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Projects Early 47 Chevy 1/2 Ton Build

Discussion in 'Traditional Hot Rods' started by yoothgeye, May 5, 2020.

  1. yoothgeye
    Joined: May 2, 2013
    Posts: 42

    yoothgeye
    Member

    I’m starting this build journal less to educate you and more to be educated. This place is a wealth of knowledge and just from my intro thread I’ve already learned so much.

    I bought this truck from a family who had bought it as a parts truck to build another ‘47 about 25 years ago. They pulled some sheet metal and parked the rest.

    IMG_3389.JPG

    I originally made an offer based on it just being a rolling chassis and cab, having no knowledge of the drivetrain. Since I brought it home I’ve realized the engine will probably run so I’ve decided to keep what I thought was the stock running gear. Then it was pointed out to me that the engine is not original but a 235.

    IMG_3411.JPG

    IMG_3412.JPG

    IMG_3413.JPG

    The body has a lot less rust than I expected. Bottom of driver door has a rust line, front cab corners behind fenders have rust. The rest of the cab is surprisingly solid.

    IMG_3417.JPG

    IMG_3418.JPG

    IMG_3419.JPG
    (Floor panel removed, not rusted out)

    IMG_3420.JPG
    Back of cab separated from floor, but not rusted, just broke?

    IMG_3421.JPG

    Gas tank looks good outside but strong smell of varnish, I’m not ready to open it yet.

    Every nut, bolt, or screw on this truck I’ve been able to easily free. It’s the oldest vehicle I’ve ever owned and I’m excited to start the build.

    How will I build? Traditional of course, not a restoration, just save it and make it solid. Get it titled, then running, then add parts along the way until I have a whole truck.




    Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
  2. yoothgeye
    Joined: May 2, 2013
    Posts: 42

    yoothgeye
    Member

    brEad, Desoto291Hemi and 1934coupe like this.
  3. 302GMC
    Joined: Dec 15, 2005
    Posts: 7,856

    302GMC
    Member
    from Idaho

    Don't let that trans out of your sight … they're harder to get than giraffe pussy ….
     
    Desoto291Hemi, ERguitar and yoothgeye like this.
  4. What’s the plan
     
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  5. RMONTY
    Joined: Jan 7, 2016
    Posts: 2,540

    RMONTY
    Member

    Haha! That's one I never heard, and I will be borrowing it!
     
    Desoto291Hemi likes this.
  6. RMONTY
    Joined: Jan 7, 2016
    Posts: 2,540

    RMONTY
    Member

    yoothgeye likes this.
  7. yoothgeye
    Joined: May 2, 2013
    Posts: 42

    yoothgeye
    Member

    .5 - clean up what’s there superficially

    1 - get title

    2 - make drive

    3 - add parts as it’s able to drive

    More numbers

    Finish line - survivor looking truck, a little low, a little loud, a lot of head turning.


    Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
  8. Dan in Pasadena
    Joined: Sep 11, 2009
    Posts: 867

    Dan in Pasadena
    Member

    Make it Stop, Make it Go, Make it Cool....in that order.

    I had a '46 that had already had Jag IFS and IRS installed along with a 350/350 combo. It was cool but not the truck of my dreams so I sold it to buy my avatar '55.2...which is no longer HAMB friendly.

    Personal opinion but I think you're better off with the 235 if it's a later one with full oil pressure than the original 216. Can't wait to see what you do with it! Keep the pics coming. 715CD7C3-D9E5-4A12-996E-87D7830EBC0F_1_105_c.jpeg
     
    mcnally351, Cosmo49, brEad and 2 others like this.
  9. 41rodderz
    Joined: Sep 27, 2010
    Posts: 6,540

    41rodderz
    Member
    from Oregon

    Good luck .
     
    yoothgeye likes this.
  10. rudestude
    Joined: Mar 23, 2016
    Posts: 3,048

    rudestude
    Member

    They are cool trucks.
    I had a 46 Chevrolet big wrecker a few years back..it was alot of fun.
    Have fun with yours. 1566362339800320836085750069437.jpeg 15663623731185660679605677097802.jpeg

    Sent from my SM-T387V using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
  11. yoothgeye
    Joined: May 2, 2013
    Posts: 42

    yoothgeye
    Member

    Thanks guys, my kids (10, 13, and 16) all love old trucks, they helped some when I was building my off-topic truck years ago but they were so young it was more of a photo op, so now they can have a bigger hand in it.

