The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Help Id old truck

I have a 40's Chevy truck. Vin is long gone. And could really use some help Iding it. Let me give a few distinguishing fea-tures.
20" wheels, 2 speed rear, Crank open windshield, 2 piece headliner. Olive green original paint with the heavy duty bumper that has the grill cut to fit around it, Had tool box mounted on frame rail that was totally shot, NO chrome at all. A possible year and/or size would help. I've had the truck for 16+ years and eventually would like to fix it. Had original engine when I got it. Put in a 60's step van 235 with the original truck intake and exhaust. Other than needing the brakes redone it all works for the most part.

Any pics of the truck?

Pictures would help to identify it.

welcome to the shop jmlloar - might take a cruise around the gallery to get an idea of what series it is ["deco" or AD] and a close year - sounds like it'd be a 1.5T or better with the 2 speed rear - and as said, pics would get an ID, see here

Bill

From what you describe with the crank out windshield, heavy duty bumper with grille cut-out and the olive drab paint, My guess is that it looks like THIS ONE and was used in the military.
HERE'S ANOTHER ONE

If it isn't the military style, it could be THIS MODEL

You might want to start hanging out in the BIG BOLT section. They wll be a great resource for you in the future!


Go to the GALLERY and check out the different years, better yet, post some pictures.

it is a 42-46 maybe early 47 1ton up

Doesnt look like those pics. I cut a 6x6 up that looked like those. This one has the pickup type frontend with a heavy duty front bumper. It doesnt have a grill guard. and it has 20" wheels so I dont think its a 1ton. Always thought it was a 42 1.5 ton but I'm not sure anymore. The 6x6 had a push open window with arms on the side that held it open. this one has a winder on the dash that cranks it open.

this front bumper with factory tow hooks http://www.stovebolt.com/gallery/cox_randy_1942.html except that grill is cut to clear the brackets from the factory. And no chrome at all.

All of the trucks I looked at are similar but different. Its got the heavy bumper like a lot of these do but it sits higher into the grill. The hole for the crank handle is in the bumper instead of a tab on top of the bumper.
I will get pics ASAP.
Cant be a 1 ton it has to be either a 1.5 or 2ton. 4 speed tranny VERY long wheelbase. If I remember correctly its 10feet from back of cab to tip of frame with axle almost at the end. Park brake handle on tranny. park lights are a stamped piece with a glass lens.

I have a frame from under a 48 p-up and will probably splice the 2 together. since the big trucks rear section of frame is paper thin. I think the longbed from the 48 will look ok on it. Probably do the 4bt diesel swap if I can find one too. Keep the straight axle though. The suspension was built to last and it is still rock solid.

actually looks like this one without the chrome. Center one, dually with flatbed and canvas top.
http://www.olive-drab.com/idphoto/id_photos_chevy_early.php

Just a point of observation: don't get too hung up on the bumper specifics as a means of identifying the truck. It is my understanding that Stovebolts were delivered to the seller without bumpers. The seller might put on a bumper, or leave it to the purchaser. If a truck has a hard life, that bumper might get changed out many times, each time with a possible later style that is more readily available than an obsolete earlier one.

Bumpers are add-ons, and not Chevrolet factory items.

I'm sure someone will set me straight if I got it wrong.

Bill

I would lean more towards this one being factory. There are 2 large holes cut into the lower portion of the grill and valance panel (not the 2 little slots in just the valance that the pick-up used) and they are done very well and trimed in.

Here are a few pics for now. I'll get some more detailed ones ASAP

http://i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab310/jmlloar/42%20Chevy%20Truck/ATT00107.jpg
http://i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab310/jmlloar/42%20Chevy%20Truck/ATT00096.jpg
http://i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab310/jmlloar/42%20Chevy%20Truck/ATT00085.jpg

That looks like a dealer or machine shop made bumper- Its is a 41-1st 47 though.
If you still have the original engine- get the year off of it, it would bring you closer to the correct date for your truck. I have not researched the art deco trucks as much as the advance design, but most likely during war years they had polished stainless or painted steel components rather than chrome because the chrome was going for defense materials.

Engine long gone. got rid of it back in the early 90's. Tranny and rear are original though. It has 1 piece parking light covers and it has a squared set of guages behind the glass. Not the rounded ones behind a square lense.

NOTHING is polished, or chromed/ All painted. only pieces of stainless I remember seeing are the headlight bulb retaining rings and the windshield crank strip, the door handles and window cranks.

minus the chrome and the steering on the wrong side this looks exactly like it INCLUDING the bumper

http://ccmv.fotopic.net/p57786736.html

No chrome usually indicates a war year truck, 42-45, Mid 42 Chev went to a 2 piece head liner, also the park light lenses changed and the lock went from the handle on the right to the door skin. Hope that helps some