The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts New Owner?

Hi,
My name is Eric and I have fallen in love with this truck that is for sale just up the road from me.
A Vin check shows that it is a 1947 Loadmaster 2Ton 161 wheel base.
I am debating on the purchase of this. I have never had a project this big.
I talked with the guy who is selling it and he gave me a quick history of it. It was purchased for a local fire department from the Chevy dealer. When they were done with it the Chevy dealer bought it back with the plans to restore it. It sat at the dealer for another 20 years or so until the guy who has it now bought it from them.

He started it up for me. Seems to idle nicely. He said that he has gone through the front brakes. It needs rear brake cylinders.
It apparently has about 9000 miles in the ODO.
I have been mostly involved in much smaller restorations, motorcycles, tractors, snowmobiles.
I am looking not to make this a perfect show vehicle, but a nice looking drive-able truck that I can use to haul various things, like classic motorcycles, COOT, etc.

Does $2500 sound like a fair price?
What are the major problems areas I should be looking at when checking out this truck?
How do I determine that it is a 235ci, like he says?
How hard are parts to come by? I see a lot of parts for the 47-54 trucks. Are the mostly interchangeable?
What is the top speed of this? I am not expecting to cruise at 80 on the interstate, but I don't want to top out at 35 either.

Here are some pictures of the truck.
1947 Chevy 2Ton

The wife has already given the OK, I am just trying to decide if I want to take on this as a project.

Thanks I am sure I will be asking lots more questions if I go through with the purchase.

Welcome to the Stovebolt

That seems like a fair price to me. I don't think you can find a more complete truck for less money than that.

With that said, if you keep your eyes open you could get something already road worthy that would have a bed, good tires, good brakes and a floor for not that much more money. It's always cheaper to buy one done than it is to build one. But, if you love the hobby and don't mind the work, go for it!

Mike B

Looks like a cool truck. I love Big Bolts, so I'm biased there.
Lots of good info and advice in these forums. Any problems you run into, these guys will help you through it.
Good luck, and let us know what you decide.

Rust is a big issue with the AD trucks, former fire trucks were usually housed so tend to be in better shape in that department. Do you have the room to store that size vehicle while you work on it? that can be an issue. resale, it costs as much or more to restore a big bolt as a pick up but they generally will not sell as high as a pick up so if you're thinking I can always sell it and get my money out that is not always true. That being said Big bolts are my favorites, good luck if you choose to go forward with the purchase.

Looks like good bones to start with. Post casting # on the engine block for ID. As for the speed, these were not meant to be speed demons. They hauled goods from farm to market or as in this case water and men to the fire. Expect 45-50mph range w/o any modifications. Rear brake parts may be challenging. If your skills are up to it you can make a cool hauler.

I would deduct some $ for new floorboards, whether or not they are available, say $500.

It looks like there is no pump mounted in the driveline. The two speed axle has ratios that are slow and slower, there are no higher ratios available. If there is a joint in the driveline, that would be a good place for a 'Brownie' to keep up with modern traffic.

Ed

welcome to the Stovebolt site! That looks like a great starting point, I am not familiar with the price on the older ones as I have a recently acquired 55.2 and 58. Looking around my area on CL, I also think I got a great deal on mine but....

BE VERY CAREFUL!!! Here is how it goes, as soon as you buy one, it seems like a little better deal comes along, and you get that one too (thinking I'll take the best parts, make one, and sell the other parts to recoop some money! Then. you find a 3rd one, and think to yourself (and then sell it to the wife) I can buy the 3rd one, take the best parts and build one to keep, put one together to sell, and then have spare parts to keep mine running or use for trading stock for other parts I need! It is a slippery slope... welcome to the hill!

Welcome to the stove bolt, it looks like that truck has a lot of rust through which will take a lot of time and money to repair. Price depends a lot on your location, i would check comparisons on craigslist and kijiji. For my area that would be a $1500 truck at best. Good luck and have fun!

I bought one in quite a bit better shape than that one for $750. It's the luck of the draw though I reckon. I'm sure the one I bought for $750 woulda prolly brought quite a bit more had it been marketed better by the previous owner. It wasn't running when I bought it, but it didn't take much to get it running. I winched it onto my trailer when I picked it up - but I got it running before I unloaded it and drove it off the trailer into my shop. Now - I have restored the brakes, put a new fuel tank and sender in it, re-upholstered the seat and put 6 brand new tires on it and just barely have $2300 in it at this point.

Justhorsenround makes a good point on the rear brake parts. This truck will have Huck brakes on it, parts are limited. If it needs shoes you will have to have them re-lined. Rockauto will have the wheel cylinders though, they're about $70 each. Oh, and you'll have lots of fun getting them apart if the adjuster screws are seized up.

thanks for the replies. You have all helped quite a bit.
Still on the fence for this. I have such big ideas for it, but not sure about space and the magnitude of the task.

Are parts for the Big bolts that much harder to find vs the smaller ones?

As usual for most vintage stuff, around VT and the northeast supplies are limited, so prices always seem higher than those of you who are not in rust country.

keep the suggestions coming I am learning a lot already.

You need to be 100% into this truck before you buy it because you'll be upside down with almost the first part you buy to put on it...

Keep your eyes open (place a WANTED ad here, watch eBay and FOR SALE here) and you can find a truck the sellers upside down in and get a much better truck for not that much more money.


Don't be afraid to have one shipped to you. Can always ask a fellow Bolter to look at something if it's out of State for you...lots of options...

Mike B

x2
BUT... Get some good boots & keep your internet connection- the forums can talk you through the rest.
Good luck!
Brad

Did you read the story about the COE that's on the Home page? It was also an East Coast truck and many can tell you, it's in good shape for an East Coast truck.

Paul was game to go for it - since he wanted a Big Bolt (former Corvette guy). And as these guys mentioned, there is a lot of help in this particular form for those Bent for a Big Bolt!

Welcome. Anxious to see if this works out for you.

Peggy M