gmc

Such a rare GMC long-bed ½ ton! You can attend truck/car events over a lifetime and never see the design of this 70-year-old GMC. The owner is Pete Bogardus from Eugene, Oregon. He comes from a family of GMC owners. There was rarely a time that they didn’t own a pickup, and always a GMC. Pete even remembers at age...

Prior to 1936, the GMC name represented the General Motors Corporation. It was reserved for only their line of large commercial trucks. They had their own Big Truck dealerships and very rarely mixed with other GM-made cars and trucks. The Great Depression of the 1930’s changed the automotive market forever! Sales of cars as well as large trucks had dropped...

When we saw this “one of a kind” pair, we just had to have them as a Feature Truck of the Month! A real part of American History. Most of this article is from “Phillip Lott’s Own Words.” This special truck is a 1958 GMC, LCP (Low Cab Forward), I stumbled across in Mora, N.M.  It had the large optional...

This was posted June 2020. It's popularity made it worth a repeat. Our regular readers of the Feature Truck of the Month Series know we try to find early GM trucks that are just a little different for an article. Our choice this month certainly fills these qualifications. A 1953 GMC ½ ton owned and totally restored by Allan Fisher...

Our Feature Truck for December was discovered in front of our local shop decorated for Christmas! It was perfect for the season. No doubt this restored 1953 GMC ¾ Ton is an “attention getter” not just in local traffic, but with the decorations even the pedestrians stop and smile. The owners are Jack and Lana Williams of Independence, Missouri. It...

For this month’s feature truck, we present a very special and extremely rare pickup. Few have survived after almost 90 years! It was the year that GMC, the big truck branch of General Motors, introduced their first ½ ton pickup. Here is this special truck, a 1936 GMC ½ ton pickup. Maybe this 1936 is why there are light weight...

In the concern for safety, many decide to replace their original single chamber master cylinder for a duel system, but they want to keep their factory front and rear drums. (The duel chambers were required by federal law on all new vehicles about 1966.) A current new duel chamber cylinder allows your front or rear brakes to operate if either...

It’s the height of our country’s Great Depression! GMC dealers, the big truck branch of General Motors, were experiencing very slow sales. Many went out of business, while others were surviving by also selling used cars, trucks, farm machinery, and offering to do mechanical work on most any vehicle. Thus, in an attempt to survive, GMC developed a new product...

It appears that the GMC front cowl and chassis went to all the school bus body, manufactures with this horizontal trim. Just a little extra for the school districts to see if they were planning of buying new buses. (Maybe GMC thought it gave a more personal touch.) 1940 GMC with school bus lettering trim. 1946 GMC with School Bus...

Bill’s son and new owner, Mike Vavrina It’s amazing what a person can do to a 1971 Chevy C-10 ½ ton 6 cylinder, 3 speed column shift, drive to work many, many, many years and later change its total personality. It’s only possible if its owner has major mechanical skills plus some disposable income saved back with this project in...

A very unique year for General Motors trucks. This was a split year! Two different body styles were displayed at different times at the dealerships. They are referred to as the 1955 First and 1955 Second Series. Why did this happen? Many have said: It is easy, Follow the Money! With limited changes in Chevrolet cars since 1949, it was...

After 25 years providing the Feature Truck of the Month series, we have found this beautifully restored 1937 Chevrolet ½ ton nicely dressed for Christmas. The proud owner is Janna Chevalier of Bellingham, Washington (about 20 miles from the Canadian border). She purchased the pickup from the owner of a Texaco Service Station in her town. This person had given...

As with most older GM trucks in our Feature Truck Series, this month’s special was a vehicle bought new for hauling. The ¾-tons were more heavy-duty than a ½-ton, so often these rural trucks were used until their repair needs finally overcame the price of just buying another, often a used truck. In rural areas, these were sometimes parked beside...

There is almost no similarity between these two trucks in regards to their light switch and pull knobs. The only item even close is the color of their pull knobs. The following shows the big difference.  Chevrolet 4" Rod Complete GMC 2 1/2 " Rod Complete

For the “real” perfectionist After our 44th year, Jim Carter Truck Parts uncovered a big surprise! Facts: Recently, a person came to our lobby offering 10 used ¾ ton hub caps, hoping credit would be offered against a future parts purchase. One of these hubcaps was a real attention getter. We thought it never existed! Because of this, an article...

