The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 1951 GMC is home

Hi there,

Been reading this forum for a few weeks, and enjoying the articles posted on the main website, too. The Big Green Monster came home last night, it's in rough shape, to say the least, but it's a big old gal. It's a 1951 GMC originally titled as a 1952, with a 14,000 lb. GVWR that had a cosmetic restoration maybe 25 years ago, and has sat in a pasture for the past 20 years. Owners manual was still in the glove box, which is always a good sign. I have the title in hand, and the SN plate is still on the door jamb.

The transmission appears to be a 4 speed, it only has a single speed rear end, hydrovac parts are kinda hanging there, but the engine is immaculate and the engine compartment sheet metal is in good shape. That's about the only sheet metal in good condition, but most of the rust is just surface rust popping through the repaint. It's a six cylinder, but I haven't figured out which, yet. No one stripped it for parts, which is rare. It still has the original horse van (tall for Thoroughbreds) on the back, and the doors and ramps work pretty well considering the age and exposure.

I plan to do a bunch more reading before asking a lot of the samo-samo newbie questions. Just wanted to say hello, and mention on more piece of iron has been snatched from the crusher. Looks like Christmas out there by the tractor shed with this dark green truck parked next to a big red Farmall M. Looks like I may be glad to already own some rather large hand tools when all is said and done. I'm sure it "ran when parked" (LOL) with 34,687 miles on it....

Thanks for having a website and forum such as this.

Charles

Welcome!

Look right behind the distributer for engine #. FRirst 3 numbers are the CID.

Send photos....

Thomas

Welcome to the "Big Bolts"...

Good luck on your project and be sure to add a URL to a place with some pics so we can al check out your new rig. I think I speak for all us Stovebolter's when I say that love checking out other trucks and watching progress on the work...

Good luck with your project

Big Green

Welcome! And don't worry about asking samo samo questions. If you do a search from the forum and can't find what you are looking for, just ask away. These fellows know ... and like to talk. Plus, if it's somewhere on the site, they can help you locate it.

I know I get frustrated searching for stuff some time. Just ask. That's what we are all here for.

Can't wait for the pix!

Peggy M

Charles,

I envy your excitement! That's great news - congrats on the new baby.

My first reccomendation is to grab the engine casting number, and the truck serial number, and run 'em down on the 'net. That way, you're certain what you're dealing with. And, you can start to put together the picture of what modifications have been made in the past to "improve" your truck.

I recently discovered my assumed Chevy 235 was actually a disguised 216. Next time, I'll know how to be sure.

Enjoy the journey!

-Michael

And the journey gets better with each passing day. Welcome aboard and we look forward seeing your prize!

Thanks for the warm welcome. Real work on a manure spreader belt shroud, and a sealed-but-gone bearing had priority this afternoon. After this is done, its new belts for a big mowing machine. One electrical problem on a tractor after that (I hope it is just the 6v coil), and then, maybe I can play with the GMC a little.

I'm going to try to get some pix online in the next few days, and also look for some numbers here and there. Thanks for the tip on where to look on the engine. Dropped the rear ramp today while taking a break from aligning sheet metal and refining my profanity, and realized the top two ramp plugs are in the van body with a whole bunch of parts and odds and ends. I'm pretty sure the ochre yellow couch is not a standard GM feature for this model year.

The tall 10 lug split rims ought to be a challenge to replace with something modern. I can see from the thread about the bread truck rims how they would seem strangely small, even if the bolt pattern is right.

Charles

YOU"RE the one who got THE yellow ochre couch option?!!!! Now THAT'S a RARE treasure! That couch will no doubt provide valuable cat-naps during the rebuild process!

Not to bring you down, but my recent extensive research on wheels is that there is NO modern replacement (YET) for those wheels. At least, not on the CHEVY side. I've found better-condition-used rims to replace my rusted rims for my 8235 x 20s. Good news is, when I finally found some, I found quite a few! Now to get them painted . . .

-Michael

OK . . . so that SHOULD be "825 x 20s".

8235s would be REALLY wide tires . . . . You'd probably only need one! :p

Next question, Mike- - - - -
Did you find anybody willing to work on those rims? Last time I heard, the tire man was backing up so fast he was leaving rubber streaks from his Nikes! Glad you found some suitable spares, though!
Jerry

my local Purcell tires mounted my 8.25x20s with no complaints...

I have heard aruond the boards that the 10 bolt pattern was available in 19.5in rims used for motorhomes... have not gone that route myself, but it is worth a look.

-Mike R.

I take it the products on this website are geared more towards to the Urban 4WD crowd:

http://www.chromewheel.com/dominator.htm

Parts didn't come in for some of the other projects, so I crawled up in the back of it and found yet more driving horse harness. Right side ramp is stuck, but that's okay.

Charles

Jerry (and all),

Prompted by Mike's web-site posting, I was referred to Dereck at Southwest Wheels (800-866-3336), who said there's ONE wheel made to replace the 7 x 20 (8.25 x 20 tires) rims on my truck. It's a 22.5 x 6.75 10-stud steel wheel. They're produced in only two runs a year, and are only still run because so many people still need to replace their old Bud wheels.

