mechanical

  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...

  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...

</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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Before the modern Positive Crankcase Ventilating System (PCV) most automotive engines breathed externally and removed their excess products of combustion into the atmosphere. It was a standard of the industry! The lower end of the engine (below the piston rings) had an attached draft tube that extended outside and below the block. It released blow-by from worn piston rings and...

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...

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...

If you use a recently manufactured 216 water pump and combine it with the optional larger OEM radiator fan, a slight modification is necessary. The fan rivets will not clear the edge of the pulley hub. You must cut four notches in the hub for rivet clearance. Water pumps in the last five years appear to lack these notches. Note...

Sometimes overlooked by mechanics and restorers is a small vent in the rear axle housing. This part is necessary to keep internal pressure equal to the outside atmosphere. Thus, as the internal temperature of the differential warms during use, any expanding heated air is vented and no pressure occurs. This saves wheel and pinion seals from leaking. Check for this...

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...