It’s 1977 and young Greg Bowden is in high school and driving a newly purchased 1955 Chevrolet Step bed pickup. He soon realizes that his first hope, to restore it to new condition, would be out of the question considering his limited income and his college years coming soon. It needed so much plus the body rust continued to get...

It’s 1966 and the new requirement of the US Department of Transportation becomes law. This requires all new cars and pickups to be equipped with backup lights. Though this may have been for safety (warning a passing vehicle that a backing vehicle is in reverse mode) it created extra expense for vehicle manufacturers. Those that had already designed their future...

On our Feature Truck of the Month for February 2023 we described a method of attaching the larger original ¾ and 1 Ton hubcaps to a modern non-split 8 bolt wheel. Unheard of by Jim Carter Truck Parts until Glen Black of Lacey’s Springs, Alabama. He would not take no for an answer. He found a way to attach the...

This month we feature a very special ¾ ton pickup. Now, maybe just a little nicer than when it left the factory 70 years ago! Owned and personally restored (from the bare frame) by Glen Black of Lacey’s Springs, Alabama. Few truck owners can say that their pickup has been in the same father and son family over 50 years...

Feature Truck of the Month from August 2021: For this month’s feature truck we combine the talents of Linda and Doyle Groat, both loving older GM vehicles, and the discovery that they owned a very rare 1972 Chevrolet Suburban Highlander. This mix has resulted in their great memories among the special older vehicles owned, their restoration experiences, attending many car/truck...

With the introduction of any new vehicle, sometimes corrections must be quickly made that were missed during their design. We discover that even the more knowledgeable followers of the Advanced Design pickups and big trucks are not aware there were two different designs of “door handle remotes”. Generally Unknown Fact: The 1947-48 the doors, were opened by pushing the inside...

During a local truck show in the summer of 2021, several from Jim Carter Truck Parts noticed a very special deluxe 1972 Chevrolet Suburban. It certainly stood out among the nicer vehicles in this well attended show. It is owned by Linda Grout of Chouteau, Oklahoma. You can read more on this Suburban in our feature Truck of the Month...

Few owners of these years of Chevy/GMC trucks have any idea that a hidden adjustment door plate is built behind the actual door striker plate. Unless you read the owner’s manual that was in the glove box when the truck was new it is unknown. Check the attached photos: The back side of the striker plate has about 13 horizontal...

What an excellent example of how General Motors saves tooling cost in pickup production. Not cars! Over one million ½ ton hub caps were produced in these three years. Their tooling for Chevy and GMC was almost the same. ONLY the small red logo in the center was added with a different stamping. Another example:  New Truck buyer’s wants are...

For the true Advanced Design perfectionist, this GMC accessory should be of interest. SO RARE!Of the few bedroll reflectors that were added by the GMC dealers, very few have survived. Over the years as the pickup aged and was given more work duties, the reflectors were a target for improper backing. After all, it was a work truck hauling even...

1953 “Canadian Built” 1953 GMC ½ Ton

Check out our Featured Truck Restorations, Repairs and Customizations from some of our customers. Many of the parts were provided by

2014 ARTICLESMODEL YEARMODEL MAKEOWNERSDecember 20141962Chevrolet 1/2 Ton 4×4Nelson GoodNovember 20141941Chevrolet COEEarl BurkOctober 20141952Chevrolet UTEJohn SmithSeptember 20141950GMC 1 Ton PickupJohn LesmeisterAugust 20141954Chevrolet 3/4 TonTerry MillsapJuly 20141950COEKent ZimmermanJune 20141946Chevrolet Panel TruckJim WintersMay 20141935Chevrolet ½ TonRichard WrightApril 20141942Chevrolet 1½ TonHerman PfauterMarch 20141949Chevrolet ½ TonRandy PriebeFebruary 20141948Chevrolet ½ TonTad ShadidJanuary 20141946Chevrolet ½ TonPaul Owsley 2013 ARTICLESMODEL YEARMODEL MAKEOWNERSDecember 20131950’sCars of CubaAnonymousNovember 20131958Chevrolet CameoAnonymousOctober 20131969C-10...

