1947

The 1946 to early 1947 trucks had been carry-overs from the pre-war 1941 design. General Motors wisdom knew not to offer redesigned vehicles immediately after the war. They understood sales would be great (often a 6 month wait) so why not use pre-war tooling and sell the older 1941 trucks and title them 1946? GM waited and enjoyed the income...

In our many years writing the Feature Truck of the Month Series we have never seen a restored truck of the above year and design. We were impressed! This attractive almost 80 year old truck, originally sold for work duties, is one of the few survivors. It is owned and completely restored by Curtis Robinette in the city of Rocky...

As most of our readers know, for this series, we look for trucks that are the more unusual. For this month, we found a vehicle that is correct for this category!  Here is almost a “one of a kind” early 1947 Chevrolet Suburban. (Yes, there was an early and late body design for this year.) Here is an example as...

Then late 1947 through 1949 Chevy/GMC trucks had a very different wiring harness than later 1950 through 1955 years (actually, will not interchange with any other years). Its difference is seen just by raising the hood. On the firewall lower side of the voltage regulator is a vertical row of five fuses protected by a removable metal cover. Actually, when...

Be careful in purchasing used Advance Design rear bumper braces! Even the seller may not know there are two different shapes. When installed incorrectly, the rear bumper will not be in the correct position. The more common rear braces are on the half ton pickup. They are designed to lower the long horizontal bumper so the tailgate can swing down...

We think you will like our decision to repost one of our more popular articles during our 25 year history. During 2021 this created so many comments with a surprise that this truck ever existed. To our knowledge, this is the only 1947 "1 ½ ton dually" that we know exists. NOTE: The 1946 cab design continued until about April...

After featuring a truck of the month on our website for 15 years from over the world, we decided to do something a little different. For March we are featuring one of our own trucks! Sometimes, it’s fun to “blow your own horn”. It was 25 years ago and our growing GM truck parts business had been progressing nicely for...

About 15 years ago, Jim Carter Truck Parts, decided to reproduce the “real” GM step plates used in the years of 1947-55.  Though there were hundreds of step plate designs available during the early years, but only one is pure. The 1947-55 Chevrolet/GMC Running Board Safety Treads and was made available by the GM dealers. No lettering exists so they...

The full rear quarter panels for the 1947-55 Chevy/GMC Suburban were made all the same at the metal stamping manufacturer.  To save money these panels were not made different if the Suburban was to have the double doors or the tailgate style opening in the rear. Thus, when the Suburban was provided with a lift and tailgate combination the 4...

Attached are some pictures of the correct 1947-1955 GM panel truck seats. The right side was a factory option. This would be special ordered if the owner was planning on two passengers. Though they have been recovered with cloth instead of factory “leatherette”, they are correct in all other ways. What is interesting is how GM made the optional right...

What an ingenious way to keep a tail light in view! General Motors realized that with the tail gate in the lowered position the center tail light still had to be seen by the following traffic. At times the gate will stay lowered when longer freight is carried. Therefore, the 5” round light is attached to a swing bracket. This...

An Inner-Line oil filter from Long Island, New York!  Rarely seen today but a popular early aftermarket option.  It secures to the engine block after removing the oil distribution cover.  No oil lines.  No moving the horn forward to make room for the intake manifold mounted oil canister.

What a unique invention. When you have a 1947 through 1959 single rear wheel 3/4 or 1 ton GM truck and need more pulling power, this is the answer. American ingenuity at its best! This new steel center hub extension includes eight long bolts to reach the original wheel studs. This holds the factory wheel in place and then provides...

It is very important where to drill the hole for the new radio antenna. The results of making a slight mistake will stay in your mind for many years to come! Radios during these 1947-54 Advance Design years were never installed at the factory. This was done by the authorized GM Dealer. In the box that contained the new radio...

Article courtesy of Rob English (rob@oldgmctrucks.com) The issue of multiple piece rims and safety comes up frequently. There seems to be a quick rush to judgment about any rim that has more than one piece, and while certain types of multiple piece rims have indeed been outlawed and are no longer made, many others are not only still in service...

Purchasing a 1947-1953 optional cigarette lighter assembly from some vendors provides reproduction that is far from original in appearance. A manufacturer recently offered the optional lighter assembly but used a knob from the headlight of a 1947-1953. There is no similarity to the real lighter! Don't be embarrassed at a show where your vehicle is being judged. Reproduction (above) Image...

Tech Tip from Ron Hansen Wakefield, Massachusetts � Alignment Solution for Installing a Late Model Rear End in a 1947-1954 Pick Up On the original rear end, the spring centerbolt is offset to the front of the spring by 2"to 3". If you install a modern rear end (with an open driveshaft) and retain the original springs, the wheels will...

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.

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.

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.

  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...

  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 Chevrolet and GMC left commercial taillight used during 1947-1953 is an excellent example of GM's conservative thinking towards trucks. The number one purpose for trucks was work! Therefore, if a part had been very successful on a prior body design, it just might be adapted later as a part in some new styling. Savings were in production costs...

A redesigned parklight assembly was started with the introduction of the 1947 GMC advanced body style. It was placed in the front fender 3-1/2 inches below the headlight ring. A 2-5/8 inch diameter bezel held a domed glass lens to its housing by two barrel screws. The unit was not meant to be a combination turn signal and parklight assembly...

  When observing restored 1947-1953 Advanced Design trucks, we rarely see the removable dash parts painted correctly. Though at least half the owners paint these parts to their personal taste, many truck restorers want the dash appearance as original. Surprisingly, we rarely see two alike even on trucks that are said to be restored just like they left the factory...

