The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 1958? GMC COE Diesel 860

I was wondering if anyone could help me identify what exactly my grandpa's old truck is i think it is a 58 but I'm not sure!! The only reason i say this is because that's the year i vaguely remembering him saying a few years back!!!
http://s103.photobucket.com/albums/m130/theskytoucher/GMC/

Any information is appreciated!! Id like to know everything possible about the truck so no matter how insignificant it seems please tell me!!
Thanks,
Troy

I'm not really sure but those door handles look like '47-'51

Nice truck... I'd agree, it looks to me to be in the 40's, or early 50's. Have not quite seen a front end quite like that though, but what do I know. Where's spanky when you need him.

I can't find a DF869 in my books, but it looks like a DF Cabover with a 671 Detroit engine. The dash and steering wheel looks like around 54 and it seems to have an electric 2 speed which also suggests around 54. I think this model had been discontinued by 58.

Ok first Question wat does "DF" stand for? The reason i put the 860 in the title is because that is the badge on the driver side engine door, it just says 860 Diesel! I am almost positive it is a 6-71 Detroit!! And im guessing by "electric two speed" you mean the red knob on the shift handle!! Also if i remember correctly ther is a handle on the right side of the steering column that im not sure wat it does!! IM going to try to get more pics on wednesday or thursday and if i do ill post them!!

Maybe I'm misreading it but looks like the first numbers of the serial number are DF869. If I'm reading it right, that would be the series truck. My book lists a DF861, 862 and 863. Am I reading the tag wrong? It is a little fuzzy in th photo. The handle on the steering column would be the trolley valve. It is for extra air to your trailer brakes. It may have "not for parking" engraved in it. The knob on the gear shift would be your 2 speed Eaton axle selector switch. Pulled out is high range, pushed in is low range. It is probably what we call a drag axle. That is the Eaton 2 speed is the drive axle and the axle behind it is a dead axle like a trailer axle. I think the DF was the largest series GMC made in those years.

OK that makes sense! Ill look closer at the serial number when i get a chance to see it later this week!! Thanks for the clarification on the trolley valve! And the front axle on this truck is the non driving axle. Was this a common thing?? Thank you guys for all the help!!

P.s. the reason i was thinking this was a late 50's truck was from this pic: http://thumb10.webshots.net/s/thumb1/7/97/83/75179783NukxnU_th.jpg

1950 was the first year for the "Big Cab" GMC Heavy Duty Trucks. That's a '55-'59 GMC "Cannonball" COE, that you have here. The '50 -'54's had the Bumper Bar Grille (not the flat grille like yours), & the back of the cabs, were more rounded, & not flat like yours. Nice truck. Here's a link to the 1950 GMC "Cannonball" I owned. Note the Bumper Bar Grille, http://www.classiccoe.com/friends/spanky/1950_spanky_1b.jpg

Also check out, http://www.classiccoe.com/oldcoetrucks/canball.htm

If the front axle is non driving, it is known as a pusher. I made the assumption the front one was the driver because it has lug tires. The theory with the pusher was that the dead axle was to pack the snow so the drive axle would get better traction. Most of them used a Page suspension. Page went broke in the early 80's. Many of the Page pushers had a large V belt between the duel wheels with the idea of both axles doing some driving. It sort of worked until the dead axle had traction and the driver spun out. Then the belt burned up immediately. Therefor we called them rubber band.

I think it is a late to mid fifties too with what looks like a tag axle as indicated by the radius rod on the suspension. That would make it a factory setup because of the 42,000 GVW rating. A fairly heavy truck by the standards of the day.

Awesome truck! How much you want for it?

I really hope your joking??

If you were a bit closer Id already be knocking on your door!

I love those trucks. My ideal truck would be one of the larger series Cannonballs with a 6-71, very much like yours. Get us some more pictures when you have the time, Id love to see more of her.

Jeff

By the steering wheel I would say 55 or 56. From 57 to 59 the wheel had a dish too it 55 and 56 were flat like the one in the picture

Hey if any of you guy want to see more pics of the truck i added more!!! http://s103.photobucket.com/albums/m130/theskytoucher/GMC/
Anymore info is always welcome!!
Thanks Again
Troy

The pictures are very interesting. It is clearly a DF869. My books on the 860 series go through 1957 and it does not list an 869; so it is reasonable to believe that it is a 58 or 59. The rear suspension is a Fabco, which was never very popular. Marmon trucks used a lot of them. The fuel tanks do not look original. The caps are International and the brackets look Peterbilt. From the little I can see of it, the fifth looks like a Fontaine. This was the standard fifth wheel during World War II. They still used interchangeable internal parts until about 10 years ago. The later ones still use the same principle of the "no slack wedge" but are a little different. The rear end looks like a 22,000 Eaton and the transmission is a Spicer. The truck looks very restoreable and parts for the old 671 engine are still available.

Thank you very much for the info!!!