Jim Carter Truck Parts

1934-1946 Chevy Truck Model I.D. We hope the following information on Axle, Transmission and Model identification will help many of you with your questions. Accuracy was a concern as we compiled this information. Because GM made so many scheduled as well as unscheduled changes, there is much discussion about these changes. The following is used by permission from Pickups and...

1918-33 Chevy Truck Model I.D. We hope the following information on Axle, Transmission and Model identification will help many of you with your questions. Accuracy was a concern as we compiled this information. Because GM made so many scheduled as well as unscheduled changes, there is much discussion about these changes. The following is used by permission from Pickups and...

The body I.D. plate - every GM truck had one attached at the factory. Basically it states the vehicle's gross weight limit (weight of truck plus its maximum allowed load) plus stamped digits that give the assembly plant year, size of truck, month built, and sequential numbers as it came off the production line. These plates are necessary for positive...

To keep the 1947-1955 GM trucks base price low, their 6 volt cigarette lighter was a dealer accessory. The vehicle always came from the factory with a round blank out plug at the lower center of the dash.

In contrast to 1954-1955 Chevrolet trucks, the same year GMC had a position in the dash for an optional gauge. It was here that larger GMC's had a tachometer or vacuum gauge installed. The 1/2, 3/4 and 1 ton GMC's usually did not require these engine gauges and a blank-out plate is normally found there. An option here in these smaller trucks is a spring wind clock. It was produced by General Motors and installed at their GMC dealerships.

Jim Carter Truck Parts viewed so many older salvage yards to find so much of this data by accident! It was just there! There couldn't be an easier place for a tree to grow. If you don't move your truck for a few years, trees will find it. As they grow wider, the truck bends to fit! Here livestock cannot...

With the introduction of the Advance Design Cab in 1947, a new dealer installed heater also became available. When used together this new body was referred to as The Cab That Breathes.

By the mid 1950's extra income in the U.S. was creating an increased demand for accessories on both cars and trucks. To take advantage of this, the Chevrolet Truck Division introduced one item as a first. It would not appear again on Chevrolet trucks until the mid 1970's.

Prior to the 1960's, trucks were used as work vehicles. On Friday nights, most were parked for the weekend and the family sedan was the transportation vehicle. It was a conservative era when you bought only basic necessities. A $5.00 grocery purchase was more than most could carry. Finding white wall tires on a truck (even a car) would have...

When you need more room for wider 8 bolt non-split rim wheels on your stock 1946-1959 Chevrolet or GMC ¾ ton, there is a solution. (The long tie rod ends prevent the use of wheels much wider than the original split rims.) Customers have given us an answer! It is not difficult and uses all original GM parts. After the...

The 1947-1955 Chevrolet and GMC came from the factory with left mirror arms on left hand drive trucks. This was particularly important if the truck was to have a large bed that covered the rear window. To keep sale price low, the right mirror arm was an accessory (dealer installed). It was very important that the dealer place the mirror...

  It's surprising that an item placed on almost every 1947-55 Chevrolet and GMC truck has become so impossible to locate. Most collectors have never seen one! The product is the five inch GM round mirror head. It was originally bolted to the cowl mounted mirror arm on the driver's side. They were always black and had the pivot on...

The Chevrolet dealer installed recirculator heater was much different in 1947-48. In 1946 and older plus in 1949 through 1957, they sold the traditional round core design but for 1947 and 1948 it was all different.

  No less than three different mirror arms were used on Advance Design Trucks (1947-1955). Though most vendor catalogs do not reflect these differences, the following should be of interest to those that want their truck restored correctly. All left mirror arms attach to the same position on the cowl, however two designs were used. In the beginning years (1947-50...

