 ton truck's heavy duty 3-speed transmission is the same length as the regular 3-speed (and 4-speed) transmissions and they all were used with an enclosed driveshaft (torque tube).

Tim

thanks for the code info..guess i'll crawl underneath with a rag and flashlight tomorrow..another question...how can i put five lug wheels on my truck..i've got the original six lug w/caps and rings on it now, but would probably like to use newer wheels once in awhile..truck will remain original otherwise

Funny things happen in the factory... My 1980 truck came with a GMC steering wheel. The salesman said "I've seen GMC tailgates on brand new Chevy's!" How could they mess that up - letters not large enough?

Got that right, Gord..remember the Olds diesel...my driveline sure looks original, so guess I'll call it a 54 3/4..later brother,Steve

According to the book Chevrolet Pickups 1946-1972,they started using the open driveshaft on Oct.28,1954.These trucks were 1955 carry overs for the first 3 months of 1955.Depending on where the truck was first titled,it could be titled as a 54 or a 55.some states titled them on date of purchase.Hope this helps.

I own a 55 1st series and Ired some where that
in some states trucks that were sold in late 1954 ie Nov/Dec. wre actually 55 1sts but in some states were called 54s.

Hope that helps.