Quick question for anyone out there. Are the 35 and 36 chevrolet truck radiator shells interchangable? Looks like the only difference to me is the bottom apron? Any other differences? Just bought a 35 shell today thinking it was a 36. I missed the bottom apron differences. Will the apron for a 36 fit a 35?
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but the '34/'35 Chevy truck shell and grille screen are different from the '36. The screen has a sharper point at the bottom on the early grille. The '34/'35 shell has a small "Bow Tie" set into the moulding area at the top. The '36 used a red version of the '34 and '35 passenger grille badge. The shell and apron combination MIGHT interchange as a unit. I have seen mixed up versions of these trucks using fenders, hoods, grilles from each other but only in photos so I don't know what had to be done. I have a decent '36 shell and maybe a screen for it.
Maybe I do have a 36 grille then. There is not a bow tie set into the molding area, nor is there any evidence that there ever was one. I guess I will need t look at it further. I appreciate the information
If you will post a picture, I can probably tell you what you have. Is there a separate moulding around the outside of the screen or is it stamped as part of the shell to look like a moulding? VERY FEW '34/'35 grilles had any chrome. '36 had chrome around the opening and a chrome screen.
It looks like a car shell. 28-3/4 inches tall in the center, inside the moulding makes it a '34/'35 Standard. If it is taller it is '34 Master. No other possibilities that I can think of. I might be interested in a trade.
I sent you a msg. No. Not that I know of. I am even unsure if the "grill and chin" [early] high cab '36 with 3 door hinges will fit the low [late] '36 cab with two door hinges. Which one do you have? Early or Late '36? Check for earlier post on this subject. I will be happy to provide measurements.
"Quick question for anyone out there. Are the 35 and 36 chevrolet truck radiator shells interchangable?"
Vintageone,
In 1936 Chevy issued a service bulletin concerning truck overheating and offered a radiator with a thicker core and a fan shroud retrofit kit for 1934-36 Chevy trucks. That range of years that it fits is relevant to your question. I don't recall how I got it but I have that service bulletin. It took about 40 years of searching but I found one of those fan shrouds, various pieces from various sources. It must have been super rare because in owning my '36 PU since 1965 and looking at lots of others mine is the only one of those fan shrouds I've ever seen.
It does not have a "normal" fan shroud configuration. If you'd like to see a photo send me your email. I'm not a VCCA member anymore so I can't post a picture here.
I replaced my radiator several years ago with one with extra cores and thickness. There is room to add thickness [the fan is far enough back to allow this]. It has helped steady the temperature. [The block being "boiled out" clean, etc.]
During the depression era extra money was tough to come by. Most people paid cash money at the dealership for the cars & trucks they bought. A bank would not lend money on a car. That was not possible. So to come up with extra money for a fan shroud was not going to happen.
My Grandfather would not consider a fan shroud because it looked like it MIGHT restrict the air flow from the top of the radiator as you drove forwards. I can hear his voice now, "That is a bunch of Tom foolery. Some engineers pipe dream. I won't have any thing to do with that!" Right or wrong it was what he thought and nothing would change his mind. That is how people were back in the depression and long afterwards well into the 1950's.
'34-'36 trucks all used the same radiator. Standard duty and heavy duty were available but ALL interchangeable. The shells are (1) '34/'35 and (2) '36. The shells are different, the screens are different, the chins are different. I have seen trucks with various combinations of fenders grilles and hoods.It is POSSIBLE that a grille and chin combination would interchange as a unit. It will depend on the shape of the fenders where they meet the chin. I have a '36 truck and some loose '35 fenders. I will take a look and see what we can learn.
"I have seen trucks with various combinations of fenders grilles and hoods."
Mike,
I've seen a lot of that on ebay. Trucks advertised as '36 with '34-'35 fenders and/or hood and/or grill shell and chin. Decent original sheet metal for those trucks was rare even when I restored my '36 in the early 1970s. Now it's extinct. Somebody is repopping '34-'36 rear fenders, beds and tailgates though.
