The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Goob's 49 COE progress

I got the cab off today. It's looking like a good solid truck so far, just a little rust in the cab corners and really really dirty. Now for the motor, tranny and axles. Oh boy. I'm not even done with the tear down and wondering...why am I doing this??

http://sdrv.ms/1fbip5Y

That wondering only gets worse. Wait til you get it completely apart! That's what I was thinking when I did mine. Keep at it, every accomplishment in your build is really rewarding and helps you see it through.
Good luck and keep taking lots of pictures!

Way to go Goob. Keep up the good work. Can't wait to see the finished product.

"We're pullin' for ya! We're all in this together"! (Quote from the "Red Green" show.) If ya want to see a PROJECT,look at MR.Marlow's!That'll HELP give you inspiration!!

Hey Goob : Glad to see another COE wrecker guy on the site, I havn't been on line much lately but I just got a new comp. It looks like your doing a great job on the wrecker and I see you found the COE-Holmes Expert Spanky. I have an extra set of original shape and thickness cat eyes that originally came through slots on the tail board of your 515. If your interested in them P.M. me and I'll sent them for postage. Also you can get new 2 speed dash stickers just like your's at (Mongo's Garage)

Of course! thanks.

Got the cab off. Looking forward to firing up the motor and see what I've got. Still haven't located a choke plate for the carb, guess my hand will have to do for now. If the compression test is good and I don't find any issues I'm just going to clean the motor up and leave it alone. yeah right. fat chance huh?

I'm going to pull the doors off since the top hinge pins are loose. Haven't found a source for them either....thinking I'll have to make some. Also wondering where I'm going to get inside door molding/trim and rubber.


http://sdrv.ms/1brifCU

The cab is completely stripped. Only a few issues. Cab corners need replaced. Hinges need rebuilt. There are two pieces broken out of the dash where the steering column mounts.

Now would be the time to paint the interior...

That would mean new window rubber and glass!

and that would be the time to paint the exterior as well

mission creep. I really want to keep the 'character' of the exterior and not make it all 'purdy'

Has anybody pulled that off?

pictures - http://sdrv.ms/1cH9ARo

Looks good. Wish I could get my cab pulled.

Goob, I recently painted my interior(pictures over on the www.oldgmctrucks.com website)of my COE, & used a semi gloss, with a satin clear, to keep it original looking. They weren't glossy when new.

Spanky, I couldn't find it over there. Can you post a picture or two here? What year COE ? Color ?

I got the chassis back into the shop so I can finish tearing it down. Pulled the tranny so I can go thru it. Before I pull the motor I'm going to try to get it running, do a compression test and see how it sounds. How about that Zoot-Capri exhaust system -got ta keep it fun

pics...http://sdrv.ms/1e6wyyK

Check into "Big GMC's Grease Pit" Look on page one for "Spreading a little Paint". Also check out my post "I've got this wild idea", in the same section.

If it has been sitting for a while, compression test won't be too helpful, things get sticky(rings) stuck(valves and valve guides) etc. Just make sure all valves move happily in the guides.

I pulled the plugs, put some marvel mystery oil in it and cycled it a few times over the last month. It started right up and sounds real good. Unfortunately it smokes pretty bad on deceleration.

So I guess it needs guides...which means a valve job. I wouldn't be surprised to see a crack in the head as well.

How long did you have it running? it takes a while,(sometimes),to break back in,especially if it's been sitting for an extended period.Good luck,on your head..Hope it's not cracked! I bent 3 push rods,after my truck sat for 3 months. I had the head re-built,and had hardened valves installed,to compensate for this un-leaded gas.That's what helped build the carbon.I opted for NEW springs,as well. My truck has 102,000 miles on "her",and there's no sign of a "ring ridge",on ANY of the cylinder walls! I change the oil every 1,000 miles,since it's an S.C.O.,(no oil filter),system. It doesn't use a DROP,between changes! I LOVE my truck!! Wish you the BEST with yours!! Those A.D. cab-over's are THE BOMB!! (ESPECIALLY THE TOW-TRUCKS!!

Bill,

Sounds like you were pretty lucky on yours. Now you can enjoy putting it around. Hopefully by this time next year, I can do the same.

I had it running several times for 10-15 minutes, long enough to get it up to temp, adj the valves, carb and do a comp test.

Now that I've found an issue, or excuse, I'm going to pull the motor and go through everything.

