The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Sharp eye needed for '53

Paws51 got me to thinking. I need a little help from some of you experts. Can you tell a '53 from a '48? How? I'm going to have some fun with a friend that has a '53 that's going to pass it off as a '48 to get into a pre '49 show. Thanks

Easiest way to tell is that the 53 has vent windows in the doors. 48 did not have em.

Also 51 is the last year for drop down door handles.

48 also had gas tank in the bed, not in the cab as 49-53 did, so you have no filler neck on the cab for a 48 you have a filler neck on the 53, a 53 also has no side vent, a 48 does

48- one pc. windows in the doors 53 has the vent window.
48 has 9 boards in the box 53 has 8 boards.
48 has the vent in the drivers side of the cab infront of the door 53 does not
48 speedo is different then the 53
48- the door seal that is attached to the cab is held in with trim that is screwed on
53 the door seal is held on with a channel strip that is spot welded onto the cab
48- drop down door handles
53- push button door handles

48 hood side chrome emblem states THRIFTMASTER or LOADMASTER (no CHEVROLET and no series designation);
53 hood side emblem changed this year and looks like the 54 emblem (series-number designation but no CHEVROLET)

tube-style shocks in 53; knee-action shocks in 48

bendix brakes in 53; huck brakes in 48

door windlace attached with metal screw-in strips in 48; windlace held in by slide-in channels in 53

outer grill bars painted body color and inner grill bars painted Thistle (light) gray in 53 (no stripes on the bars); inner and outer grill bars painted body color in 48 - outer bar had a horizontal stripe matching the cab stripe

chrome grill was available in 48; no chrome grill option in 53

headliner middle-bar was a screw-in metal strip in 48; floating metal strip in 53

front hood emblem die cast in 48; stainless steel in 53

80 mph speedometer in 48; 90 mph in 53

Door post ID plate blue & silver in '53; black & silver in 48

between 52motorhead and tclederman you should your answser on the differences beltfed, i know the 48 hood had chevy on the side, i think it had thriftmaster also

Thanks a ton guys. You continue to amaze me as to your knowledge of this old trucks. I think 52motorhead and tclederman mothers used an old stovebolt for their crib. I afraid to ask what their mothers used as a pacifier. Thanks

Here is just a few more things I could think of
1948 fule tank was under the bed
1953 in the cab
1948 left hand side vent on cowl
1953 wing vents (as stated before)
1948 speedo went to 80 mph
1953 speedo went to 90 mph
1948 temp gauge went to 212 deg
1953 temp went to 220 deg
1948 needles were red (Chevy
1953 needles were white (Chevy)
1948 radio the back cover was slanted
1953 radio the back cover was stright
1948 stock could have chrome hubcaps, bumper and/or grill
1953 would of been painted
1948 window crank knobs and wiper knob on dash would of been crome with stainless trim over radio speaker grill with stainless glove box
1953 window crank knobs and wiper knob on dash with would of been maroon nonmetal and painted upper & lower trim on speaker grill along with glove box door

Your friend will have a major job passing a 53 off as a 48. Should be interesting...

How about you guys list all the "visual" differences of "all" the advance design series.

How about the fire wall changes from '49 to the '50 model year. Flat in '49, support rib bends beginning in '50.

all true unless someone has a 48 and then interchange some parts..........some have been known to do that,,,,,,,,,,,,,,just check the title , that way you might know for sure if it is in the right class, some have been known to fib on that deal too.

You know I'm just about sick enough with this bug I have thought about it. It would be great to have a page where we all could add and discus corrections on these kinds of things but keep a running live account.

I am not the only one? It's nice to know I have family here.

Mike

I am working on a compilation of information from various sites. The rough outline is on this page. At the bottom of that page are links to sites that have posted information about various years.

Here is a draft of the first page

I think that the idea helping someone modify a vehicle to participate in an inappropriate class sucks. It is grossly unfair to those who particpate legitimately.

ya i do have to agree with Baldy, plus there are to many differences that i don't think it would be worth it

Agreed. Who is helping whom to do what?

You are correct, TC. Maybe the fun he intends to have is to rag on the friend.

1951 and before had drop handles
51 was the only year for drop handles and vent windows.
first part of 51 the bed had 9 boards
mid to late 51 they went to 8 boards.

Believe me guys, I am not and will not help him modify his truck for that purpose. I will help him if he is broken down. I, with "tongue in cheek", am trying in a friendly way to sway him to be legit. That's why I needed to know the differences. Thanks for your help.

spark plugs

"re·store
Pronunciation: ri-'stOr,
Etymology: Middle Eng, from Latin restaurare to renew,rebuild
1 :GIVE BACK,RETURN
2 :to bring back to or put back into a former or original state:RENEW
Now is that what you did with a V8 and air bags ?"
OLtrucks-I love this!! One of my pet peeves is people who modify the Heck out of a vehicle,then consider it to be "restored"
Speed

speed 6351
Thanks I guess you can see what I think here thats why I love this site and enjoy dang near everyone that comes to it, Just call e'm what they are and that way I'll know to walk on by or not. he he he

Mike

I passed my 53 off as a 48. Chances are pretty good no one at the show would really know the difference.
If someone asked, I just told them I swapped doors cause I liked the vents and push button handles.