The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Pls help me choose, 1951 grille or 1954 grille ?

Hi people !

Finally I have found this forum. I'm totally wild of the Chevy 3100 truck 1947-1954. And I never could find people on the web with the same passion.

I'm 30 years old and live in the Netherlands.

Last year I bought a Chevy 3100 original.
http://www.hanglos.nl/media2/news/newspics/pic20098171MprV3lM.JPG

Extremely happy with my beauty but later I found out that the whole front train was messed up with old materials and welded together. The car drives terrible.

So I wanted to have it all fixed, but this became too expensive. Buying a better one and selling the first one should be cheaper. So after months and months searching on ebay and craigslist I bought this one on ebay.

Pic 1

pic 2

But now I like my first 1954 grill much better than the 1951 grill, also the rear of the new one isn't a beauty.

The driving, suspension and V8 is all fine.

I can't decide what I exactly want to do, what do you guy's like better ?

And would it even be possible to mount the '54 grille to the '51 truck ? I think I need the fenders also, but what about the hood or cabine ?

Thanks !

Welcome to Stovebolt.com.

The 54 grill, fenders, and "grill cover" will bolt right onto your cab/frame. You might also need the inner fenders (maybe someone else will post information on that).

The hoods should be very similar. The 54 hood has a slight difference where the front emblem bolts on, but the hood side emblems should bolt on OK (or, use the 51 emblems).

Do not worry about what we like better - do what you like. Neither of those trucks are original condition, so use the better parts from the two trucks.

The earlier frame is different from the later frame, especially where/how the beds attach.

1954/5 fenders are different. Most people that do like the grille, change out the complete front sheet metal. Ironically most of the conversions that I have seen were changing out the 1954 grille and installing the 1947/53 grille.

The 1954 bed and frame is different also.

Your truck looks great and I would not do anything to it. Drive it and when the urge comes to modifying it, find another that is complete.

Gooie dag meneer, welkom tot deze site. Welcome Bazaki, I'm sure you'll like it here. That's sure a nice truck you have, too bad with the first one.

Preferring one grill over another is a matter of taste. I happen to like the '51 grill better. Not sure if they interchange very easily.


Leo

Could you explain what you mean? There are many solutions to this problem and maybe you could do the modifications and have the truck you desire.

Check out the SHOP AREA and post your questions there. It might not be as dire as you think!


If you do not like the roll pan at the rear, it can be removed and you can put it back to look original without a lot of expense. Rear bumpers and brackets are available in the aftermarket,

Leo I'm from Drenthe.

No my 1954 is really terrible, the previous owner mixed all kind of carparts under the truck, several garage-shops have seen it. There is so much steering-play it's really hard too drive. the suspension is also terrible. So making one good truck out of 2 and sell the other one should be ok.

So the frame is different ? I also would like to change the bed, Would that be impossible ?

After all I shouldn't have bought none of them. I almost bought this one
http://www.happycarz.com/pics_and_descp.php?id=812

55k usd

But I thought it was too expensive. But if I want my truck in this condition it would cost way more money. That interior !
Both of my trucks have a terrible interior, I'm afraid if I will let fix I woud cost thousands of dollars.

Bazaki, check your messages, I sent you a pm.

It sounds like you have a grafted Independent front suspension (IFS) from a later vehicle. It is common to do that change when modernizing an old truck.

It might cost you more to to the switch than it would be to repair. I sent you some information that might help you.

Go to mystuff at the top of the page to see your messages.

Check-out FriedGreenTmater's truck with the GMC nose on an early chevy truck!

Thanks for the replies and the PM, I will contact the Dutchboys.

Well I made up my mind, I prefer the old classic look with lots of chrome on the blue one.

The black is loud and wild but with this switch over I have both in 1 car, loud and wild but with looks of the old classic 3100 Chevy.

Here is a video of the truck.



After this switch I will sell the dark truck with the original 6 cylinder engine.

And the blue truck has be a good riding truck with a lot of noise.



http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/1829/imag0053t.jpg
http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/683/imag0055k.jpg
http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/9826/imag0056uj.jpg

Loved the video! Both trucks are nice.

What Say Bazaki,

You have a nice quandary to choose from. Two righteous trucks. I like the video on you tube. Myself, I would keep the 1951 because I have owned a 1951 half tonner for over 35 years. Some parts will interchange between the 1954 and 1951, but not nearly as many as among the advance designs of 1947-1953. I have to defer to the other posters about whether the grills and hoods
will interchange. I have seen it done, but have no personal experience on that swap. The '54 will be a nice ride when you get
it sorted out. It's all about what you like; go for it and enjoy the cruising!
Tex Hawley the old stovebolter