47_Chevrolet

'47 Chevrolet 3/4 ton

Last weekend I bought a '47 Chevrolet 3/4 ton pickup because it has some parts I want. To some degree I'm kidding myself, because most the stuff I want is actually different on a '47 - '53 than on a '54 - 55 1st. However, the differences are not huge, and some of the stuff I know will fit, so why not.

I found this truck the easy way. A guy saw my Suburban at the coffee shop I stop at work day mornings, and asked if I'd like a similar pickup. I always answer yes to that question, even if I have doubts.

This is the truck as it now sits in my yard. The rear fender on this side is pretty good. The front is clearly dented, and the line you see in front of the vent, under the hood emblem, is a big crack in the fender. Front of the other side is better, rear is worse.

The wheels came from my friend Dave. These are on it because the tires are decent, and the tires that came with it scared me.

One of the very attractive parts of this truck is the nice stainless steel on the inside.

The glove box door is very nice. The ash tray and associated metal work looks recoverable, and all those other knobs look beautiful. Unfortunately, none of it is right for either of my trucks.

I like the radio delete panel with the knob hole fillers. Cool.

This is the floor on the drivers side where the kick panel, toe board and floor meet, and where the body mount runs under the floor. The floor is rusted all the way through, and its the inside of the body mount that you see through the floor. I was told this truck was bought new and used on a local farm for many years. Rust like this support the story that this has always been an Washington truck

This is a close up of one of the wheels that came with it. These are 15 inch 8 lug wheels. They look very similar to split rims, and I've looked hard and can not find a split in that ring. I looked at the split rims on a '63 yesterday and could easily find the splits. On these wheels I can't find a split anywhere.

A guy named Charlie wants these wheels. I'm looking at them wondering if they could possibly be worth having, since they are so rusty I'd be nervous about running them.

Generally on a split rim there will be a place to insert your pry bar, and the split will be clearly visible near that point. I've found what could be the point where the bar inserts, but no split.

I know the picture isn't that great, but I don't think you'll find a split here either.

While looking for the split I noticed that the rust on these wheels goes beyond the surface. Charlie this area isn't an isolated example, much of this wheel looks like this. I've not carefully inspected all five of them, but I question the road worthiness of these wheels! Are you sure you want them?

I talked to Jim at the Unfinished Nationals over Labor Day weekend. He was interested in the grill and hood. He has a '52 GMC that he is changing over to look like a Chevrolet. He has a hood and grill, but wants better ones. I'm thinking that instead of hunting up the correct grill for my '54 Chevrolet, I'd be happy to have it look like a GMC.

We discussed a swap. Jim, this is the dent in my hood....

And this is my nearly perfect grill...

I've been told that a '47 should have stainless, not chrome, for a grill. This is clearly chrome that has started to peel off badly. The 2nd bar up has come loose from the steel that holds it in place. This stuff is sad.

The emblem on the front of the hood isn't fully visible, but it looks like part of this truck. Rusted through in more than one place.

One of the pieces I was hoping to get off this truck was the doors that don't have wing windows. This is the bottom of the driver's side door. The passenger side is no better.

However, both exterior door skins are very nice. I mahy be able to use them as patch panels on my Suburban by using just the skins. The doors go in my keeper pile.

This is my wife's car. It was gone about a month.

To look at it today you'd never know that they almost called it a total loss just a few weeks ago. This is the corner that suffered the damage, and its just amazing what those metal wizards can do.

It gives me hope for my own rusty projects...

Last updated: December 31, 2006