  Among the many updates in the new Advance Design body style in 1947, one that certainly stands out, is the change in gas tank positioning. For the first time since 1936 it was placed outside the cab and under the bed. The dimensions of this 16 gallon tank were based on the limited space between the right frame-rail and...

During the 1947-1955 years, no less than four different front hood emblems were used during regular production on the Chevrolet 3000 series trucks. Though all can be made to interchange during this 7 1/2 year series; for the perfectionist, there are only certain types for certain years. In 1947, the 1/2, 3/4, and 1 ton Chevrolet trucks began production by displaying a...

Some trivia from Jim Carter Truck Parts: On the Advanced Design Pickups and larger trucks, the battery was under the passenger side of the cab floor. To protect the battery from road debris (gravel, sand and ice) it was important that it be protected from this coming from the right front tire. Designers of the Chevrolet and GMC installed the...

During the Advance Design years, 1947-55, Chevrolet and GMC each changed their grille designs twice. GMC made the change at the end of the second year and Chevrolet made the change at the end of the seventh year. Possibly to save tooling cost GMC, not Chevrolet, always used the same grille on all truck sizes in any one year. As...

Between 1947-1953 the Chevrolet 1/2, 3/4, and 1 ton grilles were made from the same tooling. However, the paint colors and some with chrome plating made a difference. For the perfectionist, the following data will help you build a correct grille during your restoration. Painted Grilles 1947-1948 The standard grille has inner and outer bars the body color. Horizontally, a...

Used only the first 1 1/2 years into this body style, these GMC grilles stand out for their different shape and very heavy duty construction. Because of it's weight of this assembly, it sets on the frame rails and is given extra support by a pair of 1 1/2 to 2 ton steel rods extended at an angle to the...

  Since their beginning in 1935, the Chevrolet Suburban was always the “people hauler” of General Motors commercial fleet of trucks. They were designed to carry more weight on rough roads than was the passenger car station wagon. While trucks were carrying freight from the time of their purchase, Suburban’s were reserved for passengers! It became an immediate success with...

No less than five speedometers were used in Chevrolet trucks during the Advance Design years, 1947-1955. If you want your truck just right, be sure you understand the differences. Restoring one you have on a shelf or purchased at a swap meet may not be proper for your year. The following will provide a description of differences. 1947 Red-Orange needle...

  The Chevrolet "Advance Design" gauge cluster looks much the same between 1947 and 1953, however a few differences do exist. For the perfectionist, these changes are important. In 1947-1948 the gauge needles are short (5/8 inches) and painted red. Between 1949-1953 the needles become longer (3/4 inches) and are white to match the change in the new speedometer needle...

  One of the numerous differences in the new 1947 Advance Design trucks is the different position of the mounting tabs on the speedometer. Reasons for doing this on both Chevrolet and GMC are as follows: with the introduction of this body style in mid-1947, both 3 and 4 speed transmissions were the floor shift design. However, in 1948 with...

Replacing major rust-out between the rear fender and door of the 1947-1955 Suburban or panel truck can be easier than you think. The curvature in this area is the same shape as the adjacent door. Therefore, locate a 1947-1955 donor door of limited value due to butchered radio speaker holes or a badly rusted bottom. Remove the outer panel. It...

The hood receiver plates through all of the Advance Design years (1947-1955) interchange. It is their attached hood release lever that is different due to the grill change in 1954. Note: The accompanying photos show the extra length of the 1954-1955 lever. To add extra stability to this length, a groove was stamped in the lever to prevent bending.

The following article was released by GM on May 15, 1948. It was sent to all Chevrolet and GMC dealers and was to correct a problem with the location of the 1948 Brake release handle.

  During the 1947-1955 Advance Design years three different stock running boards on pickups and panel trucks were produced. Features such as width, number of ribs, thickness of metal, and length of under-braces are the same. When placed together, a difference in length is obvious. The longest unit was used on the 1 ton pickup and panel trucks with 134...

  One of the most unusual and rare options for the 1947-1955 1/2 tons are 'wide running boards'. The adjacent picture is from the 1949 Chevrolet Salesman's Data Book. The photos below are of used original boards recently found at an Oklahoma swap meet. They consist of 'short' running boards as used on all flatbed ¾ and 1 ton trucks...

Push buttons were discontinued at the end of 1953 and did not reappear until 1967 Prior to 1959 radios used mechanical vibrator tubes. They would operate with either positive or negative ground. A low buzzing sound could always be heard from the tube area before the radio warmed up, once the sound began, the speaker made the buzzing difficult to...

  For the Perfectionist During the first half of the Advance Design years (1947-1955), GM offered a special panel truck as an option. This deluxe model was designed for a company wanting to give a more upscale appearance to their retail customers. During the era of one car families, the lady of the house looked more toward home deliveries for...

Since the introduction of GMC's first 1/2 ton pickup in 1936, there has always been a sharing of most sheet metal parts with Chevrolet trucks. This was done mostly for economic reasons. However, when possible, each of the two brands tried to make inexpensive changes to be different than the other. Some specific examples of this occurred during the Advance...

When observing un-restored GM trucks of the 1947-1955 era, one will notice the majority of these vehicles were originally dark green. An explanation is simple. Green was their standard color! If you did not specify one of the other approximately eleven non-extra cost colors, your truck would be delivered green. The standard color of trucks had been thought of as...

During the 1940's and 1950's a few body companies created their own design of truck not offered by the chassis manufacturer. In this case the Campbell Co. made their own "station wagon" body to fill a need of a small number of buyers. its all wood construction and 3 or 4 side doors made a very attractive package. It was similar to the GM all metal Suburban with 2 doors.

Having grown up in a family that always had delivery trucks, usually sedan deliveries I have always loved trucks. The first truck I remember was a black 48 Chevrolet Sedan Delivery. Ten a 50,52,54 and than we went to wagons.