2008 ARTICLESMODEL YEARMODEL MAKEOWNERSDecember 20081937GMC TrailaboutRon LoosNovember 20081972Chevrolet ¾ TonEdward EckelOctober 20081948Chevrolet ½ TonRoger DarrowSeptember 20081940Chevrolet ½ TonJohn BuhrAugust 20081949Chevrolet ½ TonSteve JonesJuly 20081953GMC ½ TonJerry WillisJune 20081957Chevrolet CameoKen McCartyMarch/April/May 20081954Chevrolet ½ TonAngus McDougald and Linda ChallandFebruary 20081941Chevrolet ½ TonJeff LewisJanuary 20081955Chevrolet ½ TonMarty Bozek 2006 ARTICLESMODEL YEARMODEL MAKEOWNERSDecember 20061946Chevrolet COEJim FasslerNovember 20061935Chevrolet SuburbanEd BrouilletOctober 20061964Chevrolet ½ TonGene SatterfieldSeptember 20061955Chevrolet...

With the introduction of the new 1955 GMC Blue Chip trucks. (Chevrolet used the name “Task Force.”) The GMC Truck Division made their statement with changes that were different in many ways than their Chevy competitor. Much of the sheet metal was identical to Chevrolet but there was just enough changes that allowed them to be a market and stand...

2002 ARTICLESMODEL YEARMODEL MAKEOWNERSDecember 20021955Chevrolet ½ TonKeith GunnOct/Nov 20021963GMC ½ TonGary AmelingSeptember 20021953GMC ½ TonClyde TreserAugust 20021951Chevrolet ½ TonDave Hinegardner & Billie HeatonJuly 20021935Chevrolet ½ TonJim JohnstonJune 20021953Chevrolet ¾ TonDennis OlandMay 20021954Chevrolet ½ TonRudy ParmenterApril 20021950Chevrolet ½ TonMark DeMonacoMarch 20021941Chevrolet ½ TonTom BollingerFebruary 20021969Chevrolet ½ TonDanny CurranJanuary 20021954Chevrolet ½ TonJ.A. Ceschin 2001 ARTICLESMODEL YEARMODEL MAKEOWNERSNov/Dec 20011951GMC ½ TonPaul McGarrSept/Oct 20011959Chevrolet...

Just in case, you have an interest in the Advance Design original brake system, this might catch your attention. For ½ and ¾ tons, in the left corner of the cab floor, is the foot operated park brake. Here, the lever extends vertically up through the floor so the driver’s foot can lock the rear brakes when keeping the truck...

They don’t get much rarer than these! In our over 200 Feature Truck of the Month Series since the year 2000, we have never even found one of these Carriers to use as an example.  In their three year production, mid-1955 to mid-1958, less than 1000 were sold through the many GMC dealers in the U.S. The limited survival rate...

Ever seen a NEW GMC pickup? If not, our Feature Truck is as close as it comes to factory new.  Now owned by Jan and Ross Gale (father and son) of Princeton Junction, New Jersey.  It is so pure even the seat upholstery is as perfect as it came from the dealership over 65 years ago.  This pickup sets the...

During our 18 years’ experience with the Featured Truck of the Month Series, we have never located even one GMC ½ ton pickup of this vintage year. When we discovered it a few months ago, it was an immediate candidate to be posted for all to learn about. The truck is a 1937 GMC T-14 ½ ton pickup owned by...

How many truck owners do you know that have owned their vintage GM pickup almost 40 years! Steve and Patty Briand of Woburn, Massachusetts have been the owners of a vintage GMC since 1978 and it has become part of their family. HISTORY This 1949 GMC ½ ton long bed was bought new by the owner of a large chicken...

It did not happen! There is no evidence that Chevrolet (the jury is out on GMC) ever offered chrome headlight rings the year they introduced dual sealed beam headlights. The attached photo is of a 1958 Cameo (the most deluxe truck in this line-up) with 1.4 miles on the odometer. The Pierce, Nebraska Chevrolet Dealer closed his doors in the...

