The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 1951 COE Engine

I recently purchased a 1951 Chevrolet COE, It has just over 30,000 original miles on it, I am wondering what type of engine it could possably have. I understand there is a data plate someplace on the engine and want to know if the numbers off it would be of any help to find out what size it is. It is a Canadian vehical, would that make a difference?

Thanks for the info! Being a babbit bearing engine, would that not be ideal for a weekend driver? I plan on restoring the COE but would like the engine to be as reliable as possable, Any idea's to where a guy can get parts like kingpins, brakes, ect? It has power brakes, and the emergancy brake is on the driveshaft, anyone know if the powerbrake booster is servicable? The brakes at present don't work, and I'm not entirely sure where to find the emergancy brake pad or suspension parts for that matter. I've looked at all the online shops, and they seem to only go up to 3/4 ton. Being the age that it is I would like to replace ALL brake parts, and ALL suspension bushings, shocks (there hydrolic)as well as any steering parts.

Welcome aboard fellow G.M. COE Lover, Post us a picture of your truck. Check out my COE's, http://community.webshots.com/user/snubnose4754

Thanks for the tips guys, Its nice to finally find a place with some great info. I'll check with the local brake shocks and driveline shops about relining the pads, for safety sakes is it at all possable to switch the master brake cylinder to a duel master without loosing the original hydroboost? I owned a 1956 chev car once with a single master and it failed resulting in the car loosing a battle to a gaurd rail. Once again thanks for all the info thus far! I have submitted a picture to the stovebolt gallery but have also followed spanky's lead and put up a few at:
web page
Its not the nicest looking truck around, but a good starting point I think.

Hey 1951COE, Whatchoo talk'in bout, that's one good look'in 'ol COE you have there. Thanks for the pictures. What type of body do you plan to put on the back.

Thanks Spanky! I'm not sure on what to put on the back, I was thinking a flat deck car hauler to haul my girlfriends 1948 Chev 1/2 ton (IFS, 2001 3.8 liter supercharged V6 from a pontiac GTP, 700R4 4 speed, Triagulated rear suspension). It has a HUGE hydrolic cylinder and PTO already on it when I bought it, I would like to keep this truck as original as possable, any suggestions on what to do with the rear of the truck would be greatly appreciated. It used to be an airport fuel truck so it had a large tank on the back, but I don't think tanker truck is my style, any cool idea's?

Spanky,

I thought I knew a lot about old trucks but those Corbitts sure threw me. I didn't know they existed!!

I have a coe **** C and am negotiating for an IHC with the Diamond T cab. I also would like a White 3000, I love COEs.

1951COE, How's this for an Idea, http://www.aquidneckmachine.com/CurrentFeature.htm gusc, Yeah those Corbitt COE's are something aren't they. They were built here in North Carolina, at the Corbitt Truck Plant, in Henderson, N.Carolina. Corbitts were built from back in the 20's, on up until 1952. One last Corbitt Conventional Road Tractor was built from left over parts in 1960. A friend of mine owns this truck. I think they only built the COE's for two years. Catch ya later.

Hey Spanky, LOVE those trucks ! What kinda trannys they have? Top cruising speed? Gas mileage? Thanks.

Thats exactly what I want, nice machine! But that leaves me with the question...what do I do with the Hydraulic cylinder? I put pics of it on the same web site I put the others: http://community.webshots.com/user/1951coe
I'm no hydraulic guy, but I think its got an internal reservoir, too bad, if it was external could a guy not run a PTO winch? it looks massive to me. I would hate to throw it in the bush, I belive it still works.

I have an almost identical setup on a Garwood dump bed on my '52. It is a lower pressure cylinder than what is typically used today, but with that bore and boyls law . . . doesn't take much pressure to develop a lot of force!

Looks like the cylinder is still attached at both ends . . . and the dump bed rails are sitting on top of the truck frame. Do you still have a PTO off the side of the tranny? Pump? Valving?

Off the drivers side of the transmission there is what I assume is the PTO, it has a valve on it with a cable that runs to a large knob in the dash, and off the back of it theres a short shaft with a Ujoint haning off, on the bottem of the cylinder is indeed a pump, it appears to either be part of the cylinder, or bolted to it, It too has a short shaft out the bottem that I can spin a little with a pair of pliers, and there is indeed valving on the pump, it has valve similar to the one on the PTO, attaced to a rod system that comes out of the frame, and it too moves freely, I don't have a 6volt battery so I don't know if it all works, I will post pictures of the PTO and pump tomorrow. If it does all work, could I use it to tilt a flat deck instead of having a beaver tail for car hauling?

