I am currently working on a friend of mines 52 chevy 1.5 ton. For those who do not know me I own a 51 Ford 2 ton. The differences in the two trucks is very easy to spot with the trucks side by side. For one the chevy has by far a heavier frame, came standard with a syncronized trans, and uses the same 5 in the front, 10 in the back wheel bolt pattern as the newer trucks so one piece wheels are not a problem. As far as engines the ford has the edge there, and I like the look of the ford better. The rear brakes have dual wheel cylenders but no power brakes like the Ford. The one peice fenders on the chevy and the fact that the running boards do not bolt to the back of the front fender eliminates a few of the rust problem areas that the Fords have.

 

If you've never visited the site you might drop by the Stovebolt website; http://www.stovebolt.com/
There's apretty good group of guys on their forum.

I go back and forth with the years of Fords and GM trucks that I like (I'm fixing to say some things here that will cause alot of folks to throw bricks at me) For instance I like the 48-52 Fords alot better than the 48-54 GM trucks, however the 55-59 GM trucks is a super body style that I prefer over the 53-56 Ford truck style. The 60-66 GM's were gawd-awful ugly while the 61-66 Fords are danged sexy (I didn't forget about he 57-60 Fords----I love em)

Bear in mind that the opinions expressed in the above statement are soley those of the writer and are in no way expressed in an attempt to start an aguement (for or against) any of the trucks mentioned or to offend any of those who might own/want to own/have owned/may own at some point in the future/have thought about owning/just dreamt of owning, etc, etc, etc any of the trucks mentioned.

Bobby

 

I have a Ch**y (49) pickup for a daily driver and am building a 56F100BW as a hot rod/street rod. There are things I like and dislike about both of them but overlook their shortcomings because in general I just like old pickups. I'm with you Bobby, just my opinion and not meant to spark any pro or con discussion.

 

I couldn't decide on either so I got a project truck that has some of each as indicated in my sig. My next choice would of been a 53 Chevy.

 

I myself like chevy's, the parts at least.
I use them, the parts, to hold shed doors open or shut.
Oh, and living 1/2 mile from Lake Erie, I also like them better than cement blocks.

 

Dick---you got time to meet up next week or so. Wife is really needing a shopping spree at Peach steet mall. Bill

 

in my book ford from 79 back is good, and chevy 72 back is good. i could care less about new stuff. and well dodge and international are ugly from about 1950 up so we arnt even going there.

 

Anything with a wrap around front window is great in my book. Just love that look. It all started from the 56 F100 or the 57 Chevy 210

 

my younger bro has a 1950 1 ton 5 window chev. All stock. I like it, but not as much as my F1. I'm the black sheep of the family, as everyone else is pro-chev.

PS:I'm an IH truck nut, too....quirky as they are.

 

man i'm sorry some one dissed the ih's and dodges as i found the ih equivalent of an f 600 sitting and it runs , possibly for sale and supposedley cheap so sayeth the owners wife , and i found a 48 dodge all there , running and used to haul plants and bags and garden supplies by the owners wife . it's a half ton , black with a brownish clored interior and the only foible is the vise grip window rollers . $ 2500 for it if he becomes so enlined to put it back up for sale and i'd like to have either !!!! the chevs , studes what have you are all o.k. and all have something for everyone . i talk crap about other makes but secretly will buy anything old and cool !!!!! probably have owned one of everything made at one time or another .

 

Old trucks in general just rock. I have always favored the 56 ford. but it was a quickie style fix to counter the "new" design of the 55 late chev. I have had them all even a stude and a ******.
Kusto" on the 53, you, me. and a thousand other guys would kill for the right one. The 53 AD in a 5W is as sought after as the 56 BW effie.I am seeking one as I write this.
One big difference in the 2 brands is that the ford guys get to have a way better site (FTE) and I have been on the others as well.

 

The nice thing about restoring Studebakers is the NOS parts availability. Mechanical parts abound. Studebaker 1/2 tons and all the cars used Spicer 44 rear axles, the 1/2 ton trucks (they were called Transtars in the 1950's, Champs in the 1960's) used either a T-86 or T-85 Warner Overdrive. The Flightomatic auto transmission is the same as the Ford-O-Matic.


The parts (like 12V O/D solenoids - Ford: B6A-6916-A / Studebaker: 1545215) are the same as Ford's used! Things like trim, nameplates are fairly easy to find. Studebaker made more replacement parts than any automaker in history. There's an original wagon assembly building (dates to 1890) in South Bend (SASCO) that has several floors of NOS. There are at least two other major suppliers of NOS. One of them makes new parts too. Need a new tailgate for a 1949/61 pickup? No problemo..and it's made in the US of A.



If y'all need anything that could be the same as Ford, I have the Studebaker parts catalogs, also. After all, I was a Stude partsman (1960/62) before I was a Ford partsman.

 

Bill, this is great info as I am about to embark on my next project. An elderly gentleman friend of mine has given me a 1947 Commander Starlite Coupe as a gift for taking him to the VA hosp for Dr. visits. The car has been mostly in storage as he mostly used it on Sundays to take his wife for ice cream cones at the next town over and in parades, county fairs,day at the lake and the like. It is complete and runs great. It even has heated seats and overdrive. I will bringing it down the mountain as soon as I finish my new driveway to hold 3 cars in a line. It will look cool next to the 55 Nash CC.
Jon

 

Heated seats? Not exactly. It has an underseat heater on the passenger side. The engine is the 226 cid Commander Six...it dates to 1929! It was used thru 1960. Model: 14A (Commander) Style: C5 (Starlight Coupe). 10,557 Commander Starlite Coupes were produced in 1947.


LOL...a Country Club Nash...I had one years ago. Turn the key...pull back on the shift lever to start, or was the starter switch under the clutch pedal like your soon to be 1947 Stude has? Can't remember.


>> studebakerdriversclub.com

 

ok lets try this again . i already typed this once and it didnt come up .... but anyway i had no idea that 53 chev 5 windows were so sought after . there was one down in front of a resturant / bowling alley i spend way too much time in on a trailer for sale foe i beleive 2500 . it was according to what was on the window a 53 1/2 ton shortbed . no bed a set of ansen slots i wanted , a greasy sbc in it and yep it was a 5 window . its not there now but if it pops up again as most of them that put stuff on that corner for sale do , i'll grab the number etc . and post it to those interested . it wasn't my thing but she was black and in damn good shape .