The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts My new 47 GMC Big Bolt!

[IMG]http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c283/bondovian/Cabovers/Picture13-1.png[/IMG]

Hey guys...love this place. Just receive my new 47COE that I purchased from MN. This truck is all original an in wonderful shape.It has a twin cylinder dump bed on it hat i cant wait to get fired up. My first concern is to get this thing running. To do that, i nee an ignition key for it. Does anyone sell new ignition switches with a key that i could install? Im sure this thing would fire up with some new gas, oil, battery. Hope to get to know most of you guys and learn all i can about these old beauties. Thanks, Jeff

Many ign. switches are so worn, any key will fit. Most locksmiths or keymakers will have blank GM keys. Look around, under the seat, etc., you might find one there. For now, just hotwire it.

Interesting truck. Gasser? What engine does it have? Ser. No. will start w/ displacement, i. e. 302xxxx, or 360zzzz, stamped on a machined pad behind the distr. on some.

Good luck

Nice COE. I've been seeing it on ebay, & Craigslist. i was hoping a streetrodder didn't get it. I think, I read that the tandem wasn't original to it. What series is it? What are your plans for it?

You don't have to have an ignition key just to start tinkering. You can run a hot wire from starter or battery to battery side of coil. A cheap briggs and stratton lawnmower switch will work ignore the selanoid hot post if you have a floor stomp starter. Would suggest you do a search of this site for tips on waking a long dormant engine could save you from doing more harm than good. I bent a push rod on a 54 due to a stuck valve could have been avoided if I had checked a little closer. Cool Truck look forward to your adventure. Before you start determine whether the truck is positive or negative ground.

Thanks for the tips. How do I determine if its a positive or negative ground? I plan on going through it pretty good before trying to start it. The previous owner said it ran when it was parked so I'm hoping for the best.

Yes, it supposedly has a twin cylinder 71 dump frame underneath it. All i know is, this this is beefy. Cant wait to get it going. My plan is to keep it original but to convert it to single rear axle. Interior is in great shape and everything seems to work. Needs some glass replaced but everything is flat so shouldn't be very hard. I will keep you posted on progress. Thanks all for the tips. keep em' coming.

Welcome to the Loony Bin! Great looking COE (how could anybody NOT love the face!?) If you search this site you will likely find the source for a manual with most of the specs & info you need. And don't rush the engine start, as kb3 noted, you can trash an otherwise good engine turning it over before checking it out. Good luck and do keep the pix coming, you've got a real sweetheart there.

GMC's prior to 54 came standard positive ground, could have been changed at some point though. go to electrical bay forum there will be posts there already if you do a search. If old battery is still in there check how it is wired. Ask previous owner if he is the one who actually last ran truck.

Nice truck! I Looked at that one on C'list, even printed it out in case I hit the power ball. How big a big bolt is it? Good luck with it.

Great truck, I was admiring it on ebay. Should be a really nice one to enjoy.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c283/bondovian/photo-5.jpg

Guys, here is a data plate I found on the side of the trans. Let me know what you see. Don't know much about these things so any info would help. Also, looks like it's a positive ground. No battery. Do these trucks have 2 starters? If so, mine is missing one. o i need both? Do i need a 6V battery? And where can I get a new starter for this thing? Thanks!

Here is the album with more pictures.

http://s29.photobucket.com/albums/c283/bondovian/Cabovers/

Only need one starter, 'Missing one' might be blank hole not blocked off. 6V starter will work fine on 12V, just don't lay on it. As was said before, remove valve cover and make sure no valves are stuck. Did you figure out what engine? Px?

Thanks for the info. I've posted new pictures of the interior including the power plant. Now I just need to get this thing titled.

JB

The engine in question will be anywhere in displacement from 308-503. I have no clue what the original displacement would be. I've even heard tell of a 707, but I'm not sure if that even uses the same block casting? Do the big GMC 6's have the displacement on a pad by the distributor like the smaller 6's?

As mentioned above, I saw that on ebay as well. Nice find! Take more pictures!

Jeff

I've never seen one in real life(big block) but I'm sure they are stamped there.

Ok, looks like I found the engine tag. What do you guy think?

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c283/bondovian/Cabovers/photopl.jpg

Would this be the VIN or just the engine tag? I need to get a title for this thing.

Before the mid 1950's the engine serial number was used by many States as the vehicle ID number. You need to contact you MVA to find out what the next step is...

Mike B

That's a 361 than!

Why cant I find any info on this engine on the internet? Who made it, what parts are available....etc.? i figured it was the 361 power plant. i will be checking valves and giving it a tune-up this weekend to try and get her running. yes, i will check with the BMV to see about getting a title.

thanks!

Hy 1938COE, the 361 engine was built by GMC, and as rustednuts has said it is one of a series of engines that range from a 278 cu. in. to a 503 cu. in.. These are an interesting group of engines, where most inline sixes can be broken down into two major pieces, (block and head), this series of engines can be broken down into three major pieces, crankcase, cylinder bank, and head, these engines also have a different firing order than their smaller cousins 142635 rather than the smaller engines 153624. According to my Motors manual your truck is probably a 600 series with that engine in it, hope that helps.

The "A" before the 361, probably indicates it was rebuilt at some point in its life.

That truck is a beauty! Are both those axles live? You should sign up on this site Old GMC Trucks.com as they have a lot of GMC owners on there. If you look down to the bottom of the page on that site you will see a link to their other site which is static but packed with all kinds of information including number decoders.

The A or B in front of the displacement is a bore designation that GMC used and does not mean that the engine was rebuilt. GMC used the 361 from the late 40's until the mid 50's. However, it was offered in a size of trucks that never gained much popularity. Many people considered it cheaper to overload a two ton. Not many of the 361 engines were built. Few survived. The engines were too big to put into a pickup, so there was very little interest in saving them. About the only parts you will find will be NOS.

One of my favorite trucks good luck with your build! Im still looking for a COE.

Wow that looks great! Good luck with the build