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Having had a '49 GMC 1.5 ton for a while and liking it, I brought home a '46 Chev basket-case today. It was $150 delivered; long time since it has run. 216 motor. I've been drawn to the smiling face look of them for a long time and fell for this one. Now I suppose I'll have to find a second to have enough to put together one good one.

I need to search for tech info, but my mfg. plate on pass.side says," max gross wt 15,000 lbs. Chassis #21PW-E 1181."

It has factory reinforce side plates along the outside of each frame member. Five hole front wheels; 10 hole rears. Anyone know if the five hole wheels from my '49 GMC will fit the front of the Chev?

I can't see any way to add a photo to this post.

Now to find out how to decipher the chassis number or find other details of this truc.

Not sure what I've gotten myself in to.

Dennis in E WA state

The front wheels are actually 10 holes with a plate covering 5 of the holes. If your GMC wheels have 5, the lug size is larger and the bolt circle is different, that is unless you actually have the same thing, 5 lug wheels with a plate on the fronts.

You need to link photos to the site, not post them directly. You can do this through any number of the photo hosting sites available.

Welcome to the 'bolt!

Jeff

I think the PW=1946 160" wheel base, E=production month of May, and the 1181 is the production number minus 1001, so the 180th truck off the line. Im not sure what the 21 means?

Jeff

21 means it was built in Janesville.

Thank you for the comments. Yes, I remember the front wheel concept of the plate covering 5 un-used lug net studs. My GMC has, oddly, 10-hole rear wheels and 5 hole wheels on the front. Apparently from the factory and I'm told some of this occured that year when they were using up the last stock of front axles.

So the next thing I need to figure out is if my '49 GMC 10-hole rear wheels will fit the front of my '46 Chev.

Dennis

The wheels will swap out. That 5 lug front has me puzzled. I cant see the factory sending out a truck that would need two spare tires, not that many people spring for a spare on a large truck...

Dont forget the pics!

Jeff

If the bolt patterns are the same it would only need one 10 lug spare. Tire rotation would be a whole different story.

First, my GMC: We went round-and-round several months ago over on the GMC board discussing the two-bolt-pattern-on-the-same-truck idea. Finally a couple of guys came on and said, yes, it happened at the factory for a few months of last production in that group of trucks. Required two spares. ( !!! )

Second, my '46 Chev: When I win the fight to get off a couple wheels, I'll soon know if the rear 10-hole will fit on the front using only the five studs. I'll also do some measuring. I'm hoping the Chev's 10-hole is the same as my GMC so I can interchange a couple wheels/tires.

Screwy deal.

Dennis

The 10 lug wheels will be the same. The bolt circle is larger on the GMC 5 lug pattern, so no dice there.

Hey Dennis,
Is this the same truck that was mentioned on the GMC site where there was a question about the difference between a Chevy & GMC front end sheet metal?. If it is , I was supposed to e mail you pics of mine.
Heres a link to them below.

Jeff

Jeff:

Yes; it's the same truck.

Same truck, and another came home today by surpise...actually not at home, in the neighbor's coulee because it's pretty sad.

Dennis
Odessa/Ritzville, E. WA state