The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts The Stovebolt Volunteer Fire Department 1968 GMC Cab-Over Aerial Fire truck. I GOT IT

Just some questions about this truck?
It's for sale not far from me and I was wondering about what engine is the 637 cu/in?

Should I put a low ball bid on it and what would a low ball bid be, that would keep the price up, and yet not end up in my barn? It appears to be in working order
http://columbiamo.craigslist.org/cto/1749802345.html
1,800 dollars?

Also, if it has air brakes, I'd have to get my CDL to drive it.

I guess I want to light a fire, but afraid to strike the match.
Thanks
2-Ton

A 637 is a GMC V-8 Gas. It looks like a 478 V-6 with 2 extra cylinders on it. Altho the 478 is a slow revving Torquer and the 637 is a faster revving engine in comparison. I used to drive a '71 GMC 637 with a 10-Speed Road Ranger and it revved like a Detroit.

Check with your DMV on the Air Brakes. Is the truck under 26001? Will you be registering it as an antique? I have heard of different rules for different states.

$1800 sounds like a reasonable bid to me.

Keep us posted.

Bill

Thanks Bill
I forgot if I register it with historic plates, the CDL is not needed.
It's a litle over an hour drive for me, so I think I will check it out next week after the holidays.
If anyone on the Bolt page is interested, I'll post what I see.

Thanks
Don

Don,

Coming at it from the fire truck side of things, that truck looks to be in excellent condition. And there's nothing better than getting a truck fresh out of service from the department. You can build a relationship with the FD and learn about the truck's history, what fires it fought, etc. And you know that (at least, most likely) that it hasn't been abused.

Being passionate about American Fire Apparatus, I think it's a special truck. Can't remember when they opened a plant in Iowa, but that truck was probably built in Battle Creek, MI. On a recent trip, I took pictures of the building where American used to be, now a concrete contractor.

I hate F*rd cab-overs, they're kinda nasty to work on, and the engine is as complicated as possible. I would hope the GMC is more practical, and better to work on.

I doubt you'd need a CDL to drive it anyway - fire apparatus usually gets a waiver, whether in service or not. BUT, I agree, it would be best to check on that.

American used some electric ladders on their cheaper apparatus, but Grove was a high-quality ladder maker. Hydraulic is definitely better. Probably nice to only have the single axle rear, as well.

Ladder trucks are a blast, especially if it's a quint (has the pump on board). I think $1800 would be a great price for it. I'd beg the department to leave as much on the truck as possible, ie: hose, axes, lights, radio, etc.

Don't know if this helps?

-Michael

Michael
Thanks for the info.
I have never been around fire trucks before, but always thought they were cool.
Just got done with a lot of overtime, so the money is there.
I'll be buying the wife a new car in the next few weeks. With a new car in the drive way, she won't even notice a fire truck sitting by the barn.
She will notice when I add a lean-to off the side of the barn to park it under and her new car is sitting under the trees. NOT

I always believe it's easier to get forgiven than to get permission, especially when I pay the bills.

Don

Don,

Just want to add that I stated the 637 is a gas engine, but they also made a Diesel version. I believe it is a D-637 or possibly a DH-637. Altho they are pretty rare, in trucks anyway.

Let us know what you find out on the Fire Truck.

Do you know what kind of trans it has?

Bill

just a tip do $1801, I have a friend that does alot of auctions and says it works. I hope you get the truck since I don't think anybody on stovebolt has one,

Bill
What I know about the truck is what you read in the sale bill.
I e-mailed the contact today with some questions, but also said that most of the questions can be answered next week if I can make an appointment to look at the truck.

Garandboy
Thanks for the tip.
I usually bid three dollars over just to knock out the one dollar over people. So then the six dollar people get it. Maybe I should go eight dollars over to knock out the six over people.
Where does it end?

In reality, I usually set my bid and go a small odd percentage higher, like three percent.

Thanks for the interest.
I’m still not going to tell the wife until it is parked by the shop.
No foul, no penalty.

Don

The 637 was the largest V8 gas motor ever put into production by GM. It's HP was rated at 250 @ 2800 rpm. Be prepared for 4-5 mpg. I had a 1970 Chevy T-80 Tilt Cab Telephone Pole Winch Truck with the 478 V6 and it got about 6.5 mpg. My 1970 T-60 Fire Engine has a 427 V8 and it's no better on the gas mileage.

Good luck, looks neat!

Mike B

Just called the number and I will be meeting a person to show me the truck on Wednesday.
I did not ask too many questions, but he did say they want to see it sold and out of their station.

It is a gas engine and if it gets 6 miles to the gallon or 15 miles to the gallon, it doesn’t matter to me.
I’ll be lucky to run a full tank of gas thru it in a year.

