The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts wheels (yeah.. i know)

gonna go to look at a 47 gmc in the morning. my head is already in the planning stage, so here goes. looks like a 2 ton, titled a 47 but has the 46 body style. not an a.d. for sure. thinking about an extended cruise vehicle and those 5 big lug wheels ain't gonna cut it. any ideas?

I used 8R X 19.5 motorhome wheels and modern radials on mine.Rated for 75MPH.

Did you get the truck?

I passed on it. it's weird, but I just couldn't buy the thing. it's a pristine and wonderfully preserved low mileage completely original truck, and I would have started out changing and modernizing stuff and, well, it would sorta be like spray painting stuff in an art gallery to "improve" things.

I did find a 50 cabover 1 1/2ton, and i'm gonna pick it up this week.

so,

same deal. this time i'm thinking about a 10 hole wheel rear from an rv or ton truck, and 19.5 wheels all around. the next question would be about spring perch width from the old to the new, and what overdrive transmissions I could use. I think (hope) the coe has at least a 270. I intend to lighten the weight of the truck wherever possible and keep the original engine with a late model drive train. hoping for over 12 m.p.g..

I would feel the same way. If it's all there and in good shape to restore it's a shame start modifying it. And C O E's are fun to modernize. I think C O E's are all 2 ton and up.

With an original 6 cylinder your not going to see 12 mpg. The truck will probably have a 235 motor if its a Chevrolet.

gmc. prolly a 248, 270, 302. with the dump bed removed and replaced with an aluminum flatbed, overdrive trans and late model rear with radial tires, i'm hoping it will be more practical for everyday running around. the wheelbase is pretty short. if the truck is light enough, I think the original engine could pull it as long as I don't load it too heavy. I got 9 outta one with a 454. then..... there's always the 4 bt/ allisons idea.