The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Which make an year might this truck be?

I just bought a truck. Title says 54 Chevy Motor No. H54T####. It has a GMC valve cover, grills and hood. Casting number goes to a 55 GMC- Tailgate and hood emblem is Chevy. Hood ornament, never seen one like it. Running boards like a '55. I live in Guatemala and the title was just made. The truck is so old, people at car registration here just believed the guy who told them the numbers. I need some light since I need to buy parts but don't know the exact year, specially since model changes were made between 54 and 55. thanks. Link below for photos.
Truck Photos

welcome!

What you have is a hodgepoge of trucks. The cab is 1948/50, the doors have 1952/55 door handles, the rear bed is from a 1955/66. I can't see the casting number on the engine, but if it has a gmc valve cover, most likely a 228. The hood ornament is 1951/2 Chevrolet passenger car and the emblem looks like it may be from a 1952 Chevrolet passenger car.

Does the speedometer go to 80 MPH? Does the temperature gauge go to 220 Degrees? Does it have a general motors truck stainless trim above the radio speaker? is there a date code on the radiator? Show a picture of the firewall, the engine, the metal body tag on the inside drivers door post and we may be able to help you a little more.

Is this same number on the serial number plate inside the driver's side door? It looks to me like a Chevy serial number, and if it is the '54' means 1954.

On the other hand with a GMC motor and GMC front sheet metal you're not going to be safe betting a serial number will correctly identify all the right parts.

And that is the wrong rear fenders for that truck, and I suspect the bed came with the fenders and is also the wrong bed, though I can't confirm that from the pictures.

Gmoniz: I guess you're right. It has a little of both. I live in Guatemala and old cars are hard to come buy. Even harder for somebody to try to fix them up to a good condition, as you folks in the US are used to. I am really impressed as how "good" this truck was. OldSub, sorry, no numbers or plates anywhere. The casting number is 2324004 for a 55. Since I will have to make the best of it, which year do you it might be the bed, fenders, or which years might it be safe to buy stuff. It is not so easy to me to send back stuff to the States if I get the wrong ones.

Thanks for the help

Chinito, Look at the radiator, it should be made by harrison and have a date code. Most likely it is a D 50, which means it's from a 50 GMC truck. Does it have tube shocks or knee action shocks? Knee action shocks were last used in 1950 and maybe some early 51 GMC'S. If it has the knee action shocks it also has Huck brakes, bendix brakes were used in the 1951 and later trucks. Check your pm's at the top of the page in the mystuff section

Check out TIM LEDERMAN'S site for some great information.

If that engine casting number is correct, you are a lucky man! You have a 1955/62 GMC 302 engine! Guys drool over these and if it is in running condition, you've got something!

2324004 casting number

Casting number 2324004 is for a GMC 302 engine. That is a highly desirable engine. The first 3 stamped numbers on the pad behind the distributor should be 302.

As others have said, this truck has been pieced together from several trucks. Looks like it was nicely done though. It is a good looking truck.

Guys: I'm really thankful for all the info. Looks like I have found more pieces to my puzzle. The casting number is correct, but since the truck has been pieced from a lot of different years, I don't want to be to enthusiast about it yet. If the block is a 302, and the head is not from that motor, should I still be excited? Can a 54 rear fender be attached to the 55 bed it has now? If you look at the picture, the rear tire is not centered in the fender. On the other number you ask for, I still don't have the truck in my possession, I managed to negotiate the truck in 3 payments, so the guy hasn't given to me yet (haven't give the first payment, just a $150 deposit). I'll try to go tomorrow and check for the info and post later tomorrow. Don't want to, but got to go, I have to work tomorrow (is hard living in a developing country). See you all.

Thanks again.

That whole bed assembly is wrong. Like the guys said it came from a 55-66' and bolting different fenders on probable won't work. Besides the bed rails would still be different.

I think the frame is pre '54 because the bed appears to be mounted a little high.

Checking websites before getting here, I saw that the cowl driver vent was pre 52, as Gmoniz pointed me. The bed is definetly a 55 2nd up. Gmoniz also pointed the chassis is different for those years and thats why it might look taller. I don't want to keep you guys figuring my little Frankenstein truck, you all have been great help and pointed shone a lot of light on the subject. I'll try to keep as close to stock possible without being a purist and try to match all parts to the same year. Once I have my hands on it permanently and begin to strip it I will surely bother you again.

Thanks you all.

"...and begin to strip it ..."? If that thing runs I would drive it as is a while. You might decide you like it as is.

I agree with cletis, there is nothing wrong with a few mis-matched parts as long as they work together. That is a very good looking truck in my opinion.

Well, strip it in order to repaint some parts (it might not show in the photos but there are bubbles in the paint in some parts), maybe paint the chassiss, sort of like Overhaulin' (yeah right, I wish). Thanks for the compliments on the truck, now I feel a little less guilty in purchasing it, even though my wife is going to kill me, problably running over me with the truck.

If she's going to run you over with it, then don't let her drive it!!
Seriously, that is a nice looking truck, even if it is kind of a "Heinz 57"! If it were mine, I think I would just embrace its unique-ness and enjoy it the way it is.

Welcome to Stovebolt!

Thanks Rich'sToys. I guess I won't be fixing the clutch anywhere soon, so my wife won't be able to drive it!!