The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 1947 GMC 450 Firetruck

Can anyone tell me if this is a 1947 GMC 450. Vin # HC453 2319. It was a Berryville Ar. firetruck. Just bought this week. Thanks. Jim
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I doubt it. That body style was only made in the second half of the '47 model year, but the gas tank was under the frame. It looks like the gas tank is behind the seat, which would make that at least a '49. Since there's no vent window, I think it's either a '49 or '50 model.

The GMC boys can probably tell better than I can what year it actually is.

Very nice truck. As Baldeagle said, it's definitely not a '47, or '48 model,with that inside cab fuel tank, & I agree with the '49, or '50 model guess. The 400, 450, & 470 series trucks use the larger front fenders as yours has, plus will always be either 6 lug, or 10 lug, front, & rear. Daytons were standard on the 400 series, & optional on the 450, & 470 series. Check out www.oldgmctrucks.com , & you should be able to look up the ID number, & determine the exact year. If you decide to remove the Fire apparatus, i'd be interested in those rear fenders, for my Holmes Wrecker body.

Thanks Spanky, looks to be 50-51 model per the old GMC truck site serial number. Hopefully they'll give me a title without having to go bonded. Going to bleed brakes and put battery back in now. Hopefully have moving on its own today.

Probably going to be a 1950, in that case. 1951 was the first year for door vent glass, & they did away with the driver side cowl vent.

Hey eagleuh1, glad to see that you made it over here.

Bill

That's good to know. I'll print out these posts and the serial number sheet and take those with me to the DMV on Monday. Also going to call the Berryville fire dept and see if they can come up with some paperwork. The seller says he was told it was a 47, as well as his Bill of Sale. The good news is, I drove it this afternoon around the mountain top. Bled the brake system, they work too good. It's a bear to shift, have to double clutch it. Ran over my water meter because I couldn't turn hard enough. Just broke the box and the lens on it. It's a beast to drive.

Nothing wrong with having to double clutch. I would actually enjoy the challenge. You'll get used to the steering. Make sure the steering box is greased and the front tires are up to full pressure.

Just imagine the challenge they had racing to a fire back in the old days!!

Bill

Sounds great! , Definitely looks like you have a 1950 model. Especially since the "HC" designation didn't begin until 1950 ('47, '48, & '49 would have been "FC" ). That coupled to the fact that the vent door glass began in 1951, pretty much nails it down as a 1950 model. Good luck, with your truck. The 400, 450, & 470 series GMC trucks are my favorites. I own a 1952 model 470 series COE. Is it a 5 spd. direct drive, or overdrive transmission ? Should be a "GMC Parts Identification" plate on the back of the glove box lid with all your trucks standard equipment listed. What are your plans for it ?

Buffing the paint out, lower the bed surface to haul small car, maybe redrive for towing my travel trailer.

Cool truck!

Got engine serial numbers yesterday.2135412, is that a 270 ci? Also E180, hard to see with mirror.Head is 2193417 R, with date code E4-0. Intake is 2193425. Tranny is Clark 5 speed-202V323,for GMC No2227792. SN 514 79P. Has a Waterous PTO B046. Do any of these numbers help narrow it down to 1950.

Yes they do. The Date Codes "E180" and "E40" are May 18, 1950 and May 4, 1950, which are a match to each other to what seems like the original engine you have there.

Hopefully someone will jump in to help with the other numbers you have listed.

Bill

Very nice find on that truck. Good luck with it. Keep us up to date on the Car hauling Idea. I was thinking of Talking my Dad into doing that with his 1952 470 Diesel.

Also, If I am not mistaken the 2319 number in your serial number specifies it as the 2,319th HC450 Truck off the line in 1950. I do not know how many they produced a year on those, however.

Anybody know if that Clark tranny is an overdrive or straight drive in my post above ? Thanks Jim Also, how do you tell?

