VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1949-1954 1954 Chevy Truck Starter

I have a 1954 Chevy Truck 3100. It doesn't have anything installed in the dash. I need to know if it should have a push button starter or a foot starter button or what. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

A '54 3100 would have had the started button in the dash.

If the truck has a standard transmission the pedal is on the floor to the right of the accelerator pedal. If an automatic there will be a push button on the dash.

You know Gene, you're right. I was looking at my 47-55 Assembly manual and I obviously got into the wrong section. It may have been referring to right hand drive [RD]. Here what it says in the Restoration Packet for 1954 Truck.

3700 and 3900 series teucks were the double-duty trucks that had a tall boxy body like a business would use. Also had an up-draft carburetor.

I can see why a push button would be used as you would be sitting almost parallel to the starter in these trucks....certainly not behind it.

Thanks to you guys for your prompt reply and help. I really appreciate it. My truck is a manual floor shift but it has been converted to 12 volt and the motor is from a 55 2nd series. Don't know if I can use the foot starter on it, may just stick with a dash button. Does anyone have a pic of where the button was located on the dash. This is my first attempt at restoring so don't know a lot about it though I do have a lot of mechanical experience. Thanks again.

I have a 1954 Chev 3/4 ton (four on the floor)that was converted to 12V. I didn't bother changing the 6V starter with foot pedal, I've been running it for the last 6 years like that with no problems.

Here is a diagram of the location of the 1954 truck starter button if so equipped.



You may also want to invest in the 1947-1955 First Series Truck Assembly Manual. It has a wealth of information about your truck right down to nuts and bolts. I have seen them on eBay...but I think folks like Jim Carter sell them too. The 49-54 passenger car guys would "flip-out" if there was such a manual for us.



And as TERMITE DELIGHT specifies, you can operate a 6v starter on a 12v system. You just have to be careful to not lean on the starter for long periods of time.

Seeing those models were made for several years there were many changes.
Is this the assembly manual that covers, say 1954-1955 1 st design only but is sold for 1947 and up?

That is correct. The associated assembly drawings are dated either 1953 or 1954. I have found it to be very helpful on my '53 6500 even though it does not cover that year specifically. Although some folks with earlier trucks could be a little confused by some of the drawings and information, I think miller873 will find it extremely helpful with his '54 3100.

The drawing shown is not a 54 dash, The hydra-matic trucks had the pushbutton starter switch directly above the headlight switch.

OK...correction time, I looked at the factory assembly manual and the picture is indeed 54 but is flat face cowls. There is another picture on the same page that shows the switch hole directly above the light switch that is "All cabs panels and cowls with windshield"

The drawing says that it is for the 3802 & 4102 LD MODELS and the drawing is dated 6-30-53. I have not found a placement of a starter button for the 3100 models other than for RD models, which I assume means Right Drive so assumed they were in the same location. The drawing for the RD models has a drawing of the push button switch but does not show placement. I don't have the drawing on the same page labeled as, "All cabs panels and cowls with windshield". Does your drawing mention measurements etc.? Miller873 might be interested in that.

I have tried adding my page but I guess I cannot post images. My manual shows your image plus the one I described with the descriptions I mentioned.

Let's try this to see if it works and clears up the confusion. [img:center]http://s1295.photobucket.com/user/g...0008_zpshuc3mtyn.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0[/img]

I see the SECT and SHEET numbers now and see the same diagram in my book. Looks like it's 2.12" directly above light switch hole. Just a side note...I use Flickr myself for cloud storage and uploading of images. For me, it seems to be a little bit easier to figure out how to use.

Thank you very much! I will see about getting one of those manuals.