VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Commercial Vehicles Rare '47 - '48 450 Series GMC COE ?

ebay item 2414670869 , looks like it might be a Rare '47 or '48 GMC 450 Series COE. The seller has it mislabeled as a '53 model. Very few 400 series GMC COE's were built in '47 & '48. What makes them unique is they use the same front axle & fenders as the 350 series COE's used. The '49 - '54 GMC 400 series COE's had wider front axles & wider fenders. This truck seems to have the tall first step as all the 400 series COE trucks had.

I emailed the owner of the COE & found out it is a Rare '47 or '48 GMC 400 series 2 1/2 Ton COE. He also said it's a Tandem axle.

The cab has all of the 1947-48 trade-marks.

1. Fuel tank on frame rail and no cab mounted
tank.

2. The dash photo is a little fuzzy, but it doesn't look like it is notched for the 3- speed gearshift rod like the 1948-53 dashes were. So it may be a 1947 model.

(all the cab models used a common dash panel)

Wish he had posted more pics, none of the bed or rear, etc.

A few questions:

1. How high (approx.) is the bed from the ground?

2. How long is the normal bed?

3. With stock running gear, motor etc. at what speed could you travel?

Thanks lil' johnny,

Looks like the bed is maybe 45+ inches off the road, long, long loading ramps to carry a car.

What about the crusing speed?

On "Diesel Dan" my 1951 COE slide back, because of the 6.17 rear end, 40 MPH is top speed. Any faster than that then the 235 engine sounds like it's going to the moon! :eek: :eek: :eek:

Yeah but any faster and your friend "Lassie' on the leash could not keep up! Or does she ride in the cab on your lap?

Nope! Lassie rides in back. Someone else rides in the cab with me. And, I even let her play with the CB radio too. Guess who? :love: :eek:

Are there other ratios available that can replace the 6.17? Or on the newer 2 tons?

Yes Gator there are other ratios available. The first thing you need to know is what kind of rear you have.

The easyest way to go faster might be to look for a 2-speed pumpkin for your rear. I just did this with my '57 10500 Fire Truck. It had a 7.17 single speed that only allowed a top speed of 53 mph. My rear is a 18,000# Eaton, so I was able to find a "bolt in" 2-speed at the local BIG truck junk yard. The rear I found is a 6.14/8.36 which gives me a really low granny and about 65 mph in high range. I am very satisfied. In doing this swap make sure you get the shift button and harnes if electric or shift button and vacuum valve if vacuum type. There is also a speedometer reduction unit on the back of the speedometer that you will need. It keeps the speedometer in calibration between high and low range.

cool, thanks.

What motor does your '57 have?

A 20% "Brownie" box will do wonders too! :cool2:

???????What??????

Thank you, I learned a lot, and I have a long way to go.

Hey Gator, Weren't you looking for a COE. Did you find one yet.

Hey Gator, my Fire Truck has the 322 Buick V8 with a 2 barrel carb. The 2 speed rear I installed did the trick for me. I can now run highway speeds

As a side note, I am not going to run the truck with water in the 500 gallon tank (this would add 4000 pounds).


I will be driving it to the ATHS Show in NY next week, 400 miles one way! Anybody else going?

Another way to go if you have a long enough driveline is to install a two or three speed Brownie overdrive auxillary tranny, They are pretty common in the oilfield, they use them when there is a PTO winch mounted, also don't forget the powerful 292 Chevrolet Six engine. I have seen them on many firetrucks, tankers and farm trucks from the late 60s on from a one ton panel truck up thru the 6500 series trucks.

:confused:

You mentioned earlier about a V-8 carb. sticking up through the floor board by your right foot.........my 1951 COE slideback has a carb. sticking up through the floor board (right in front of the accelerator pedal) in that very same manner, only it's attached to a six cylinder engine instead! Makes it a little difficult to hit the accelerator pedal with my right foot too! :( :( :( :( :(

Spanky, I haven't found one yet, JYD's COE is the style I really want since it is a slide back, but I'm not going to be too choosey.

Seems like all of them are in the mid-west, I guess we don't use them in the orange groves.

Looks like maybe the newer ones (67 and up) might be better for my needs, but I love the old style more.

I found a '56 2 1/2 or better F*rd BOC (bed/body over cab) from a moving company that had a 22' alum. enclosed over the cab body that was in perfect condition (would have made a good storage garage off the frame) and it ran good w/292 (?) and it had 6 brand new tires, but it was a F*RD and I had to pass ($1800).

Mike, there are other liquids that you could carry in the tank.

