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| | | Forums66 Topics128,050 Posts1,055,673 Members48,426 | | Most Online14,466
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!
Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!
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For helping keep this great
old truck web site
on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down
with Ads!  Again, thanks!
| | | | Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,048 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,048 | After taking all of the front end sheet metal off of my ’41 I have realized that the only thing holding all of that stuff to the frame are 2 bolts under the radiator support. And these two bolts are each only 1-1/4” from the center line of the truck frame. These are holding:
The radiator support bracket
The radiator
The front of both fenders
The front of both inner fenders
The hood
The hood to fender fairings
The grill
The lower grill valiance
The lower splash pan
Both side splash pans
The head Lights & parking lights
Yes all of the weight is straight down and the rods to the firewall support from tipping forward, but think of all of that side to side sway all rested by those two bolts way back at the center if the truck frame. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 284 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 284 | Could be that's why nothing fits quite right after 65 years. | | | | | | Anonymous Unregistered | | Anonymous Unregistered | It is the same on AD trucks also. | | | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,377 Ex Hall Monitor | | Ex Hall Monitor Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,377 | Those two bolts on my 38 had corroded to the point they were about 1/8" thick. 
Save a life, adopt a senior shelter pet.
The three main causes of blindness: Cataracts, Politics, Religion.
Name your dog Naked so you can walk Naked in the park.
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 553 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 553 | That's why those two bolts are spring loaded so all the front sheet metal CAN sway with the (flexible) frame. | | | | | Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,048 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,048 | Springs??? What springs, anyone got a photo? all I had was one large elongated hole in the radiator frame and two misshapen holes in the truck frame. No bolts, no nuts, no washers and no springs. Where do these springs go, Between the top side of the radiator frame and the bolt heads?? What size are the springs? | | | | | Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 103 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 103 | Springs? My thoughts exactly, my 41 had no springs just two bolts.
If it was easy, everybody would be doing it.
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,377 Ex Hall Monitor | | Ex Hall Monitor Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,377 | Me thinks we have a mis-understanding.  No springs on my 38 either.
Save a life, adopt a senior shelter pet.
The three main causes of blindness: Cataracts, Politics, Religion.
Name your dog Naked so you can walk Naked in the park.
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2000 Posts: 804 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Oct 2000 Posts: 804 | Yeah, come to think of it, that rings a bell, I think my 48 had springs under the bolts to allow movement. And those rad support rods, at least on the AD, ARE holding the front from going side to side. It is in a triangulated arrangement.  Brian
1948 Chevy Pickup
Chopped and sectioned
owned since 1974 when I was 15.
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 553 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 553 | There should be springs under the washers which allows the radiator hoop to tilt if need be. Excuse the grunge, but this is the set up on my '45. My '42 is the same way. Click here This picture is underneath looking up. | | | | | Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,048 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,048 | Yes the rad. support rods are resisting some movement but not much as they are also attached very close to the centerline at the front | | |
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