The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk '53 with or without wing windows?

You guys haven't let me down yet, so here's another general question. I have two 5 window 1953 3100's. One is a parts truck and the other is a driver. One has wing windows in the doors and one doesn't. I've seen '54's with and without as well. Was this an option? Can I take the wing window hardware out of my parts truck and put it in the doors of my driver? I like the look of the wing window so I'd like to use them. Or is this a situation where the full window (without wing) is more rare? Not sure what I have or which way to go it. Thanks guys!

1951 was the first year for the vent windows, the 51's still had the pull down exterior door handles. The vent windows were the standard on the 51, 52, 53 and 54. Either your 53 without vent windows isn't a 53, doors have been replaced or the vent window have been removed. Does it have pull down door handles or push button? If it has pull down handles, the doors are pre 52.

I like vent windows. When adjusted properly in a moving vehicle you don't need air conditioning.

I don't care for the look of the wing vents myself.. but I do like the 'push button' door handles as opposed to the old school refrigerator door handle look.

In the AD trucks, 1950 was the last year for 'no wing vents', and the push button door handles started in 1952.

The doors, if i'm not mistaken, are totally interchanable between the 1947 thru 1953 years.. so if you have a '53 with no wing vents and the 'turn down' door handles, it probably has '47 thru '50 doors on it.

If the doors have 'push button' door handles, then somebody probably 'converted' them to no wing vent windows.

My VIN is for a '53 (for whatever that's worth). My window has a "frame" all the way around it and it does have the pull down door handles (parts truck has vent windows and push button handles). Does that mean my doors are pre '52 with a custom window? It also sounds like I CAN take the hardware out of my parts truck and put them back in my driver (I want the vent window - personal preference).

Fumblin,

We must have been writing at the same time. You answered my "custom window" question. Thanks

All my friends hate on my truck because of no air conditioning, but I don't need it with the vent windows. You should be able to change out the hardware with little or no problem.

If you do have '47 thru '50 doors on that truck, I remember seeing a 'kit' that let you put wing vents in those doors.

I have a set of both '51 and '52 stock doors on both my 'parts' trucks.. but they'd need painted to match your truck. Otherwise i'd offer to trade you even up for your 'ventless' doors.

I know about the vent windows. My dad's '68 Buick Skylark Convert. has them and the factory air conditioning. We never use the air in that car, but then again it is a rag top.

Fumblin,

I'm a bit more confused about the trucks I have now. Both 1953's, one with vent window and push button door handles and the other without vent window and the push down door handles.

AD_pickup,

Does that mean the '50 would have had the single window with the pull down handles?

I guess the bottom line is that I need to buy a window for this door. What should I be looking for?

Now I'm really spinnin'.

Yes, the 50 would have had no vent windows and the pull down handles, 51 had vent windows and pull down handles (first year for vent windows, last year for pull down handles).

The '47 thru '50 trucks had NO vent windows and the 'pull down' door handles.

1951 was the first year for vent windows.. but still had the old 'pull down' door handles.

1952 was when they changed the door handles to the 'push button' handles.. and the same doors were used on the '53 trucks.

The doors on '47 thru '53 trucks are interchangeable.. you can take doors of a '47 and slap 'em on a '53 with no modification.

So the truck you have with vent windows and push button door handles would be the 'correct' door for a '53.. and the truck you have with no vent windows and 'push down door handles' would probably be doors off a '47 thru '50 truck.

One thing you might want to look at on the truck with no vent windows and 'push down door handles' is the presence of a 'crotch cooler' on the drivers side.. this was a vent panel that opened by pulling a lever that forced air into the cab.

You can see an example of one in This picture just below the drivers side mirror.

It's not uncommon for people to come across trucks that are titled as being one year, but actually being another model year.

It happens when a guy has a good title and VIN plate for, say a '53.. and has a good '50 truck with no title. Swapping VIN plates gives 'em a good truck with a good title. Certainly not legal, but it happens.. and your average DMV dude isn't going to know enough about the trucks to tell the difference between a '50 and a '53.

More than likely in your case, what happened was somebody had a good '53 cab and needed some good doors, and scored a set off a '47 thru '50.

I'm with you now. I don't have the "crotch cooler" or the louvers. So sounds like the doors are older than the truck (no big deal to me).

I'll pick up a window and be good to go. When I get ambitious I'll have to tear apart my other doors to see if the hardware will switch over.

Thanks guys. I knew you'd set me strait.

MainJet

Wow I have also benefited from this info...I have a 51 with vent and turndown handle...the only problem I can see is if I want to Chop the top..don't know how to handle the vents....Man I love these old trucks........Scott...you Guys are GREAT!!

You do have to change the lock striker plates if you swap doors with differant handles.