The conversion on my truck was done years before I purchased my COE. The '51 has a 1957 235 with a stock downdraft manifold and a Rochester Model B carburetor. The floor board was cut out so that the carb. could poke through. A special adaptor was made to sit on top of the carburetor air horn, and a draft tube goes from the adaptor to a firewall mounted air cleaner that is mounted on the passenger side firewall under the hood. The line for the hydrovac also connects to this adaptor. The whole system works great, and the truck has lots of power and the gas mileage doubled. The best part is that ya can adjust the carb. while you are driving the truck! Ya! :cool2: :eek:

My '50 GMC 600 series COE had a home made manifold with a downdraft F*rd 2bbl. when I first bought it. But with the Heavy Duty GMC COE's the Carb.is mounted on the pass. side of the engine, thus they had raised the floor board to clear the carb. I have since found a orig. used manifold & found a Nos Zenith side draft carb. to put it back original.

I see the seller has now learned he has a "RARE" truck, thanks to you guys.

You speak the truth, I have learned to set certain "standards" on condition and etc, including the model I really want to have.

It takes more time and effort but you get what you really wanted at the end of the restoration.

The only problem is forcing yourself to stick to your standards when looking at something close, and the temptations set in.....

Actually fellas, the guy does have a Rare Truck, regardless of the condition. To some of us Big truck restorers this truck is a good buy even at the, Buy It Now price. Being a member of the ATHS (American Truck Historical Society)we can usually find a Club member close enough to check these trucks out, & even lend a helping hand in transporting a Truck. 450 series GMC COE's are scarce,especially '47 & '48 models, & especially if that tandem set up is factory, or is one of those outside jobber conversions ,like the setup on my '54 Chevy COE. If I didn't already have the ones I have I'd buy it myself. To me the fun of it is restoring it back to original. To someone wanting to modernize one, it probably wouldn't be worth the hassle & being a 450 or 470 wouldn't make a difference. The 350 series GMC COE's are the most common.

'lil johnny, I had a gentleman call me last night that is in negotiations, with the guy on that '47-'48 COE. He told me that the seller had emailed him more pic.'s of the truck, & he said it didn't look too bad. Alot of surface rust, but not much rust through.

Lenon laws effect new vehicles more than used but even used vehicles ("as is") have to have some items that work by law unless you acknowledge before hand that you accept it in a non-working condition. Basic things like brakes, steering, safety items, etc. The catch is of course you would have to file in their town in small claims or civil court and it would be a hassel and a half to get your money back in time and travel, etc.

In most of the states that I have dealt in the odometer disclosure (federal mandated) and lemon laws exempt vehicles 25 years old and older.

it basically it ends up as "WYSIWYG"

Yep, When you buy a vehicle as a vehicle, you best find out who really ownes it...that is the person to whom it's title names in the owner's line, no title, no vehicle, without a I.D. number visible on the vehicle that matches the I.D. number on the title, no vehicle..what you have is a pile of well used parts, usually called Junk. Some useable, many that are not..... "A very easy restoration project!"

In Florida you can demand the name of who owned the used car before you buy it. I have had some calls on cars I traded and I have made calls before buying. The used car saleman pretends to never to have heard of this, until you let them know that you know your rights, strange.....

The state has a web site also that lets you research the history of the car. Cool.

Does the VCCA have any provisions for checking out cars/trucks for members in other parts of the country? Some clubs try to do this for their members.

Does he give you the $5 when you remove it for him? How about some gas money?

Joking, this is a really big project, looks like almost everything would need to be replaced......it would take too many years for me.

Sad, really sad sight...

Yeah fellas, Coe trucks are Rare, but the '47-'54 Chevy 2 Tons & GMC 350 series 2 Tons are a little more commonly found than that '48 GMC 450 that we started this post about. This '49 Chevy has alot more rust than I usually find around here. I bought a couple of ex. Southern Railway Chevy COE's that had been sitting since 1961, & they don't look near as bad as this one. It does have some desirable goodies on it though. That stainless window trim (if good) brings pretty good money. Spanky

Hey Gator, That '49 is a parts truck at best. I've never seen a fender or grille that rotten. Can you imagine what the interior must look like(floor boards, cab corners, bottoms of doors, etc.). It wouldn't be practical to even think about restoring this truck. Looks good just being a Landmark. It's a shame to even disturb it, I'd take that stainless trim off of it, and leave it alone. Spanky

Spanky,
For $5.50 you could be the winner of this truck, strip off all of the parts and melt down the rest. Or strip off all of the bad stuff and take the rest home. Motor and tranny, etc could be useful also, maybe....

I like the way the bumper bolts still shine with all of that rotten metal around them.

This is a good example of the pieces being worth more than the whole.

You're right this truck makes the '48 look cherry and the '48 didn't sell (only $610 offered) so you can still get it.