Don

OK
I drove down and looked at the fire truck.
They had it sitting outside the station, out riggers set and running when I got there.
A little over 14K on the odometer.
I could not find any rust anywhere and I mean none. Paint is in good condition, this truck will not need to be restored.
It has the 637 gas with a four speed and no split rear end. Shifter is between the seats almost shoulder height.
60 foot hydraulic aerial ladder.
Tilt cab and the Volunteer said it could hold 55 mph with a full load of water, 500 gallons, but not any faster.
Everything is in working order, lights and sirens stay, suction hoses, side ladder and about 100 foot of fire hose will go with it.
Nozzle on the aerial ladder will stay with the truck.
Aerial ladder seemed to work OK, although I did not climb up it and the hydraulic cylinders did show some signs of leakage.
The big down fall may be that it has air brakes, which may mean I will need a CDL to drive it.
I have a number to call the DMV tomorrow and find out if there is a exemption for historic vehicles or fire trucks.

Its been advertised since may 19th which is over two weeks ago in a local ad and Craigslist. The volunteer said I was the only one to even call about it, let alone stop by and look at it.

Evidently, there are not many buyers out there for a vehicle like this and I am thinking about dropping my bid down some.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I still have almost two weeks to get my bid in.
Then there is also the auction this weekend with a lot of tractors and hit and miss motors I will be going to.
http://www.polkmcgrew.com/Auctions/AuctionDetail.aspx?mode=view_MainDetail&auctionId=29

Thanks
Don

Don,
Love that tractor auction. Looks to be a nice two day event with no reserves. There are a few hit and miss engines from that sale that I would like to have.

Air Brakes would be a plus in my opinion. As mentioned, the DMV will fill you in on the details. A Historic Vehicle hopefully will be exempt in your state. Also the GVW may also help. Is the truck under 26,000 lbs? Some may still dis-agree, but I have checked with the Virginia DMV twice and they told me Air Brakes are no problem if the truck is under 26,000.

Bill

Vwlfan
I went to the Friday auction just to look around and boy did this guy have a lot of old tractors and hit and miss engines.
In the middle of just one of the long rows of tractors sits the Chevy truck. I can only guess that it’s an early thirties year and in pretty good condition. It had a six cylinder engine that looked like a 216.
While I was looking at it a guy struck up a conversation with me and said he was good friends with the owner. About 8 or 9 years ago, he and the owner would ride around in it just goofing off. So I think with a battery and pony tank this old girl should run. A lot of out of state trucks with trailers at this auction and there is also on line bidding. I wonder if you can see the bids online?
I’ll be headed back to the auction today. If you get a wild hair and buy one of the engines online, I can pick it up for you and store it on the back of one of my trucks in the shop until you either come and get it on your way to the KC get together or I ship it to you.

Bill
I’m not against the air brakes other than maybe needing a CDL. I also think the GVR should be under 26,000 because it is driven by volunteers, and you know all of them will not have CDL’s.
I have a number to call the DMV Monday and hopefully get answers to my questions.

Thanks for the interest
Don

I'd just add that firefighters in Virginia (career or volunteer) do not need a CDL to drive a fire truck of any size. I do not know the rules or laws in your area but they may have a like CDL waiver for FF's there too.

Just adding to the discussion...

Might be just the fact that I live out here where everyone thinks thier rusted junk it really made of gold, but I'd say $1800 (even plus 3%) is a might low. A fully functional rig, with gear included, & in that good of shape? $1800?
If I had a means to get it and a buyer for 'Tater, I'd sell her for a deal like that! but, I dont, so I wont,... *sigh*

That tractor auction looks pretty nice! A couple old loaders I wouln't mind puttin to work around here.

Don,

Here in Missouri, no firefighter has to have a CDL to drive a firetruck. I'd be surprised if an Antique Truck, especially a Fire Truck, requires one anyway. My guess is, if you don't get the answer you want from the DMV, ask somebody ELSE in the DMV, and you'll probably get a different answer! Antique Fire Engines are pretty obscure when it comes to the code.

I agree that $1800. would be a great price for a truck as nice as you describe. On the other hand, I'm not surprised to hear there's not more interest. If you won't be destroyed if you DON'T win it, go with the 1800. IF you will be kicking yourself for the next three months, OR if you'd be happy to have it, even for more, then up your bid.

Not to be "Pollyana-ish", but in cases like this, I also remember that the money is going to support a good and vital organization.

I hope you get it . . . you sound like the perfect owner for this noble truck!

-Michael

vwlfan
Auction
I went to the tractor auction and the hit and miss motors had already sold. It appears that most of them sold in the 2 to 3 hundred dollar range. I did not have to wait long and the Chevy truck came up for bid. They said it was about a 1930 to 32 model and did not have a title.
I bid it up to $2800.oo and backed out, it sold for $3200.oo.

