The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 46 Big Truck Experts - Help Needed

I'm looking at a 46 1.5 or 2 ton truck. How would I determine which of these two categories it falls into.

The VIN # is 210S042402. I tried Fumblins Vin # Cruncher, and only came up with it was manufactered in Janesville, WI. I've looked at other sites and determined it was built in April, and was likely the 1,402nd truck built.

It's been updated with what appears to be a 54 - 235 cid. The guy tells me it has a 5-speed. I didn't think they built a 5 speed in 46, but it sure seems to have have 5 gears and a 6th, which I would assume would be reverse, (far right and down?). Unlike my 1/2 ton, it doesn't have a reverse lock-out lever on the shifting rod.

It also has a PTO and hydralic dump bed. Think I can probably get it for a good price, but need to know more about what I'm looking at, before I get too serious.

Any suggestions or help you can provide would sure be appreciated.

1 1/2 ton My 2 ton reverse is over and down to the left. But it has the lock also. Has it been updated with a modern 5speed?
http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/series.htm

Thanks Oehm for the link.

I had done a search on the vin here on the bolt, and didn't get the link you provided as one of the responses.

According to Brad's 41-46 site, it could have fallen into either a 1.5 or 2 ton with the OS vin #. That's where the confusion came in, as I thought it was a 1.5 ton, but his site said it could be either.

According to the link you provided, it would be a 1.5 ton rather than a 2 ton.

Any thoughts on the 5 speed issue?

Eric,

I am far from an expert on these rigs, but on the trucks in the '47 plus category, I think the 1.5 ton had screw on or tap on dust covers on the front axle and the 2 ton had covers held on with several small bolts. I don't know if this applies to the '46.

Stuart

Here is what my 4speed looks like. http://oehmjr46.tripod.com/id9.html I'm no expert but thats what the ones I have seen look like.

Atomarc,

This one I'm looking at appears to have the tap/screw on dust covers on the front hubs. By the way, I didn't mention it in the earlier posts, but it is a single speed rear axle.

Oehm Jr, That's exactly what the 4 speed in my half ton looks like as well. It has the reverse lock out lever right under the shift knob, and the rod running the length of the gear shift lever. This truck I'm looking at, has neither.

I'm confused as can be with this tranny issue, cause I've never heard of a 5 speed coming in a truck that old, and it does appear to be original. None of the pedals have been changed, nor does it appear to have any of the linkage modified.

Here's a link to the auction I'm watching. It has a couple of pictures of the interior, just enough so that you can see it doesn't have the reverse lockout, but I sure can't tell what the tranny is?????

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1946...348QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

The Vin cruncher didn't give accurate results because you entered the letter 'O' as a Zero.. with the VIN corrected, 21OS042402 it shows as a 1946 Interm series 1.5 ton with a 160" WB.

My two ton has the standard 4 speed tranny with the reverse lockout lever, and the same shift pattern as my 1/2 ton.

I think the two tons came stock with the vac brake boost assist on the passenger side of the frame, oppisate the master cylinder.

The 2 ton '50 I had was a four speed.. reverse was in the same spot, but there wasn't a lockout.. you just gave it a push and it went.. like there was a spring in there to give a little resistance to keep you from accidently going into reverse.. if that makes any sence.

So my guess is that the truck you're looking at has had the tranny updated with something far newer than a '50.

Hy guys, according to my books the first five speed was a Clark and it was first available in 1954. It's a big truck who knows what modifications have been made.

3B,

Would it stand to reason, the engine in this truck is a 54 235. Perhaps they updated the tranny at that time with the Clark 5-Speed?

Does anyone know... Are these trannies common, or is this a fairly rare combination that might make the truck more or less desirable?

Fumblin, yep, it makes sense, and I know exactly what you're talking about. Thanks.

Makes perfect sense if you're going to update the engine, to update the tranny, too.. especially if the new tranny has an extra forward gear, and the old tranny won't bolt right up to the new engine.

I'm in no way an expert, but i've personally sat in over 40 1941 thru 1946 1.5 and 2 ton trucks.. and every single one of 'em had that reverse lockout lever.

I would think an extra forward geer might help in the top speed department.. I can't imagine that trannys first gear is geared any lower than the stock trannys 1st.. which is really just a granny gear.

Hy guys, I think your hypothosis is a logical one. The clark is a fairly common transmission to Chev and G.M.C. trucks and it bolts to the housing. As for top speed it won't help that unless it's an overdrive trans, and they are rare, just one more gear to accelerate with.

I have a 1940 GMC AC503 (3 1/2 ton). The truck has a Clark 202V Tranny. This is the original tranny to the truck. It is a 5 speed with the reverse being to the right and down. There is no lock for reverse. You can see pictures in my webshots page. Look in the teardown album.

http://community.webshots.com/user/bda600

Jed,
The 5 speed transmissions are very hard to find. I am not sure about value but I would think that an extra speed would help with value and certainly make the truck more driveable, especially with a load. Most big bolt guys like to drive em. Most of the 5spds were direct 1:1 in 5th gear but there were some that had 5th over. It could be a spicer, clark or new process check out this web page Transmission Specs . I just bought a new process 5 speed out of a 58 chevy 2 ton and plan to install it in my 54 1.5 ton that has a SM420. All the stock mounts line up and the new process is about 1.5" longer. It is a bolt-in except for a trip to the drive shaft shop. It will look completely stock when I am done. Aren't these these trucks great!!!

Jed

The military WW2 GMC's - 6x4's & 6x6's all had 5-speeds behind 270's. These were overdrive on 5th, .799-1. Maybe it's a transplant from one of these. Reverse was hard right & forward(no manual lock-out, just a spring), with low straight back from reverse. They were supplied by both Clarke & Warner.

Woah! It sold for $2348!