A rattling gear lever can be quietened by slipping on a rubber sleeve. A handy sort is the sleeve of a bath tub sprayer that fixes on to a ordinary tap

Wiring procedure for temporarily attaching a coil to test an older one

This is a custom made tool for the compression of valve springs so that the push rod can be easily removed, each application will vary. The illustration should give you an idea on how the system works

Air pressure to clear fuel line blockage. This is an old mechanic trick of attaching a tube valve to half a rubber ball as seen in the illustration. Cut the ball to suit the fuel filter neck. Disconnect the line at the fuel pump so you don't clog internal filters in the pump or carburetor. Don't apply too much pressure as you may damage the tank

Valve quick spring test. To ensure valve springs in use are of the correct strength and have not weakened with age, they should be checked against a new one. The two springs should be placed in a vice as shown. If the used spring compresses before the new one starts to it has lost its strength and should be replaced by a new one

Side view mirrors last longer if a thin line of clear lacquer is painted around the edge of the glass where it meets the metal. This keeps moisture from getting behind the glass and also helps prevent the mirror from loosening and rattling. You can also use clear nail polish varnish.

A head gasket leak can be checked for leakage by adding a couple of teaspoonfuls of washing blue to a cup of anti freeze and pouring the mixture into the radiator. Tie a cloth over the tail pipe and run the engine. If there's a leak the blue will stain the fabric. The anti freeze will help to locate the leak

Older type steering usually have a number of ball joints similar to those illustrated. They must be regularly greased and adjusted or they will wear to the point that the ball will slip out of the spring tensioned cups. Once this happens you will have either part steering or no steering at all

Repair your own tubeless tires? You can seat the beads against the wheel rim so they'll hold air by applying a rope tourniquet around the tire. When partial inflation expands the tire, remove the rope and inflate to recommended pressure

Instead of tying up the starter cable to keep it from shorting against the motor or other metal parts of the car, when it is removed to repair the starter, just slip a short piece of rubber hose or tubing over the terminal end. Then you can let the end of the cable drop without any possibility of running down the battery.

Studebaker recommends a mixture in the ratio of 1/4 pound of beeswax to 1 quart of turpentine as very effective in protecting chromium plated parts against salt air and other conditions which have a detrimental effect on these parts.

If static electricity gives you a jolt each time you touch chrome door or window handles, apply a coat of thinned white shellac over the metal. The shellac will act as insulation and, incidentally, will protect the metal handles and keep them bright.

In removing rivets by center punching and drilling, the drill sometimes works off center, thus spoiling the rivet hole. A jig like the one shown will guide the drill true, as well as eliminate the need for center punching the rivet.

The points on the relay switch in the circuit breaker between the generator and battery often become roughened and stick together when the motor stops. This causes a reverse flow of electricity from battery to generator, resulting in a dead battery. Filling these points usually will eliminate bothersome sticking.

A pair of rounded wood blocks anchored to a sloping driveway will keep a car from rolling away. The blocks should be gently rounded so they are easy to run over, yet at the same time just steep enough to hold the car when it is parked.

To help you see beneath the manifolds when installing plugs in new V8's, fasten an old rearview mirror to a husky magnet. Place it on the frame with the mirror aimed at the plug openings and you can work without feeling your way.

To check an oil filter quickly, feel the temperature of its housing after warming the engine. If the housing feels substantially cooler than the oil pan, the cartridge is dirty and oil is by passing it. Change it as soon as possible.

Greasing truck shackles, in particular rear shackle pins that take weight and dust constantly. When no grease will flow, jack up the chassis to relieve the weight of the shackle pin, at the same time as greasing, tap the spring or shackle pin with a hammer.

This tip came from a radiator repairer who told us one of the most frequent causes of radiator tube blockage is the excessive use of silicone rubber for water pump and thermostat gaskets.

Hook up a timing light quickly with a bent cotter pin. One leg of the pin slips into the distributor caps #1 sparkplug socket, the timing light cable clamps on the other. The distributor is often easier to reach than the plug.

Keep your oil pouring spout clean and ready to use by storing it in a plastic bag. Besides keeping dust and insects out of the spout, the bag will collect oil drippings, preventing a mess in the garage.

How to use a ballpoint pen to pull wire through a body panel.

Dirty corroded sockets in tail lights, small parking lights and older type headlights can be cleaned with the end of a battery terminal brush rotated inside the socket. Turn the power off first. Any other brush of similar size will do.

A 6 volt battery cable on a 12 volt car is okay, but be careful if you are putting a 12 volt cable on a 6 volt car. The diameter may be smaller and cause power losses in the lower voltage system. The reason is that the 12 volt cables carry less amperage for the same power output.

