The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk What to look out for on an Art Deco.

I have come across a fairly solid 46 chevy one tonne. What are the problem areas on these trucks body wise? Anything I should know regarding everything else with these trucks, as I am not familiar with them at all, would be much appriciated! I didn't really get a long look at it. Are parts readily available for these trucks? It is missing the hood and the headlight housings. Thanks.
Colin

Parts are available, but some are easier to find than others.

You'll probably want to find a parts truck for the hood. If you keep an eye on eBay you may run across one, I've seen them off and on.

Take a look under the front fenders where they cross over the cab. It is very common for those to be rusted through. You should be able to find patch panels to replace that area.

Also take a look at the lower rear cab areas. Not as common to have rust through there, but it does happen.

Also inspect the band that goes around the cab. If it wasn't sealed correctly there may be rust in that area.

It's always your call, but these are great trucks. If you have the time, money, and inclination they are great to restore.

Most of the repop parts that are widely available today are for the '47 "second" and up trucks.. there are repop parts available, but they're not nearly as plentiful as they are for the newer trucks.

Fortunately, there is still a good supply of Deco big trucks (the 1.5 ton and 2 ton trucks) out there, making original cab parts, hoods, headlight buckets, and engine parts pretty accessable on places like eBay and the Stovebolts own swap meet.

Problem areas for the body wouldn't be any different than the AD trucks.. floors tend to get rusty, so do cab corners.. my 1/2 ton has a few holes along the "beltline" of the cab, and i've heard other Deco owners report the same.

Okay thanks! I have a "rebuilt" 53. (I prefer rebuilt over restored because it isnt perfect.) Are the fenders the same as the AD's then, what I mean is are the openings wider once you get up to one and a half tonne trucks? Are the hoods are interchangable then? Thanks Much!

The windshield frame is pretty expensive to replace if rotted.

As with most of our old trucks, I found out this week that all of the spring bolts were worn almost in half.

If the fenders are all good, you are way ahead. Good steel fenders are getting hard to come by...but no rears on your one ton I am guessing.

The floor in steel is worth a chunk too.

A one ton should have half running boards? Those should not be too hard to come by. Lots of big trucks still around.

Front splash guard in steel (the part that runs between the two fenders under the grill) is also hard to find. Mine is all beat to crap and will be replaced with fiberglass unless I can find a good steel one.

Door bottoms are usually bad.

I love mine. If it is solid, go for it!

They used the exact same cab for the 1/2 tons all the way thru the 2 tons,, so doors, floors, seats, windsheild frames.. all that stuff is interchangable.

Hoods are all interchangable, so are headlight buckets and grills.. the 1.5 and 2 ton front fenders have a bigger opening.. i'm not sure what size tires they put on the 1 ton to know for sure if the 1.5 or 2 ton fenders will fit.

What seems to be the hardest to land are solid running boards for the 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton, and rear fenders. They can be found, but are a little pricy.

Colin, I have several hoods that will fit if you need one. AD fenders are not the same. The one ton will have the long box like the 3/4 ton (3) stake pockets. and the same running boards as the 3/4 ton. The biggest difference in the 3/4 and the one ton is the springs. Cab and all the rear sheet metal is the same.

wow the 46 i picked up is loaded with rust. actualy im trying to find something thats not rusted. but the price was right. :rolleyes:

Thanks for ALL the great info!! I have to go back into town today, so I think I might stop by and check the entire truck over again..aswell as look closly at all the spots you smart gentlemen pointed out. Thanks!

Okay, looked at it again closely. Didn't find the hood, but did find the windshield fame. Doors are solid. Even minimal surface rust on the bottoms. Has the half running boards, good shape. The front fenders are solid, but at one point many years ago, someone did some welding on them with an arc welder. Nothing that can't be fixed though. The back seam of the cab is solid and clean. The rust on the back of the cab is on the very very bottom, just bubbling though. Thanks for the offer 41chev, shipping might kill me, so I will look locally for now. The front splash guard wasn't in place, but might be hiding. Grille has one or two small dents in it, it's to bad it wasn't a GMC, I hear those grilles are more in demand...

What size of truck is a 1573? Has duellies. Real (I mean REAL) short wheelbase though. Max weight can carry is 8000lbs. I'm trying to remember everything I can from the vin plate, took a picture but can't read the letters. Thanks Again!

Take a look under the front fenders where they cross over the cab. It is very common for those to be rusted through. You should be able to find patch panels to replace that area.

Also take a look at the lower rear cab areas. Not as common to have rust through there, but it does happen.

Also inspect the band that goes around the cab. If it wasn't sealed correctly there may be rust in that area.