cab

Keeping the passenger area warm in cars and trucks during the winter was always a problem in the early years. Not only were the heater fans and cores small but the vehicles used recirculator heaters. Thus, the air in the cab was recirculated rather than using dry outside cold air being brought inside and warmed. This helped for quicker warming...

  Though at first, a new person in the GM truck hobby might think all 1960-66 Chevrolet cab trim (only on the deluxe models) is the same. In reality no less than three changes occurred during this seven year body style. During 1960 (maybe into early 1961) the optional stainless cab side trim on the Chevrolet truck was designed to...

  Mix very cold days, almost 60 years, and the design of the original safety glass windshield and look what sometimes occurs. You can still see through the upper part of the original windshield. However, the large separations are there to stay.

  To comply with Federal safety standards, GM first equipped their truck cabs with a padded dash during the 1967-1972 body style. Though a practical and attractive addition to the vehicles interior, most original dash pads show their 40 plus years of use. Exposure to summer sun and winter temperature extremes have caused fading, cracking, and most even have pieces...

  On the 1/2, 3/4, and 1 tons, the small rear window was a standard feature during 1967. A large panoramic rear window cab was an extra cost option. Beginning in 1968, the small rear window cab was discontinued except in the 60 series two ton. In this larger truck the small window continued to be standard through the end...

The interest of safety began showing in a few areas of the 1955-1959 Chevrolet truck cabs. In a salesman's data book dated September 1, 1958, this changed dash is shown with the comment "Crown of the panel having a glare-proof crinkle finish." This was to reduce the reflection of direct sunlight - a beginning of what is now a major...

  During the early 1960's, deluxe appearance options on GM trucks were slowly increasing in popularity. Though trucks were still basically purchased as workers, a growing group of buyers were requesting more deluxe features. Extra disposable US income meant more money to add to a new truck purchase. One very noticeable appearance option was the deluxe interior on Chevrolet light...

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. For the person wanting his 1966 Chevrolet pickup restored to exact originality, authentic data is difficult to find. Most General Motors books from that year have been discarded and aftermarket books are...

  During all of the 1947-1955 series, the five window cab, often referred to as the Deluxe cab, was available as an extra cost option. Their two corner windows helped in visibility especially when backing. Cabs made during the same year are identical except for these corner window options. Some buyers in the southern states rejected this option. They felt...

During rebuilding of the Advance Design cab, the hobbyist will observe remnants of a tar paper material secured to the underside of the roof. This was partially for insulation but even more as a noise retardant. This reduces the bell sound in the cab when driving or slamming the doors.

Yes, rubber pedal pads from 1947 through 1959 look the same when installed. However, because of the design of the metal pedal below them, they are different on their backside. Some suppliers market them as one item but the attached pictures will show this as not true.

The very practical panel truck produced from the early 1920's through 1970 was an excellent cargo vehicle. Merchandise was protected from the weather and equally important from easy theft. Being a freight hauler, its cargo floor is like the pickup truck. Hard yellow pine and cross sills support the weight and merchandise slides on the metal strips.

Beginning in 1950, GM introduced an improvement in the cargo area of the panel truck and Canopy Express. It now followed the example of the Suburban by using a one piece, 5 ply floor. This replaced the planks that were always used in the pickup.

A GM mistake on the 1947 Advance Design cab is the lack of a water drain on the top of the cowl. Heavy rains allowed water to run under the hood and down the firewall. No doubt some water damage would occur to the voltage regulator and the cloth covered wiring harness.

In 1952 GM made a simple change to the accelerator linkage that made a major reduction in engine noise in the cab. This was definitely an improvement when older engines had developed excessive valve train noise.

When your 1947-1955 GM truck needs rear cab corners and you prefer original US made replacement parts, there is an alternative.

