The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk old deco truck

hey fellas, my cousin just got a 41-46(?) 1/2ton,this thing is unreal,clean,clean,clean!he wants to lower it,(he wanted to clip it but I told him I would do unruley things to him and his family if he even thought about cutt'n and hack'n up this truck),I told him let me check on some lowered beams and other stuff with you guys here for some info,his plan is STOCK and LOW as possible,thanx for the help!!

If its as clean as you say I'd try to talk him out of even lowering the truck and keep it "completely stock". Know you will hear other opinions here but I'm one of the purists who hate to see nice originals changed any. We all will be waiting for some pics of this "jewel".

bruce,this thing is not a show winner by no means but was under a shed not more than 3 miles from my house(that makes me mad,I never saw it)I kinda agree with your like'n of original,but if theres ways not to hurt the truck by customize'n it and will also enable it to be ruturned to orginal if one wanted to I dont mind that route,my cousin on the other hand will cut up anything,I dont want that and its not even mine,I will get some pics of it up,3 miles from the house and its in my cousins drive way instead of mine!!!!!!!!!!

Deco trucks have "knee action" shocks and leaf springs.

I don't know squat about lowering a truck.. always seemed linda like sewing tits on a bullfrog.. but i'd guess about the only way to lower the truck without cutting on it would be to pull a leaf or two out.

Be warned that if you try and "Slam" it using that method, what you'll likely see getting slammed the most is your tires in the wheel wells.

You'll probably have to end up cutting in some real shocks to keep it low, but not draggin.

If she's all together and sweet and solid, i'd sell it and use the fat cash you get to buy an s10 truck and a less than super clean deco body to slap on it.. lots of "slam" mods available for the s10 family of baby trucks.

Burntclutch,

I'm not sure why anyone would want to lower a "Stock" truck, or how he would expect to keep it "Stock" when it's been lowered but...

Perhaps you can suggest that your cousin to try some 15 inch radials and such before he starts whacking on it. That will lower it without changing anything, and very simple to put back, if he ever wants to.

My next suggestion would be to change out the springs to a mono-leaf. Again, easily done, and/or put back and not as radical as chopping on a frame.

Or if it's that clean, tell him I'll trade him a nice 52 he can chop on and I'll take his Art-Deco truck.

Lastly, suggest that he go out to E-Bay and see what the "Clean" nice stock Art-Deco trucks are selling for, then ask him if he really wants to lose that much money.

If it is a diamond in the rough then you should try and talk him into restoration. but if he wants to lower it you should make sure he does it without cutting the truck p.

BurntClutch,

I had a 41. To lower it without cutting it, I had the springs de-arched and put 14" alum 6 bolt wheels on the front. The tires were a light truck tire, so they did not look too small. I had the rears re-arched 3 extra inches and the truck had a very nice rake to it for a stock truck. Since this was 25 years ago and I have moved 30 times since then, I have no pix to show you. I continue to search my old pix for truck shots, but can't come up with any.

But...de arch the fronts and put 14's on there...it looked pretty cool back then.

BurntClutch,

I have a 1940 1/2 ton that I have lowered. You can check out the progress on my yet unfinished truck at:

http://home.twcny.rr.com/schickling/1940Chevy/index.html

I have learned a few things in the process. Ask away. I am using monoleaf springs and a dropped front axle.

Bill Schickling

Bill,

That yellow '39 on your page with the black fenders is sharp as a tack, man! Is that your truck?

I checked prices on e-bay for art deco trucks that were restored like showroom models,he freaked out(I did to),he still wants to drop it,but is now totally against cutt'n anything to make it work.I figure it will stay factory ride height and all lowering will be due to old saggy suspension,anyway this is a pretty good find for my neck of the woods and will get some pics posted so I can get some feedback from you guys,we'll hollar at ya'll later

Fumblin46,

Nope just a picture I found on the web. I do agree that it is a very nice truck.

Bill