VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Trucks and Vans 1937 Chevy 1/2 ton Truck Barn Find

Hello all,

I just bought a 1937 Chevy 1/2 Ton truck that was in a Barn for a Documented 39 Years. I am doing all of my research now and I am getting ready to do a complete frame off Restoration on it.

The truck is 100% Original as afar as I can tell and is in great shape. Some things that I found interesting so far is that is has

1. 2 windshield wipers that I believe are factory installed

2. It has a set of Large horns mounted above the motor that I believe some one mounted on there but they have factory markings. ( Not Sure )

3. It has a 4 speed which looks factory.

Can anyone help me with finding out if these are Factory options is 37'

I will post some pics soon.

Thanks

Off the top of my recollection, I know the 4 speed tranny was an option. My '37 is the same.

I am away from my resource library right now, but will check on the wipers; I think I recall they were an option. The horns depending on their shape and length may be, but I need to verify that also. Photos would help.
Stay tuned, in the meantime maybe one of the other guys will chime in with verification.

By the way--- to the Chat!

Hello 37 Blue,

Thanks for the input! I have been trying to find out if these were options. I am so excited to be part of the chat on this site to so much valuable information and people who share the same interests!

Pics coming soon!

I believe the "correct" right hand wiper for your truck would be operated by an external linkage from the drivers side. It is curious that a vacuum wiper motor that was only marginally adequate to power one blade would be expected to power two blades.
I have this setup, NOS, and I believe the box says for trucks. It is also correct for my '35 Standard.

Mike

The 4 speed was an option. The RH wiper and horns would be a dealer installed accessory. There were very few factory options in 1937.
The accessory RH wiper on a truck was powered by its own motor. A "T" from the LH wiper motor furnished it with vacuum.
If the horns are a correct accessory they will be painted black and a retangular relay mounted on the cross bar. A picture would be helpful.

Group Number 16.061 WIPER UNIT, Auxiliary windshield. Part number 985080 1936-38 Low Roof Cab. (1939 Master Parts Price List)
Box is marked for commercial cars. Kit includes Two wiper arms with swiveling threaded studs, a chrome "tie rod" with internal threads on each end, a dummy shaft with appropriate nut, trim, gasket, etc. to mount the right side arm.
The box is 1"X3"X14+" (torn off). No room for a wiper motor in there.

Mike

About two years ago, I bought a very nice original 37 Chev 1/2 ton pickup that was reported to have been in one family all its life, and was well cared for. It appears to be nearly 100% complete and original and is in good condition--in fact, it was awarded an HPOCF oval at the 2011 Flint meet.

When I got it, it had, in addition to the stock short projector horn mounted on the intake manifold forward of the carburetor, two trumpet horns mounted to the grille shell braces. Like you, I thought they were a non-original, owner add-on. Besides being in the way for miscellaneous engine repairs, I didn't like the way they looked, and since the stock horn was in place and working, I removed them. Below is a photo of the horns. You are looking at the bottom side. Note the rectangular relay mentioned by Chevgene. I'd also be interested in knowing if these horns are a factory option for the 37 truck.

The four-speed transmission is a factory option for the 1/2 ton pickup.

Does your truck have a vacuum motor on the passenger side windshield wiper, or does it have an external extension rod driving it from the driver's side motor?

Mark

Hi Mike,

Your info on the external extension rod for the passenger side wiper is interesting. My 37 1/2 ton pickup has the vacuum motor on the driver's side, and a hole in the cab roof on the passenger's side where a windshield wiper shaft would protrude. I wondered why there was a hole for the wiper shaft, when, inside the cab, the access plate for the passenger side wiper does not have the two holes for the on/off and speed control knobs like the driver's side. An external extension arm and related hardware to operate the passenger side wiper arm from the single driver's side vacuum motor would explain that. I'm guessing that my truck might have had that setup at one time. My 1929-48 Chevrolet Parts Catalog lists Group 16.061, but the application is shown as 1939-46 All, and it carries P/N 985483. They must have obsoleted the 985080 prior to 1948. Let me know if you have an extra one of those accessory kits laying around.

