The Stovebolt Site Forums Project Journals Project Journals 1941 GMC COE on a modern frame

That's not ideal. I am planning to tear into my diff tomorrow. Hopefully it is less borked.

I have a replacement carrier on order, will be here in 6 to 8 weeks.

I have in the past few days boxed portions of the frame behind the cab where the engine mounts and the trans tailshaft mount sit.

Sounds like you are continuing to make good progress. Did you get the new crossmembers put in?

I did a LOT of calculating, i have plumb bobs hanging and i installed the crossmember for the transmission tailshaft in place and will make the final welds when i install the engine/transmission and confirm my calculations were correct. Right now it is bolted in place, the center section can still pivot until I weld . I have been doing small sheetmetal rust repairs because I didn't get any 18 0r 20 guage. Alaska steel was out, will go to Morgan steel next time. Borrowed my friends sheetmetal brake which will help a bit. Dave

mmm...sheet metal

Sounds like you have it all under control. It will be exciting to see how it turns out.

The yukon locker carrier arrived, now I am cleaning up the entire diff, there are metal fillings in everything and it has been a big job getting it clean. Soon to start the assembly then on to final adjustments. Dave

Are you going to put in new wheel bearings/seals while you are in there? It might be a good time.

Yes, everything will be new.

The new carrier went in today. I was very lucky, I just got the ring gear in place after sitting the carrier outside in -5 temps for 2 hours and heating the ring gear lightly with my heat gun when my friend walked in and helped me install and torque the bolts. Now to adjust backlash and wear pattern.

For the 2 previous days I worked at my neighbors place, he had a stroke and we installed an elevator because he lives upstairs in his aircraft hanger. He has lived up there for about 4 years, then fell and broke hip and paralyzed leg. In assisted right now but determined to get back home. I described him to some as fiercely independent, his good friend said not correct, that is no where strong enough language. By the way all these years he was using a spiral staircase, I don't know how.

I enjoy reading about your project COE. Much respect for your skills.

Well, I have recovered enough from covid to get back to work. Yesterday I spent most of the day building a spanner wrench for adjusting the backlash, I ordered one but it was too wide to fit in the gap. It would have been much easier to just have the commercial tool work, no such luck. I got the backlash set and the wear pattern is good also. I'm glad that is out of the way. Not knowing what the gear ratio was I checked and it must be 4.10 or close.Dave

4.11 was one of the more common ratios in those axles, so it is likely that.

Good to hear that you are recovering!

Engine and trans went in today, the tailshaft is bolted up, the front end is still hanging on the hook with blocking in case the hoist slips. When I boxed in the frame I left about 4 inches hanging below the frame but the lower 2 holes fall right at the frame channel, I will have to weld an extra plate onto them to basically raise and lower the mounting bolts about 3/4 inch.

Today I finished welding the floor in, went well.

Firewall is now bent up and installed, very solid.

I'm following,looks great so far ! I have the twin to your COE but, am looking at using a 95 Chevy 3500HD frame with mid or front LS engine.

In the past few days I temporarily put the seats in and got them drilled and bolted in place. I got the steering column from the cutaway and put it in temporarily, I saw it had potential so I cut a 6x6 inch hole in the firewall and with its 2 universals I connected it to the steering gear, it looks like it will work just fine, now to engineer mounting structures for it.

Today I did some testing, the seat felt a bit low so I propped it up on 2x lumber. It was much better I may go with 2 inch square steel. I am going to use remote hydro boost, I think it will work nicely. About to order an electric emergency brake kit, it should make for more room in the cab.

Pulled the cab off again, need to finish welding subframe and build a frame for the gas tank.

Working on the gas tank install today, part way there, will try to finish tomorrow.

Look at what followed me home today! It is a 41 gmc coe, cab, doors, fenders and grille only. It is in WAY better shape than my chevy and I may have to change direction. If I changed directions it would only set me back maybe 2 days but put me ahead months, it's that much better shape.

First pic is at home, second is at the top of turnagain pass.

Nice find.

Convenient that it fits in the back of your pickup. Makes transport a lot easier.

That's not only a funny picture, that is a GREAT caption. Gonna snag it for future use.

I did a lot of measuring and planning, it went in with about an inch to spare, I had to put it up on 2 pallets to clear the wheel wells. I knew the old gmc and chevy truck were very close to the same but with differences, I have been finding more differances today, the most notable is it appears gmc did not use clutch head screws in 1941, they used Phillips heads. Maybe not all gmcs, my 41 pickup has clutch head screws, will have. Tolook at my 45.

I started on the gmc coe in the last 2 weeks. CHEVY CAB OFF, Gmc cab on. The doors were very ill fitting, I tried lots of things and finally put the doors on in the correct position without the hinge pins in. I then could see the misalignment in the hinges and got out the torch and heated and bent them. I also have the floor and firewall cut out, fitted the floor and need to have the firewall piece bent up. It will cover the firewall angle down to the floor then angle to lay flat to the floor. Made up all of the cab mounts and fit them to the subframe.

I put all the sheet metal together today just to see if it will work together, what do you think? Can you tell what I have done?

Looks good, Dave
Except for the Chevy Grille.

Looks good!

Looks good IMHO too! Only question I would ask at this point is have you cycled the front wheels full swing left and right to make sure the tires clear the fenders. Don't forget to allow for clearance for possible body roll when the truck is in turns that may close up a possibly too small gap.

Just got word that my parts that I had at the chrome shop are on the way home. Will be a long time before I need them. Yes, I did cycle the wheels.

What shop did your chroming?

Are you going with the Chevy lower grille? It looks pretty straight. I wouldn't have known you installed that except I checked the pic I took of your Chevy COE from when we first met. I guess also because it was red.

The big give away when finished will be the fenders, they are gmc and have the headlights in the fenders instead of on top as in chevy. I will post where I had the chrome done after I see them, hopefully in a week.

With this rig being mid-engine, I would think it would actually handle quite well. A COE isn't the kind of rig you'd think of taking sharp corners in, but this looks like all the weight is down quite low. I bet it will drive really nice through the turns.

I got my chromed parts today, at this point they look beautiful, time will tell how they hold up. Some were very pitted and now look perfect.



Done by

Red's Parts Attic
23220 Laura
New Caney Texas 77357-9236

You can check them out on the web.

Dave

Where's the pics of your chromed stuff?? We'd like to drool over it.

OK OK! It is REALLY DIFFICULT to take good pictures of chrome and I am NOT a good photographer.

I had to throw in the Chevy hood emblem that was done by art brass in Seattle (no longer doing automotive)
The gmc will be sporting chevy bright works. Dave

Ok, you're right about it being hard to take good pics of chrome. I think the best way would be outside with a nice blue sky reflected in them. But that's still some good looking stuff. I think they'll look great when installed. Thanks for the pics.
[on edit] Dave, Here are some good tips for photos of chrome.