The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Looking for input to get 1951 Chevy 6400 ready for daily use (job)

Hello all,

I am a proud owner of a 1951 6400. I want to use it for my company to transport dock and door equipment around the Phoenix metro. I was hoping to get some directions on PS, rear dif, disc brakes and engine/autotrans The truck needs to be up to standard snuff for daily use and inspected before my ins will accept it. Any help would be greatly appreciated.


Ps. The truck is in amazing shape and I didn’t expect to see it that way when it delivered. I hate to modify such a cool piece of history. Im a stickler for original.

If you're a stickler for original, then forget about the disc brakes and automatic transmission, etc. Install seat belts, though.

I use my '50 for work all the time. It has stock drum brakes and 3 on the tree. I use it for work and drive on the freeway at 60mph without any issues.

Get the original equipment up to snuff and it will do the job without difficulty.

Welcome to Stovebolt and WOW, what a very nice original looking truck! Since your truck is definitely what we call a "Big Bolt", I think your post and further conversation on it will get the best replies and helpful info in our Big Bolts forum. I have moved it here and expect other Bolters will provide some more replies soon.

Once again - Welcome!

Hi Justtime602, tell us what the drive train consists of right now, we can give you some advice based on the current equipment.

Since it has a two ton front axle, you can add later GM front disc brakes with that bolt pattern, CPP has a power steering box that uses a Toyota pitman arm, or a Delphi(Saginaw) box may be added. Since the rear axle has low or lower ratios, a D-70 or D-80 axle with that bolt pattern with several suitable ratios, disc brakes, may be substituted. By then, it might be best to find a 261 engine, or GMC 302 engine and suitable trans- NP-540 series work well. Are you going to use your truck for work in the summer? Perhaps you might want to add air conditioning. Oh, and by the way, modern 19.5 wheels with that bolt pattern and tires are almost the same diameter as the original. 22.5” wheels with that bolt pattern are very hard to find. Pictures are available.

This will give you an idea of some options to make useful as a work truck. Or do as Otto does and just use it as! Good luck?

Ed

I believe the CCP power steering boxes are rated for 1/2 ton trucks only...

Mike B

Thanks Gdad51 for moving me to the right spot.
The truck has a 216 and a stick shift 4 speed. I do intend on Using this truck all year around in Arizona (probably need Ac for employee driver).

Otto, I’m gonna drive it around town today and see how it runs. I imagine it runs wells since it’s in really great shape.

Justtime602, How did you decide that was a 216? It could be a 235. Need to know what the engine serial # stamped on the machined pad directly behind the distributor reads to confirm what it is. Post a pic and we can help you decode it.

From the pictures of the underbelly, appears to have a hoist and possibly a 2 speed rear?

I’ll look at the engine to get the numbers. It looks like a 216 with 2 speed rear. I did drive the truck today for about 30 minutes. 50 mph in high/4th gear is screaming. The dump bed works perfect and I found some original paperwork in the glove box once I got it open. I gotta say this truck drives like a dream. Smooth shifting, tight steering, and it does have the hydravac booster which makes stopping very nice.

Gdads51 I just assumed it was a 216 based on the bolts on the top of the valve cover. May be the wrong way to gauge. I’ll look at it and post it.

Welcome to Stovebolt

Your 2-ton 6400 came from the factory with a 235, the small trucks got the 216.

Finding that original paperwork in the glove box is a big bonus! It's fun to have some real history with our trucks...

Mike B

Thanks for the welcome Mike. The code on the engine is JEA806422. It’s the same one on the original paperwork. I have a 47 -3800 with a 216 but the side cover on the big truck is definitely different.

A spray-oiler 235 from 1951 will probably have a short side cover over the pushrods which does not extend over the side of the cylinder head. That was only a 2-3 year production run, and those heads are as scarce as a chicken with lips! It's possible to install a 1954/55 235 or 261 that will be virtually a drop-in fit, or modify the splash oiler 235 to have full pressure oiling, and 270 cubic inches without making any obvious changes to the external appearance of the engine.
Jerry

Wow!!! Original paper work from the dealer and still has it's original engine in the bay - gold mine city there sir! To back up Mike B's engine ID as a 235, see the snapshot below from the GM Heritage 1951 Chevrolet Truck data with the engine serial number decoding.

You might want to save the GM Heritage site link as it provides a huge amount of info on your truck.

Thanks for the link (saved on my phone forever). It’s definitely a 235. The blue engine is in the 47 (216) and the grey engine is out of the 51. The side cover doesn’t extend like hot rod Lincoln posted.

Looks like your valve cover has factory stenciling, "...235 ENGINE", can you post a picture of the entire wording on that cover?

