The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Panels 'N Burbs '47 plumbing truck $1000

I'm going to look at a reasonably complete '47 panel that was used by a plumber, until he retired. Apparently it outlasted him, because he parked it in the '50's and it was still running at the time.

I'm wondering what are the odds of the engine not being stuck. I'm sure it's going to need one of everything, and I will scrutinize everything behind the front doors, since that is what is exclusive to the panels and suburbans. But what else should I look for that will be hard to find if it's knackered, or not there?
The owner say it's already been looked at by a collector, but the guy passed on it. I'll try to take photos, and will post them as soon as I can.

I'd want to leave it as stock as possible, right down to the 216, but might install fentons and duals.
thanks
-kevin

'47 is one of those years with two different body styles. Does this truck look like a '46 or like a '48?

I assume its a Chevrolet mostly because you say the motor is a 216.

Parked for 50 years I would be surprised if the motor just turned and wanted to run without any work. But if Alamo City is a dry place and the truck has remained dry and maybe inside, its possible its not stuck.

I've seen trucks I would not pay $1000 for, but if its complete and not beat to pieces, and includes a title that matches the truck, that is probably a fair price.

Thanks for the advice.
It's the '48 style, and it's been out in a pasture for 50 or more years.
Other than total surface rust, it looks pretty good. A combination of sediment buildup of a half century, and settling in of flat tires makes it look like the running boards are on the ground. It's tough to tell from the photos. I'm wondering if truck running boards will work on a panel. Then again they may be fine. The only thing missing on the exterior, seems to be the lens on the license plate light. The hood badge is askew, but still present.

I was hoping the other guy who has already looked at it is a stovebolter, and might tell me what convinced him to pass on it. I'll report back after I go look at it and hopefully know a little more.

Kevin, there was a stovebolter here that was gathering information on what to look at or consider when buying a panel/surburban. I'm not sure where it is but it may be in the tech tips???
I may have a link somewhere in my message box and if so I will come back here and leave a link. In the meantime I think it was Gmoniz???
Maybe someone else will help.
You can take a look at my photobucket and see my panel. I gave $1500 for it. If the one your looking at is in a dry place and is all there.... and not beat up to bad, its worth the $1000.

oh, the 1/2 ton truck running boards will work on the 1/2 panel.

In my neighborhood a pasture is a year-around wet place and I'd expect enough rust I'd walk away unless it was free and I could see parts worth pulling off.

But that may not be the story where you are. Look for rust low on the body ahead and behind the rear fenders. Check the rear door opening for rust.

Check for rust just above the drip rail.

From the doors forward everything is the same as a pickup. The body behind the doors is all harder to come by. Ray Stanley makes and sells patch panels for the panel/Suburban parts, though I've not seen him advertise anything recently.

You have the 216 splash oiler and the 3-speed crashbox transmission. A number of the running gear parts, transmission and torque tube in particular, are unique to a '47.

The '47 has a flat firewall where all the later trucks have rectangular embosses to add stiffness. I don't know if you'll regret not having the stiffness, but it does make a '47 cleaner and more distinctive than the other AD trucks.

He wasn't able to meet me until dusk, so I couldn't take photos. It's in great shape considering 62 years and one paint job. Never wrecked if you don't count Bovine. It bears 1958 truck plates, and has 69,000 on the clock. The clutch pedal rubber is not heavily worn, just the top left corner but who knows...maybe the odometer didn't roll over. The guy said he tossed the seat frames in a dumpster when he was a teenager, and when they went back for, the dumpster had been emptied. There's an early bucket seat from the late 60's hanging out in it, along with an extra set of rims, two 20 year old NOS tires, as well as a new carby, fuel pump, engine gasket set,spark plugs along with the hubcaps, and the fuel tank. `He hadn't recalled romoving the tank and thought his sister had done it, but I'm glad she did. At least it hasn't been marinating in mud. Lots of laquer is in the tank filler hose. Grandpaw must have left a full tank of gas in it. It's only been sitting behind that barn for 20 years, when he brought it there from Beeville to work on it. He was going to drive it to high school.

