The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk new guy with a '38 Chevy 1/2 ton - Where do I start?

Hey guys , I'm new here and new to old trucks although I've had many trucks ( all Chevys ) this is my first old one it's a 38 Chevy 1/2 ton and shes a project. My question is which source do you guys like for replacement parts . I'm assuming parts are hard to find for a 38.

Welcome to the stovebolt page. Where in WI are you from?

First off, take a lot of pictures before you start. Don't throw away any parts, regardless of how bad you think they are.

All of the parts places listed in the links are for the most part, good.

I personally have used Chev's of the 40's, Jim Carters, Filling Station and a couple of others as my primary parts suppliers.

The folks on this website are some of the best resources you will find!

Do you have any pictures of your truck? Everyone will ask to see em if you have them.

I agree with 46 in progress on the various suppliers. Taking a lot of photos has certainly helped me. One of the things I am very glad that I did was keep a log as well. It is just neat to be able to go back and see where progress has been made. I'm in the 7th year of my restoration. See my web page link below for the details of my 46.

I am in Oconomowoc, WI (haf way between Madison and Milwaukee.

Welcome to the 'Bolt!

We of course, want pictures!


parts links here at the 'bolt:

http://www.stovebolt.com/links/parts.htm


places to poke around online looking for old parts:

http://woogeroo.5gbfree.com/6066trucks/tips/usedparts.html


Vintage Chevrolet Club of America, they love things stock, great place for how to fix it information and resources.

This is their forum page:

http://www.vccachat.org


http://www.chevytalk.com <- has a 1917-1959 chevy trucks area

http://www.myoldtruck.com <- not as active as other boards, but still some knowledgeable people on there.


http://www.hemmings.com - Hemmings Motor News - searchable classifieds for cars, trucks and parts. This is also a print magazine with ads and things. Before the internet came along this magazine was one of the few nationally available resources for parts and things. (note, I've been told by a guy with some 1930's chevy cars that this is a great place to find stuff by putting 'wanted' ads in there, as you never know who will be reading it.)

Good luck!

-W

I live in central Wis in the Wisconsin Rapids area. Here is a link to my pics the day I bought it. Caution these pictures may be shocking to some audiences and viewers should be cautioned for violent rust and deterioration.


http://s25.photobucket.com/albums/c88/jr68/my38/

Ditto the welcome. I have a 38 Bus Coupe that I rescued out of a barn in Dec 03. I guess the best advise is be patient. I caused myself some grief & unnecessary work by starting it before it was ready just so I could hear it run. Think things through. I'll be happy to help you in anyway I can. You can PM or e-mail me anytime. As for parts, you'd be surprised at what you can find at your local part house if you can find one that'll take the time to look in their paper catalogue instead of relying only on the computer. Engine parts are still available because there are still a lot of old farm trucks with that engine family in them that are still being used. As for on-line parts vendors I've used Obsolete Chevy Parts
Chevs of the 40s
and The Filling Station most.

As noted above be sure to take photos of everything as you proceed. Not only are they a permanent record of your project but they are a valuable resource if you need to look back at something. Good luck and have fun.