It appears the GMC Division of General Motors in the United States wanted no part of using a Chevrolet low oil pressure engine for their 1936 introduction into the pickup truck market. GMC had previously been GM’s big truck provider however the Great Depression of the 1930’s required emergency changes. Quickly. Large GMC truck sales in the US had reached...

We had heard of this special GMC over the years but had not personally talked to the owner or seen the various photos showing it in detail. The owner and person responsible for this creation is Bill Miles of Ashland, Massachusetts. After several conversations with Bill, we knew this pickup should have been a part of our Feature Truck series...

Ever hear of an older vehicle being bought on its way to the metal crusher? Our feature truck this month was one of those saved from the recycler to later become one of the most attractive panel trucks in the country! The savior of this 1953 GMC panel truck is Max and Margaret Davis of Columbia, Tennessee. They are the...

This special Advance Design pickup has come a long way from its early life on a Mid-Missouri farm. Owned and restored by Dale Jacobs of Dallas, Texas, this 1949 GMC ¾ ton has been down to the frame and came out just a little nicer than new. It’s the old story. It looked very nice and ran just as well...

Wow! Here’s what you can do with a 2 ton 80 year old truck that has become almost beyond repair! Glenn Garrison of Germanton, North Carolina decided to build a roll back truck that was one of a kind. He wanted something no one else would have and yet could do car hauling duties as well as others. When he saw...

A redesigned dash was placed in the 1954 GMC. It was totally changed from the 1947-53 dash which had been in place six years. Due to this new design there was a place to install the radio but not its speaker! The next best location for the speaker was in the headliner between the driver and passenger. The GM engineering...

Just a quick note and story for you Jim and a big “thank you” to Jim Carter Truck Parts for all the support while doing my rebuild, couldn’t have done it without you guys…..Greg Fanning, Province of British Columbia, Canada. Well, I guess I should begin this dialogue by saying what an honor it is to have been asked to...

Our feature truck article is a little different this month. One of the country’s leading truck restoration shops was ask to pick a favorite of those completed in their many years of rebuilding, General Motors Trucks. They chose this truck as their all-time favorite. This very special pickup is a 1953 GMC ¾ ton. The restoration company is Possum Holler...

WOW! What an unusual totally restored truck. When we were first shown the photos of this step side pickup, we saw this was special. No one we knew could recall anything quite like this. The pickup is a 1957 GMC Napco ½ ton (Factory 4 wheel drive) with 125 inch wheel base. Not only is this an almost 60 years...

At a recent truck show a 1972 GMC Blazer was so original that several special points should be shown on the vehicle’s unaltered fiber glass top. Two dome lights are on the left interior side. This allows light for passengers on the front and rear seat. These are the same as in the pickup and big trucks above their rear...

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 world famous Chevrolet Cameo and GMC Suburban Carrier are well known by most early truck enthusiasts. They were created due to US citizens having more disposable income after World War II. Demand for houses, appliances, and vehicles were at times more than some factories could produce in a timely manner. In regards to vehicles, General Motors realized that options...

One of our good customers, Scott Phaneuf of Hatfield, MA recently purchased a NOS (New Old Stock) GM tool bag with all the correct tools. It was found in a San Diego dealership back storeroom. Somehow it had not been thrown away over these many years. In earlier years canvas tool bags were with the vehicle when new at no...

To keep General Motors truck costs down, Chevrolet and GMC ½ through 2 ton shared many components during the late 1930’s through the 1950’s. However, when it came to the grille, the focal point of the truck, changes had to be very noticeable. The truck designers were limited in creating a new grille as both makes would still have almost...

Owner: Mike Reese A 70 Year Old GMC Saved From The Crusher! This 1940 GMC 1 ½ ton had been retired along with its original owner, a farmer near Grand Rapids, Michigan for many, many years. It had been placed in a barn with badly damaged fenders, grille and related front items. The bed was beyond repair. If it was...

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...

