The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 1948 Chev Loadmaster Fire Dept Truck!

Howdy folks! I'm just starting a restoration project that has been sitting in my yard for quite a while, and when I started the project I figured finding a forum community focused on similar trucks would be helpful, so here I am!
The Truck (as best as I can tell so far): 1948 Chevrolet Loadmaster 1.5ton Flatbed Fire truck. I believe that it was originally belonged to the McAllen, TX Fire dept and thus I have hopes of finding some pictures of it new or at least when it was in service so that I can put it back as close to original as possible! I think everything is original with the exception of a few additions, but no subtractions or replacements. I have not yet determined if I am going to do a WHOLE BUNCH of body work, or just do a bunch of body work and find replacement cab and hood. I will post pictures here when I figure out how to do that! For now, there is one picture of it before I started on it on my website: www.kineticfreight.com It is in the last picture. I imagine you all can pick it out fairly easily!

Laterz, (and thanks in advance for all the great advice that I'm sure is to follow)
Gator
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Hy Gator5713, firstly welcome to the site, check out a thread "update pictures and thanks to all" here in the big bolts forum, this gentleman has already done what you are about to do. Sorry I'm not confusilator savy enough to post the link, just look for that in the subject spot, good luck with your project, and again welcome

Link: https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/148475#Post148475

Take your time and enjoy it. BTW: Welcome and good luck!

Welcome to Stovebolt.com, Gator! You're in good company here! There's a few fire truck guys in here so don't be shy with any questions you might have.

Also, be sure to use the menu bar at the top of the page to check out the other areas of the web site -- we are now more than 20,000 pages of info here!

Regards,
John

Thanks everybody! Pictures are on the other computer, so I will try to get them up later today.
VirginiaFireTruck: I'm Jealous! But mine is a *EDIT* 7 window! Hahaha...

I am actually putting together a new website dedicated to my friend and my projects/adventures starting with this truck. He should be in here soon as soon as his login gets approved. Having that site will allow me to host my own pictures instead of using snapfish, webshots, etc...

So far we have knocked the dust, and some rust, off, got the engine broke loose using a "DirtyMax Wrench" (oops, it was still in gear when we hooked it up to my "Little" truck to move it) fortunately I had already put tranny fluid/ diesel mix down all of the cylinders working towards that eventuality. The right front wheel was locked up. 3 hrs with various whack-a-moles and the drum is finally off! Of course the wheel cylinders are completely seized, but the brake shoes (and actually the linings too) are in great shape as well as the drums, spindles, etc. I intend to replace all of the hoses, but i believe the steel lines are in fine shape. I am debating a disc brake conversion, or stick with the drums... Any suggestions?
Next biggest dillema... I am pretty decent at body work, and Lightning (my partner in crime) is a pretty decent welder... But... How hard is it going to be for us to find a cab and hood that are in decent shape? I know that I can fix this one, but if I can find better ones that will save us a WHOLE BUNCH of time effort and energy! and I believe that the finished product will come out much better.
Thanks again.
Laterz,
Gator
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Welcome to the Stovebolt Gator. The truck looks very interesting.

I'd think in Texas, you could still find body parts in good condition. Good luck! Pictures are important!

Welcome Gator!

Do your self a big favor and replace ALL of your brake lines (rubber and steel). The steel lines rust from the inside out, so they can look good and fail when you need them most! The old fluid absorbs moisture which causes rust on the inside of the lines.

Be Safe!

Mike B

that will be a neat truck, a local rural fire dept. around me still has their original 1951 or 52 fire truck all redone and ready for shows

Welcome Gator. Looking forward to seeing more pictures.

Welcome Gator! I haven't been around here in a while, and I don't visit this site near often enough but maybe this spring, when I get to working on this '54 of mine, I'll be back more for a lot of HELP!!

http://imageevent.com/singsaasfamily/1954chevyfiretruck;jsessionid=btdl6f1ph1.zebra_s

hi all im the infamous or not so Lightning gator spoke of and just thought i would take a min and stop by and say hi i look forward to talking to you all and thank every one in advance for there help and encouragement we will be making a website for the truck and our other projects as we get them and work on them any how hi and talk to you soon.

hear are some pics of the truck where i found it
http://community.webshots.com/album/562569229snLyQV?vhost=community

as previously stated when we get the trucks site going we will have many more pics and will be updating them as we go

Ummm . . . . Gator?

That is without a doubt one of the strangest fire trucks I have ever seen, and I've been nutz about fire trucks for 10 years now.

I haven't EVER seen a "flat-bed" fire truck, other than one that was meant to haul a dozer or something for brush fires.

That pipe sticking up on the drivers side running board is usually to hold a Hydrant Wrench, which you don't really need, unless your truck has a PUMP! Did this truck ever have a pump? What are the pipes sticking up behind the cab - are those just to protect the cab? Or former plumbing?

Anyway, it's a cool, beefy lookin' truck! Seems like it would hold a house!

Gotta admit . . . you got me head-scratching on this one . . .

mikestem,
could it be missing a hugh water tank? like one of those big water trucks they use for watering construcion sites, may be somebody has taken it off over the years to use the tank and pump on something else

As far as what WAS on the bed... I as of yet have absolutely no idea! I paid a visit to our local historical museum trying to find a picture of it when it was in service and got some potential leads on people that may know something... My guess is that it held either a tank or a pump, but that is only a guess. The pipes on the bed were simply bolted to the wood planking and it appeared as though they had been cut off, so I am not sure if they were there to hold something or what... Also, previously, a restoration had been begun on this truck, so those pipes may not be original at all! I doubt that it was used for hauling a dozer or anything like that as there are no tie-down points or ramp holders. and the rear bumper is quite long (so no dock loading either...)
Any and all insight is welcomed.
Laterz,
Gator
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i got some more of the pictures up on the same site and im just as confused as you all are about what she was used for, and/or what was on her bed, my best guess is that she was a hose truck strictly but who knows there are a few holes in the top of the rear fender where something may have been previously mounted but once again still confused we are working hard to try and figure it out and im going to make some phone calls right now to try and find a picture or something.

Great pictures! I'd guess it held a water tank but you never know what has happened to these old trucks in the last 55+ years.

Yep, Watertank is a good possibility. Knowing the history of the town it first served in can provide clues. Small, rural, volunteer depts. needed tanker trucks, since rural areas weren't well covered by hydrant systems. They also were often not wealthy departments, and necessity led many to make their own tanker and pump trucks to save money. Regardless, it will be interesting to find out, and in the mean time, cool truck to play with!

You know, as I think about it, it would be a FANTASTIC parade truck! With that big flat bed, you could put a BAND up there! Or like 30 people! It's a great "float" truck! The possibilities are endless!!!

I agree. You could put lots of folks on it or carry anything(sign, band, floats) to make a big parade splash!

Yeah, Parades are a good part of our intentions. However I have a pretty decent "Float" already! LOL. 53' goose flatbed can hold an awful lot of people too!
I am hoping to have some time on Monday to follow up on some of the other leads that I mentioned earlier. I will probably be fairly quiet on this site (and on progress) soon as I really need to get back to work this week, and I am typically out for about a month or better at a time!
Thanks for the encouragement on the project... It is good to know that we aren't completely nuts, ok, maybe we are, but...
Laterz,
Gator
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