The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Meet "Buddy" -- '50 GMC 450

About a year ago, the Old Dominion Stovebolt Society (who's members come from the Lower PA, MD and VA region) were alerted to an interesting Big Bolt in need of a rescue. The call came in, the rescue steam scrambled and went out (Hambone, Billy Marlow, Sweet and myself).

In a swamp/private junk yard (aka, a "private collection"), we found a mostly solid 1950 GMC 450 with a 270 engine, Clark 5-speed transmission, huge Braden winch and factory airbrakes. We were able to rescue this forlorn beauty, and under the direction of Sweet, got it started and running. He even drove it up on the trailer under it's own power. And ...

What other swamp find/rescue truck of this era could you drive out of the woods under it's own power and with functional brakes? (well, we did have to tap one drum to get the brake to release, but after it worked a bit, it has been fine).

We drove the truck around and played with the winch at Homecoming this year. Over the Summer, Buddy hauled water to the compost pile.

Now, in the Fall, Buddy has been a favorite of Photographers who come to the Stovebolt Headquarters campus to do sessions.

Plans for Buddy? None at the moment -- We just like playing with it as is.

We call it buddy because the four buddies co-own it.

There is this one switch/control that we have no idea what it is. You can rotate the wheel and the button is like a horn button. We haven't chased the plumbing yet. Maybe that will clue us in a little, but until we feel like doing that ... has anyone seen a control like this before?

Nice find, especially with air brakes. One could upgrade it to a 302, would help some, of course, top speed depends on the diff. ratio(s) .

Ed

Buddy Rescue!

I think you might find this link to the Henry Vogt Machine Company Facebook page interesting. Henry Vogt - Facebook Page. Still doesn't solve the mystery.

Just a SWAG, but check to see if that's a temporary parking brake, like a home brew version of the MICO brake lock. I'm not sure about the function of the push button, but the handwheel looks like it might be used to apply the air brakes for locking the wheels while winching, maybe?
Jerry

Nice ol 450 Jimmy, there John. How ya like that air brake pedal. My '52 GMC COE 470 series, being a full air brake truck, is the main reason I purchased it from the West Coast.

Jerry, I took the truck for a joyride today bringing it back out of the field after the photographers were done with it -- I played with the wheel and switch and nothing seemed to happened. I rolled it full one way and then the other and the truck moved fine. And BTW, the truck had been sitting out there all week -- Stomped the starter button today and it fired right up.

Spanky -- The air brakes rock! I got the truck going pretty good in the back field (about 15 MPH) and stood on the pedal -- the truck stopped instantly, I know that's not much of a test, but still... I did do a DOT brake test on it the other day and dang if it doesn't pass! I shut the engine down and stood on the brake pedal and the air gauge didn't budge in 60 seconds. I went to 90 and still no movement. What a cool truck! You need to get up here and play with it with us one of these days!

Burgy -- Thanks for the link. Those old machine companies are fascinating.

I love this truck! For the last 12 years I have been known to attempt to break the sound barrier in my '51. Taking Buddy for a cruise allows me to enjoy the moment at the speed of life.

I know one thing we need to do soon, replace that bedwood. I've already fallen through it twice!

With it sitting as long as it did, its amazing how many things on Buddy still work. Lights, turn signals, speedo, wipers, etc.

In fact, looking forward to introducing my kids to Buddy this weekend.......

That is a cool truck! Nice save, guys!

Interesting truck.

Great to see another one saved.

Love the Air Brakes part.

I wonder if that was a brake control valve if towing a trailer with air brakes?

That is a very nice example of a 450 with air. Not many of them survived. Vogt was well known for gate valves. A previous owner rigged something up with it. There just weren't many valves like we use these days. My 550 GMC never had a tractor protection valve. I had two gate valves at the back of the cab that I closed when I bob tailed.

Thanks Ken. So if we traced the line from it, we may find a port somewhere?

And not to dampen or curb Sweet's exuberance, but for the record ...

The *headlights* work
The right front turn signal comes on, but doesn't flash
The wipers do an excellent job of smearing light drizzle across the windshield and obscuring your view completely every couple of minutes
But yes, all the gauges seem to work just fine, even the speedo -- which I, personally, have not seen move past 15 MPH because I, unlike Brother Sweet, have a firm grasp on my own mortality

Buddy is sort of like a pet crocodile at this point -- Really fun to own and play with, and a cool conversation starter, but you just don't know when he's just gonna up and kill ya, do ya?

30 MPH in Buddy is like approaching the sound barrier in 1947 ...

"Some say it's a wall that can never be broke, it's a farm you can buy in the sky ..."

Happy Thanksgiving!!

As I said before, Buddy allows me to enjoy the speed of life. However when Hambone said he couldn’t get Buddy up to fifth gear, Brother Marlow and I took that and went for a spin. Billy driving that was achieved. Now I will say at 30, the flat spots on the tires simulate a galloping horse. Of course all of this is achieved on straight open road with no other vehicles nearby.

I have a feeling we will be tracing lines from the mystery valve this weekend. I have read a few articles on those valves. They seem well made so I imagine it has a special purpose.

Much like figuring out all the winch levers, I look forward to solving this mystery!

Winch operation is checked off the list. Clutch, Brake, fwd, reverse, low/hi speed. Need to figure out how to use the winch without pulling off the bed.
I recommend we pull trees thru the bailer with Buddies winch.
And 5th gear is easier achieved if your heal has not fallen through the floor.

Agreed Bone.

Winch use will master all levers by days end.

What we do *not* need by day's end, however, is for the trailer (that the baler is mounted to) to be upside down on top of Buddy ...

Is the trans a Clark? Direct or OD?

Ed

Ed, it’s a Clark direct drive. Would love to find the OD version.

I'll look through some of my stuff.

Ed

Awesome, truck!, I like seeing them saved and brought back to life like that.

I'd highly recommend a complete front axle and steering system overhaul before even considering an OD 5th. gear!
Jerry

Definitely. But first things first, fix the floor!

Don't get too excited about replacing that direct drive Clark, with a OD Clark. My two '52 GMC COE's had each, and the one with the OD Clark, was only 5 mph faster than the one with the DD Clark. Not enough of a difference, for me to change the DD out.

So while I was at Friendship Forest this weekend, I surveyed the mystery valve. The valve goes to a tank mounted on the firewall. The tank is cylindrical approx 6” in diameter and about 18” long. The button is a wire going to what looks like a cylinoid next to the cylinder.

Did not have time to follow lines out of the cylinder.

That give any clues?

Air horn?🤷🏼‍♂️

Looks alot like my 51 I pulled out of a farmers field. Man, what would I give to have some guys to get together with and enjoy big truck stuff like I see in this picture !
Must be nice