Though some things were shared between GMC and Chevrolet trucks, General Motors made sure many items remained very different during the early years.  GMC preferred few things to be similar to Chevrolet. Their customers needed to see an almost stand-alone truck with the higher price of the GMC. One very obvious difference is the change in the taillight and bracket. There is...

My 1955 GMC 100 was locally purchased in 1995 immediately after buying the '62 Airstream which resided for decades in a Minnesota field. As these trucks were designed, developed, and built to be work trucks, this one would continue to be so. A few months were spent designing the Jimmy so that it could be a strong, safe, and reliable...

It’s 1938 and the GMC division of General Motors is entering its third year of small truck production.  Prior to 1936, the GMC line consisted of only larger trucks normally bought by Farms and businesses, for heavy hauling.  The Great Depression was in full swing and GMC needed more sales to add to their financial bottom line.  To help sales...

Rebuilt Speedometers for Chevy Trucks & GMC Trucks When your older truck needs a rebuilt speedometer, think of Jim Carter Truck Parts! Our company, in combination with a specialized shop, provides a quality product that you will be proud to place in your vehicle. With most new repair parts no longer available, we obtain used speedometers from across the country...

The parking light assembly on the 1941 Chevrolet and GMC Pick-up Trucks was placed on top of the headlight bucket. From 1942 through 1947, GM used a much less expensive park light housing on civilian trucks.

What a rare occurrence! At the 2011 America Truck Historical Society Convention in South Bend, Indiana, we found both a 1936 and a 1937 restored GMC truck with the correct grill --- each at different booths. You can go to every truck show for many years and never see even one. Therefore, we just had to get a few photos...

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...

During the early years, most roads were not paved and the quality of tires was far from that of today. Thus, tire repair was very big business. It was necessary for vehicle manufacturers to provide the easiest access to the often needed spare tire. Part of driving a car or truck was knowing how to change a tire. On the...

This little vacuum wiper motor has such a unique appearance! They have become quite rare in recent years. Manufactured by Trico for just this truck, it fits above the windshield frame on the left side of cab. A dealer accessory for the right side. They have sometimes been called a "sweetheart" wiper motor due to their strange appearance.

We just couldn't resist placing this approximately 1956 Opel as this month's feature truck. Did you actually think General Motors discarded the famous Advance Design 1947-55 truck cab tooling?

When it was new, my GMC was a water truck on the Altoona PA fairgrounds. It sat under a big oak tree for many years until the second owner bought it. It didn't have license plate on it until the 1970's. The second owner did a basic restoration and painted it in the same colors and scheme as it was when new. He also put two speed GMC rear end in it, shortened it, and made a fifth wheel out of it.

The 1967-1972 - What's That Noise? Gaining speed after you turn onto the highway, your GM truck (1967-1972), moves toward a cruising speed equal to the surrounding traffic. As your engine reaches about 2,000 rpm you suddenly hear a low hum up front. It does not stop as the truck speed increases. If you lower the windows, play the radio...

In recent years seeing the unusual Chevrolet Longhorn or similar GMC Custom Camper (1968-1972) has become a very rare occurrence. These oversize pickups, with 8 1/2 ft. bed floors, were built for work and thus there is a very limited survival rate. Most seen today started life as they were advertised carrying a vacation camper. They were usually more taken...

1967-72 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...

These years are the 'last of the breed'! Due to the increasing popularity of the new G-series van, panel truck sales had continued to suffer since the mid 1960's. By 1970, General Motors panel truck production came to a halt. GM did not even wait until the end of the body series in 1972! This 'enclosed body on a pickup...

The first year of the 1967-1972 series of trucks had various characteristics that were unique to just the first year. For the perfectionist doing an exact restoration, 1967 GMC trucks are always a challenge. Because the 1967 GMC trucks sold in smaller numbers finding one with most of its original components is unusual. Even rarer is locating a GMC Super...

  GM step beds during 1955-1966 are almost the same. They even use identical tailgates. Thus GM did not find it necessary to change the rear bumper stamping during these 12 years. However, there is one important difference which distinguishes the 1955-1959 from 1960-1966 rear stepbed bumpers. During 1960-1966 GM placed two stamped square holes (not in 1955 through 1959...

