The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 1938 Chevy truck

I bought a 38 Chevy truck and it is missing the piece that goes over the top of the radiator. The radiator support rods attach to this piece. I have the dog house but the top piece is missing. My question is , is this piece a seperate piece that is bolted or rivited on?. Also is this piece the same on cars or trucks?. Any help appreciated. Thanks

On my coupe the piece that the V-rod attaches to is spot welded to the core support (dog house). I doubt that the part is the same for the car and truck but I don't know that for a fact.

It is not the same for the car and the truck. The piece is for 38 Chevrolet trucks only. No other year truck or car will work with the possible exception of the 38 GMC truck. That is to say maybe the GMC piece might fit. The good thing, however is that any size Chevrolet truck will fit. It is spot welded on to the side pieces along the top flange.

I think they used to take them loose so the radiator could be removed easer. I have seen a few like that. Theres no other reason to remove the spot welds and go to the trouble of bolting them back.

Joe

I agree, Joe. My 37, like yours, is set up where there is no way to pull the radiator unless you either pull the front sheet metal or unbolt the radiator surround from the fenders, lean it forward and pull the radiator straight up vertically. I've done it enought to know I don't like doing it. Next time, I will most likely drill the spot welds and bolt it back together, unless someone can tell me why that isn't a good idea.

I didn't realize a '37 was so different from a '38. I unbolted the radiator and pulled it straight up & out. I did have to pull the hood to do that though.

Hi, I just took a look at my 38 as we are taking it all apart.
According to my factory GM parts manuals, the 1938 chevy upper rad support is indeed year specific, and NOT interchangeable with a 38 GMC.
Anyway, send me an email, and I will send you a few pictures of my 38 upper rad brace.

Regards,
Jay

In the manual for the 38 car, they make a big deal of how easy it is to pull the radiator without removing all the sheet metal. I would say that they realized what a pain the old design was when pulling the radiator.

The 38 car actually has an opening across the top piece through which you can pull the radiator straight up. There is another piece that goes over the opening to basically hide the top of the radiator.

On the car?? The only thing over the top of the radiator on my coupe is the hood.

I've got a friend that has a 38 2 door Sedan and it has a nice cover that goes over the radiator. It may be custom made, but he says it came with the car.

Someone in the past probably made it in an attempt to get more air through the radiator. On an original car there's no place to even attach a cover.