The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Do I have a 1 1/2 Ton or 2 Ton ?

Greetings,
I have a 1947 loadmaster dump truck. My title ( Mass.) states a 1 1/2 ton. But I am not 100% sure, What do I look for to tell me what I actually have.

TIA
Loadmaster47
bill

what does it say on the tag for gvw? if its 16000 lbs its a 2 ton. if its the one with the short wheel base its a 6100. the 6400 has a longer wheel base.

Best thing you can do is to check the serial number tag on the drivers side door post and punch it into one of the VIN Busters under tech tips.

Loadmaster tells you the size of the engine, which, in the larger, "loadmaster" (1.5-2 ton trucks) is a 235 cubic inch inline 6 as compared to the 216 in the pickups.

Look at the front axle, if the hub caps/dust covers are pressed in like normal ones on small vehicles then it is a 1.5 ton, if they are held on with 5 little bolts/screws then it is a 2 ton.

Look at the the rear axle, if it is a 2 speed chances are it is a 2 ton, but not always.

Also the door tag says about 16,000 lb for a 2 ton and about 14,000 lb for a 1.5 ton.

Wheelbase of 137" is model 4100 or 6100.
Wheelbase of 161" is model 4400 or 6400.

Grigg

In 1947, "Loadmaster" referred to the size of the truck, not necessarily the size of the engine.

In 1947, the Thriftmaster trucks were all 3100-3800 (1/2, 3/4, and 1-ton).

In 1947, the Loadmaster trucks were all 4000 series and above trucks.

The 4000 series Loadmaster trucks came standard with a 216.5 ci engine and the 235.5 ci engine was an option. On Loadmaster trucks larger than 4000 series, the 235.5 was the standard engine.

From 1949 to 1953, the words Thriftmaster (216.5 engine), Loadmaster (235.5 engine) referred to the size of the engine.
In 1954/55 Thriftmaster referred to a 235.5 engine, Loadmaster referred to a 235.5 engine (with slightly different parts), and Jobmaster referred to 261 engine.

As stated above, in 1947, the door-jamb plate that show 16,000 would be a 2-ton truck (a 5000 and higher series 1.5 ton truck would show 13,000 or 15,000 on the plate - see below for more information on 4000 series trucks).

Here are all the 1947 models and GVWs (etc)

My 1.5 ton only shows 11,000 on the door plate.

Rich,

Do you have a 4000 series truck? They had 7,500, 9,500, 11,000, or 13,000 GVW (4100 and 4400 series). School Bus chassis also had different weight ratings.

I've corrected the information above.

Thanks,
Tim

Thanks to all for the information, It is dark here, so I'll check out the the tag some more tomorrow with a magnifing glass.

The last time I checked the tag it was mostly unreadable, I'll check the wheel base, springs, front caps, and look for the motor numbers next.
I've checked the rear end, and it appears to be a single speed,
(I did not see any vacum line or shifting mechanism.)

My Ma. title states 20J11459 as the VIN, but I believe the '0'
should be a "Q"..I'll run it through the VIN buster..

More to follow..
Regards
loadmaster47

Hey loadmaster, Where in Mass are you?
Im in Essex

gardner...central mass, just past the small mountain

So far I have determined that I have a 1947, 1 ½ ton, 137 inch wheel base, built in terry town NY.. here is where I have to really examine the serial tag more closely..
I believe that it is the 10,458 truck to roll off the production line, but I am unable to determine the production date… I think I am missing some letters or numbers…??

We’ll keep ya’s posted
Loadmaster47

JeffL,,
I took a quick look at your ’45, was that truck a dumping platform ? It looks like a hydraulic lift on the back, behind the cab.. how’s the restore going ?

loadmaster47

"QJ" would make it a 1947 year model 137"in. wheelbase 1 1/2 ton.

Tim,
According to that chart you put up, mine must be a 4400, although I have not found that printed anywhere. It has QK in the number, and the wheelbase is 161".

With the QK letters, you have a 1947.2 1.5 ton truck with a 161 inch wheelbase. Technically, its not a 4400, as they did not come out with the number series until 1949, but the 4400 was the 1.5 ton truck with the 161 inch wheelbase. Heres a tech tip with all the series and model lists.

http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/series.htm

Hey guys
I've got a 51 2 Ton 6100 here in haverhill, ma. Drop me a line maybe I can help with the ID

My truck had a dump body on it at one time, i think maybe a grain type. The hoist for it is what you see behind the cab. It is a verticle hoist that has a cable that attatches to the bottom of the bed and pulls it up from the bottom. The restoration is just where I am at in the photos. the cab is ready to come off now.

