The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Chevy Technical Manuals About 55 2nd Series Deuces

Hi Folks: Did Cheverolet every release any technical or reference books on the various beds or options that could be equipped on the 2 ton 6100 and 6400 model trucks? I see everything from wreckers, dump boxes, flatbeads, stake racks, the list goes on. Since I am a new owner of a 55 2nd series 6100 I am looking for good technical books on this truck and specifically who manufactured the dump bodies on these beauties. Obtaining these books would help me on my restoration.

Any recommendation from the good folks here on any reference books on large chevy trucks, say above 1 ton... almost all of the chevy truck books I have are geared toward 1/2, 3/4 and 1 ton Pickups. I haven't found any pictorial,technical or engineering reference materialsor books on the large bolts. Can anyone help out with this!

I've purchased some original literature for the bigger 55-57 trucks on ebay that show a lot of the options and chassis styles that were made. Usually you can do a search for task force chevrolet trucks and that will bring up some goodies. Also the bigger assembly manual breaks down the trucks from the 1/2 ton to 2 ton.

Hey Tri5trucking: Thanks for the reply! I see you have several 6500 models... whats the diff between the 6100 and 6500 models? If I get any info on the 6100 would be glad to share if someone needs it. Orange

The main difference in the models is the wheelbase. The 6100 had 130" wheelbase, the 6400 a 154" wheelbase and the 6500 was longest with a 172" wheelbase. The 6000 series were all 2 tons, some had different GVWs. The 6500 series were more likely to have the "jobmaster" 261 engines although my 4400 Napco came with a 261 so I'm sure there were exceptions.

The commercial bodies were all put on by someone else, not GM. They may have had contracts with outside sources that they sent cab and chassis to, then on to dealers after that. If you find about any year older GMC shop manual, they have a section on frame repairs and installation tips and procedures for beds and such. They show clamping techniques and using wood blocks as spacers, and metal parts too. An assembly manual shows for all trucks up to 2-ton, but don't show any box info at all. Even the shop manuals skip over the box or bed. Must have been seperate manuals for those, But I don't know what they are called, have never seen them myself. Maybe the Accesorie catalog?
Most older dump rigs have a sub-frame with hinges and hoist built into them, that sets on top of the truck's frame, bolted, clamped or welded on I have found. The box is then mounted to the sub-frame, not the actual truck frame. I have seen poorly made home-made set-ups using just the truck frame ends for joint mounting, but they are usually pretty weak and in bad order on most I have seen. Frame is smaller and too weak out at ends to handle much of a box load. Many times old trucks are setting around on farm lots or junkyards, cab shot, and wood ate out of beds. I've had good luck with buying those or at least the sub-frame units and bed, and re-wooding the bed. The pumps and the one big cylinder usually work. I never had a leaker, but have seen some that did. You can run them up with an electric drill and make a shaft to fit it to test the bed and hoist when truck is not run-able. Keep in mind, you will also need an pto and shafts to run, and control levers. You probly can get all those parts out of same truck. PTO has to be off a Chevy trans of same style (probly SM420) to fit. New Process and Clarke units won't fit Chevys. OR, now days they sell those little pumps and controls like used on snow blades that will also control your bed off a battery, with no Pto needed. As long as bed isn't too large, or cylinder too big for that pump style. Good luck finding what you want!

Chevrolet published "The Silver Book" that shows lots of different commercial service bodies with specifications. They show up on eBay from time to time.

For info on the different models check out my web page.

Mike B