The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts coe grill question

Just wondering if the top bars of the grill on an art deco cabover are the same as far as top to bottom, and whether or not theres any differences between chevy and gmc?

These are the 4 bars above the main grill. They look similar in pics but we all know how that goes...

Any ideas? Thanks, Jeff

Hi Jeff,

Congrats....where is it coming from? Do tell do tell...more info

Not so lucky regarding the lengths.

They get sequecially smaller (shorter), bottom being the shortest. Top is somewhere around 26", second is about 25.5 and the lower one is 25.25 or so. Old messed up tape I just used, but that will be close. I am going to have some extra in a couple of mos. if you haven't found any or don't have yours. They won't be cheap, but let's see what they look like.
Tom

Thanks Tom, Ill wait for the rest of the info and pics as the guys bringing it up from Kansas for me and I wont be thrilled until its sitting in my driveway!

It would be here tommorow but he found a 90 year old Henderson motorcycle with its old inline 4 and hes digging through junk piles finding the rest of its parts. I understand completly Id be digging through the junk pile to!

Its a 47 gmc and is missing the bottom 3 bars. Let me know about those extras Tom, Thanks.

Anyone know if gmc and chevs are the same?

Jeff

I believe GMC and Chevy are the same regarding the hood, but the lower grill section runs horizontal instead of vertical on GMCs. Only one slight problem that I can forsee and that is the bottom bar on mine reads "chevrolet". So I will probably be capable of helping you find the top two you are missing, but you are going to have a tough hunt for the the GMC bottom piece.

I have a 1945 GMC COE. My top grill bars all measure about 25 7/8 inches.

Check your hood to see if all of the openings are the same width (when it arrives). I will check mine...dark now. I have to think Chev and GMC have the same hood.

The grill openings in my GMC hood get progressively smaller as they go down just like the Chevy.

Well, that sure is interesting...I am no expert, but I am going to guess since the difference is so little that they could go either way from the factory. I do know that mine are slightly different lengths (smaller as they get lower) on more than one vehicle.

Rustednuts, I sent you a PM with a picture of my COE.
Tomcoe, I sent you a PM with a picture of the GMC grill.

Rusty46,I like to see a picture of your 45 GMC,because my husband has a 1945 GMC COE Victory truck,model number AFR522,it has a 308,airwipers,air brakes,air spiltrearend. and here is a picture.

http://www.stovebolt.com/gallery/oeleis.htm

Hi sleeper55. I sent a picture to Oly.
Your link identifies your COE as a 5 ton model FB ? If your COE is a AFR522, it is a 3 ton tractor with a wheelbase of 136 inches. They were made in 1940,41,45,46 and 47 according to the information I have. Total production was 1538 vehicles. A 1945 AFR522 would have a serial number between 421-1120.
I looked at a GMC AF model today. No ID tag on it but it had a 24000 gross weight sticker on the door. The gauges were the same as a 39 GMC, except mounted in the center of the dash, otherwise all big truck, like yours. First one I've seen in person. He has a cab and front sheetmetal for sale if you're interested.

Thanks for the pic Rusty46. I've been kinda busy lately. Yes, I would be interested in the cab and sheetmetal. Also possibly the engine if he has it. The wheel base was extended at the factory by 24 inches on my truck. It's setup to either be a tractor or a flatbed with beavertail. The reason I was saying it was a 5 ton is that was what the scale master told me when I crossed the scales at 46,000 lbs gross. He told me it was a five ton only rated for 28,000 lbs gross but since I had farm tags there really wasn't any weight limit other then what my tires could hold. He figured the tires would give up before the truck would. I would enjoy getting a fifth-wheel and trailer (of era) with air brakes for it. Once again thanks for the picture.

Hi Oly, I sent you a PM.
The model AFR-523 had a wheelbase of 160 inches which was 24 inches longer than the 522.
There was also a model 524 and 525 as well as a 521, all with the 308 engine but different wheelbases.

Rusty46 the title and the plate inside of the truck says AFR522 and plus from what Donald Meyer(GMC Truck Historian)Oly's 1945 GMC COE was called Victory models.If you like to have his address to check yours out let me know.