Mike B

Justtime602, if you can remove the rear diff cover and get the tooth count from the ring gear, it will be stamped in, then you could shop for a different 2 speed pig. My truck was originally a single speed 7.20:1, I bought a 2 speed pig from another Big Bolt member with 6.72/8.30 ratios. That and 10R 22.5 drive tires will get the rig to 62 mph at the governed 4000 rpm, a 10 - 15 mph increase over the original setup. Mine has the original 283 V8 and has no problem pulling the higher gears.

Here is the pic of the full valve cover. I can’t make it out.

78buckshot I’ll take a look at the diff for sure

I believe the original label was "Loadmaster 235 Engine"- - - - - -The 216 was called a "Jobmaster"- - - - -or maybe it was the other way around?
Jerry

Jerry is correct on the designation. Screenshot below is from a 1951 Chevy dealer handout. The 235 is designated as a "Loadmaster 105" (105 being horsepower rating). The 1951 GM heritage Site Truck Data PDF also indicates the 235 to be the "Loadmaster" engine.

Thank you, I found the pdf. Very cool info.

Given how original that truck is I would be very hesitant to modify it. If you do, save all the original equipment and don't drill any holes in dashboard, fenders,etc. If you can find one, a 54 261 will be indistinguishable from the factory 235 unless someone runs a numbers check. A 261 was the base engine for 2-tons until '63 when they went to the 292. Anyhow, a 261 with the 848 head will get you 9:1 compression and exceed power rating of the lower compression stock head. It will get you down the road in fine style. They were rated at 150 hp at 4,000 RPM. I don't remember the torque figure but it was something about 220 ft. lbs. A 261 has significantly more snort than a 235. I made the swap 2 years ago. It pulls 9,000 lbs at freeway speeds running about 2600RPM in my overdrive gear (4.57 plus 17%).

I have 9 usable road gears and you would have 7 with a 2-speed axle. That said, there are straight 5-apeeds around with the right bolt pattern. Five speed overdrive Spicer units are rare and the Clark ones are all but impossible to get parts for, I'm told. You'd have to do some bell housing modifications to use the modern NV 5-speed OD ones found in Dodges, which have the best ratios. I believe these trucks came with either 8.25 x 20 or optional 9.00 x 20 tires. The 22.5 wheels were for tubeless tires and came later. If it doesn't have Firestone wheels you could put 10.00 x20 rubber on it and go a little faster. If it does have Firestone wheels start looking for replacements.

Bear in mind that these trucks were titled using the engine number (at least in Washington State) and Chevrolet did not stamp the frame whereas GMC did. I know this because I went through it with our state patrol/DMV. I ultimately was able to use the number on the plate riveted to the door post. But if I ever change cabs....

Thanks Tommy for all the info. The tires are Hiway riverside. 8.25x20 -10ply. I couldn’t find much on them. I took out the family (four kids and a wife) to dinner a couple nights ago in the truck. I gotta say it’s amazing and driving around is so much fun. My wife on the other hand is suspicious that Ive changed my mind on modifying it for company use. “Are you gonna take the truck to the warehouse or are you just collecting now?” lol I’m most definitely am collecting. I do have think I should put some seatbelts in it though. I’m gonna clean it up this weekend and see how it looks.

Wheel shown is not a Firestone "widomaker" wheel. Tire is weather checked so should be replaced. I haven't looked for 20" rubber for many years so I don't know what's out there or prices. But I've seen many big trucks at the ATHS shows with good new 20" rubber so tires are available. You might look into joining ATHS. Lots of support, and many owners still work their trucks. American Truck Historical Society.

A quick web search came up with a couple of 8.25 x 20 14 ply new tire options. These are the lowest cost tires I could find and maybe what you need to update your rolling stock:

Power King Super Highway

MRF Super Miler

There are others out there, but at significantly higher prices. I concur with 1Ton_tommy, your tires need to be replaced!

Gdads51 thanks for the tire link. I think my googling are weaker than I thought. I drive the truck for two hours straight during the hottest part of the day and had zero issues. It was a lot of fun. I was admiring under the dash and saw this on the speedo. It’s levered to the 2 speed switch. Anyone know what it’s purpose is?

That is a ratio change gearbox to make the speedometer read accurately when changing ratios in the 2 speed rear axle. When you move the selector to change from high to low, etc., the speedo reading will change before the axle does.
Jerry

Ok that makes sense the rear gear ratio changes so the speedo needs to as well. darn these trucks are awesome!

The black engine with gray valve cover is a 50-52 235. As Lincoln commented, that is a 3-year only design. It will have babbitted rods with dippers and oil nozzles to lube the rods. On the driver side there should be a small kidney shaped metal cover - that’s the oil distributor. Only on the low oil pressure engines.

Great looking truck!! Congrats.