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Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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| | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 7 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 7 | I am about to buy these two trucks but i cannot figure out wether they are 39s or 40s. I know that one is a GMC and one is a chevy but which is which? I dont have a in cab view of the yellow one just the green. There is a hood that is the same color as the green one and it says GMC but the color used is slightly brighter and is the standard color of most pickups anyway. Picture 1 See the round speedometer (49 was first year)? and the black wheel (49)? but what about the beige nobs (40)? if it's a 40 the wheel should be beige to right? Picture2 absence of bullet parking lights which is charectoristic of of 39... Picture 3 2 piece windshield (39 and after) So... what do yah think?
-Nick Meyer
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 364 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 364 | Got a vin#? Maybe you can find an engine casting # that might help.
Also you should post links to photos, and not the photos themselves. It uses bandwidth, and persons with slower modem speeds and dial-up connections have a hard time viewing.
Keith
If it were easy they'd have grade schoolers doing it!
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,897 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,897 | 1940-1946 had a rectangular instrument cluster.
GMC would be seen on the speedometer if it was a gmc. Another indication of a GMC is the oil gauge. GMCs had a 60 to 80 lb gauge. Chevy had a 30 lb gauge.
The yellow truck has a 216 (Chevrolet) motor in it. The other truck appears to have a later 250 in it.
John | | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 7 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 7 |
-Nick Meyer
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 6,100 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 6,100 | Hy Guys,The first picture is of a 39 dashboard, and bigbadswingdaddy is right about the engines, hope that helps. | | | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,186 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,186 | Picture one has the same gauges found in a 1936 Chevrolet Master Model. However those gauges were used from I think 1934 through 1937 in the trucks. Thats as best as I can recall. | | | | | Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 581 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 581 | The first picture shows the split window found in the '39-'46 cab. According to the Chevy Specifications for 1939, the round guages were still used like that of the earlier trucks. | | | | | Joined: Jan 2000 Posts: 2,074 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2000 Posts: 2,074 | Gotta be a 39 as later had different gauges, earlier had one piece windshield. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,820 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,820 | I believe they are all 39. You see the correct guages for 39, the two piece windshield, no bead around the fender wheel opening (like 37-38), headlight hung on grill surround (went to fender in 41). It might be a 40, but 40's were kind of out there by themselves and I believe a 40 did have the rectangular instrument panel on the dash. That's my guess. Joe 
"Truckin' Around .......... Since 1937!" My name is Joe and I am addicted to Classic Country Music. I just can't hep myself.Operators are standing by to take your calls! Now cruising in the Passing Lane | | | | | Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 1,682 Extreme Gabster | | Extreme Gabster Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 1,682 | I had a '39 GMC.. that first pic is of a '39. No question about it.
The '39 and '40 looked pretty much the same from the outside.. but the big giveaway is the curved dash in '40.. the same dash used in both Chevy and GMC from 1940 thru 1946.
The pickup pic could be a '39 or '40.. the dashboard would tell the tale.
an idea is only stupid if you think about it rationally.
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2001 Posts: 481 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Nov 2001 Posts: 481 | Picture 1 is a 39 dash because of the windshield defroster vents.
Picture 2 indicates a 39 fender because of the lack of parking light as mentioned.
Picture 3 indicates a 39-40 Chevrolet because of the location of the ID tag on the cowl as well as the 216 engine. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 684 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 684 | The rocker arm cover in picture number 2 does not look like Chevrolet. | | | | | Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 38 Apprentice | | Apprentice Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 38 | ABC;
You definately have 39's. The yellow one looks like it has a Chevy engine. GMC didn't have any tags on the side of the cowl. The ID tag was located on the inside of the firewall behind the engine.
The green truck appears to have a newer engine based on the rocker arm cover, so that is not a good indicator. GMC had a smoothe cover with the GMC script logo on top.
Since the orginal GMC 228 CID was longer than a Chevy 216 CID, the radiator was moved forward about 2 inches, thus the lights were also placed in a different location on the radiator housing. The headlight stands were smaller as that of a 1937 Chevy.
I have been restoring my 39 GMC for a few years (too many) and most mechniclal parts are shared with the Chevy except for the engine. I believe the springs had an extra leaf also. But what I do know, it is much easier to find sheetmetal parts for Chevy. So restore the chevy.
With all the input from everyone you will be an expert IDing these trucks.
Happy restoring,
Jim
Jim
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