The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 1955 GMC 424V (2.5 TON) MILITARY FIRE TRUCK

I recently purchased a 1955 military fire truck near Fort Riley Kansas. It has 52,000 on the clock, has had the water tank removed from the rear, and no rust on the cab. The plate shows it is a 2.5 ton, model 424V, and was formerly a tanker. I bought the truck for its engine and transmission. It has a VERY smooth running military 302 and a 5 speed transmission, all with no bad habits. The truck runs, drives, and shifts great. Its only issue is that it does need some brake work. As I mentioned, I bought it for the engine and plan to install it in my 1949 250 dually flat bed which currently has a tired 228 in it. My question for the group is, what is the estimated value of the truck minus the engine and transmission? Its such a nice chassis that I honestly have considered keeping it but its too large for anything I need and I really don't need another project. Thanks in advance for your input. Oh... and yes, the truck came with a title. - Bart

Something to look into...is the title using the chassis or engine serial number for identification?

It's worth whatever the sheet metal is worth and scrap metal price for the rest of the heavy iron minus the cost of truck tire disposal.

Mike B

Hi Mike, the title is using the chassis serial number.

You might luck out and be able to get a few hundred out of the bare cab/chassis since it has a title. Very narrow group of buyers.

I have a friend who has offered to remove the engine and transmission, clean it up, replace the gaskets and main seal and install it in my 49 250 in exchange for the chassis and cab. I think that's what I'll do. The engine and transmission are in great shape. No smoke, no unusual noises. In fact, the old 302 just purrs and accelerates without any hesitation. Thanks for the input. Glad to know my original thought was my best plan.

Bart,

That truck is really nice, I got a ‘55 GMC 373 with a 270 in it, they are easy to work on, easy to get parts for.

Ed

Sounds like a great deal, Bart!

And for what its worth ... On the vehicle VIN ... Be sure to check the title, the chassis/actual GM VIN Plate and the Army data plate to be *sure* the numbers all agree. I ran into a sticky issue once with an M-37 that was titled using the Army data plate serial number which was supposedly the same as the GM VIN ... and it was *not* The lazy Army dogs had dropped several digits off. Maryland never cared, but the Ohio State Trooper who was verifying the VIN when I transferred the title to a buyer in Ohio knew to crawl under the vehicle and check the VIN stamped in the frame rail. A nasty surprise for all of us. The State Trooper understood exactly what was going on but as the numbers didn't match exactly, his hands were tied. Of course, that was a Dodge and this is a Stovebolt and I'm not sure if the TF trucks have their VINs stamped anywhere ... but ... the lesson learned on the "Steel Soldiers" is to check the paperwork carefully against what's actually on the vehicle as they don't always agree ...

But if your friend is going to be just taking it for the cab and scrapping the chassis ... not an issue. Unless the cab having an an associated title is important...

Just one more thing to worry about instead of sleeping at 0215 ....

JM

Oh and which 5-speed is it? Not all 5-speeds are improvements over the SM-420 4-speed .... Hopefully it is the OverDrive one ... the gurus can check the model number for you and tell.

Most OD trans’ have OD right and forward, direct straight back, right.

Ed

This is the shift pattern on the 5 speed in the donor 2.5 ton truck.

Direct in high.

Ed

I have a 424 GMC that I bought over 20 years ago. Back in 2009 I fixed her up a little and put a chrome front from a 370 on it. I put a fire rescue body on it to use for a rolling tool shed. It has a good running 302. A Clark 5 speed that would be scrap iron if I wanted to sell it and same goes for the single speed rear. I had a par of NOS 370 fenders I wanted to use up so I put them on it. It came with 2 piece lock ring wheels which is probably the safest wheel you can get. If you pull the engine, the radiator will fit a pickup, the cab will fit a pickup but it is a small window. I would actually buy the wheels if they are the 2 piece lock ring. As for the title, it probably names it as a 424 series which doesn't fit many trucks. The front fenders would fit a 350 or 370 series, but transportation would hurt them unless your next door neighbor is looking for some. My vin tag is stamped 424 and the title has 424. I would seriously consider the labor for the rest of whats left over. You would probably have junk sitting in your back yard for years trying to sell things. The 5 speed would fit your 1 ton, but you don't need it and if you have never shifted a sliding gear 5 speed, you would probably get tired of it in a hurry. Here are some photos of what I did with my 424.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/d1CZdM6KwuSxgEqf9

The last photo is two GMCs
60 model years apart and both built to carry about the same amount of weight

That’s a beautiful truck Ed!

Thanks Crenwelge, those are both great looking trucks!

So I'd guess the granny low is 1, and generally you just drive it as a four speed, starting out in second?

Also, since this has an overdrive, how does it bolt up compared to an SM420 which just kinda dangles off the back of the bell housing on a 1965 C60? I'd really like to have an overdrive so I don't have to buzz the big Cadillac V8 so high just to go 65mph.

I’m not sure it is an “overdrive” Tronman. It has a 5th gear but like others have said, not sure that 5th gets you anything over the 4th in the SM420. At this point, I think I’ll just be keeping my 4 speed.

A 5-speed Direct is just like the SM420...High Gear = 1:1 ratio, the 5-speed just has one more gear ratio in between Low and Direct which is helpful when moving heavy loads.

Mike B

Makes sense Mike. I wasn’t clear on it but your explanation makes sense! Thanks!