The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts '47 5700

I just got a new COE!

Some of you may remember a few weeks back I thought I had a deal on a free '48 Chevy COE, but the guy who offered it ended up giving it to someone else who could move faster than I could.

The other guy got it home and realized the parts weren't as appropriate for his project as expected, plus some in his neighborhood weren't thrilled. He also discovered reading here on the Stovebolt that I'd been interested too, so he popped me an email and this time I was fast enough.

He was so glad I'd come and get it he even offered to pay for my gas.

Jeff (RustedNuts) and I collected it today. Aside from backing blind down a hill into the driveway, and Jeff working hard to load the truck up an incline, the trip was without any real drama or excitement. That's the way I prefer.

Sitting on the trailer.

Sitting in Jeff's yard.

All the pictures, including the fuzzy ones...

The photos are all the cell phone type, and not real good, but they give the flavor of the thing. Its not bad for Western Washington.

This one is actually a lot better than my other COE. While this one has rust, it does not appear nearly as bad as the first one I dragged home, plus this one is actually complete.

Now the interesting part. Jeff noticed right away that the transmission wasn't an SM420, but instead was the earlier completely non-synchro transmission. When I got home I ran the serial number through the VIN Buster and it comes up as a '47.

This truck is one of the very earliest Advance Design COE's. That and two bucks will get me a cup of coffee, but I thought it was cool anyway!

Thanks Jeff for the help!

Nice truck Steve. I noticed a few things that were kinda odd, about your COE. First Chevy COE, I've seen with a push button starter,on dash & not the foot pedal, coming up through the driver side floor panel. Also the air cleaner is under the hood, & not under the pass. side floor board. Never seen that extended radiator neck, on a '47-'55 either. Looks like you've got yourself a set of Guide D68 glass lens turnsignals too. Great Score! The '52 GMC 470 COE, I just got out of Washington, had a pair of those yellow "GVW' plates on it also. They were 26000lb. plates. Thanks for the pictures.

Good score and really nice shape for Washington State.

All the fun of bringing another truck home, with none of the guilt from my wife! Works for me! Glad I could help.

guess the only bragging right i have bringing home a free coe is mine runs. cool score where did it come from?

Good score there, Steve!

Spanky, I had not noticed that... Don't tell anyone, I'm a hot rodder, and was mostly interested in the condition of the sheet metal. I'm finding the unusual aspects fun. Being a '47 surprised me.

Greg, this one came from Bellevue of all places. It was in a neighborhood right along Lake Sammamish.

Jeff, the way you played this one you made my wife happy too!

Thanks guys!

Steve,

That looks just like the truck I trailered home three weeks ago and the same truck that made my wife so happy when it was hauled off my property two days ago. What a find! Yes I do not think my neighbors were really thrilled with the Coe in my driveway but they have had 14 years to move away and they still haven't. Next time I pickup a COE I will do my homework. 1950 GMC wide fender 450 COE's don't have alot in common with 1947? chevy COE's.

Actually the truck was really really dirty inside and out until I cleaned it all up. It looks really much better when you picked it up. I know it probably is not a common occurance to see a fellow forum member pay someone to take one of these away but in my case, your wife has to be a whole lot more understanding than mine.

One COE is about all my wife wants on our property before I end up sleeping in it....Sorry Spanky (never met you but I know you have more than one). I am glad you appreciate the truck Steve. It was starting to grow on me and I was just starting to have aspirations of building a mid engine slammed 47 COE before you rescued it.

Dallas

My wife WANTED to leave our wedding in my Dad's tow truck. (just hitched - get it?)

It takes a special woman to really appreciate these old trucks, and it looks like we found them.

Dallas I do appreciate the work you did before passing this truck along! I didn't identify you earlier because with only one previous post I thought you might want a low profile here.

But now that you've come out and admitted your COE affliction you should post a link to pictures of your GMC COE longgg bed. Some of the guys here would enjoy seeing it!

If you read between the lines above, you'll discover by time we got back to Jeff's place he had decided I should park the COE in his yard. I'll loose some more parts I didn't want anyway.

Your wife is happy because I took the truck. My wife is happy because I didn't bring it home. Jeff's wife is happy because he didn't spend money on another truck.

Plus, when I got home I discovered my son bought a '76 Cadillac Coup de Ville, and had run it off the driveway getting it stuck in a ditch. Being stuck was the only reason he had not already parked it in the spot I had cleared for the COE...

Yeah Dallas, Lets see that '50 GMC 450 COE. I'm into the Heavier GMC COE's myself. I've got a '52 450 COE, & just had a '52 470 air brake COE, hauled to me from Washington State. It's a former Dept. Of Agriculture, & Forestry truck.