Gearbox and back axle will run cooler and give longer life if you clean the mud and grime off at regular intervals. Steam cleaning and painting is best, a going over at home with solvent, kerosene, or degreaser is okay also. The reason, mud and dirt acts as an insulator, keeping the heat inside.

Bleeding hydraulic brakes will be easy if you make yourself this rig. You will need a spare cap for the master cylinder. Solder a piece of 1/4 inch tubing into the hole drilled through the cap.

A curtain rod of the telescoping type can be used to gauge the toe-in of an automobile's front wheels. After straightening out the tips as shown in the drawing, adjust the rod to fit snugly between the inner rims of the two wheels at their front edges. By making the rod at the joint and repeating the process at the rear edges of the rims, you can accurately determine the amount of toe-in.

To provide suction for checking the adjustment of an automatic, vacuum operated spark advance on the distributor of a car, an ordinary tire pump can be used. Remove the ball, check valve from the base of the pump and reverse the position of the leather washer. Then when the handle is drawn upward, air will be sucked into the pump hose, creating a vacuum.

To lighten the task of changing a heavy tire, one truck driver carries an ordinary roller skate (or a skate board) in his tool kit and uses it as shown. The skate supports the weight of the tire leaving him free to slide the spare wheel in place. This can also be used when changing tires on a car. It makes it easier to manage a heavy wheel.

Headlight lenses on cars can be removed easily and with little danger of breaking them with the aid of a plumber's friend, or force cup, generally employed for cleaning drains. After the vacuum cup has been pressed against the lens, the headlamp screw is removed and the lens lifted out.

Machinists sometimes find stud bolts set so firmly that the ordinary wrenches and devices for removing them are insufficient. Under these conditions, a simple method is to attach a heavy lathe dog to the bolt, as shown, and apply an iron bar as a lever. Tremendous force can be applied in the way, and the bolt easily removed. By reversing the pull, the bolt can be set very firmly.

Hood lacing that mats down and becomes hard with age often allows the hood to rub the body and cause annoying squeaks. Ordinary pencil erasers, notched as shown above and slipped under the lacing, will silence the noise. Pressure of the lacing is usually strong enough to keep the rubber silencers in place.

Russell Webb of Bombala, NSW, is working on a 1950-51 International AL-110. He thought we would like to see how a previous owner solved his rear spring overload problems. Now there is a good use for old tires..

We have all heard of the expression, You get what you pay for. This is a drill from an attractive set from one of those cheap stores that sell all Chinese stuff. The picture is worth a thousand words. A $5 drill is usually better than a $5 set of drills.

Because socket type spark plug wrenches sometimes break the porcelain around the plug as they are slipped on or off, cut a short piece of rubber hose to fit snugly inside the wrench. Forced into the tool so that it clears the lower shank that grips the base ofthe plug, the rubber hose within the hollow tool acts as a cushion to protect the plug's porcelain insulator from accidental breakage.

Look what a 216 six cylinder can do with a low speed rear end!

Life for this 1951 Chevrolet Model 5100 began at the GM assembly plant in Kansas City . Soon after, it was delivered to its new home at a small Chevrolet dealer in Lydon , Kansas . About this time it was also equipped with a new wrecker body (manufactured by W.T. Stringfellow and Co., Nashville , Tennessee ) and made ready for duties as a GM dealership tow truck.

So you wish to hear about my 1939 Chevrolet, grain bed, ton and a half tow truck. Well folks it is what I call a “REAL TRUCK”. This baby was built to work and be tough. Quality was important to vehicle builders of the pre-war era.

The truck (a 1936 1/2 Chevy high cab) was the very first truck that Mr. Hess himself drove around Woodbridge, NJ in the early days. In those days it was not gasoline he hauled, it was primarily heating fuel oil. The truck remained in service up into the early fifties at which time it underwent a partial overhaul. When I met the truck it had spent the last twenty something years in the HOVIC (Hess Oil Virgin Islands Corp) plant in the US Virgin Islands being used as a prop.

Its early 1947 and the U.S. has been struggling over a year to get factories back to producing domestic goods for the new post World War II economy. Car and truck hungry customers are expecting a year’s wait for each new vehicle ordered.

This is my 1948 Chevy 6100 Series, 2 ton short dump truck. I used it for remodeling business in Ledyard, CT. The truck has been in use by me for 8 years. After purchasing it, I have sought to keep her looking as original as possible. This is a long term project.