Hey beacon, got any pics of your truck, im only a few minutes a way from you.

Well, I finally got a chance to look at my 47 1.5T dump’s engine serial number, along with some more things. I did a search, looking for the engine serial number identifying tool, but could only fine the VIN identifier tool. I am trying to determine exactly what engine I have, so I can work on gettn her to fire up. Can some one of the many experts point me in the right direction ? thanks in advance..

Loadmaster47
bill

Bill,

Post the code here and someone should be able to help.

Here is a "manual" decoder for 1947 engines.

Tim

tclederman,

thanks for the pointer, I took a look but still have some confusion, most likely cuz I have not done this very often, here is my engine serial number from the right side of the engine next to the distrib.

AC136201 ( Not sure if the last digit is a one or a small el )

I could not find what size engine my 1.5T dump has. I beleive that the manual decoder is telling me it was made in Flint Mich. & it was the 136201 produced. (??)

All help is welcomed.
Loadmaster47
bill

Bill,

Maybe someone else can decode the AC prefix. That prefix was used in 1941.

Tim

thanks tlederman, knowing some of the history on the truck, I do not believe the past 2 owners would have put an older engine in for any reason, my bet is they would have replaced with a new engine.. just my 2cents..

but I also looked at the oldcarmanual.com website. and found that there is not a listing for ANY 1947 truck information. Has enyone else found dead ends with the 47 trucks?

I will most likely request from GM Customer service the restoration kit for the 47's.

Using the car serial decoder, I'm guessing I have the 216.5 cid, built in Flint, with a Heavy duty Clutch, and it was the 135,200 th off the assembly line..but being "mr overkill" (and sometimes too anal), I want to verify it for the possible future rebuild / or replace with a 235...

Post the block and head date-casting codes.

I do not know if the code locations on low-pressure engines; here are the same locations on high-pressure engines.

Tim

tclederman

I'll get them tomorrow (sat) it's too dark at this time...thanks n regards
loadmaster47

tclederman

I have not been able to get my block or head casting numbers today. I did look, however, my engine has the cover plate that goes from above the oil pan to below the valve cover. I imagin that my casting numbers would be under the plate. At this time, I will have to work at getting the plate off and investigate further. I will continue to look for my engine type as well as pulling my carb off and do a quick cleanup on it and get the linkage to move more freely. Next week I will contact GM CS for the restoration kit as well.
loadmaster47
bill

Bill,

Does the side cover run from above the distributor to just under the valve cover (over/around the spark plugs)?

If so, you most likely have a 216 or a pre-1950 235.

If the date casting codes are located on low-pressure 216/235 engines in the same places that they are located on high-pressure 235/261 engines, the head date-casting code is under the valve cover and the block date-casting code is located in an exposed position below and to the left-of the distributor (locations on high-pressure engines are shown here).

Tim

tclederman
Yup, the cover runs from the base of the dist. to just under the valve cover.. I'll clean up below and to the left of the dist. this week, and post what I find here...thanks again ( I thought the date-castings codes were under the side cover....)

thanks
loadmaster47
bill

tclederman

I was able to get part of the engine casting numbers and the head casting numbers..I'll still work on the engine numgers..
and pictures..

head casting umbers: 839401 15

CONV 18 K107


Engine Partial 839400

regards Loadmaster47
bill

Bill,

839401 is a 1941-1948 head casting code (for a 216 and a 235)

839400 shows up for a 1941 216 (839400H would be a 235)

K107
K = 11th month
10 = 10th day
7 = 1947

Someone will correct this, if my information/interpretation is incorrect.

Tim

thanks Tim,.

I was over at the inliners website, and deducted that the block casting was a 1941 216. I did not see anything that looked like an "H", so I believe that I have a 1941 216.5 cid with a 1947 head, most likely a 216.5 as well.. Does this sound correct to you ??

Also, could this truck have a 1941 engine in it as new from the factory ?? It seems odd that an older motor would have been installed as a replacement ..?

thanks for your patience

loadmaster47

Bill,

Any chance you can find the block casting date code? If the location on the low pressure engine is the same as the location on later engines, the date code would be to the lower left of the ledge to the left of where the distributor enters the block.

Just about any combination of low pressure head and block is possible. Owners just did what needed to be done to keep the truck running. Also, it looks like during that period the same head code was found on 216s and 235s.

That block date code would provide a useful clue.

Tim

Tim

I'll try and dig more this week end, and get the rest of the engine casting numbers ... once again thanks..

bill