Had my camera in my pocket and forgot to take pictures... I guess I was too excited about my new truck!

Steve,

I almost fell off my chair at the office reading your post about where the truck ended up and why. You forgot about the lady next door with the hybrid that was probably happy too, except for the caddy in the driveway. You guys all have a funny sense of humor..we all have too.

My wife married me for my sense of humor. It will make my day when I get her into that COE of mine and take her down to the local tripple X drivein in issaquah on a cruise in day to have a root beer float. I don't think there will be many if any COE's there.

I have a 427 shelby cobra kit car that I built a few years ago and they are now a dime a dozen.

Thanks for your ideas on the tool boxes on the running boards Steve, I am taking that into serious consideration now. I went down to the local steel supply place in Seattle yesterday (diverted from an appointment) to buy up a bunch of raw steel to fabricate some boxes, the seat rails to support the silverado seats and make the engine cover inside the cab.

I am still looking for a couple passenger side 1947-1952 chevy pickup bed fenders so I can make another big fender to cover the 35 inch tires short of buying brand new ones out of LMC. This truck is already licensed with the plate 'MY HOOPTY' but I have not hooked up the exhaust pipes yet so I have not taken it on the road yet.

I am putting in a 3 inch exhaust system with flowmaster 44 mufflers to make some deep sounds out of those 5 inch kenworth stacks. I am afraid if I didn't put the mufflers on, all the neighbors with hybrid cars would not wave at me anymore.

Spanky, I got lucky finding that 1950 wide fender GMC 450 by accident. I had never seen one of these trucks before and just tripped upon it one day. I like the wide fenders. My cab sits on a 1972 K10 4x4 chevy frame so it has plenty enough supension and rides real smooth. The original frame was realy a long one and just way to big. I did not raise the truck so it almost rides at the same height as the original COE truck. Perhaps it is 4 inches lower due to the fact that my garage on the new house is only 8 feet tall. My COE is 7 foot 11 and half inches tall with the new 35 inch tires.

That was a major brain fart when we were designing the new house five years ago. I remember negotiating with my wife for a boat launch down the side of the house and her giving up 6 feet of her kitchen and pantry to narrow the house. In the process of winning that consession I forgot to throw in the 12 foot ceiling on the upper garage (I have a two story 4 car garage) so that I could put car lifts in the upper garage). I was so into having a boat launch that I didn't realize that I screwed up on getting the perfect garage. But at least I save myself $6.00 twice a year when I launch my boat in front of the house. It cost my wife a huge kitchen instead of the really big kitchen that she has now, and $30k for the boat ramp. Being into waterskiing and COEs, appearantly clouds my fiancial planning and budgeting skills.

I degress. Hey I have no idea how to post pictures but I know if you log onto the webshots site and go to dallas2254 you will see a bunch of pictures of the truck that are up to date along with other pictures of current events and projects. I think if you click on my name above 'dallas2254' it will guide you to my homepage on webshots too.

http://community.webshots.com/user/dallas2254


I am still laughing about your story above Steve. I wish we were next door neighbors. The guy that helped us load up that truck up when you were over is a fantastic neighbor. He is single, owns a beaver float plane that sits on his dock, has a house full of big game trophies...I think that is why he is still single, and we both get each other in alot of trouble with our projects and my wife. That is why he was helping get rid of the COE because he also helped me pick it up. We both got the evil eye at dinner the next night from my wife (he likes my wife's cooking too). Not the first time or the last time we will get in trouble.

We live on one of those little one lane private road kind of drive ways in a neighborhood of seven homes. When I bought there were only four, and mine was third up the drive.

Now days I'm still third up the drive, and the other four pass by my place to get to their own.

This includes Hybrid Lady and she was the only one of my neighbors who wanted to leave while my son plugged up the lane with that Cadillac. Oops.

There are two places for sale that border mine. One two acre lot with a nicely finished custom home, but no shop, and another ten acre piece that is still timber, but could be made ready for whatever you want to build. Come on over, my neighborhood needs more trucks!

Steve, too bad you have one of those Eccentric Hybrid lady neighbors that don't appreciate normal truck collecting law abiding citizens. I don't quite understand adding a cadillac to the collection though.

Perhaps you can turn your COE into a Hybrid COE with parts from her car. You solve two problems. She won't be passing by your place anymore for awhile and you can throw away that 7 mpg updraft carburetor for a fuel injected electric engine/motor.

Can I put a man made waterskiing lake on that 10 acres?

At its closest approach that ten acres is only a few hundred yards from Puget Sound.