Ad for 1946 Chevrolet 1 1/2 ton dually

Almost unchanged in 45 years! The second owner repainted the two doors to cover the town lettering, then added the "Moblegas" decals. Yes, the hubcaps, bumpers, and grill back splash bars are still the correct gray color due to 1953 Korean War shortages.

Wow! Now this is a real work truck. Used almost daily, it was bought from the original owner in 1985. This 1967 Chevrolet 1 ½ ton is a true heavy hauler. It's original 283 V-8, 4 speed transmission, single speed rear end, and high output heater remains in place.

Our 1942 1 1/2 ton Chevrolet Fire Truck Was delivered to the DeLand Naval Air Station, February, 1942.

  Strange but true, 305 V-6 valve covers on 1963 GMC 1/2 ton pickups came with a red, yellow, and black plaid design. The red color was used on the remainder of the engine without the yellow and black markings. These photos are of an original untouched V-6 GMC engine. At this time, we are unsure why GMC used this...

  Chevrolet's 1/2 ton and car 3 speed overdrive transmission was optional equipment installed on the assembly line during the 1950's. The reduction of engine RPM's in high gear resulted in less wear on the drive train as well as additional speed on level roads. Today, this is still important but of increased importance is better fuel economy. The standard...

This drawing is from the 1955-1959 Chevrolet Factory Assembly Manual. We have added our part number ( FL137 ) with an arrow to show the new floor shift foam collar that is now available at Jim Carter's Truck Parts. Click to enlarge

  It's the first year for the successful Chevrolet V-8. (This basic small block design continues even today over 50 years later.) One very unique characteristic of this first year V-8 is the lack of a traditional block connection for a positive flow oil filter. For this one year, this 265 engine carried the by-pass oil filter system much like...

  Chevrolet linkage-type power steering is now available optionally on Series C10, 20, 30 models. This was formerly a dealer installed item. The equipment consists of a hydraulic pump, power cylinder, control valve, relay rod and hoses. The power cylinder is mounted to the side of the engine and is connected to the control valve through the hoses. The control...

  By 1958 the Chevrolet V-8 fan shroud (not GMC) changed to the more traditional round design. During the V-8 beginning years in 1955-1957, it was little more than four pieces of custom sheet metal that helped pull air through the radiator core. The enclosed pictures are of an original fan shroud for a 1958-59 Chevrolet 283 V-8. It fits...

  Two totally different 12 volt starters were used on the 235 six cylinder Chevrolet light trucks during 1955-1959. They attach to different bellhousings and are not interchangeable. Hydromatic 3 Bolt Starter As shown in the photos, the Hydramatic transmission starter has three bolt holes for securing it to the bellhousing. A solenoid on top reacts to the drivers key...

  Chevrolet's linkage-type power steering is available as an RPO (Regular Production Option) on all models except Forward Control Chassis. New ease and fingertip steering control are provided because up to 80 percent of the steering work is done by hydraulic power. Maneuvering a heavily loaded truck in a small space becomes much easier, and straightaway highway travel is less...

  With the introduction of the new small block V-8's in 1955 Chevrolet trucks, modified sheet metal was created to help in cooling. The new truck design came standard with the proven 235 inline six cylinder but when an optional V-8 was added, cooling modifications were necessary. The short length V-8's cooling fan was too far from the radiator and...

Just imagine a truck designed strictly for work duties that has survived almost 70 years! In 1936, our country was still feeling the effects of the "Great Depression". When you spent your money for a 1 1/2 ton truck, it had to pay it's way. Therefore, few big trucks like this 1936 have survived. They were worked from the first day of delivery!

What a rare panel truck! This little 1934 Chevrolet is almost a "one of a kind". With it being under construction, we just had to share these pictures.

Have you ever crawled under a pickup for sale looking for damage? You then turned it down because some rust was coming through the floor. Well, check this! David Cross of Stillwater, Minnesota found this 1957 Chevrolet 1/2 ton and ignored the signs of major rust. What is now a show quality truck would normally have been crushed by a recycler.

  We often get requests for a formula to make the Advance Design pickups more freeway friendly. Their original ring and pinion gears were created to make the truck's six cylinder work well with a load and also keep up with the 1950's traffic on gravel roads and two lane paved highways. Though a higher speed reproduction ring and pinion...