Fire Truck
I called the Missouri DOT and they said pretty much what Michael said, as long as the Fire truck was not over 26,000 GVR, has historic tags, does not go out of state, and I do not use it to make money, the CDL is not required.
As far as to what bid I’ll put in, $1867.oo sounds like a good number.
Is it a must need truck? No.
Will I whine for years if I don’t get it? No, how could I whine if the wife does not evrn know I bid on it.
There are plenty more trucks out there that would be fun to own. Here is another auction this Friday. The mobile crane looks interesting and they also have a fire truck up for bid also.
I know, it’s an addiction.
http://wheelerauctions.com/main/Auctions/2010061112Roethemeyer/2010061112Roethemeyer.htm

Time to type up my bid.

Don

well did you get it?

Just got a call about an hour ago.
YES
I'm a Firebolt owner.
I have the grill going right now and will update in a little while.
Start thinking how about I should tell the wife.

When she sees it, what great shape it's in, and the fact that it's fully functional and comes with extra stuff, if she still doesn't understand why ya had ta go for it,... Well, might be time to buy something crazy for her then!
2 wrongs dont make a right, but sometimes they can make peace!

That sounds like a good start. Anything that will save or make us money, she is happy with.
Buy something for her? I'm still waiting for her to pick out her next new car. Maybe this will get her motivated to start looking.
I may also tell her that since we have a functional fire truck on the farm, it will lower our insurance rates.
She has been on vacation all week at the Lake of the Ozarks. I'm headed there in a little while for a family weekend get together and will not be back till Sunday. Maybe I'll let her catch me showing Dad the pictures.
If I had time to get it, it would be cool just to show up with it. Thats another excuse, there's a place two doors down from us we could back up to the lake and use the ladder for a high dive. That would make her shake her head walking away not wanting to be a witness.

I probably will not be able to pick it up for another week and the volunteer that showed it to me said he would give me a quick just in time training lesson on how to operate it.

Don

Congratulations! That's a neat looking truck! Hopefully, your wife will think so also.

Just got back from the lake and we BBQ'ed for 40 plus relatives Saturday.

First I told the wife (around other people), that
I bought another old truck, then she asked what year. I said a 1968 GMC.
She said, “That’s not too old”.
Then a cousin asked, “another grain truck”?
No, but it is red.
Then big question came. “What did you buy”?
Pulled the pictures out that I printed from Craigslist and handed them to her.
Of course the first question was, “What are you going to do with it?”
All I could say was “I don’t know, I liked it and the price was right”
Next question. Does it run?
After describing how it is an in service truck for 10 or more minutes, she lost interest and went off to make sure our guests were having a good time.

About an hour latter, I asked her if she was mad about not telling her about the bid I put in on the truck.
She said “No,I trust your judgement and its no big deal”

I know why I married her, I just don’t know why she married me.

Don

A wise man once said: "It is not given to mortal man to undertsand the ways of God, government, or girls".
Some questions you just weren't meant to know the answer to.

Talked to the head of the volunteer fire department about meeting him and getting the title signed over. Told him I probably will not be able to pick it up until this next Saturday. He said "good, we would like to try and get the local paper there and take pictures of us handing it over to you".

One of the guys at work came up with some other uses.
"Hang a flag off the ladder over the fourth of July weekend".

"Put X-Mass lights on a full size tree in your front yard".

"Sure would make a dandy deer stand, build a removable crows nest on the ladder. 65 foot almost straight up would get you pretty high". On another thought about this idea, it would hang a lot of deer off the ladder with it extended and laying flat.
Now is this redneck or what?

This truck is just getting cooler all the time.

2-Ton

Nice...

Don, Congrats on joining the SVFD! Will the truck be at the Reunion this year? A truck like that will give you a lot more options for beer hiding places ...

John

Thanks guys
Got the title today and arranged with the department to pick it up Saturday. He said the Mayor wants to be there to hand me the keys.

If Mongo does not need a stage this year, there is a real good chance I'll bring it. They said top speed is about 55, so I'll have to plan on a little longer travel time. Maybe we could hang a Stovebolt banner off of it.

As for hiding places, I knew I was missing a few cold ones. I think I know now who was getting into my stash. This time, I'll just bring a bigger cooler.

Don

I almost forgot, there was a pretty good incriminating picture floating around on who was getting in my stash last year.

http://www.alltrucknats.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=8491

Don

.....Don, I see the buckeye is working for you
Congrats on your newest acquisition!!!

Air brakes never require a CDL.

Mulligan
Welcome to the site.
I called the Missouri DMV several times and they all said as long as it has Historic plates and I am not using it for hire, I do not need a CDL.
I hope to drive it to the Stovebolt reunion next Sept. in KC.
If you can make it, you will have a good time, and you don't even have to have a truck.

2-Ton