By the way, the powder coating on the engine splash pans for my 40 pickup is holding up nicely, and has had gasoline spilled on it since installation.

Mark

Hi 1937Truck -

Congrats on your find and on your desire to restore it to original condition.

Here is some info that you may be able to use in your restoration journey ...

Available on line:
> 1937 Instructions for the Operation
> 1937 Specifications
> 1938 Specifications
> 1938 Service Information
> 1938 Shop Manual
> 1936 Service News
> 1937 Truck Wiring Diagram
> Master Parts List of Chassis and Body Parts 1929-1941
> Master Parts Catalog 1929-1954
> 1939 Accessories
> 1939 Truck Filmstrip "Built for Leadership"
> 1938 Truck Filmstrip "Chevrolet Trucks for 1938


Literature available from The Filling Station:
Scroll to "Literature" in the "Select a category" window
Scroll to "Truck" in the "Select a vehicle type" window
You can rapidly find info for your truck year by watching the "Year" column as you scroll down the list of 512 books.

Here is a small sample of the info available from The Filling Station ...
> Filling Station: Owners Manual
> Filling Station Shop Manual
> Filling Station Salesmans Data Book
> Filling Station 1939 Car & Truck Accessorsies
> (No picture) Filling Station 1936 Car & Truck Accessories
> Filling Station 1937 Car & Truck Accessories Brochure
> Filling Station Numerical Accessory Parts List 1929-1978
> (No picture) Filling Station Truck Master Parts Book 1936-1938
> Filling Station Master Parts Book 1929 - 1942

- Lonnie

Lonnie:
Excellent!!!!
Good Job!!!!!!

Wow Thank you everyone for all of the input and support! I cant wait to show you all the progression as the restoration moves forward.

Yes Mark the Horns on my truck look exactly like those and they are mounted on the Cowling/Hood Support they are painted black as well.

The passenger side windshield wiper is driven by an extension arm from the drivers side wiper arm. There is only 1 vacuum motor on the drivers side. There is a hole on the passenger inside of the truck and looks identical to the drivers side, But it is empty. Also there is a small dimple on the outside of the truck pushing outward where the wiper arm mounts on the passenger side and it looks identical to the drivers side mount for the wiper arm. This seems to point to the fact that it is not aftermarket as well.

Thanks again everyone I feel like there is so much knowledge on this site and everyone is so friendly and willing to share.

Clint

Mark,
Glad to hear the powder coating is holding up. Unfortunately, the warranty was only for 500 miles so it was expired before the mail man delivered them to you.
I actually have 3 (or most of 3) of the aforementioned RH wiper setups. I'm thinking about putting one on my '36 Semi truck, one on my '35 Standard Coupe, and that leaves one for the '38 Suburban project.
I will keep my eyes open and you in mind. I also have a NOS RH wiper kit for my 1939 1/2 ton. It was packaged in 1939 because the cover plate is painted '39 interior color instead of the '40-'46 hammer tone.


Mike

Mark -

The horns look like City/Country horns in a 1939 Accessories Brochure.
> "DOUBLE-DUO HORNS"

I don't know anything about '37 trucks so take this with a grain of salt ... the only listing for a City and Country horn switch in the 1929-1941 MPC is for 1939 (group 2.832, part 1997713). Matched horns in the MPC were also for 1939 (group 2.810, part 603482). Maybe your horns are pre-City/Country.

- Lonnie

Lonnie,

Thanks for the reply. My dual horn setup looks exactly like the one pictured in the 1939 Accessories catalog. It seems unlikely that this type of horn would be an available option on a 37 pickup, even if the horns were available in 1937.

I still think my dual horns were installed by a previous owner. As I mentioned, the standard short-projector horn mounted on the intake manifold was still in place on my truck, though not connected. The armored cable for the horn that runs from below the water pump up to near the horn was there, but the wires were not connected to the horn. The original horn ground lead exiting from the lower end of the steering column was connected to the dual horn setup, so pressing the horn button sounded the dual horns only. There was no town/country selector switch.

