VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Trucks and Vans When did wood disappear from cabs?

Hi,

I'm thinking about getting a 1 1/2 ton truck and have a few "opportunities" on early '50s jobs, but would also consider something from the mid-late '30s (a nice companion to my '38 Master!). I don't know much about the old cabs though. At what point did the cabs become all steel? It would be helpful to know a bit more about the cab evolution in the '30s, and whether there are any big issues with certain years that I should look out for when shopping. I'm not looking for a truck project to obsess over, just something that can be serviceable & fun with some "reasonable" mechanical support. Any history lessons on the '30s truck would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Joe

Up through mid 1936 they had a lot of wood. In mid 1936 the cabs had a change and are called low roof cab models. They contained less wood but it was still there. The 1937 and up were all steel. The 1937 and up has the more common 216 engine and many other improvements and up-dates to the drive train.

My Aus built 38 had wood frame doors and trim retaining pieces around the door surround. The 39 I had briefly seemed to be fully steel cab though I didnt investigate fully.
Tony

They were not the same as US built cabs by that desription.

The vast majority of Chat contributors and readers are USA oriented. We think and respond with USA answers and comments. It is always informative when our Northern and overseas folks point out the differences in the production products elsewhere.

Late 1936 also had hydraulic brakes. The early '36 was mechanical.
I would think that you should buy a complete truck not one with missing parts. Trucks were used up and thrown away. Also, trucks were often not well maintained. Look it over carefully before buying if it has not been restored.

The late 1 1/2 ton trucks changed to mechicanial very early in the model run. I believe it was after the first few thousand were made.
They changed to hydraulics about the time the low roof cab was introduced.
All 1/2 tons had hydraulics.

Thanks for the good info. That's what I needed. I hadn't thought to ask about the transition to hydraulic brakes, but that changeover is important to me too. Although there's almost no chance that I'd end up with an Australian model, it's interesting to know how things went in the non-US models.

Joe

By what I have been told GM sent vehicles to Aus in 3 forms CKD in a box, rolling chassis with drive line or complete vehicle. There may have been a few rollers that arrived with a cowl.
Most of the rollers were fitted with bodies built at Fishermans Bend in South Aus but I dont know where the CKD were assembled.
I also believe the exported parts came from Canada not the US due to the RHD issue.
My 38 is Holden (Aus division of GM) body.
Tony

Many people in the vintage truck world have the misconception that the mid-year '36 GM "low cab" is the same as the '37-38 cab. This is not true, they are similar, however, very different. The '36 low cab has wood in the doors and dash area in the lower portion of the windshield.
The front fenders from a '36 differ from the '37-38.. The '36 still had fender mounted spares, whereas the '37-38 did not.
The fuel tank filler for the '36-37 GM cab is under the seat, whereas the '38 has a filler neck that extends through the cab.
The '37 through '62 216, 235 engine is interchangeable,the '63 and later 230, 250, 292 requires later model transmissions.