It would be 202VO, if it were an overdrive. Does your truck have the "GMC Truck Parts Identification" tag on the back of the glove box lid? If so, it will tell you there, if it is a over drive, or direct drive transmission.

No tag in the glovebox. Just 2 screw holes where it used to be. Been finding more and more out about the truck. Got a letter from the city treasures office of Berryville Ar. covering when the truck was bought, how much for it, when and to whom it was sold at surplus auction. And to whom this person sold it to. This is the person I bought it from. Today advanced the timing a few degrees now that I can see the scale by the distributor. Runs and starts a lot better. More power climbing hills too. What does the number A270767327, located next to distributer mean? Just saw it today after I had cleaned the engine bay yesterday. Are the clamp on turn signal levers/switches any good, and will they work with 6 or 12 volt systems. Picked up 2 nice looking LED turn signals for the rear end of truck. They have amber to the front and red tail, brake and turn signal function to the rear. Nice chrome band around the whole lens. Try to mount them tomorrow. Thanks for the info on the tranny Spanky. Jim

A270767327. Means you have a 270ci. engine. That's the engine serial no. On GMC engines, the first three numerals of the serial number denote the cubic inch displacement.

What engine does it have, if a 1950, might only be a 270, my '53 had a 302 w/ Clark 207V.

The 450, & 470 series trucks up until 1951 were equipped with the 270 ci. engine. 1952, & up 450, & 470 series trucks were equipped with the 302 ci. engine.

It's the 270 ci as stated above. It's running good. Probably going to convert next week to 12 volt with alternator. Also will be replacing wiring harness, hopefully before it burns down. Finding lots of loose ends that are still live, where they removed lights. Also badly cracked insulation and cotton loom. Need to find some 10 inch wipers. It rained today and my wiper rubber fell apart. Loving driving this thing. Getting good at the double clutching, but suck at downshifting. Lots of grinding. Will also be ordering new floors if I can verify the Jim Carter floor panels will fit a 450 GMC. Also, Will the 4 speed cover fit a 5 speed cab floor? Thanks . Jim

Do the Clark 5 speed and the Clark 5 speed overdrive transmissions interchange fairly easily.? Looking for more top end speed. Also, been looking at HEI or pertronics ignitions for the 270. Anyone have experience with either in this engine?

Does anybody reproduce the Clark 5 speed tranny cover. It's different from the other covers. Mine looks like a flat topped pyramid, raised up the entire cover, and pretty rusty. I could make one that fits, but would rather just buy one that looks the same and fits. Building house right now, so not much free time. Thanks. Jim. Also got me a 12 volt federal 17D red beacon, got to get rechromed. Will a 6 volt generator pulley fit a new 12 volt 1 wire alternator?Or can you buy an alternator with wide pulley, that's for a negative ground system? Thanks again. Jim

Clark OD's are somewhat rare, just look everyplace you go, in the correct size trucks. If you go in a yard, they won't know what you are talking about, just figure out some excuse to get in there, look on your own. Clark parts are reportedly hard to get, so don't get one apart, broken, in pieces, etc.

Thanks Ed.Figured since it was an option on my truck according to the manual, they might be around. Guess I'll start looking in Hemmings on the off chance somebody might have one. Jim

There was a 1951 GMC 450 series engine, & 5 speed transmission For Sale on the website www.oldgmctrucks.com about a month,or so ago. The ad didn't state if it was a OD, or not. You may want to check it out.

Hey that truck is nice.... Is that original paint I take it? Ahhhh Arizona your climate is so friendly to old iron. (But not so much plastic) Enjoy that truck.

Ahhhh, that would be Arkansas. Enough humidity, rain and bugs, birds to destroy any paint and metal. Luckily, it spent most of its life parked in a firehouse.

You might contact these guys about an OD transmission. http://www.candhtruck.com/ They have a lot of old stuff, both used and rebuilt.

Dang... I don't know my abbreviations of States. Embarrass!