    IMG_3423.JPG
     
  12. jetnow1
    Joined: Jan 30, 2008
    Posts: 2,152

    jetnow1
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from CT
    1. A-D Truckers

    I see PPE on 2 out of three children, you need to get after the youngest! Good on you for getting them involved.
     
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  13. yoothgeye
    Joined: May 2, 2013
    Posts: 42

    yoothgeye
    Member

    Yeah, it’s amazing they lived these last 7 years since then. Haha

    I did cringe when I saw my son face level with that wire brush and no glasses.
     
    SS327 likes this.
  14. yoothgeye
    Joined: May 2, 2013
    Posts: 42

    yoothgeye
    Member

    Okay, maybe someone can help me with this. Since this truck is an early 47, it’s weird looking for information online because when I look at 47 stuff it’s pretty much always AD stuff.

    I found this VIN decoder:

    IMG_3424.JPG

    When I finally found out where the VIN plate actually was on my truck (not where most sites said it was) and managed to barely read the numbers, it comes out like this:

    14DP - F xxxx

    14 is Baltimore, seems legit since this was a Virginia truck

    D is not listed on that decoder, but E is 1947 so I assume D would be 1946

    P is half ton, and this truck is 1/2 ton

    And F is June, so June 1946, because June 47 wouldn’t be an AK truck.

    So am I correct in how I decoded or is there a different decoder for this year?
     
    SS327 likes this.
  15. yoothgeye
    Joined: May 2, 2013
    Posts: 42

    yoothgeye
    Member

    Is this original trans or something newer like the engine?
     
  16. cshades
    Joined: Sep 2, 2011
    Posts: 554

    cshades
    Member
    from wi

    that is a late 46 truck maybe titled as a 47. the back of the cab is spot welded to the floor they don't usually break loose except rusting off. the usual bad spot on these trucks is on the back of the cab where the top and the bottom over lap and spot welded together.
     
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  17. 302GMC
    Joined: Dec 15, 2005
    Posts: 7,856

    302GMC
    Member
    from Idaho

    Your trans is a '41-'47 pickup & light duty commercial 3 speed. You could say it's the old Chevy guy's equivalent to the flathead lover's '39 Ford. They're used with a '38- '47 truck bellhousing. Insides are same as '40 up pass. car, but use a roller bearing cluster. During the '40s & early '50s , Warshawsky & J.C. Whitney sold them with the bellhousing as "heavy duty replacement" for '40-'48 cars.
    Today, they're real scarce in farm country.
     
    yoothgeye likes this.
  18. Good luck with the build and just use 41-46 when searching, it'll be easier on you than searching 47, since you are going to keep it stockish I'll show a photo of mine when it was all stock. mytruck-1.jpg
     
    Okie Pete, brEad, RMONTY and 2 others like this.
  19. yoothgeye
    Joined: May 2, 2013
    Posts: 42

    yoothgeye
    Member

    I’ve been away from the forum for a while because I’m mostly working on bicycles making more money for the truck.

    My brother-in-law gave me a set of 16” Toyota 4Runner wheels just to make it roll since 2 of my wheels maybe more wont hold a tire due to rust. We grabbed some old tires from dad’s pile and used his tire machine to mount them. Got home and as suspected the backspacing was all wrong the fronts can’t be tightened on without hitting the steering arms bad. So it won’t roll but it’s not on flats anymore.

    [​IMG]

    So I decided to just go ahead and buy some wheels, got these 17x8 smoothies from Jegs in raw steel finish.

    [​IMG]

    Grey primer, red oxide primer, brown and black, and then Ivory topcoat. I will sand them to the under layers to make them seem old.
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Will mount tires when I get home from Lancaster, PA.
     
