The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk '51 3100 vs 3600

My father passed away some time ago and left a '51 Chevy 5 window truck as a project car. Cab and frame separate the rest in combo of original and aftermarket parts. I thought it was a 3100 because it had 6 lug axles. I noticed the helper springs on the rear axle but thought that might be an option (overload, towing, etc.). I finally got the thing sold (or almost gave it away at my mom's insistence). Now the guy who bought the truck calls up and says it is a 3600 not a 3100. I'm thinking he now wants to renegotiate the price. I know I can look up the vin but my questions to you all would be he same. Since my father bled Chevy orange, I'm sure he knew what he was doing. The bed rails and such are for a short bed.

First of all I should have told you that I have very little knowledge of antique vehicles (not my thing) but here are my questions.

1. Based on my description does it sound like it is a 3100 or 3600?
2. Are 3600 more desirable or less desirable to restore?
3. What parts on the 3100 are interchangeable with the 3600?

TIA

How 'bout some pics?

Normally a 3600 would have 8 lug wheels. A 3100 has an enclosed torque tube that goes all the way from the transmission to the rearend. A 3600 has a short torque tube and then an open driveshaft to the rearend.

The truck is at my mom's house 35mi away and the guy is coming to pick it up tomm. Unfortunately I don't have pics.


Yeah. It has 6lug and I am pretty sure has the enclosed tube. It is out of the truck along with the axles and rear gear. I don't remember seeing a drive shaft. As far as I can tell, everything says it is a 3100 except for the extra springs on top of the rear axle. Not sure why the guy thinks it is a 3600.


Is it possible that the rear was changed to include the springs or could that have been a special option for that year? I know I'm asking a lot of you guys. Also the VIN on the title does not match any of the VIN decoders I have found. I have read that sometimes it is the motor VIN not the body style? Where is the VIN on the truck. I have read on the passenger door or under the hood near the hood hinge.

Thanks guys for the help.

Serial/Vin plate is located on the drivers side door post. You can see it between the hinges in this photo. This number will work in the decoders.
http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2055765980102454676uUharU

Overload springs were very common on these trucks both factory and after-market set-ups because they were work trucks.
Six-lug wheels are a good indication you are dealing with a 1/2-ton truck. Also in reference to your earlier post 1/2-ton models are usually more desireable then same year 3/4-tons. But it is also a personal preference thing, I love my 3/4-ton and I love 3-windows!

@Brad Allen Thanks for that information.

I talked to the guy who wants the truck and he said he looked up the Serial. First the cab is covered with a tarp and it is hard to get to that door post. And I don't remember him writing anything down. Also he said it was a long bed truck. I know from the receipts for the parts my step father ordered the parts are for a short bed. This may be a stupid question, but is it possible to put a short bed on a truck that came with a long bed? Maybe with some frame mods? Or is the wheel base different? According to what I have read Chevy did not make a 1/2 ton with a long bed. Am I correct?

I plan on looking up all the dimensions for the truck and taking them with me to determine what I really have. Along with the vin decoder. If anyone has a good site with those dimensions that would be complete for all models of 51 I would appreciate it. I am searching now.

Thanks again for the quick replies as I am under a time crunch.

Do you have any ID codes? You indicate you have the ID on the title. If so, please post them.
Here are a lot of technical specifications on 1951 Chevrolet trucks.

A wide variety of "adaptations"/swaps are possible between 1/2 and 3/4 ton Chevrolet and GMC truck parts. The frames and wheel bases are different between 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton Chevrolet trucks.

Helper springs were readily available from after-market sources.

If the driveshaft is totally enclosed, it would be a 1/2 ton truck. As you noted, there were no long-bed 1/2 ton 1951 Chevrolet trucks.

I love my 3600. Its a preference

The hub to hub wheel base is 123 inches on my 3/4 ton. The open drive shaft is a clear indicator of a 3600. Good luck

If you're looking at an oem original or repop bed side, the short 1/2T bed would only have two stake pockets on it while the long 3/4T bed would have three.

Otherwise these guys have given you the other details to look for.