On the task force body style, 1955-1959, the GMC hoods began quite different than Chevrolet. Beginning in 1955 a large opening, 5.25" x 25", was used to hold a set of die cast GMC letters attached to a decorative grille. In 1957 this grille was removed in place of a perimeter ring. Why the less attractive ring was added is...

  As per GM, accessories during the 1930's through mid 1960's were the extra cost items sold and installed by the approved dealer. The truck was prepared for these during production so the dealership could later add them with less effort. As much as possible GM would punch holes, attach removable plates, press in dimples, etc. to help the dealership...

Of the many differences between the Chevrolet and GMC 1/2 ton during the early years (1937-54), the GMC offering of a long bed pickup box was one of the more noticeable. Only GMC provided this option. On Chevrolet, to obtain this extra bed length, the buyer must order a 3/4 ton. This had a lower differential gearing, not wanted by...

Prior to the mid-1930's, the two truck divisions of General Motors, Chevrolet and GMC, were mostly independent companies. If you wanted a 1-1/2 ton and smaller truck, Chevrolet (since 1918) could provide the model just right for your needs. If you needed a 2-ton and larger, GMC was the division to contact. They had been a large truck specialist even...

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.

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...

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...

  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...

  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...

  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...

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.

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...

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...

  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...

For Chevrolet Trucks 1929-47, and autos 1929-38. Should last the life of the truck! Remove unit. Remove the four bolts on the transmission tower plate. Knock out the old worn or broken bushing from the tower, install MET136 and add grease. Adding the large replacement tension spring will insure a snug fit. Problem: Slop in the shift pattern on 1947...

The term artillery wheel is a nickname adapted from a scalloped type wheel often seen on US military vehicles in World War I. The similar appearance at a distance to GM's scalloped steel wheels quickly gave them the name artillery. On GM trucks, this style was first used during 1934-36 as a stock six bolt 1/2 ton 17 inch wheel...

About 10 years after the introduction of GMC's new inline six cylinder engine in 1939, General Motors issued a 'Product Service Bulletin' in regards to a recommended improvement on the 228, 248, and 270. It appears the manufacturer discovered a weakness that shortened the life of the engine timing gears. This recommendation was made for enlarging the oil supply hole...

From 1934 to 1959 GM 1/2 tons came from the factory with a tie rod assembly that extended side to side to almost touch the front wheels. With everything stock, the tie rod sits about 3/4 inch from the inside of both original six hole wheels and all fits just right. A problem exists when someone attempts to add a...

What an unusual seat on the 1967-68 Chevy/GMC pickups!  It was standard equipment on the “top of the line” Chevrolet CST and GMC Super Custom pickups. The seat consisted of two bucket seats and a much smaller center cushion referred by many as a Buddy seat.  It allowed for a third passenger or the back cushion could be lowered horizontally...

  GMC Super Custom Interiors offer the ultimate in comfort and style, including plush bucket seats with vinyl covering and matching center seat console. The GMC Super Custom also includes appearance and comfort options from special horn button to carpeted floor.

One series of the famous "drop out" GM differentials was used between 1946 and 1972 on 3/4 and 1 tons. The complete assembly (often called a pumpkin) will interchange during these years with no alteration. The highest gearing in this series is the 4.10 ratio and is found in most 1967-72 3/4 tons with automatic transmissions. Therefore, those "low gear...

  For those not requiring the original seat cushions on their 1955-59 Task Force truck, a roomy comfortable substitute is available. This unit is from a 1988 body style Chevrolet or GMC truck and is almost a bolt-in. The legs or side brackets on this newer seat comes attached to the cushions from a used truck and sets nicely by the...

When you notice your head, tail and dash lights are often dim, sometimes even flicker on a rough road, check your cab to frame ground cable Because the 1967-1972 cab and radiator supports are separated from the frame by rubber mounts. GM used a small mount woven wire ground strap that by-passes one cab mount. This insures electrical flow even...

Locating a pair of seat cushions for the 1939-46 truck has become very difficult in recent years. These early trucks increased popularity is the main reason for the shortage. Even when a pair of cushions are located the asking price often does not justify the purchase because of the age damage to the springs and frame of the lower cushion...