Thanks for the compliment Ape. The 2 Chevrolet COE's have the GM/Muncie SM420 4 spd.Trans., while the 2 GMC COE's use the Clark 5 Spd. Trans., the '50 is Direct drive, while the '52 is an over-drive. Top speed, on the Chevrolets is, 48-52mph. , on the '52 GMC COE, top speed is around 54-56 mph. Haven't driven the '50 model COE on the road. Never really cared about what the gas milage is. They are all stock. Fun to drive, just don't get in a big hurry.

1951 COE I'm thinking about COE as next project IF i ever finish my 49 suburban. If you don't mind can I ask what you paid for the 51?

Well, I think I paid a bit too much, it was 6g's, but its all original and runs like yesterday was 1951, and it has all the parts there, that was important to me as I hear parts can be hard to come by. Oh, and the seller threw in 2 brand new cab corners, and delivered it (3 hour drive for him, I had no idea how to get it home) I looked at a lot of $1200-$2500 ones, but most were missing grills, steps, or other hard to find parts, so I spent the money for a running one. The next one I want is a burb like yours or a panel.

Oh ya, thats Canadian $'s...Not sure what that is in US...

I have posted a few pic's of the PTO unit and pump, I'm sure the pump and cylinder are one unit. Take a look and tell me what you think! http://community.webshots.com/user/1951coe

1951COE, that's a fine lookin' rig you've got there. As far as suggestions about what kind of bed to put on it, think of the most practical use for the truck once it's finished then do what you want to anyway
I had a great-uncle that had a '47, AD gasoline tanker with a conventional cab. When he sold his little bulk plant business he kept it, removed the tank and put on a low sided military surplus bed with oak deck that looked like it came off a deuce & a half army truck. The only thing I remember him doing with that truck was using it to pick up his mail at the post office every day but he really liked that big 'ol truck.
Spanky, that's a really fine fleet of old workers you've got. I've always been partial to wreckers & winch trucks. On the Holmes rigs can you swing out the booms independent of each other? If so, what kind of job would that let you do with a wrecker. It seems that you wouldn't be able to lift a car out of a ditch without maybe turning the truck over. How does it work?
I missed out on a '50s International wrecker that an old auto dealerhip had. I thought they'd never sell it since they used it pretty often around their bodyshop but I saw 'em loadin' it on a car carrier a few weeks ago.
Thank's for the pix and good luck 1951COE with the new project!

Thanks for the compliment swampcat, The Holmes Wrecker Booms do indeed split, & swing around to the sides. They have outrigger(outboard) legs that drop down to the sides to stabilize truck when pulling from side angles.

Spanky,

I was stationed in the Phillipines '60-'62 and was in charge of hauling freight from Manila to Subic Bay. The roads were full of holes, people and water buffalo. We had a bunch of the usual newer trucks but the Corbitt conventional and a Federal conventional were the only ones that would take the pounding. The Navy kept trying to get us to trade them in for newer trucks but we wouldn't do it.

I've seen a few for sale but they are either too expensive or to beat.

I love COEs but I prefer the tilt cab forward ones. One of the high cab models wears me out working on something in the cab and climbing in and out for a few hours.

I like carhaulers you know. I thought of someday making my flatbed into one. But, why would I want to lock a truck into a single use, pay reg and ins etc while that job can be done cheaper by a trailer?

Also, on Spanky's hauler, would low clearance cars get stuck where that angle changes to abrubtly?

That COE surely has a 235 ci Hitork. My hitork has the numbers '235' embossed on the side of the pan about mid way along the side near the bolting flange. Also have installed a later 235 crank for pressure oiling, done by an expert motor builder buddy. There was an article on this pressure crank conversion in an early Inliner's 12 Port News. I'd think more cubes would be in order for a COE, like a 261.
Best of luck

51COE ,
that is a fine looking truck, pretty solid I would think. You will find that Canadian casting numbers are completely different than the US numbers, right down to the oil pump. There are no sites that I am aware of that have all the Canadian casting numbers. That said, you will probably find that all the parts are identical. GM has a service that for $35., they will provide you with all the data and engineering data that they have on your truck, including the exact date of manufacture.

Thanks truckernix, I am considering perhaps a larger, fully pressurized engine for my COE, while keeping the original in storage for a later date. I just have to do some research and see if a larger engine like a 261 or 292 would bolt to the tranny without much trouble, as well as all the motor mounts, hoses, ect, to keep that stock look. I am also looking for some info on perhaps ditching the tilt deck hydraulic system for a PTO winch, as I want to make a car hauler out of it. A friend of mine has a 1965 Burb 4x4 with a PTO winch, and he says the power can't be beat. I have already contacted GM vintage services, and the papers are in the mail.