This mid-Missouri 1937 Chevrolet 1/2 ton is owned by Tim Koch of Jefferson City. He chose this restoration shop to do the total project because of their reputation for quality as one of the best! The name Herrons Customs Paint is mentioned at so many local shows, it was worth Tim Koch talking to the owner and viewing his shop. The vehicles under rebuilding convinced Tim this was the company to do the restoration of his 1937 Chevy truck.

</a > On the new 216 six cylinder engine, introduced in 1937, the vacuum advance was placed on Chevrolet trucks and cars at the right side of the engine below the distributor. A small metal vacuum line across the front of the engine connected to the carburetor base. This vacuum advance design continued on trucks through the end of this...

Here is a great example of a ground up restoration of a 1951 Chevrolet 3/4 ton. The project is being done by Line Creek Restorations in Northmoor, Missouri near Kansas City, 1-816-946-6000. When the project is finished, it will be a new truck!

The Trials and Tribulations of Installing a GMC 302 engine into a 1950 3/4 ton Chevrolet Pick Up by Joel Baumbaugh   Background: About 5 years ago I "upgraded" the engine in my truck from a 216 to a 235. Lately I have felt that I wanted/needed a little more torque (especially while the bed is full of something heavy...

This is my latest project a 1937 GMC 1/2 ton pickup. Not exactly original but a personal preference. The previous owner had owned the truck for over 30 years and finally parted with it. It had been restored many years ago but was in need of a lot of repair to shoddy bodywork and I have added many upgrades.

Casting Number Make Year CID 1970 Chevrolet 1964-1967 292 2135412 GMC 1946-1954 248,270 2193980 GMC 1952-1954 302 2324003 GMC 1955-1963 270 2324004 GMC 1955-1962 302 2404929 GMC 1955-1963 270 2192402 GMC Military 302 289890 Chevrolet 1963-1977 292 328575 Chev/Buick/Olds/Pontiac 1968-1984 250 328576 Chev/Buick/Pontiac 1968-1976 250 328880 Chevrolet 1963-1977 292 329990 Chevrolet 1963-1977 292 358825 Chevrolet 1966-1976 250 3629703 Chevrolet 1950-1952...

  During the Advance Design Truck years, two air filters were available when an order was sent to the factory. The base air filter (no extra cost) was the oil-wetted design from earlier years. The owner was expected to place a thin layer of motor oil on the filter media. Dirt particles would be caught by the oil as it...

By January 1949 GM realized there was an engine noise in the new late 1947 Advance Design cabs that needed correction. If a truck customer complained, the dealer was given a solution by modifying a part from a Chevrolet car. The problem was engine noise entering the cab through the horizontal accelerator rod where it touched the floor hole. On...

  Between 1954-1962, Chevrolet produced their famous full oil pressure 235 cubic inch six cylinder in trucks and it soon proved to be one of the greats among engines. However, at the same time a lesser known "big brother" to this base engine was being used. This was the quality built 261 cubic inch six cylinder! The 261 was available...

I am glad that you have shown an interest in my pickup. It was purchased from a local theater in 1964 they used it to carry a billboard in the back. After purchase it was used to carry feed and seed on the farm. After purchase of a newer pickup my Dad's employee used it to carry fuel and supplies to a bull dozer until the engine was beginning to fail.

At the beginning years of the 216 engine (1937-1938) the fan blade that cooled the radiator was made with a center hub plus four blades. Each blade was attached to the hub with three rivets. This combination worked well when new, however, it was certainly more expensive to produce. A dangerous part of the design was the blades attached by...

During the 1930's and 1940's most of our Nation's roads were dirt and gravel. Paving had been underway for many years but there was still a long way to go. To protect engine components from a constant attack of dirt, GM designed metal stamped panels that attached to an area where the engine block and oil pan connect. This slowed...

During the 1936-37-38 years of this cab design, subtle changes occurred as GM engineers learned better ways to construct this truck. The gas tank changes on the pickup body style was probably the most obvious and it was different each of the three years. In 1936, the new mid year low cab pickup continued with the earlier practice of securing...