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  20. yoothgeye
    Joined: May 2, 2013
    Posts: 42

    yoothgeye
    Member

    While here in PA I picked up some sheetmetal. I might make some people upset but I was never in love with the 41-47 front end. So I am going a little different.

    I picked up hood, hood sides, fenders, and running boards from a 1939 Chevy.

    [​IMG]

    I don’t know how you guys feel about this, but the the cab is the same and the metal fits, I’m pretty excited about this front end and think I got a decent deal. Still need a grille support.
     
  21. Budget36
    Joined: Nov 29, 2014
    Posts: 13,174

    Budget36
    Member

    Ya, this isn't a restorers site, I think it'll fit right in.
     
    brEad, Tomincanada and yoothgeye like this.
  22. ...here's a 39 I built many years ago, (used a 40 grille)...good luck with your project.
    my cars 012.jpg
     
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  23. yoothgeye
    Joined: May 2, 2013
    Posts: 42

    yoothgeye
    Member

    Thanks. I’ve got my eye on a 38 Chevy “doghouse” or whatever you call the radiator support sheetmetal that holds the grille. That would give me something on the front to hold the fenders. Looks like the earlier grille doesn’t have straight sides like the 39-40.
     
    brEad likes this.
  24. Rusty O'Toole
    Joined: Sep 17, 2006
    Posts: 9,657

    Rusty O'Toole
    Member

    Engine is a late model 235 or if you are super lucky a 261. It will have 'captain's bars' on the left side of the block if it is a 261 like this II. Of all the engines that will bolt up to the original chassis and bellhousing you have one of the best with full pressure lubrication and insert bearings .

    Six cylinders may not be exciting but will take you anywhere you want to go if you are not in a hurry. I would leave it alone as long as it is in decent shape. Maybe when the rest of the truck is finished you might consider a mild hop up.
     
    Cosmo49 likes this.
  25. yoothgeye
    Joined: May 2, 2013
    Posts: 42

    yoothgeye
    Member

    Thank you, I really do want to keep the 235 but as I was taking inventory of parts needed to get it going (I ordered a new fuel pump, grabbed some plug wires) I got to wondering if the newer engine would have 12v generator/starter/coil?
     
  26. Rusty O'Toole
    Joined: Sep 17, 2006
    Posts: 9,657

    Rusty O'Toole
    Member

    Your truck has very few electric accessories. Chevs used vacuum wipers and if it does not have a radio or heater or turn signals about all you have to worry about are headlights and tail lights which may be missing anyway.
    It is probably 12V already. That engine came with 12V starter, generator and coil if it is a 55 - 62 which is what it looks like. Have a close look at the generator, it should have a tag rivetted on that tells if it is 12V.
    Oil the generator bearings and give the commutator a squirt of brake clean spray and it should work. No need to change it as long as it works.
     
    Last edited: Jun 27, 2020
  27. yoothgeye
    Joined: May 2, 2013
    Posts: 42

    yoothgeye
    Member

    Thank you for all your information. I’ve purposely been taking this all slow and doing research online so I didn’t just rush out and buy parts that I couldn’t use. I haven’t been “working” on the truck either until I know I have some idea I know what I’m doing. Trying to learn and live instead of live and learn.

    Got home with my front end parts today and set them kind of in place.

    [​IMG]
     
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  28. junkyardjeff
    Joined: Jul 23, 2005
    Posts: 8,588

    junkyardjeff
    Member

    If the 235 runs good keep it,I have a 37 that has a 57 235 hooked to a T-5 and will cruise down the highway at 80 with ease. It will not get there real quick but does good enough and will have something different then most,I just got a new 235 ready for it and then found a 261 cheap but that will be fore another project years down the road.
     
    yoothgeye likes this.
  29. yoothgeye
    Joined: May 2, 2013
    Posts: 42

    yoothgeye
    Member

    Finally took off the Toyota wheels and put on my new wheels/tires. I am very pleased with the fitment.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    I was also curious if these wheels were worth anything to anyone, the 2 off the back I believe were original and one is rusted out around the valve stem, other is ok but both are rough. The other 2 are wider and not as bad, I might need to keep one as a spare, but anyone local can get the others free or talk me out of all of them.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    MO54Frank likes this.

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