I like the smooth firewall and don't plan to put a lot of torque on the chassis. It's not going to carry anything heavier than a vintage Italian scooter. I like idea of the one year driveline items, But I might upgear the rear end.

It has no rust around the driprail but there's a little on the frame inside. There's also a hole in the cowl but it may have been an antenna. The passenger rear door lower hinge broke when I opened it, so I left the other door closed. I couldn't check the ID plate because the door was binding on the cab. Hopefully noone will gank it open before I can get my grubby little hands on it. Other than the front seat, the license lense is the only thing missing. It looks like the taillight on my Panhead would probably fit.

South Texas pastures don't stay muddy long, and we've had more and more droughts in the last 20 years. Hopefully it took it a long time to sink. I remain optimistic unless a chunk of channel iron comes off in my hand like that 57 Fury in the Tulsa time capsule. We did get pretty muddy just looking at it tonight, since it rained last night. I actually felt guilty tracking mud inside to look around. I told the guy I'd wait a few days 'till it dried out to come back, but I'm too excited to wait that long! I'm going to go jack it up tomorrow and get a look underneath.
It's not like I already cleaned my boots.
Much thanks guys. If it weren't for you I'd be the proud owner of a $1,500 AD pole truck with no motor.

Way Cool.

That is the most disturbing detail I saw. A piece of steel nearly 1/2-inch thick rusted through is not a good sign.

I bought a very rusty Suburban some years ago and have found either patch panels or rust free old replacements for nearly every rusted panel.

However, I've spent years and more than a few dollars and still have not finished the repairs.

It's good to hear the voice of reason. Are those hinges available anywhere? It's always a bad idea to check out a vehicle at night. I'll have to see what part of the hinge failed when I go back.
there's two pics here

http://www.flickr.com/photos/20771792@N03/

WORKING LINK

The panel looks complete, but rusty. Is that a hole on the side behind the front door? It also looks like there is rot above the rear fender. It might be worth the $1000 if it is not completely rusted, but having a hole in the cowl may have led to additional rust under the dash and in the hinge/pillar area.

The smooth firewall is not the only unique feature to this 1947 model.

One year only three speed on the floor

One year only parking brake on the transmission

One year only gauges

One year only dash

Those are very cool trucks. I think that it is probably the half ton version which means you can buy new brake drums. With the 1 Ton you have to go on a frantic never ending search to find good old drums.

That looks good, even if you had to put it on another 47 frame.

Well lets see if this link works...


http://s748.photobucket.com/albums/xx121/rusty_apache/?newest=1

I managed to get the rear end out of the mud, and get a look underneath. It's not nearly as bad as it could have been. The foreward end of the front leaf springs, and shackles are still buried. I really think they'll be okay.
I decided to go for it. I paid half today, and will pay the other half tomorrow when he brings the title. Realistically, I probably have a few more days work ahead. I'm sure the brake drums are totally stuck. What a great way to spend the last day of 2009, but I feel more like I've been hit by a truck rather than just working on one.

I think you did good, as long as the rear fenders are usuable it mostly looks like surface rust,just a few spots you highlighted. I like her.

Thanks, She's fairly straight. I did find a few more rust spots but they're all small. We'll see how big each one gets when it's time to start cutting. The biggest body damage is the front splash pan where it looks as though a cow stepped in it. like the grandson told me. it's never been in an accident, except for the cows. The drivers side rear fender has cow dents that ought to pop out easily enough. The other grandson told me that Grandfather parked under a tree and got another truck because it had an engine noise. But he did believe the odometer was correct.


I got the front up out of the mud today. It broke my heart to see the labels still stuck on the bottom of those rotten tires. Luckily there were the 2 new ones in the back. Towards the end of the day, the pasture was finally solid enough to drive right down to her from the road.

I ran out of daylight before I could get the drivers side brake drum free. It was buried the deepest of all, so there may be major rust. The I-beam still has about 3 inches of dirt on top of it and there is a rust colored hue down in the imprint of the I-beam. I'll have to see how it cleans up. In the unlikely event that it's the same as a 1938 I have two extras already.

http://s748.photobucket.com/albums/...tion=view&current=1-1-10drumsoff.jpg

I figure another 2 days work before I bring her home.