The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 2 Ton Quandary

Ok,
Here it is, My 1947 Chevy Loadmaster a well-used old farm truck. Originally it had a 216cid low pressure motor. It’s gone and at some point a 1962 standard car 235cid ( F1201A) full flow motor was installed. The 235 was longer and the radiator has been moved forward to accommodate the longer motor. At some point in time the old truck got parked and stripped of its hydraulics / dump bed and gas tank. This was around 1985ish from what information I’ve gotten from the previous owner and her Mother. Kind of funny she said the truck has been there in that same spot all her life.

Ok, I got to the house and started working on it. Mostly just cleaning it up and discovering what I really have gotten into. The cab is in good shape all the glass is in it with BB holes. It has a 1962 235cid in it now install by the previous owner. I got the motor started and it sounds a lil rough lots smoke LOL. At with a little bit heat the bottom end started to knock. Hmmm.. Now I know why it was parked. Old strait six wasn't readily available in the mid 80’s.
I found a GMC 270cid motor over in Butler, PA ( 2 hour drive ) It looks like it would be a fairly simple to install. Mod the front motor mount and the move the radiator forward a little more.

The Pros / Cons of installing a GMC 270.

I do NOT want to install a V8 of any kind.

Pros
270 is a rare TRUCK motor.
270 is just plain cool.
270 makes more horse power and torque than the Chevy 235 or 261,
270 can be modified / Hot Rodded. At a price!
This 270 is complete and running carb to pan / fan to bell housing for less than I can rebuild the 235.
Cons.
It’s not a Chevy. (Although the 235 is not original) Chevy 235 is cool just not as COOL. LOL
270cid GMC can be very costly to rebuild.
270 are rare and hard to fine parts. Also hard to find a Machine Shop that have the knowledge the to do machine work if needed. (Same can be said for the Chevy 235)
This 270 is running but I’m concerned about watching the distributor wobble while it running. I’ve read horror stories about this in GMC and Chevys. To me it sounds like the rods are starting to knock or is it just the way GMC 270s sound. I’ve never listen to a GMC 270 run before.
With the Chevy 235 I don’t have to move anything it is already done.
235 parts are more readily available.
Hummmmm…. I need a lil help from my friends. What would you do?

270's or 302's or 235's all sound about the same, so a noisy(rod knock, etc.) will sound the same in all. Lots of reasonably priced GMC parts available. 270's and 302's aren't especially rare, just need to look in right places-farm trucks, milk trucks, ambulances, etc.

Any automotive machine shop can do the crank, cylinders, etc.

Here is a small video og the 270.


http://vid234.photobucket.com/album...0Uploads/20151120_163621_zpstks2aji1.mp4

That '47 2 ton Loadmaster would have originally had a 235 Loadmaster engine in it and not a 216 Thriftmaster engine. The 216 Thriftmaster engines only came in big trucks that were 1 1/2 ton rated. And of course, they came in the 1/2 ton thru 1 ton light duty trucks.

Ok, While I'm waiting on a Carburetor kit to come in I'm checking my 2 Ton out. Hum? No Shocks? No mounts for shocks?

Shocks were an option or they just did not need them?

There were no shocks. The theory in big trucks back then was stiff springs and flexible frames.
Those springs don't move enough to cause bump chatter.

Shocks were an option on the front of the '47-'54 big trucks. My '52 GMC 470 series COE has them on the front, so does a friend of mines '54 Chevrolet COE.

Yeah,and they're "Knee-Action",not hydraulic. I have them on all 4 corners,on both my '48 IHC's. One's a (KB3), 1-ton,and the other is a (KB5), 1-1/2-ton.

Not Knee-Action on the '52, or '54 models.

Should have included the word "standard" on.......

Well HOT DANG!! I recieved my Carburator kit and got it all done up. IT's ALVE !! once the lifters pumped up its running great. It's running with good oil pressure, good temps. Huh, and to think I was going to pull it out and scrap it.

http://vid234.photobucket.com/albums/ee255/Mieufarmer/20151202_125614_zpswc1c3oep.mp4

Outstanding! Those old inlines are hard to beat down.

Sounds GOOD!! glad to HEAR the GOOD NEWS!!

Little tune up and replace some of the wiring. As it turns out the mice have had a field day with the cotton covered wiring. Wow. Little S&*Ts. I installed a new set of points, Rotor cap, Rotor button, plugs, plug wirers, 12v coil and an external resistor. I also replaced the battery cables and installed a Ford solenoid and jumped the starter solenoid. I put together a simple wiring harness to get things started.

It sounds much better now.

http://vid234.photobucket.com/album...05_235326_40562417191736_zps5wq7wjgt.mp4

I drove it around yard and all the gears work, steering good and brakes are there but, need work. I can't believe the hydrovac still works. Man O' Man I love this old truck. I have to laugh every time I start it up.