Steve I could be wrong but that tuck seems like it would be a rare one to me being a five window cab, but then again Spanky would seen that.
Nice find good looking old COE talk too Greg I think he has found some GMC motor home chassis, they use Oldsmobile FWD 455 transaxles with 16.5 8 lug duly style wheels. With that front end you could find 2 GM one ton axle’s springs and spring hangers use the axle ends and put a strait tube in the middle and throw them under the rear. Then you would have 20,000 GVW worth of axles under the rear of one cool front wheel drive hauler that would be at home hauling a Street Rod to a Good Guy’s show or a tractor to and old tractor show.

No doubt about it. I've seen, & owned, more 3 window COE's, than 5 window COE's.

Spanky.

What is the ratio of the big fenders to the narrow fender out there in terms of what you have found. I was hoping that this 5 window COE I gave Steve would have been more in line with my GMC 450. I find it interesting that I have only a handful of pictures of the big fenders out there?

Dallas

Steve,

Sometime in the next few months I would like to come over and see all your projects on a weekend. I am looking for a good reason to take a road trip in the cobra and I like the idea of ending up at someones garage full of trucks for a destination.

Dallas

Come on guys... I'm contemplating using this cab as the COE parts donor in bulding the COE Suburban Cargo I've talked about. If a five window COE is special I'm going to have trouble cutting this one a part!

Grant that GMC motorhome front drive setups sound interesting. That would be a BOP pattern transaxle that would take a Cadillac 500 nicely, and I happen to have one standing by for just this kind of project. I also have three 1-tons sitting here, so finding the parts to do the rear would be easy.

Spanky probably got ill with the mentioning of cutting up a COE truck I know he is a bit of a purest

Arn't these 5 window COE's almost extinct in Kitsap county?

Yah get [censored] of Greg last I heard he located three of them GMC motor homes.

Dallas you are going to kill him LOL

There are at least two COE's in Kitsap County that don't belong to me, and SuperCab, the crew cab COE that first fired my interest in these things was built by a guy who lived just a few miles from here back about 1990. Both he and the truck moved out of state after his divorce.

SuperCab

Spanky knows I'm a rodder at heart...

Well I'm sure there is a message in there that has something to do with COE's becoming extinct due to divorce in Kitsap County. I am impressed that you and rusted nuts have very understanding wifes that won't let these trucks go extinct. Well at least the 3 window ones.

did someone say GMC MOTORHOME!

I've owned close to 30 COE's, in one form, or another, & of all those COE's, I can only think of three of them being 5 window cabs. Of all the COE's I've come in contact with through the last 20 + years, of collecting these trucks, less than 10 of them have been 5 window cabs. So if I had to put a ratio on them from my perspective, I'd say close to a 10:1 ratio. I've noticed that the earlier '47-'50 models, have a better ratio, of being a 5 window cab, than the '51-'55 models. When it comes to the wide front fendered, tall step 450, & 470 GMC COE's, the ratio, is even larger. In all my years, of collecting COE's, I've only come in contact with three 450, & 470 COE's, & I own two of them. So a 450, & 470 series COE, is even more "Rare" than a 5 window cab COE. Dallas the Chevy COE you gave Steve, is more comparable to a 350 series GMC COE. Alot of people don't know this, but in 1947 only, there was a 400 series 2 1/2 ton GMC COE, that had the same tall steps, & step skirts, of a 450, & 470 COE, but used the narrow fenders. Now one of those would really be "Rare". I've only seen two of them, & they were both in pictures.

Spanky.

You refer to TALL STEPS and wide fenders. What you have to say is very interesting regarding the ratio of what you have seen. I was wondering if the step height is defferent between these CEO's. Does my truck have a different step height than say the truck that Steve has. I never noticed while they were side by side in my driveway. I am new to this type of truck and until a few weeks ago I was scratching my head on why GMC made a different fender.

Was there a different front axel on the front? I did not collect my frame with my cab when I got the cab. The frame is still out in a pasture. I did notice from my pictures of that frame that the frame was by far more robust than the frame on that 5 widnow that Steve has now. My frame looked just like your new truck frame I think. I appreciate knowing more about the history and your knowledge of how these bigger trucks where used.

I did not consider restoring my truck to its original because I wanted a cruiser that does highway speed but I also wanted a truck that looked to be the same height and wheels dimensions of the orginal. I always wanted to own a old mack B series truck but this 450 GMC will a have to do for now.

Dallas I know where there is a couple B series Macks and even an LTL. I could help you get single LOL

Yep Dallas, The 450, & 470 COE steps, are about 3"in. taller, & 4'in. wider, than the steps, on a 350 series GMC, & Chevy COE. The step skirt, is also taller, & wider. The reason was indeed because of a Heavier spec.'d, wider front axle. Frames were also heavier. What's left on that frame, your COE cab came from. Eng., trans. ?

