VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Body - Sheet Metal, Paint & Wood !938 Cab paint

When I put the 1st coat of paint on my 38 Aus built truck I used exterior body color on the inside. The other day while rumaging through the to be fitted parts I found the alloy garnish moulding from under the windscreen that looks to have been painted a mid tan color, previously I thought the interior was the same color as the exterior.
I know of several slight variations between the US and the Aus built trucks and this may well be another.
Tony

I've been working on these details on my 38 Canadian Coupe as well as I try to duplicate the original look. The interior was mostly a quick coat of essentially overspray of the exterior colour. The insides of body panels with the deadener on the panels were bare metal with a clear coat of something on them but dusted with the exterior overspray.

My dash is a tanish/silverish metallic colour like the top of the 38 Chevy dashes. When they painted the dash they actually sprayed the backside of the dash haphazardly, as well as the windshield posts. It appears the dash was done first, masked off and then the exterior overspray above was done. This might explain the tan you have found but not sure what colour truck dashes were but suspect the same pattern of colours...

U.S. built trucks for '36 (low roof, at least) through '38 had a brown wrinkle finish paint on interior panels.

Mike

Tim and Mike
What you both are saying is the brown would be the whole interior with exterior overspray where it isnt seen. I had decided to use tan vinyl interior prior to finding this moulding but now will match the paint as well.
Tony

Tony,
I'm not sure I understand your follow-up.
U.S. built trucks used the brown wrinkle on instrument panel, header panel, door panels, upper door trim pieces, windshield side trims, windlace retaining strips, and rear interior panel around window. I believe there are also a pair of corner panels alongside the seat backrest. These items along with the headliner and seat, once in place, should obscure any overspray. Door jam areas get cab color, of course.
I often see restored trucks with exterior cab color used on the inside. I never know if this is owner preference, lack of knowledge, or an assumption that it would be impossible to duplicate the original wrinkle finish. Jim Carter Truck Parts sells wrinkle powder which was formulated from the back side of a windlace retaining strip from Sam's 1938 HE 1 ton truck. I have used it on 2 or more truck interiors and it looks great.
These trucks have often lost their original interior finish long before the restorer gets his hands on them.

Mike

Truck sounds very different from the car Tony. The painted areas I refer to in the car are all mostly hidden behind panels installed later and the paint match is only for me as no one will ever really see it in the car. It sounds like the truck has a lot of painted metal exposed in the colour/texture Mike describes.

Have you ever figured out whether your truck was USA, Canadian or actually domestic built (not a knock down)? This could affect your colour if each country did something different. If it were a wrinkle paint I would expect you to have found some unless someone blasted or stripped it.

If you can't confirm what was originally there, I'd be tempted to follow what Mike outlines as it sounds well documented for the US models.

Due to the differences I have found apart from the tags (General Motors - Holden body # 127) the truck seems to have arrived here as a rolling chassis and the cab built here. The door openings are more rounded than any US or Canadian cab I have seen, the only 37 style cab (tagged D8) with cowl top vent and fixed screen, no side vent, the door hinges are 2 1/8 wide (Canadian are 1 3/4 going by the mirror arms), I have seen 5 different headlight bucket mounting blocks (the only 1's that fit are damaged).
Needless to say I am reluctant to order parts from north of the equator but there isnt much supply down here that I have been able to find.
Tony

Tony,
The correct headlamp mounting basses for a U.S. built '37 truck are the same as for '36 passenger models. '38 truck mounts look much the same, except they are larger (longer). The are being reproduced in the U.S. at a very reasonable price of about $75.00/pair, if I remember right. I can probably find an original to photograph and measure if it would be helpful.

Mike

Mike
I have seen pictures and measurements of 3 sets in the US all supposedly off 37 and 38 but none of the 36 version. Mine are 6" overall length, 4 5/8" between the only 2 bolts on the centreline and 2 1/2" high from a flat surface. My grille / radiator housing is the same shape as 37 (not sure if truck or car length).
I havent queried the 3 usual suppliers about the 36 version but their 37/38 are different to mine if they have them.
I will look for 36 a bit later tonight.
Tony