Sense these COE's are such a PIA to work on, now would be the time.

Fortunately I can do my own machine work and have a shop to do it in.

Greg

I got the 235 down to the shop and started tearing it down and cleaning it. But, I got a little distracted. While I was snooping around for a TBI for the 235, which I have come to realize wont work. I found a low mileage 1990 454 and TH400 with a TBI and bought it. hmmmmmmmm....doing some measuring. mission creep. I'm trying to resist.

I bought a 454 motor and rebuilt it. Found a TH400 in good shape and a Dana 70 10 lug rear end out of a motor home with 4.10 gears. But, I got past fantasizing about a Big Block for my '49 COE Wrecker project. This truck is so complete it would be a shame to turn it into another COE cab on a modern chassis which is how it would end up. So.....

I started rebuilding the 1955 235 that was in it. Right after I got done resurfacing the head, it slipped off of the stand and dinged it right on the edge, into a water jacket. darn. ruined it. So as long as I needed a new head, I went to the wrecking yard and found a 1962 848 head. I surfaced it on the deck and exhaust side, knurled the guides and did a valve job. Every thing came out nice. I didn't put hard exhaust seats in it, I'm not going to work it hard and they will probably last longer than I will. The block is .060 over and the cylinder walls are very nice. I sent my bore gauge back to Sunnen to get it recalibrated so I won't know until it gets back if I'm going to buy a new set of .060 pistons ( the ring lands are bad on the pistons that were in it ) or bore it to .080 or maybe even look for another block. The crank was grooved pretty bad so I sent it out and it came back with .020 rods and .040 mains. The cam and lifters look good so i'm just going to run them. Out of four sets of heads I've torn down all of the rocker shafts are bad. What do you guys do for rocker shafts? buy new ones? I haven't looked into that yet, maybe you can steer me in the right direction.
Greg

pictures - http://sdrv.ms/1c2Crxs

While you are fooling around, now might be a good time to look for a 261, looks the same, larger oil ports on the left side of block, other features will be noted by others.

I've been looking for the illusive 261 for quite a while. If I can find one I'd like to try and build a "Cadillac 261"

getting close to "turning the corner"

The frame is stripped. I've got the springs off as well since these pictures.

http://1drv.ms/1d6OPQ4


Now for a whole-lotta elbow grease, scraping, wire wheel, oven cleaner, car wash, scraping, oven cleaner, steam cleaner, air dry, maybe have it sand blasted, rust mort, paint.

Decided not to use any water, oven cleaner or sand blast it and just toughed it out with a wire wheel. The frame horns were destroyed so I'm welding on some donors. I want to run a double front bumper so I need to make some brackets and then paint the frame. Finally. Seems like it's taken for ever and all I've done is clean.

http://1drv.ms/1qudOCx

Keep up the good work ! Can't wait to see the finished product.

Very nice truck, you are very lucky to find such a nice truck. I am currently working on a 1948 GMC COE truck myself. By the way, I have the complete original frame that I am not going to use; I pulled the cab and the cab mounting bracket of the frame and going to set it on a newer chassis. Can you use any of these parts? I can be reached at 817-657-1832.

ya never know. sent you a PM

thanks, Greg

Looking at your COE on the lift reminds me of something??? I should get back to working on mine! I'm going through the same steps right now. I borrowed a pressurized sand blaster and payed a kid to blast it. Mine were to lazy! Keep at it, looking good.

Finally! I can get back to some fun stuff. It's been almost a year of scraping, grinding, power washing, wire wheeling and cleaning, clean again and clean some more. I painted the frame black. Rebuilt the springs front and rear and had all of the front end components...backing plates, spindles, tie rod, drag link, axle etc powder coated.
Once it's a roller again it will be a lot more motivating to move the project along.

http://1drv.ms/1awdL3g

Nice looking frame. On your Yellow GMC are the aluminum wheels the blanks they sell on e-bay? Look like the ones I've looked at for my 50 GMC 450. Have to be machined for your stud size and pattern. Thanks. Jim

thanks. yes. those are the blanks on ebay. doing some for the rear as well.

back on the 49 COE. Got distracted for a year or so with a couple of Studebakers

https://1drv.ms/f/s!AtECkYGmn3SDinl3Bqv2qZfwwzEq

good
looks real good.
looks exactly like my frame
chris

very nice! Looks like a sweet shop too!