The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Chevy Loadmaster

Hi!!

Ive introduced myself in the welcome section of the forum and explained my sutation a bit, but mabe we should just get down to business here.

Im looking at aquiring a Chevy Loadmaster that was once my grandfathers on their family farm. Other then that, and the color, I really know nothing about it. It is a flatbed/stake body and I belive it has duel wheels in the back. Ive figured out how to find out the year using this site, but I dont really have daily access to the truck. So, that leaves me with a few questions from the information Ive found out using this site and others.

I know the "Loadmaster" was the style engine, but what was difference between the loadmaster and thriftmaster, and was there any others out there?

What years were the Loadmaster made, and was there really any reason why it was named that?

Are there any models of the loadmaster that are more desierable then others?

The last question comes as a really open ended sort of thing. I know putting a price on something REALLY depends on ALOT of things, as I know from dealing with people like this from all the antique tractor dealings I do. BUT, mabe I can provide a sort of a price range for me so I know how much to save.

A discription:

The truck has been sitting for 20 mabe 30+ years. When it stoped working (no body remembers what on it stoped working) it was pushed into the barn to sit there until this day. It does not run, and it is not belived to be pushed in there because of something major. The truck is Blue in color (Mariner Blue or Windsor Blue) and has a flatbed and/or stakebody. As of this time I am unable to get the wheelbase or VIN, but hope to do that soon. The truck is located in the east and I belive it is 1 ton or bigger. As I said it has been in the Barn under roof for more then 20 mabe 30 years, and from what I remember from my last visit it hardly has any rust (DUST is a different story). It is complete. There are no dents dings or anything on it, which I found hard to belive being it was used on the farm.

Again any help is very much apperciated!!! Thanks so much!!!!!

Loadmaster covers a lot of territory, and doesn't really say anything about the truck - in the 40's and early 50's the Loadmaster engine was a 235 6cyl for the bigger trucks [Thriftmaster was the 'base' engine], in the mid-50's Loadmaster was the big truck V8 - just marketing terms really ... "aquiring a Chevy Loadmaster" doesn't give anyone any info to evaluate the truck ... is it an 'deco' style, an AD or TF? is it a 1 ton or a 1.5 ton or a 5 ton?

you'll get better answers when you can get a year and model number - most of the bigger trucks don't bring as much as the 1/2 tons

Bill

Oopps. I did forget to say that it is an Advance Design. Thanks for the info so far! I wasnt sure if "loadmaster" designated something optional or something speical about it other then the engine or not. Thanks for the info so far! Please keep it coming! I'll update tommorw on what I find out.

morton, I would be apt to believe it is either a 1 1/2 or 2 ton truck. The vin and the GVW will provide the answers you are looking for. You say you may be "aquiring" the truck which was your grandfathers. That makes me wonder what type of price info you are looking for. Are you wondering what it's worth or are you wondering what it will cost to restore/repair it? I have a '48 Loadmaster and was in about the same situation with mine. You can see mine in the "My junk" link below, and also in the "Gallery".

forgot to mention, you may get more replies posting this discussion in the "Big Bolts" section. A Loadmaster would be right at home there.

Yes, I too forgot to point out in my second post that I would be looking for BOTH ends of prices. I expect it will need alot of internal work, but since the paint and body seems to be in very good condiction (from what I remember, thats not to say under the hood and bed theres alot of work to do) I would be sticking to engine and drive train work. Are parts hard to find? Are the parts that you can find pricey, and is it something that I may be able to find locally somewhere? I know for our antique tractors they have what they call their "heritage line" of parts for the older tractors, do they have something like that where I can walk into a chevy dealer and get something? Again alot of questions I will think of later on, but for now the big hurdles are:

What is it worth the way it sits?

What would it cost to do a major and/or minor overhall of the engine?

I've got several Loadmaster trucks. We identify "Loadmaster" as a 1 1/2 ton or larger AD series truck around here. As far as prices go, anything is reasonable. I can quote you what I paid for four of my Loadmasters. The first 1948 1 1/2 ton was free, the second cost me $750.00 and I drove it home. The third cost me $650.00 and the fourth $500 and they all run and drive. With the cost of scrap metal now days, they may be worth a little more but the big trucks are still cheap to play with. No ones going to make any money fixing one up to sell though.

Look in the swapmeet/forsale ads. There's people wanting $2500+ for a decent looking trucks and they're not getting a single inquiry about them.

