The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Help Please - 47 or 48?

Hi all, I just bought a Big Bolt from my neighbor. I decoded the vin via Vin Buster and found that it is a 1.5ton Made in October, 1947

Vin is: 21QK-J 1278

Now, I would consider this a 48 Truck by todays standards of manufacturing, but the title says 47 (Or so my neighbor says, he's still looking for it.) and the QK says 47.... So what is it?

Also, what specifically should I ask for when I call GM for the resto kit? I called and they told me there was "nothing available".... I gave em my Vin and Year (47) and they wanted a model... So I told them 1.5 ton truck... They needed a model name, so I told them Loadmaster....... They found nothing. I decided instead of confusing the poor girl, I'd ask here what to ask for specifically.

Thanks!!

Your resto kit will be based on your V I N. They will tell you what it is.

Yah, this gal couldn't do it though.... She needed me to tell her the model.

They have never been able to tell me anything on the five Chassis serial numbers from any of my trucks I think they just want it for their records. I once asked for one fro my 1951 Chevrolet brub and received one for a 1951 sedan.

October is about model change time, so its hard to say what Chevy thought it was.

A '47 will have a 4-speed with a little lever that allows it to go into reverse. A '48 will have a 4-speed with no little lever.

Take a look at the firewall. If the flat surfaces are completely flat its a '47. If the flat surfaces have some embossed areas that look like someone laid some metal strips on the stamping machine, its a '48.

VIN Buster says the wheel base is 161 inches, that makes the model a 4400. And if the wheelbase really is 161 and not 164, that's one more indicator its a '47 and not a '48.

Ok, yes, the tranny shift has the little lever... I wondered what that was all about......

I'll check the firewall and wheelbase in a little bit.

Also, where would the body code plate be at in this truck? I found the vin plate, but was trying to find the body code plate with color codes, etc....

Ok, checked the firewall. It's smooth, or at least as smooth as any firewall I've ever seen

The Wheelbase is 161"..... So I guess it's a 47 for sure now.

Okay, you got me curious.... what is a resto kit? Is that like a build card?

Ok, got my Resto kit ordered. Got a different person at GM and it took them a bit, but they found it and it's on it's way. When I get it, I'll get scans to send over to the Old Car Manual project.... Since they don't have 47 resto kit images.....

Thanks for the help.

See here: http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/GMRestoPak.htm

They explain it way better than I could.

oh great, I live in Canada. According to the info on the link about resto kits the Canadian GM people charge and can't search further back than 1977. Looks like I'll have to talk my brother in law into doing it from the states.

There won't be one. Or at least I've never seen one on an old truck like these.

Having a '47 is cool. I have a '47 COE. The problem with a '47 is you have to have the knack to shift that transmission. If you are like me and switch between manual transmission vehicles all the time, you may find it difficult to remember when you're in the crash box and when you're not.

I'm solving the problem by hot rodding mine.

Yes, in Canada you're kinda stuck....

So I take it that the 47's had un-synchronized trannies then?

It's all moot as I'm gonna stick a 6BT cummins diesel and GM 4L80E converted to a powershift.....

From 1948 through 1953, light duty Chevrolet trucks were introduced in January of the specified model year so a truck produced in October of 1947 would almost have to be a '47 model. '54 trucks were introduced in December of '53 and 1st edition '55 trucks were introduced October 28, 1954. 2nd edition '55's were introduced March 25, 1955.

"QK" is a '47. A '48 would be "RK".

Cool enough. Thanks everyone!

I also found some old registration papers clipped to the visor that date from 67/68.... Has the title number on it so it should make my job easier there....

-Matt