The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts '47 mapleleaf

Hi Guys,
I hope to bring home my first bolt, a '47 mapleleaf 2 ton! The gentleman that owns it boughty it in the early 90's and never got around to it! As he only wants 4 doz. VB's [beer] for it , i figure that a deal. It's a bit rough as you all can imagine, but i just want to use it on the farm to cart water. When i bring it home i just want to get it going.

The truck has not moved for about 15 years. Apart from the basics, brakes etc. etc. Can you tell me how to get the motor going? I believe it is a Canadian GM motor, not a 216ci.

By the way, 'cause im so new to this, i want to ask the 'all time' silly question. What does a 'Stovebolt' really mean? 'Woops' dont fall off your chair i'm serious?

Thanks James

Wombat,
welcome to the Stovebolt. It sounds like you have found yourself a gem! Most of your answers can be found using the search function. As far as the Maple Leaf is concerned, that would be the Canadian medium duty design I think it is called and it would have a GMC motor. If I remember correctly that motor would be a 248.

Hy wombat46, stovebolt is the nickname chevies were taged with, it refers to the bolts that the early ones were held together with. As far as the Maple Leaf is concerned truckernix was correct it should have a 248 GMC engine in it, hope that helps.

Lets see some pictures of this Maple Leaf. Is it a Art Deco style '47 Maple Leaf, or a Advance Design style '47 Maple Leaf.

Hi wombat46

Glad to hear you picked up that truck.

Like the guys say--that should be a 248 engine.

There should be lots of advice forthcoming on how to get it going and here's my idea on how I'd try.

You have to know if the engine is seized or not.
Pull the plugs out and see if the engine will turn over. Before you do, spray some lubricant like WD40 in the cylinders and let it sit awhile. Try to turn the engine by turning the fan and belt. You could jack up a rear wheel and put it in 4th gear then rotate the wheel if the fan thing doesn't work. Lots of guys on here have said they have waited days for a lubricant to work it's way into a seized engine so don't despair.
If the engine rotates probably a good idea to change the oil before starting it. Also the fuel tank will be contaminated no doubt. An alternate fuel source, jury rigged to the carb would be advisable or make sure you flush out the fuel tank before trying to run it. Be sure to have coolant in the rad as well.
When you're ready to try to start, pour a half a cup of fuel in the carburator, give it full choke and see how she goes!
These old stovebolt engines are surprising how they'll fire up from years of neglect.
If it won't run of course you'll have to look at the ignition system.
Good luck and keep us advised.
Cheers, George

P.S. Pretty sure you'll find your truck is a 2 1/2 ton or 3 ton. Mapleleaf's didn't come smaller than that in those years. They were 'heavier duty' than Chev's.

Wombat,
look up Jarge's truck in the gallery. That is one nice machine.

Was your truck built for export? Is it left hand drive or right hand drive?

wow, you guys have all the good oil.
The truck is a '47 to '49 with horizontal grille. I can take some pics when i get it home, i hope that will be saturday week.I will have to run the numbers to find out more.
The truck is right hand drive with canadian compliance plate. GVM is 16'000 lbs.
I can't wait to try to get it going. thanks for all the good advice.
James

Hi James!

Just thought of some information which may be useful.

The first number of the VIN will be the year of manufacture. 7-- 1947. The next two indicate the model eg. (for Mapleleaf) 16 = 2 1/2 ton. 17 = 3 ton. The next two indicate wheel base and style. (such as chassis and cab only at manufacture.) The remainder are the actual vehicle number.

My Chev is rated as a two ton with a 161 inch wheelbase and GVW of 13500lbs. Your Mapleleaf must be in the 3 ton range then.
Hope this is a start on the 'ID'.
Looking forward to pictures.
George

James,

Be sure to submit it to the Gallery. It'll be nice to stock up on some of the Big Bolts!


Peg

So now I have learned that there were Mapleleafs made with a right hand drive for export. That is a really interesting piece of history!

Hi guys,
I'm not shure what year Canada changed from right hand drive, i think in the US it was in the '30?
There is some interesting stuff i have seen over here. The '46 utes over here are mainly from Canada with the art deco grille and two piece bonnet. See gallery '42 'Laurie Parkins Chev ute. I have also seen a '46 ute which is the same as the stylemaster sedan with front wheel arch flowing into door. The vehicles come over as flat packed kits. They where assembled here and a body fitted. At this time Holden Body builders where building bodies for Chev, Dodge and Oldsmobile. In '48 Holden released its first car.
All the best,
James

Hi guys'

This is worth a look.

http://home.vicnet.net.au/~oldsclub/Graphics/acetruck.jpg

According to the article this is Holdens bodys waiting to be fitted to oldsmobiles.
The side of the trailer is writen 'General Motors Holdens' between '46-'48.
All the best,
james

Wombat,
this is reaaly interesting. I think as far as the US and Canada are concerned, early autos graduated from steering tillers to steering wheels and there were designs with lefthand and some righthand. I think that early on we standardized lefthand drive.

That is an interesting stacking of bodies on that trailer, and a nice old photo.

Jarge,
Just went out in the dark with my cigarette lighter to check my compliance plate, was told my chevy was a 3 ton but it is 11,300, what would that make it?
Unfortunately the chassis number is not ledgible.