To better answer your questions, we would like to see what we're talking about. Post some pictures showing it's condition and we can do a better job assessing the truck for you. The year, equipment, condition, appearance, size/wheelbase, etc. all play a factor in a trucks value. Obviously, a wrecker bodied truck would be worth more than a stakebed, etc.


Welcome to the 'Bolt Morton!
Scott

Through 1949, the hood side emblems displayed "C...tmaster" or "Loadmaster". This referred to both the general model of the truck and the size of the engine.

In 1955 (at least) the V8 truck engines were called "Taskmaster". In that year, there were Thriftmaster and Loadmaster 235s, a Jobmaster 261, and a Taskmaster 265 (V8).

Tim - in 56 and after, the Taskmaster was the 283, the 265 became the Trademaster, the Loadmaster was the 322 V8 ... just goes to show the marketing nature of it all, just like the Apache/Viking/Spartan handles

Bill

Ok. So I have found out that the truck is a 1947.2 or 48. The wheelbase is 161 inches. I relized that this could mean it is a 1.5 ton or 2 ton, but it has what I would call double leaf springs and it also has duels. Does this indicate a 1.5 ton or 2 ton? What transmissions were in the 47s and 48s? Did they have a 4 speed with 2 in the differential? Was that an option or standered? How can I tell from looking at it from the outside of the cab? Thanks for all the info!!! Looking forward to another adventure and project.

What is the GVW, on the ID(VIN plate) tag, in the driver door jamb. 14000lb. = 1/1/2 ton, 16000lb.= 2 ton.

Did not get a chance to check the VIN, but will hopefully do that sometime soon. I guess that is an easy way of telling a 1.5 ton from a 2 ton. DUH!!! (me).

The assist leaf springs would be available on either a 1.5 OR 2 ton, so no help there. Not a LOT of difference between the two, in fact, I believe it's a matter of tires and suspension, more than anything.

Truck as stock would have the (in)famous SM-420 4-speed, which is synchronized in the upper gears, real work-horse tranny. Two-speed rear is likely. Look for a vacuum shift mechanism on the front of the differential.

My two cents worth, anyway . . .

-Michael

every little bit helps! Thanks.

As far as price goes, scrap value for an AD 2-ton here on the middle Atlantic Seaboard is in the $600-$700 range, depending on current scrap prices -- So there's your bottom end of the price range (unless the seller is out to lunch and then who knows ...).

You might be wondering why I know that ...

As far as upper end of the price scale -- the guys who tell you the Big Bolts don't command the same premium prices as the 1/2-tons are exactly right. Also, location plays a big role, too. AD Big Bolts may be a dime a dozen and free for the taking in the Mid West, but not so here in the Middle Atlantic Rust Belt. Dentless, rustless barn finds are rare and that you even have a line on one is a score in itself.

I'm not out beating the bushes every day searching for East Coast Big Bolts (THAT would be a Man of La Mancha quest ...) so the East Coast guys can give you a better idea of true market value of that truck in *this* region. My guess (And I'm quite willing to be corrected) is that the fair market value of a rustless, dentless, non-running Big Bolt barn find is about $2,500 to $3,000.

I assume the seller knows the family connection? Are they cool about that or will they use that to squeeze you? And do they know what they have, or is it just a pile of old junk they want out of the barn -- i.e., did grandpa just pass away and now the inheritors are trying to clean the joint up?

And does it have a title? Trucks with titles are worth more -- the aggravation of getting a new title is considerable (at least here in the South's version of Massachusetts).

I'll defer to the serious buyers and sellers to give you bargaining advice.

Good luck and we hope to see you at Macungie next year then! Or get busy and come down to Winchester, VA for our big Tri-State show in September. See the Events page in the Features section for details on those events!

Regards and good luck!
John

HI there I have a 1956 235 ci Chev engine it is a Loadmaster engine with serial # of 0196073F56U It came out of a 4000 to 6000 Series truck. Does any one have a picture of the decal on this engine. I have not found any so far and I have been looking for years.

3000 series, and 4000 series 1 1/2 ton trucks were considered Thriftmasters, because they came standard with the 216ci., Thriftmaster engine. 5000 series Cabover Engine trucks, and 6000 series trucks were considered 2 tons, and came equipped with the 235ci., Loadmaster engine.