VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 '37 Chevy PU Pics

Here are a few pics of my truck. Sorry if this is not the right location for them. If not please tell me where to go to share these:

Wow, that is a good looking truck. Congratulations on your great find.

1937 ???? did they release this girl early or were the trucks a preempt for the 38 styling ??

Ps very nice little pickup

Not sure. I'm just getting into all this. The truck was restored by someone else. I crawled under and looked at all the major stuff to make sure it was a solid truck. I'm not sure of all the differences between '37 and '38. He has some cluster gauges that work. I'm trying to retsore some original gauges and a few other nick nacks.

Thanks for the compliments. I got if for a reasonable priece and I'm super excited about having a Calssic Chevy. Hopefully this is just the beginning.

That is a '38 nose. There's a fellow in a town 30 miles South of me who has a '37 sedan with a '38 front clip so it's possible this pickup had the same treatment. Google 1937 chevy pickup then click on the "Images" link to see what a '37 front looks like. What is the unit serial number on your data plate?

Since it has the gas fill out the cab its a 38 and probably titled in 37 if it is titled as a 37,it looks like you have a 3/4 ton since the bed looks longer then my 37 1/2 ton.

It's titled as a 37 1/2 ton. My serial number is 6GC122114

Thanks for all the great info. That's why I'm glad I found this site. I did look them up on Google and unless there are some suttle differences I can't tell the difference. Also I purchase several ads from newspapers from 1937 with Ads for Chevy trucks and it looks the same.

The serial number is correct for a '37. Wonders never cease. At least the front sheet metal is definitely '38.

Wheel base looks too long for a 1/2 ton,just too much space between the fenders and back of the cab. The 3/4 ton first came out in 37 and had 6 lugs like the 1/2 ton through 42,the wheelbase will tell what it is and there is other things that will tell what it is too. If the frame behind the cab steps up and the springs are mounted below the frame and the rear end mounts on top of the springs its a 1/2 ton,if the frame is basicly flat behind the cab and the springs are mounted to the sides of the frame and the rear end is mounted on the bottom of the springs its a 3/4 ton.

The grille and hood are '38. The I.D tag is '37 1/2 ton. The wheelbase is 3/4 or 1 ton. The rear wheel size eliminates 1 ton.
If it is really a '37 the letters GD should be on the tag. If it is a '38, HD should be on the tag. Jeff is correct, the gas filler neck exiting the cab is '38 only. Front bumper is '38.

Mike

I am thinking someone in the past used a 37 title and tag on your 38 3/4 ton,does anyone know if the frame is stamped with the serial numbers on those trucks. I do not remember seeing them on my 37 but never really looked before I put it back togather. I just remembered the one ton also had 6 lugs but had 17 inch wheels and I think the frame is identical to a 3/4 ton

The grill for a '37 would look like thumbnail photo shown in the forum ('37-'42) heading ---note the vertical grill bars. The gas tank filler would be under the passenger side bench seat and the bumpers would have a rolled, smooth, curved surface without any peaks/valleys from top to bottom. The ID tag would be mounted on the right side of firewall outer edge above the running board and secured with two clutch head screws. The ID would start with two letters--"GC"--for 1/2 ton.

I do not recall ever seeing reference to or hearing about a stamped serial number anywhere else on the body or frame. Back then these were registered using the engine serial numbers. These were stamped on flat surface adjacent to the distributor.

Nice looking truck!

Welcome to the Chat.

Its time to get the numbers off the motor to see what year it is.

It does have the 38 front sheet metal. I don't know how to decipher the "GC" but I think it is the 3/4 ton again by the wheelbase (appears to be more than 112" more like 12?").

In any case it is still a nice looking truck.

Tony

The truck would also have the bullnose section under the grill same as the car... seems to be missing ??

Here is a 37 1/2 ton,I heard some were titled by the engine number but mine got title to the serial number on the body.

I would think a 3/4 or one ton would be a little more rare then a 1/2 ton,1/2 tons are all over the place and I only seen 3 3/4 tons around here.

Thanks everyone for all this great info. When I bought the truck I often wondered about the title and everything. My understanding is the truck came from Kansas. I know if was restore frame off so I'm sure somewhere along the way a couple trucks may have been put together for one. I still love the old truck even though it may be a mutt! LOL I'm going to look at the motor for the numbers so someone can tell me about that. The transmission is a 4 speed and I wondered about that also. But I did read where a 4 speed was available on some models. It's gear sooo low that I can't imagine how it would be with only 3 a 3 speed. But these trucks were made probably for farms and not interstate driving.

Kansas was an engine number state. What that means is the engine number was used on the title as the VIN. If your title has a different number that means it was retitled sometime in the past. Just an FYI.

If I was in your situation I would try to find a very rough 38 3/4 ton that has a title that was titled with the serial number and use it on yours,the tag is just held on with screws so its no big deal to switch and just drive it the way it is for the time being.

10-4. I'll look at that. What about the 4 speed transmission? Do Chevy offer. 4 speed back then?

Yes the 4 speed was available and might have been the only trans available in a 3/4 ton since all I seen had one,the rear end looks the same as a 1/2 ton and yours probably has 4.56 gears so you might be able to put 1/2 ton 4.10 gears in yours so you can drive 55.

NICE truck. I like it. Good job.

Rear end gears will be 4.11, same as 1/2 ton. Three speed trans was standard equipment, 4 speed was optional.
Both transmissions are 1 to1 ratio in high gear so top speed is not affected by either gear box. The original wheels were artillery style and 15 X 5.50 inch.
It is a nice looking truck. Too bad someone has been messing around with the I.D.tag

Mike

Ok maybe y'all can help with motor numbers. I pulled 2 different ones off and not sure which ones are right but here they are:

ATi8i646i

GM 838710
A 14

Not sure if GM is part of the number. GM was on top and the other numbers were below. Can y'all decipher what these number belong to?