During the first year of the Advance Design (about 7 months) 1/2 and 3/4 ton pickup, the standard three speed transmission was a carryover from 1946. Its top loader shift lever extended directly from the transmission through the removable floor pan.
When the column shift three speed was introduced in 1948, the floor shift hole was eliminated. Therefore, the 1947 three speed floor plate has the round shift hole as well as the hand brake lever hole. The 1948 and newer column shift transmission and foot operated park brake uses the same floor pan but the holes are not used.
Interesting: The short metal upper horizontal stiffener on the top of the 1948-55 pan remained short. Because of the position of a hand brake oval hole, it was necessary on the 1947 model. To keep tooling costs low, the length was unchanged even after the shift hole was not stamped.
Jim Carter Truck Parts Technical Help
To make a 1947 Chevrolet / GMC Pickup Transmission Cover (they are not available as an aftermarket) use a different size hole saw for the two holes and a small straight for the hand brake hole.
Please allow us to know any of your 1947-55 Chevrolet / GMC Pickup Truck needs at sales@oldchevytrucks.com
1947 on the left.
1948-1955 on the right.
This photo is the interior of a late 1947 using the flat floor cover plate. With this early 4 speed transmission, it shows there is no high hump in this plate as with 1948, and why the hand brake long slot is required.
