I have a specfic issue with my 40 Chevy 1 1/2 ton. Let me give some
background first.
The truck is a G-YP-4112 serial number 2615, dated 12 10 40 on the data
plates. It was purchased by a man in Edina Missouri after the war in
Chicago (anyone have a clue where--Ft Sheridan perhaps?). That man kept
the truck until 1953 when it was purchased by the gentleman I purchased
i from. He drove it twice a day for about 42 years to feed his cattle.
He sold his cattle around 95 and stored until two years ago when he
pushed it out of his lofting shed. I happened to find it on a vehicle
hunting trip.
What I found was a basically original truck, with the only modification
I could find was the addition of turn signals. It still has the
mounting brackets inside the cab (grease gun and fire ext maybe?), data
plates, bow brackets (minus one), rear seats..etc. It all appears to b
e there. The original engine was removed in the 70's and replaced with
a 235, which is still in it. As for condition of the truck--only the
bow bracket support frame holes appear to need complete replacement near
the bottom, with everything else being intact.
Me and the previous owner had pretty high hopes of getting it running
yesterday but we ran into a few big snags. The truck ran up until after
he moved it from the shed. The engine appears to be OK--with a little
rust on the valve springs, but nothing too severe. We found a hole in
the fuel line, and a few other problems. We were having some problems
with the clutch, so we went to remove the clutch/flywheel inspection
plate (right term?). While scraping stuff off the exterior the
screwdriver went through the rusted out plate. We pulled a big ball of
mouse beddingout this area as well. At this point we wrote off trying
to start it and decided to tow it, to later be trailered up to storage
where I live.
We put the truck in nuetral on the gear shift, insured the front was
locked out, and the high/low was in nuetral. We tried to tow it but it
rolled maybe 3" would stop and not move a budge. I noticed the clutch
moved slightly (1/4") when he applied pressure. The front and rear
drive shafts didn't rotate at all. We noticed the master cylinder
appears to be in pretty bad shape as well--didn't check wheel cylinders
but probably in equally bad shape.
What we were thinking was maybe the transmission/transfer case was
locked up by maybe water (temp in mid 20's), or for mechanical reasons.
In order for us to move it we would need to remove the front and rear
drive shafts. Does this make sense to all of you? I would assume to
move it we would remove them both, and reinsert one on the trailer so it
didn'troll on us, and then remove to get off the trailer. What else
could it be? Problems in the axles? Got any other ideas based upon you
r expereinces?
My goal is to get it out of the weather in storage until I can spend
more time with it--after my GPW is done. What do yout think as far as
options for geting it loaded, and off-loaded safely?
I guess that is all the bad news--the good news is it all appears to be
there and original. It has the original paint on the dash about speed
and tire pressure, and original data plates still readable. It also has
original paint and original markings. The rear has 11th Armored Div
markings--couldn;t make out the subunit, but it was vehicle D-7. I
thini the subunit might be55S or something similar. I didn;t get to
make out te hood number but there are traces of it there. The passenger
sidehas white numbers could be made out with effort) and the driver's s
ide had traces of the factory blue numbers. It had white stars on the
front bumper, rear tailgate center, and on top of the cab (well--a rust
shaped star). The door were repainted with the owners name on them, and
empty weight. It has 46xxx on the odometer.
The rear outside tires were removed but he has them and is giving me the
rims. He is including the original engine, but it has set since the
70's. We pulled the seats, and four of the five bow brackets out of his
barn where he put them in 1953. The toolbox under the bed still had a
few tools in it. The spare tire mount is partially there (mounting on
te frame still there with release), and the opposite side still has the
gas can mountng frame.
What is this truck worth in the condition it is in now? What would it
potentially be worth after basic restoration (using what is there).
Does anyone have a brief history of this series--including how many made
when? What about sources for parts--keeping in mind I will be storing
it. (I am in no hurry now).
My immediate concern is getting it stored before the bad weather hits
and those immediate problems. I am also interested in the history if
anyone has a website with data on it.
I feel pretty lucky to have found an early truck in this good of shape,
with an owner who lovingly cared for it for so long. I was amazed that t
I found it by dumb luck, and such a good example of it's series.
Thanks in advance-Tim
************************************************************************
* Tim A. Scherrer "You'll be fighting WWII for the rest of *
* Facilities Supervisor your life", Ron Scherrer, 1971 *
* Truman State University *
* WP: 816-785-5551 CPT, MI, USAR *
* WF: 816-785-4201 Commander, D/2/334th INF RGT *
* HP: 816-665-6704 *
* E-mail: TIMS@ACADEMIC.TRUMAN.EDU *
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