Starting on my 1945 Chevy 1/2 Ton restoration as a "basket case". Like many backet cases, the previous owner got in too deep. Either he threw all the nuts and bolts in catch-all bowls or they are missing. I have sorted every last catch-all bowl piece, looking for "sets" of hopefully bolts with their washers and nuts screwed on. In terms of sets, all I found were a few matched of bolts, nuts and washers collected at the bottom. Having done one other restoration, I know this situation to be a huge impediment to progress.
The first question is, does anyone know of a listing (preferably with illustrations) of all the fasteners used on my truck? Second question, how about just the body fasteners? Third, does anyone have any suggestions that would help me figure this mess out?
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Welcome to VCCA Chat. I think you will find a lot of useful information through this forum and the members.
I admire you for taking on such a daunting task! I just went through a similar situation helping a friend get his ”˜49 3100 back on the road.
I have 2 suggestions to help you. I am not aware of any documentation that will directly answer your questions.
Join VCCA and connect to other members who have similar models of your truck. I have yet to meet a VCCA member who is not willing to share their knowledge and experiences.
Take advantage of any opportunity you have to see a similar truck. Take as many pictures as the owner will allow whether it is at a car show, auction, or a dealership. Remember that your 1945 truck is essentially the same as a 1941. During WWII there were almost no engineering changes to vehicles. Engineering and manufacturing were focused on the war efforts.
I joined tonight. In the process, I think there was supposed to be an opportunity to enter my truck info for the purpose of connecting me to others with the same vehicle. However, I couldn't get the function to work.
I posted in the forum, some questions about my Data Plate info. A guy by the name of Stovbit/Ole helped me tremendously!! Figured the whole thing out in a pretty long thread! Made a believer out of me!!
I think the people on this site are going to be a tremendious help to my project.
Next phase, try to get the motor started. In the process of buying new parts to give myself every advantage I can find. Have not done any work like this in 57 years (HS).
My truck looks to be near all original and unmolested with a few exceptions like the seat cover, an extra oil gauge, and the front sections of the wood stake racks. (see below) Even the paint looks to be factory, although it's pretty much cooked off of the top of the hood. It gets parked out back of the house for the winter and gets covered with snow.
That said, as you get to a place where you could use a picture of attaching hardware, I'll see what I can do... time, temperature and snow permitting.
