The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts maybe COE project

Client sent me pictures of a 48-52 COE today. Wanted a break from big stuff but he's trying hard.
47-52 Chevy COE grain truck pretty much complete with complete long grain body. Mostly rust free. I'm sure it was mostly a field truck at least at the end.
The interesting (scary) part is that PO had removed the engine and installed a small block (327?) V8. Guess they really wanted to haul grain.
However with typical barnyard ingenuity, they moved the engine back. I assume to drop it behind the front cross member. So its nestled in the middle of the cab and so low that only the tops of the valve covers and the carb are above the floor. They built a sheetmetal box over the carb and ran like a 3" pipe through the firewall and put a huge air cleaner in the space between the firewall and radiator.
It's connected to (maybe) the original trans with PTO to run the lift.
Strange but very interesting.

That does sound interesting. I'd be curious to see the pics if you get any.

gotta love that barnyard ingenuity!

jim
can you take some pics ?
Thanks
Chris

Jim,

we need pictures !

Haven't seen it, don't know if I'm going to do it.
Just got a few pics sent from a phone. I'll see if I can get a couple to photo bucket. It would be so much easier if I could post from the phone.

OK guys, I give up.
Can't get the pictures from email to the bucket to post.
If there is a picture expert that can do it, send me your address and I will send the email.

OK, need some expert help. Looks like I will be doing another Chevy truck, not before spring though.

The COE was purchased and is back east.
This is the one that was called a '48 with the small block V-8.
Finally got a few pics, sorry not all are good but all for the moment.

http://s1276.photobucket.com/user/jsdesign2/library/

I need help identifying the truck year. Has fake serial plate. Obviously a '47 - '53 5700, any little tells for finding the exact year?

Now for the engine. It is a small block couldn't find any obvious block numbers, Chevy red/orange, 2bbl carb, dist in the rear with little door to adjust dwell.
Right side exhaust manifold has the alt/gen mount cast onto it.
Obviously came out of a truck because the trans came with it. 6 speed with PTO, shift pattern - reverse toward driver and back 1-6 in a double H.
The rear engine mounts are on the bellhousing and appear to bolt right into the original frame cross member. Because the engine is shorter than the inline 6, the front mount (single in the center) is mounted on a piece of heavy channel behind the front cross member. This allows the engine to sit a little lower.
This seems to offset the output shaft on the trans slightly to the drivers side, since the front drive shaft angles a little from the center carrier bearing.
So I'm wondering 283 -305- 327 ???
If the installer had gotten rid of the engine mounted fan and put an electric on the radiator, he could have run the top radiator hose and air pipe to the carb lower and not had to cut up the firewall.
all information appreciated.

my - guess = 1949?

If parts are same as original:

Fuel tank inside the cab, (so, later than 1948)
no side vent window, (so earlier than 1951)
turn down outside door handle (earlier than 1952),
two emblems on side of hood (earlier than late 1949).

Wow, think you really narrowed that down.
Thanks.
Now to identify the engine.

What is the code pressed into the block at the rear of the distributor?

Couldn't see it. In the pics you can see they notched an inch out of the floor to just clear the distributor cap.

Might have luck using a mirror, but the truck is more than an hour and a half away.

Hy Jim Sears and guys, the engine code on a Chevrolet V8 engine is stamped into the block in front of the right cylinder head, the block casting number is at the rear of the block above the bellhousing mounting surface. The casting number can identify many different engines, for example 3970010 could be a post 1968 302, 327, or 350 as all those engines use a four inch bore, hope that helps.

Thanks. Which of those were paired with a 6 speed trans? I think the 283 was.
If you can imagine the clearance,(or lack of) with this stuffed into a COE, it's no wonder I couldn't see either of those.
Maybe I can see the cylinder head on the next try. Maybe a selfie stick

What are your plans for it ? Oh yeah, that air cleaner, is the original air cleaner that would be mounted under the passenger side floorboard originally.

Are you sure it's a 6-speed trans? I'm not aware of any 6-speeds with PTO that were made to bolt to a GM bell housing and be coupled to a SBC engine. The SM-420 has reverse to the drivers knee and back. The Dodge G56 6-speed also has reverse in that position, but it's bell housing is integral to the trans and it's all aluminum.

Mike B

Spanky, I believe it is.
Client wants to "restore" the cab and frame, axles etc. to better than original. Like the 48 2 ton I completed this summer.
Repower with ??? and an automatic trans. I'm voting with this engine to be a one of a kind.
This is a long wheel base and when I'm finished, he wants to put a ramp truck bed on it, fixed? hydraulic?, either way, not part of my project.

Mike B, It isn't running, but dry shifting it distinctly has 6 gates. I didn't spend much time under it, mostly looking at motor mounting, but it looked like the 2 pieces belonged together. The PTO looked something like, but not the same as the one on the 48 trans. Couldn't say for sure that the bell housing was separate or attached.

I'm also confused by the 6 speed with PTO and bolted to a gas V8, curious to learn what transmission that is.

I guess we'll have to put that mystery on hold until it gets here and I take it out. That looks like March or April right now. The client will remove the bed (old but not bad with fold down sides as well as a lift, any takers?) before it comes down. There is a tractor to restore first.
As for the engine, being a basic small block, it can be built into what ever I choose if we decide to use it.