The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Interiors 1939 & 40 Dashes

I recently acquired a 1939 Chevy pick-up to complete the already started work of a streetrod.

From the paperwork I received with the truck it looks as though it is 1939 chassis with a 1940 cab.

I haven't seen too many pictures of the diference in the actual dash layout. I also have questions about how the windshield mounts but that will come later.

How do I tell the difference between a 1939 and 1940 dash layout?

Any information is greatly appreciated.

If you are talking about trucks it is simple. 39s used round guages same as 37 and 38. 40s used a rectangular guage cluster same as 41-46.

[39s used round guages same as 37 and 38. 40s used a rectangular guage cluster same as 41-46.]

This is true, however my 1940 School bus had the round dash gauges. I figure since it would have been a chassis/cowl combination, no cab, that Chevy was just using up their 1939 inventory.

Due to modifications I made to the steering and dassh, I ended up smoothing it and relocating aftermarket gauges. (long story)

I would say that round gauges can be found in an '40 or later is absolutely correct in a cab and chassis.. from personal experience I have even seen the round gauges in a '41-'46 model school bus sitting in a junk yard..

From what Ive seen looking through the 1941 Chevrolet Restoration Pack the gauges in a cab and chassis models were a completly different beast then the trucks.

I do not believe the round gauges are the same as the earlier pre-40 dash setups. Hence the 1940 trucks would have a rectangular setup while any of the cab and chassis or custom bodied trucks had a different round gauged setup.

Well, then I guess it is a '40 cab on '39 chassis as I suspected.

Thanks for the info.

I've been reading Stovebolt forum for days now and I'm in awe at all the info. Glad I stumbled on this website.