Only two problems: One, it's only got 2 hand holes (UGLY!) and Two, they're about $225/ea. That's IF the hole and stud circle measurements match: 6.25 inch center hole, 8.75 inch center of stud to center of opposite stud.

I'll measure tonight, and then decide (gulp) if it's worth it. Pretty pricey for peace-of-mind. :confused:

-Michael

Had a few minutes to open the hood and doors and poke around a bit. Removed the sparkplugs and pumped in some MMO to loosen up the pistons (I hope). The crankshaft pulley has a butterfly on it instead of a nut. Reminds me of those old hand crank jobs. I still have one of those, but it is a much more beefy connection. Radiator does not have a passageway for a crank.

Not sure if any of these numbers mean much, and if some of you gurus would chime in, it would be a big help:

Front of carb: h241 (the "h" is backwards)

Back of carb: 2136477 with an AY underneath. Might have copied that wrong, if it is supposed to be 216 for the first 3 digits. Could shovel off some grime, I suppose and double check.

The "2136477" casting number shows up for a 39-52 228 and a 46-52 270. Forgot to check by the distributor for that number, too. Quit laughing. :rolleyes:

This site seems to help:

http://www.inliners.org/casting/numgame.html

Nice big "GMC" on the valve cover with 2 nuts. Okay, make that 3 nuts if you count me crawling around under the hood.

SN on door jamb plate: 303 24 P 3864

104 HP @ 3400 RPM

14000 GVW

22000 COMB

The engine appears to be painted a red/orange color. The firewall is that dark GMC green. Wasn't that the stock color?

Grabbed the tape, and measured 166" wheelbase. Might not be exact. Found some treasures in the glovebox in the form of windshield wiper parts, and some spare glovebox locks, along with a 1960 Maryland State Fair exhibitor's pass. Kinda cool.

It has dual fuel tanks. One in the usual place behind the seat, and one on the right front of the horse van. Big dang heater in the cab. It has six positions on the shifter, so maybe it's a five speed. I need to check it against the manual.

Engine compartment sheet metal is in surprisingly good shape. Took off the oilbath air filter element, and the oil was still relatively fresh in the bowl. Element looked good, too. No dents. May be the only part without a dent!

Since I need a coil for a tractor, I might as well get another 6 volter for this truck while at the ag parts place tomorrow, too.

Charles

Your Havin' WAY too much fun - it's not FAIR!

Thanks for sharing the details, and keep 'em coming.

-Michael

May try to turn that old motor tonight after supper. Wish me luck.

Opened up the van body and let it air out and get some sunshine in there. No real treasures yet. The horse van part is really an adapted package delivery box, so that's not as crucial as I thought, which is a relief. This means the rusty old box can come off, and the truck can become a much more useful flatbed for hauling fence gates, hay, pipe and lumber.

Well, when it finally gets running again.

Charles

Old rusty box is definitely coming off the Big Green Monster in about a week. I may have a line on a stock flatbed from a junked truck, but it is a long shot. Tinkered around a bit, looked for some parts here and there, and did some research over the winter. Too many other projects for any wrench turning. Now that good weather is here, that may change.

Enjoying catching up on the forum reading.

Charles

Glad to see an update on your project.

welcome charles. like mikestem said sounds like to much fun..glad to here you are enjoying your new toy. keep the updates coming. glad to here another old one getting back on the road..mike j

( 303 24 P 3864 ), 30= 300 series 1 1/2 ton, 3= 161in. wheelbase, 24= 248ci. 6 cyl., P= Pontiac, Mich. Assembly Plant, Truck No. 3864. Got any pictures of it floating around anywhere.

Spanky,

Thanks for the SN breakdown. The wife has this digital camera, and I'm determined to get a couple of "before" photographs before cutting apart the van box on the back of this thing. The original oak deck and stall kick boards are really punky (horse urine helps no doubt), and the wooden arch supporting the roof has chunks missing. Whomever coverted this thing from a parcel type delivery truck really put some work into it. Had a trash pit fire going last night, and a little while tonight. Not the best for the environment, but a lot of the odd 1970s poly-plastic seat cushions and crapola are gone. Got a lawnmower (turns over/no start) and a wooden step ladder out of the deal, and some kind of ice cream freezer or something. If I open this thing, and it has Ted Williams' frozen head it in, I'm going to have a stroke right then and there.

If I can get the box gone, the sheet metal off, and drag the chassis into the tractor barn, I'll have a project for next winter. As if I need another project. Been copy/pasting and keeping some of the Hydro-Vac, big evil-mean killer rims & tires, and other info scattered about.

My wife thinks I'm nuts (she has other evidence, believe me), but the first revenue run to the farmer's market four miles away will be a blast.

Circa 2007 maybe.

Charles

Folks,

I wanted to add a few words to the continuing saga (albeit a slow one) of the Big Green Monster. Two tractor restorations, a kitchen remodeled, and one Toyota aggravation later, and I'm getting back to the GMC for a little fun. Yes, yet another big delay in the world of hobby trucks. Ugh. Well, worse things can happen to a fellow.

Been reading the threads tonight, and the number of COEs being saved is really impressive. That fellow with the 1952-ish sal ammoniac green truck with the stainless steel grille can send it to me anytime, too.

It was 80 degrees today. Yep, it will snow in the next two weeks.

Charles