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| | | | Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 16 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 16 |
I have a Chevy 1941 YR open express truck that I'm starting to plan the restoration.
It's not clear to me if this truck is 1 ton or 1.5 ton.
What would be the best forum for posting questions?
-- Scott
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 5,096 Crusing in the Passing Lane | | Crusing in the Passing Lane Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 5,096 | Wheels might be a start. 20" would indicate 1.5 ton, 18" might indicate 1 ton, 16" could be 3/4 or 1.
Ed
'37 GMC T-18 w/ DD 4-53T, RTO-610, 6231 aux., '95 GMC running gear, full disc brakes, power steering, 22.5 wheels and tires.
'47 GMC 1 ton w/ 302, NP-540, 4wd, full width Blazer front axle.
'54 GMC 630 w/ 503 gasser, 5 speed, ex fire truck, shortened WB 4', install 8' bed.
'55 GMC 370 w/270, 420 4 speed, grain, dump bed truck from ND. Works OK.
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,440 Bolter | | Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,440 | Start here and when you figure out just exactly what you have you can post further questions in the appropriate forum. Sounds like a really cool project.
Martin
'62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress)
'47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project)
‘65 Chevy Biscayne (Emily)
‘39 Dodge Business Coupe (Clarence)
“I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one!
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USAF 1965-1969 Weather Observation Tech (I got paid to look at the clouds)
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 16 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 16 |
The rims measure about 21" across, so it looks like I have 1.5 ton.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 5,096 Crusing in the Passing Lane | | Crusing in the Passing Lane Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 5,096 | So,
What is the bolt pattern? Then one can determine what modern wheels will fit.
Ed
'37 GMC T-18 w/ DD 4-53T, RTO-610, 6231 aux., '95 GMC running gear, full disc brakes, power steering, 22.5 wheels and tires.
'47 GMC 1 ton w/ 302, NP-540, 4wd, full width Blazer front axle.
'54 GMC 630 w/ 503 gasser, 5 speed, ex fire truck, shortened WB 4', install 8' bed.
'55 GMC 370 w/270, 420 4 speed, grain, dump bed truck from ND. Works OK.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 5,096 Crusing in the Passing Lane | | Crusing in the Passing Lane Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 5,096 | Looks like 5 on the front, probably 10 on the rear, commonly referred to as 5/10 on 7.25" circle. When tubeless tires first came out in late '50's, they made 22.5 tubeless wheels with this pattern, they will hold up to 9 x 22.5" tires. Hard to find, found on farm trucks, among others, of the era.
Tubeless tires are worth considering because many tire shops will not or cannot deal with them.
Nice truck, do you know any history?
Ed
'37 GMC T-18 w/ DD 4-53T, RTO-610, 6231 aux., '95 GMC running gear, full disc brakes, power steering, 22.5 wheels and tires.
'47 GMC 1 ton w/ 302, NP-540, 4wd, full width Blazer front axle.
'54 GMC 630 w/ 503 gasser, 5 speed, ex fire truck, shortened WB 4', install 8' bed.
'55 GMC 370 w/270, 420 4 speed, grain, dump bed truck from ND. Works OK.
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,832 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,832 | If you find 6 new 22.5 tires I'll give you a $500 bonus.
Evan
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2014 Posts: 3,683 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2014 Posts: 3,683 | That's a beauty. I love those open express trucks with the long bed and big wheels.
You going full restore? I think it looks cool like it is.
1951 3100
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 16 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 16 |
I don't know much history of the truck. I bought it from a fellow in Ottertail MN, who picks up and sells old trucks he finds in the Dakotas, Montana, and Wyoming. He told me the truck came from a ranch where it was used for haling a large water tank.
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 16 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 16 |
I like the character of the patina and plan to keep that as-is. I'm currently working on updating the drive train. I have a rebuilt 235 to start, and am looking for ideas for transmission and differential that would allow me to drive higher speeds, perhaps 60 or 65.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 5,096 Crusing in the Passing Lane | | Crusing in the Passing Lane Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 5,096 | If you wish to keep that wheel bolt pattern, it has been used by GM for a long time, however, axles might be too wide. Grigg has discussions about putting modern spindles on an original front axle, including disc brakes. Look for 3500 HD GM trucks for that bolt pattern. Rear axle would be Dana 70 or 80.
Modern axles come with 19.5 wheels which look undernourished on that truck. A gentleman in AZ had a wheel shop put 29.5 centers in modern 22.5 wheels, no idea how mosh they co$t.
If you use smaller bolt pattern, filling wheel wells becomes a problem, OD of tires is smaller.
Ed
Last edited by EdPruss; 11/01/2016 1:04 PM.
'37 GMC T-18 w/ DD 4-53T, RTO-610, 6231 aux., '95 GMC running gear, full disc brakes, power steering, 22.5 wheels and tires.
'47 GMC 1 ton w/ 302, NP-540, 4wd, full width Blazer front axle.
'54 GMC 630 w/ 503 gasser, 5 speed, ex fire truck, shortened WB 4', install 8' bed.
'55 GMC 370 w/270, 420 4 speed, grain, dump bed truck from ND. Works OK.
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