Tell the guy to take it or leave it. He may sense you don't know much about what you're selling and is trying to squeeze your price down.
Re. 3100 vs 3600
3100's are very prevalent in the antique world where the 3600 is more rare. The long wheelbase of the 3600 provides a bit smoother ride on a bumpy road and you can lay a sheet of plywood out on the bed.
It's all about personal tastes...

My '53 3600 has '3600' emblem on the hood, huge defferential with large 8 lug hubs. Also look at the zillion pics in Stovebolt gallery. Price should not be affected by 3/4 ton vs. 1/2 ton. Best of luck

I agree with Big Chevy 3600

However, I'd bet that the 3100 has greater value than a 3600, even though the 3600 is rarer - the 3100 is more "drivable" for a larger number of people/buyers.

If the buyer does not want it, or wants it at a lower price, tell him/her that you checked on a Chevy truck discussion board that has more than 31,000 members and a majority of the respondents said the 3600 was more desirable. Say that the site has a trucks-for-sale section and you will take back the truck and try to sell it here.

I hope this works out for you and your family.

First of all, how do you know that you have a 1951 Chevrolet truck? Are you using the title as evidence? Have you used the vin buster? The only way you can confirm the year is by the identification tag on the drivers door pillar, all other ways are guesses, albeit some very educated guesses. Your title may reflect the original identification number which when used in the vin buster shows that it is a 3600. ButI am doubtful that that is the case. Most likely your truck was registered with the engine number and not the body identification number. Your truck may have started off as a 3/4 ton long bed, but it has become a frankentruck like many of us have. Parts trucks combined to make what we want, not what the factory gave us. But from the description, it looks to be a 3100 (1/2 ton)

Thanks for that info and thanks to all who responded to this thread. I've always said you people who take the time to reply and help someone with problems are a special breed of people. You really have a desire to help someone.

Anyways, got that all settled out. Looked at the VIN and it is in fact a 1/2 ton that has had helpers added. And yeah I thought he might may have thought I didnt know what I was talking about and was goin to try and talk me down. He didn't know I had you guys to advise me

Sold the truck yesterday (for a song). Was a kinda sad day but my dad would want someone who would use build the truck and use it rather than let it set and rust.

Again, thanks much for the advice

and help. Maybe I can return the favor someday. (If you guys need any computer or electrical advice pm me).



Tony

One final post from me. The guy who purchased the truck came by a few days back to pick it up. The 1/2 ton vs 3/4 ton was just a misunderstanding on his part and we quickly cleared that up.

The ol' truck will actually be out there on the road being enjoyed by someone instead of sitting outside my garage gathering wasp nests and rusting away. Isn't that what it's all about? We were talking while loading it up and if I understood correctly, he plans to restore the body pretty much to stock. Maybe put in a v8, auto and aftermarket a/c and drive the truck rather than show it. This is cool since I'm pretty sure that's what my dad was planning and he would approve.

One last thing. I noticed that my last post was edited by mod/staff to "Delete for sale offer". To be honest I don't remember exactly what I said in that post but apparently I made a comment about something for sale. I just wanted you guys to know that it was probably an off hand comment and was completely unintentional. I never intended to violate any of the forum rules. My apologies to the forum and to you guys.

No apologies needed Buddy; it gave Cletus opportunity to stay busy and fight off dementia.

I'm a 3600 Guy

Good looking truck and dog. Whose the guy? lol

Perhaps there should be a 3600 forum?

That would be a duplicate forum.

So I went with a 1953 3100. A complete Frame off restore. lots of work to be done - but no timetable (2 years). It will be delivered later this week. Very excited! Wife said don't be going spending the kids tuition money on it. I will not shave until it is on the road.....2 years later... Mom, who is that recluse in our garage working on dads truck?? That is Dad!

Truck arrived today - good deal - just need to rebuild and touch up some of the body work done. Frame is sandblasted and por15 already.

Rebuilt the SM240 today and all the parts are there - just a rebuild kit from Novak. The 216 is not a 53 though it is a 48 from s CAR...hope that is not an issue.

Funny how of the four recent trucks I looked at everyone said "It was in a barn for years" Are Barns used for anything other than storing 5o chevy trucks?

BullSnot will be obsessed with getting this Beast done!!

Pic's, where are the pic's?

Looking good there cowboy.