Big Truck Deluxe Cab During the early Advance Design years of 1947-1950 (without wing vents) it is usually considered that a 5 window cab is all deluxe from the factory. The extras included stainless around the windshield and side windows, chrome grille, lower body color wheels with pinstripe, and right sunvisor and armrest. This is true on the 3000 series trucks; 1/2, 3/4, and 1 ton. An exception occurs on the 1 1/2 ton and 2 ton trucks. Though the cabs are the same as the smaller trucks, these deluxe cabs consisted of only the two corner windows. The Salesman's Data Book shows no reference to a chrome grille or window stainless. As money was tight and big trucks were all for work duties, it is assumed GM decided that the trim option would not be a good marketing item on the large vehicles. The corner windows were definitely a sellable extra. Visibility from these two additional windows helped much in backing. The lower photo is from an untouched 1947 Chevy 1 1/2 ton. The corner window cabs have no trim! Deluxe Small Truck (above) Deluxe Big Truck (above)

With the introduction of GM's new truck body design in mid 1947, a delivered package became available on both Chevrolet and GMC. World War II was in the past, employment was high, and many American truck buyers were willing to pay a little extra for more options on their new vehicle purchase.

During the first year of the Advance Design 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.

With the US entry into World War II, trucks were quickly modified to be successful for military use. Pre-existing cabs, frames, and mechanical components were altered to be more usable when in everyday work duties or in battle.

During the war years, the US was plagued with a shortage of rubber. The Japanese occupied most of the islands that grew rubber producing plants. The majority of the rubber the U.S. could obtain was sent to the war effort.

Maybe the rubber was of lesser quality. Maybe the GM truck division was saving money. For some reason Chevrolet and GMC trucks were not designed for rubber brake and clutch pads.

The United States and its allies suffered from major rubber shortages during World War II as the Japanese had control of most Indonesian rubber tree plantations. To survive without this material, much of the world was forced to settle on a limited supply of synthetic rubber of lesser quality.

Gauges in Chevrolet truck dash panels during the mid through late 1930’s are very similar and are spaced, from each other, almost the same. Even their smaller chrome gauge rings interchange. The 1934-35 gauges are in the middle of the dash and there is no glove box. The 1936-39 instruments are centered above the steering column with the glove box on the right side.

A unique feature on GM truck cabs became standard equipment between 1940 and 1946. Before and after this, truck cabs were very basic. As they were made for work, almost no extras were on them. The idea was to keep manufacturing cost very low. There was much competition with other makes trying to also keep their sale price as low as possible.

  The differences found on the cab during the beginning of the Advance Design years are subtle, yet on close study soon become quite evident. It probably exists on all vehicles when a body style is first introduced. Lab tests on a vehicle tend to overlook a few problems that later surface when it is in the hands of the...

There is none! Truck cabs during these early years all came the same from the factory. Accessories were dealer installed. You picked the factory installed color and the dealership added requested extras such as heater or inside sunvisor.

Some beginners tend to place 1936-46 cabs in the same category. Don't do this! The 1936-38 and 1939-46 are a totally different design. Very little interchanges. The early style provided excellent building blocks for the new design 1939-46 trucks.

This early glove box lock assembly has a weak point that makes it difficult to find complete. Its die-cast vertical pointer is held in place by a small steel tension spring. After the truck sets outside abandon several years the spring rusts, breaks, or otherwise looses its tension. This allows the pointer to fall out and the glove box lid will no longer stay closed.

It is so unusual to find an unmolested mid 30s truck! When this all original 21,000 mile 1937 GMC appeared at a recent New England truck show, we had to take notice having never seen the correct installation of the small 3/8” bead cab windlace on an early model. Our camera did some recording.

Three times during Chevrolet truck history there were mid-year body changes. This was in 1936, 1947, and 1955. These changes involved very few modifications to the bed and mechanical components, but it was the cabs that received the near total facelifts.

Curved Windshield The large one-piece laminated safety plate glass windshield has an area of approximately 1116 square inches. Electric Windshield Wipers Provide constant wiping action regardless of engine load or accelerator position. Wipers have 13-inch blades and a wiping speed of 110 strokes per minute. Two-speed wipers, including a push-button-operated windshield washer, are standard. Wiper arms and the metal portions...

Yes the cabs are the same between 1/2 ton and 2 ton on the 1955-1959, however one extra does exist on the 1 1/2 and 2 tons. These larger trucks have an additional rocker panel! Their panels are held to and cover the regular rocker under each door with nine sheet metal screws. They even extend from the under door area to along the edge of the cab corner.

In upgrading the Advance Design 1947-1953 cab for 1954, GM engineers created a totally different dash assembly. It required that the radio be much smaller. With better electronic technology and no push buttons, the new 6 volt radio could be placed into the smaller space. They even placed a cardboard sheet above the '54 radio to protect it from settling...