Mark

The following was in the Restoration Pack I received from GM about 6 years ago. It was included with 1937 Chevrolet Trucks Specifications they sent.

The Dealer's Confidential Price List of Genuine Chevrolet Accessories for 1937 (Effective May 1. 1937)

1937 Truck Accessories ((Description followed by part number))

Bracket--Horn Support 985204
Bracket--Safetylight 600521
Check--Panel Door (Rear) 985218
Governor--Low and High Speed 985193
Governor--Low and High Speed 985192
Guard--Bumper, 1 1/2T 985087
Mirror--R.V. Extendable 985060
Shock Absorber--Front,1/2T 1066226
Shock Absorber--Rear, 1/2T 5312694
Shock Absorber--Front, 1 1/2T 1066231
Shock Absorber--Rear, 1 1/2T 1066232
Wiper--R.H. Windshield 985080

The packet and accessory list included a much longer table titled "1937 Accessories". It shows and references parts specific to the car line, but also lists a variety of general maintenance items and other miscellaneous parts.

That list shows: "Horns--Matched Part number 985215-985139 -set". It would seem these would not be correct for a truck, but an accessory generally available in 1937. Whether judging points would be deducted for having a set on a truck or not???? My guess is it would depend on the judge????

Clint and 37Blue -

I neglected to include the 1937 GM Resto Kit that you mentioned in my list of links.
> 1937 GM Resto Kit

- Lonnie

The 1939 accessory horn installation instructions cover both cars and trucks. I would be willing to bet 1937 was the same.
1939 was the only year to have the Town & Country switch come with the accessory horns.
The 1939 horns were painted gray including the relay,etc.
The 1938 horns were slightly smaller than the 1939.
The 1937 horns were slimmer than the 1938.

I just found an illustration of the dual horns with cross bar like your horns as a 1946 truck accessory. Page 325 of "1946 Chevrolet Truck Data Book for Chevrolet Salesmen."

Dual Horns
For all model trucks. Matched electric two-towned horns.
A long-distance warning signal with a pleasant note.
Clear highway traffic.
Horn selector switch for all model trucks.
Soft horns for city, loud horns for country
Comply with anti-noise ordinances.

- Lonnie

That is a old picture from 1939 that Chevrolet never bothered to up-date. Note that the horns are not black and they come with a T&C switch.
The accessory truck dual horns for 1940 and up were the little short horns like a car used and they were mounted on the firewall (see 1940 accessory book for picture).

LonnieC, your post is wonderful. Is similar information available for me and my '36 1.5 ton panel?

Happy Holidays

The attached link does not include information for the 1936 model year. But, it does have contact info for the GM Heritage Center and they likely have the info you seek. It may be worth a try. Good Luck!

http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/chevyresto/

Awesome... and good luck on your project, keep us updated :)

OldBagpipe -

Not a lot of specific 1936 info in the usual places on line. You've probably already seen these ...

> 1936 Truck Specifications (GM Heritage Center)
> 1936 Service News
> Old Car Manual Project (Chevy) Scroll to "Click Here for ~> Manuals Listed In Order of Year" about in the middle of the page. Look for info for model years near 1936. Also look for info for a range of years in each of the sections on the site.

- Lonnie

Hello Everyone,

Thank you for all the advice!!!!

I'm glad to be back! The original Engine, Trans and Rear End are all out being rebuilt. The Frame is being blasted and painted. And I am rebuilding the rest of the parts my self.

The question I have for the group is the Air cleaner is missing and I am looking at a few different kinds. From what I have found they had a Dry Element Cleaner and a Oil Bath Cleaner. The Oil Bath is the correct 1 I believe, but did they offer the Dry Element Cleaner as an option for the 37' trucks? The Dry Element Cleaner seems to be a rarer item.