Here’s the start of a work truck project. I picked up a 1948 Canadian Maple Leaf truck summer of ‘22 to replace the ‘52 3100 that I regretfully had to sell. It came as a cab and front clip sitting loosely on an off topic 3/4 ton frame. I used my 1/2 ton as a work truck so I was looking for something a little heavier.
The 52 before I sold it, the 48 when I bought it, and a picture of my 48 that I found on the internet before I owned it on it’s original chassis.
I started the project by fixing the grill and adding some inner fenders that the previous owner had disposed of. At that point I discovered the difference between the 1/2-1 ton and 2 ton and larger trucks. I formed a 14 gauge floor to fit the frame, dropping the body about 5”. I discovered why the chassis isn’t a common one used, but I will have a 3/4 ton Chevy when done rather than a 1/4ton.
Last spring I saw a truck bed trailer out in a field, so I talked to the owner and he gave me his rotted out trailer. A box of a 54 Chevy. Not quite the right year, but the price was right so I grabbed it before he changed his mind. The floor was rotted and fenders a bit rough, so it was perfect for my work truck.
Now the dilemma. When I put a box side on the truck frame the rear wheel wasn’t centred in the wheel well. So I posted in -“Ad big truck rear fenders”…I wanted the 9’ box but ended up cutting it down by 4”.
After shortening the bed, I moved on to something I was a little more comfortable with-stretching wood. I picked up some cheap oak this summer and almost had enough boards long enough for the bed, so I “stretched” a piece to work for one of the outside boards. I also welded bolts to the bottom of the metal strips between the boards so I’m not bumping things over the bolt heads in the box. This was worked on over this last fall and winter.
One of the challenges of putting this body on a larger truck chassis was the width of the box. I figured that since the front fenders were an inch wider then the half tons already, and the rear fenders were rough, I tried splitting them and adding a strip. While I was at it I took an inch out of the rear fenders to give them a larger opening and added to the front fender opening to make it smaller. The rear openings were 30” ant the front fender opening was 36”. Not exactly the same now but much closer.
Last weekend it was time to address the cab, the belt line had some rust holes that needed attention. Though I was ok with the regular cab, I really wanted a deluxe cab with comer windows, so when I came across a cab without a serial number, I grabbed it. First task was to dismantle the cab and save the metal. Then I gave my truck a haircut. Followed by fitting the five window skin to my cab. Oh… and sharpen drill bits over and over as I drilled out a multitude of spot welds.
Thanks. Unfortunately the winter is disappearing before my eyes and the yard and garden work of summer looms ahead. Trying to get rear axle finished up before it sits for the summer. With the help of an experienced mechanic friend, we are changing the rear gears from 4.11 to 3.42 for little more relaxed highway driving.
I’ve seen a few chevys from early seventies with the longhorn designation for a long box. Since I’ve owned a short box, I liked the term longhorn for the 8’6” box. Also since it is badged as a maple leaf (or two ton) I liked the idea of a longer box heavier duty truck. I’d like to get some custom decals for the hood that say maple leaf with long horn underneath
Patched in passenger mirror mount, now to do the one on the drivers side. I’ve spent a few hours here and there over the last few weeks welding up all the spot welds around the windows. Feels like an unending process.
Neat transformation and great metal work! Just curious-on the diff case is that a crack in the upper right portion?
Thanks. That’s a sharp eye. I took a closer look and it’s a bit of gasket that needs to be cleaned before we seal it up. Still waiting on a few parts before it’s ready.
since it is badged as a maple leaf (or two ton) I liked the idea of a longer box heavier duty truck. I’d like to get some custom decals for the hood that say maple leaf with long horn underneath Here’s a preview ready to be printed.
The Jalopy Journal