Well Spanky my math comes up different. 100% of the COE's I've owned were five-window cabs--both of them. I think this time I'll trust your experience over my math.

I knew the 450/470 fenders were wider and would have assumed that extended to the steps also, but I didn't realize the steps were taller. Are the fenders taller also? I'm now imagining a number of sheet metal pieces are different below the level of the cab.

Steve, The fenders are wider, & bulkier, but not taller. The steps, & step skirts make up the difference. Here's a comparison, of the fenders, steps, & step skirts, http://rides.webshots.com/photo/1115995249052570246OMiErm , & http://rides.webshots.com/photo/1115995760052570246JnjCKb . The step skirts, on the GMC 350, & Chevy COE's, have a crease, but the 450, & 470 step skirt, does not.The reproduction fender rubber, would work on the 450, & 470 COE's, but the reproduction step rbber, is too small.

Thanks Spanky. Those pictures made the difference easy to understand.

I think for my purposes I prefer the smaller truck, which is nice, since I now have two of them.

With a '47 and a '53 both Chevys, I would actually prefer a '54 or '55 1st GMC. I'll keep working based on these trucks until one of those falls into my lap. Last one I looked at was so rusty I passed. I probably should have drug it home anyway.

So far my marriage seems safe. My neighbor just showed up this morning with a brand new $300- or $400,000 motorhome, so my wife is thinking my hobby is both cheap and takes less space (and she hates camping unless its in a hotel). I haven't spent $50,000 even building my shop!

The motorhome isn't a GMC, but has a Vortec 8100 so I assume underneath its a P30 and the motor is the 500 cube big block. I may borrow the underneath stuff for my COE some day when he isn't looking.

Hey Steve, There was a '54 GMC 450 series COE in Texas last month, for $1100. It is a running, drivable truck, from what I understand. Even had Dayton wheels on it.

Texas! Might as well be the east coast!

I do need a third COE...

Steve,

If I were single and had room for another 450 I would say road trip to Texas. I have bought, owned for awhile and sold two airplanes the past 7 years. One was in Boston, and one was in Florida. that was the best road trip....well I guess I did not use the road..trip I ever took getting them back to Seattle. In the winter now less.

My wife will not go in anything less than a Class A motorhome which is not happening but prefers the nice hotels when I take business trips. I am Eagle Scout so even the front seat of these trucks would work for me.

Thanks for the pictures Spanky, I guess since I started with a wide fender that is my preference. I actually can balance on the first step without holding onto the truck while getting up into the seat. I have these 5 inch kenworth stacks in the way that would make it more difficult to swing in or out of the truck.

Spanky, My truck frame that the 450 came on is really big and long. It would have never fit on a 18 foot trailer. It had to be the longest 450 frame they built in 1950. It is missing the sub frame that the cab mounts on because I cut it off and it fit right on my 1972 K10 4x4 frame. Same width.

There are pictures of this on my webshot page after I welded sub frame brackets on it so that I could bolt it on to the frame. I have this thing about weakening the frame with too much welding/heat on it

The 2 speed rear end and half the drive shaft are there. The previous owner took the engine and tranny out. I also cut out the first member so that I could mount the radiator bottom to it in my chevy truck frame. The tires and rims are still on it and it rolls. The guy I bought it from did not have a problem with me not taking it.

HevyHauler

Did someone say Mack b series trucks? Where? I have one more 72 4x4 pickup that could use a cab lift. More therapy for me

I love road trips, and enjoy trailering a new find home. I've even slept in the seat of a '72 Chevy truck on one such trip. But hotels with beds and showers are increasingly important as my beard grows grayer.

My COE fantasy is a truck for just this kind of trip. One I can sleep in if need be, but probably while someone else drives, not instead of a real bed.

Knowing what a COE sitting on the trailer does to my fuel mileage I wonder if I would take a road trip with one of these rigs. I just did the initial planning for a trip to Modesto, CA and back, assuming $3.60/gallon and 12 mpg pulling the trailer and was shocked at the price. It would not be the first time I'd put more in the fuel tank than I paid for what went on the trailer. And this time its someone else's truck and gas money.

I'll probably get over it, I always have, but as gas nears $4.00/gallon my COE project has changed a little in my mind. It may end up with less long-trip comfort, a bigger motor, and never do more than a short haul anywhere. 500 Cadillac motor and no overdrive based on pieces I own today.

The more practical long haul trailer puller may end up being a lowered 1-ton just to enjoy the better aerodynamics. I've even found myself thinking I'd buy a Vortec 6.0 and 4l80e instead of running the 454 I've got on hand for this project.

I probably need to rerun the analysis, I can burn a lot of fuel for the money a new power train will cost, and more money saved for retirement means more time to play and starting that phase sooner!