The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 1946 Chevy COE (another one)

Hello Folks;
I'm sure everyone's read this before, but I'm starting another build and have been doing a "huge" amount of digging for parts and still thinking of how I'm going to do this one.
I have a 66 C-10 that I use as my daily driver, not really interested in new cars and trucks that I cant fix.
A few years ago I got a 52 Ford marmon-herrington F-3 all matching numbers ,, ever the original license plate. I think I'm going to use that as the company truck (some day). I started working on it,, then I came across this one,, I've been looking for a long time but haven't found anything that hot rodders hadn't bid up past my budget.
I think its a 46 or 47, don't know, and it's in a lot better shape than some other's I've seen. I've been reading through the forums here until my eyes have gone cross so I guess I'll just jump in and hope to hear from others that have gone down this road before, hoping it can save me time and headaches. Afterall,, you cant just order some patch panels for these.
I plan on adding a flat bed with removable stake sides thinking I'll be able to load our skid steer on it and then tow our tub grinder to our Nurseries mulch grinding area, when mulching is done I can bring the machinery home so it doesnt get damaged or stolen, when I need potting mix at the Nursery I can add the stake's on it and haul our mixes back

sweet ol truck! Sorry, I can't help you much with COE stuff!

There is a garage in Philadelphia that deal in COEs and have a number of them. I think the name was Iron city garage, It is on youtube.

Since it is a 2 ton, you can add modern disc brake front spindles/hubs to your existing solid axle without the tires sticking out of the fenders, D-80 disc brake rear axle for modern running gear, Delphi(Saginaw) power steering unit.

Ed

They do reproduce a lot more items for the pre war Chevy COE's than they did 10 or12 years ago. Like the front fender step pads and the clips that hold the stainless trim on the grill and hood. Which I had to make both.

Thank You We B, I be old too,,,, But I've learned it's Not the Age,, It's the Mileage LOL. I'll google them and get something going


Bless your heart Ed, thats the most information I've received since I got this one, How can you tell its a 2 ton?


Thank You Chris, I'm sure I'm going to be making a lot of parts, I found one site thats selling the steps, do you have others?, The front lower grill on this is fiberglass but I've not been able to find out where it came from, the fiberglass I can use as a template

Great find. Every time you think there can't be many more out there that are in half decent shape, one pops up. I was in your shoes about 20 couple years ago. I have fond memories of dissasembly, sand blasting, painting, sourcing......etc.
Good luck on the project. It will be fun to watch your progress.

Turtleman: You can find cabs for parts on the comp. But I'm sure there pricy. A lot of people will buy a cab and put it on a modern frame. Also check the different Chevy vintage part suppliers. They sometimes have NOS parts. When I was putting mine together I could of purchased a NOS hood for $700. I repaired mine instead. This site is a lot of help, with a lot of good info. and a good place to buy used discards when some one is changing the axles and running gear.

Well I looked and looked but I'm having a hard time finding out the spec's of the motor in this, I'm certain it's the OEM install (famous last words) and I've looked for the serial number charts to find what year and motor this is but many don't go back to the 40's
The number on the side of the block is cast as 839931 and right below that is the number 3 with a triangle next to it
Can anyone post a link to help me find out what year and motor this is?

There is a flat machined surface next to the distributor with a stamped serial number...give us that number and we should be able to help ID what you have. You may need to scrap paint and dirt off to reveil the numbers.

Mike B

Turtleman,

2 ton front axles have sheet metal hub covers held on by bolts, 1.5 ton axles have a hex cast housing that screws on the hub.

Ed

I always thought those were UGLY until I saw one at a car show near me that had been made into a dual cab and another that I assume had been put on a regular chassis. It sat low and was well done.

I guess I'm blessed, the engine is so clean all I really needed was to wipe off some dust
BV663950

dl=0[img]https://www.dropbox.com/s/p71j1lyuiazzvqi/IMG_0248.JPG?dl=0[/img]

[img]https://www.dropbox.com/s/p71j1lyuiazzvqi/IMG_0248.JPG?dl=0[/img]

BV663950

wow... what a clean motor...

Jim Carter truck parts sells the fiberglass grille. All COE trucks of this vintage were rated as 2 ton.
The engine will have a casting date that will read something like C 14 6. C is for march (3rd letter of alphabet, 3rd month) 14 is the day of the month and 6 is the last digit of the year the block was cast. In your case it would be 1946.
The cab is a modified conventional cab so corners, etc. are the same. If it has a rubber gasket for the back glass it is '42/'47 if the has a die-cast frame around the back glass, it is '40/'41. I think the lock in the passenger side door moved from the handle to a separate lock at the same time. 1941 had different park lamps/lenses. If it has a 2 speed rear axle, pre-war models shifted with a lever, later they used vacuum shift.
We have 5 of them in our family.

Mike

‘41’s use same park light lens as Pontiac!

Ed

Fantastic information Mike, I have a 46, rear glass and a vacuum line
Coming to this forum is like Christmas!


You amaze me Ed
The information here is a gold mine but what's the story on how you know its the same lense? LOL

Heard it somewhere, who knows?

Ed

Iron City Garage is actually in Pittsburgh.

I'd like to know which Dana 80 rear axle assemblies to look for for the 2 Ton trucks. I have a 1950 COE Model 5703. Would be nice to add disc brakes up front and a more modern rear end with higher gears in back.

Marty

Welcome, and I love them. But I would not be able to keep it that way. Lowered t5 5 speed change rear axle ratio. What I have may not be appropriate My 54 3100 has a nova rear end with 2.73 gears and cruises all day long at less than 2000 rpm. Also a pacer front suspension. Good look and I hope you get it to your liking.

Ron, he's working on a 2-ton COE...nothing from your 1/2 ton will work for him.

Mike B

Wheel mounting surface(wms) to wms will tell you what you need. Your bed is probably 7’ wide which takes an axle from a C and C, I believe. Full 8’ width will be too wide for your truck. Common 19.5” wheels with your bolt pattern will be close to OD of original 20” tires.

Ed

I dont know how or who changed the title of the thread to a 50 coe from a 46, or even how that can be done.. Admins??
non the less I'm still working out the plan for this truck ,, so far If I understand this right "All" body parts from another 46 truck including a pick up will interchange to the COE "Except" Cab parts and the Hood! am I correct in that?
Also, does anyone have a image of a VIN tag? This cab has it missing so I'm running into a bit of time with Motor Vehicle's getting a State Title, I do have the truck license plate numbers that expired in Oct of 98 and am running that through the NC Motor Vehicles Dept.. who else has done that before? and what did you do about it? No State Agency whats to do anything with a truck without a VIN on it

Sorry -- just some admin confusion... It happens ...

Turtleman -- You can't be the first person in your state to have this issue -- hopefully someone in your state MVA can tell you what to do. All the rest of us can do is offer opinions... just contact your state Motor Vehicle Administration title and registration office and start there.

Good luck!
John

I understand that,, I've dealt with them before with lost titles and abandoned vehicle's,
currently, they wont start any process until they have a number to start with at this point
Lord Willing,, it will get resolved some time

MikeB, I have seen some that mimic my mods. One even had 4 doors. I was pointing out possibilities.

Mike B