Though the major cab and fender sheet metal change began in mid -1947 (Advance Design), both the Chevrolet and GMC trucks kept their same proven six cylinder engines as used in prior years. The base engine in GMC light trucks was the 228 cubic inch inline six cylinder introduced in 1939. This overhead valve unit had a full pressure oil system...

Occasionally we hear owners condemning the closed drive shaft system used in the 1/2 ton trucks prior to 1955. After questioning the negative comment, we almost always discover the real criticism is the low gearing of the ring and pinion in the differential. Yes, this lower gear ratio was created more for slower roads of year gone by, but it...

And now we've seen it all! A real example of American ingenuity. Designed by an aftermarket company to keep an over tightened valve cover from leaking motor oil down the engine sides.  A metal band is pushed over and around the base of the valve cover.  Brass U-brackets are then secured by the two valve cover studs.  This creates equal...

Rebuilding the 1937 and older pressure plate can be a little tricky. The early design (activated with a carbon throw out bearing under pressure) requires extra steps when being rebuilt. With the help of an older shop manual (see below) the final details can be successful. The personal letter is from Richard Wright of Westtown, NY. He did not receive...

Chevrolet introduced their basic nine inch single disc clutch and corresponding diaphragm pressure plate in 1938. This pair was used in their cars and most 1/2 ton pickups with three speed transmissions through 1953. With about one million of these vehicles sold annually, one can quickly realize the high numbers of this clutch system that was at one time on...

The door window is cranked up tight in the cloth channel and off you go on your daily errands. Suddenly, the glass begins to slowly lower as you drive over side roads or contact a rough surface. In comes cold air, rain, and wind! Even the window handle turns. What's this all about? Do you tape the window closed or...

Even if you prefer an original vacuum wiper motor for these years rebuildable cores have become very rare and most New Old Stock units are just not obtainable. Even new ones have their lubrication dry after 70 years. For those that won't accept a slow moving or non-working used vacuum unit, an alternative does exist. New electric motors are now...

During the early years of auto and truck design, most vehicles came with their windshields capable of tipping outward. This helped poorly insulated cabs to be more bearable during hot weather. Extra outside air would be forced into the cab and replaced some of the hot air radiating from the bare sheet metal firewall. This idea was good but not...

During 1939-40 Door window breakage on truck cabs became a problem. As the cloth fabric in the door window channel became worn, the large and now loose fitting side windows were susceptible to cracking when the door was slammed. Complaints from dealers resulted in an improvement on 1941-46 doors. A one piece metal frame was placed around the edges of...

  With the introduction of the new Cameo in 1955, GM added their most deluxe features as standard equipment. This "Boulevard Pickup" was to stand out above all others. The wheel covers were not like that on the more standard pickup. To save tooling costs on this limited production model, GM used the wheel cover on the 1955 Chevrolet Belair...

During the early years of GM truck production, many examples exist which relate to their vehicles being designed more for work. Changing a trim part for appearance reasons was usually secondary if it resulted in unnecessary expense. Often parts were used that had already been on GM automobiles. This eliminated expensive new tooling costs and kept GM truck prices in...

Prior to about the mid 1950's, motor oil did not have the modern detergent additive we have today.  Therefore this type engine oil didn't keep dirt particles in suspension. Foreign material would slowly settle to the bottom of the oil pan and on other flat surfaces such as the valley of the head. If you ever removed an oil pan...

Prior to about 1962, Chevrolet trucks were equipped with round straight through mufflers. These units reduced back pressure and allowed the engine to breathe to its full potential. This caused a little extra exhaust noise in comparison to the larger more engineered oval car mufflers but trucks were for work and power. About 1950 truck mufflers were given slightly larger...

  During the 1940's through 1950's placing pin stripes on automobile wheels occurred on most all brands. It was an inexpensive touch that added a little flair to the appearance of a new wheel. The stripe could be added quickly with a machine on a rotating wheel. The factory didn't need a human as on the body stripes. GM was...

The Problem The closed drive shaft ( on GM 1/2 ton, 1937-54) is supported at the front by two bushings. As these wear egg shaped over many miles, the drive shaft begins to move up and down. This ruins the grease seal and causes the u-joint to begin rubbing the "bell" that covers it. Thus noise and vibration! Finally, with...