Chevy K -44 Signal Corps Auger project "Annette"

[Mad Dutchman]

Hello, I am new to the forum and owning WW2 vehicles. I have a Chevy 1 1/2 ton G506, 7163, K - 44 Signal Corps auger truck. I was told this is THE place to be for information and networking so thanks for the add. As I figure out how to work the forum I'll post pictures but the truck is pretty much all there, right now I'm looking for an entire seat assembly, bottom and back springs if anybody has or knows of one please let me know, upholstery is easy to find but the frames are not.

[Mad Dutchman]

here is my K- 44
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K_44_1_30_22_A.jpeg (230.92 KiB) Viewed 2568 times

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[SteveG]

Awesome truck!! Sure like to hear the story of where that truck came from. Looks like the Northwest........It'd sure be tempting to leave that truck unrestored. There are plenty of restored trucks already. They're tough to find in that condition!

Aren't the seat frames the same for the civilian trucks?

[33rdsignal]

Welcome to the "G" John.

John and I are in the same organization dedicated to preserving the Wire Line Construction Units of WW2. Specifically the 33rd Signal Construction Battalion.

We will be restoring both a K44 Auger Truck,as well as a K43 Telephone Maintenance Truck.

We hope to document our journey down this profanity filled road!

[Tonywan Kanobby]

Nice truck guy. Thanks for sharing. I'm laughing at my intro, but seriously, that's a really cool truck. Good to see.
Has it got the original engine and all of the other mechanical bits ? And I just gotta ask, what's that cake pan doing on the hood? You making room for a super duper carburetor or sumpin ?

Just messin with ya. Welcome. You have come to the right place.

Tony

[D.R.H.]

Hey Mad D, what ever you do don't sand those numbers off your hood until you have written them down, taken close-up photos, something. They could be the original registration numbers that were assigned to the truck when it was issued from the Chevy factory to the actual unit that used the truck. If you make 'em go away too soon, you'll kick yourself in the teeth later . Annette also looks like she's still wearing her original prom dress, (paint), too.
Great find brother!! Welcome to the 'G'. There are several members who have Chevy's who will help you find what you need to get Annette back into factory condition, me included.
Dave.

[forestry4evr]

right now I'm looking for an entire seat assembly, bottom and back springs if anybody has or knows of one please let me know.

Welcome and nice project...image sure doesn't look like New Jersey.

G506 seats are the same as 1941-46 1/2 to 1 1/2 ton civilian deco trucks. There are some slight differences in 1941 seat frame brackets, but they will work. 1942-46 are direct fit. Complete seat frames do show up once in a while, it will just take some patience/perseverance.

Look forward to seeing your build.

Paul

[tractor12]

I have a few sets from trucks I scrapped. We cut up 2 41-46s and getting a third this weekend

[Mad Dutchman]

Thank you gentlemen, The Information I have on Annette is this. She was delivered to the army in April of 45 and spent most of, or all of the 50's at Warren AFB in Wyoming, near Cheyenne. The oldest civilian registration I found is from '65 so sometime around there she was bought by a rancher and driven the 11 miles to her new home. slightly closer to Cheyenne where she installed fence posts on 2,600 acres until 5 years ago, when the rancher passed away. I bought her from the widow who sold the ranch literally out from under Annette. The broker I bought her thru took care of getting her off the property, literally while they were changing the locks and putting up a gate at 6AM. She toasted a worn out tire on RT80 and after that was taken care of she was towed the rest of the way to a storage yard in Cheyenne. Once I acquired Bowtie Bandits to ship her, she was trailered to NJ behind a 1 ton single axle chevy and dual axle trailer. Kenny from Bowtie said she only tried to kill him twice ( I think it was winter storm THOR, which chased them all the way ) and she was dropped off on a rainy Wednesday and tucked inside a carport that I made longer with the help of a 20 x 30 heavy duty tarp and the front of my garage. Unfortunately she's too tall to fit inside the garage ( 8'10 because of the auger boom ) The pot in the hood is actually to make room for the GMC 270 or 302 6CL that some crazy enlisted motor pool grease monkey shoe horned in there, there are military tags on the block. According to original Signal Corps reports I've read the guys hated how slow and dogged these trucks were with the 235's so I guess they fixed that..... but I'm pretty sure they stole a mess hall pot and welded it in to accommodate the taller oil bath filter. So that'll get pulled out and fixed, or replaced along with the air filter assembly. I haven't really started tearing into her yet but I do believe she is original, the odometer says a sickening 11K and change miles so either she sat a lot or it rolled over, I'm hoping for the former, seeing as how there really is no rot on her.

Tractor12, I'd be interested in the seat frame if its not too rough and your not too far or shipping is ridiculous

I'll put this here, my chain link fence is 4 ft tall

[joesattic0]

hey John, I have two extra seats and backs. will be coming toward ocean county march 22 2015. I live in Sussex county and am doing M-6 bomb truck(seats are different). call me 973-903-1742 anytime. joe in nj.

[Mad Dutchman]

thanks Joe! if you have any pictures or more info please email me at jaknyff@yahoo.com Also, if anybody else has auger truck parts please feel free to email me too

[Mark in Tucson]

Welcome aboard John!
You and Chad should have a nice pair of trucks when done.

[forestry4evr]

John,

It looks like you got a great truck to start a restoration. The fact that the rig worked just 5 years ago is a great plus. You are fortunate to get all of the auger parts intact.

I thought the pie plate on your first image was just a celebratory snack after the purchase...looks like they messed up a good hood. The insert bearing GMC 270 is a better engine than the original babbit 235. If the transplant was done well I don't know if I would bother changing it back. It is not "correct", but still period correct. I suppose this decision will depend on your goals and objectives in the restoration. Did they install a GMC 5 speed as well?

Paul

[Mad Dutchman]

Many thanks go to Joe! I now have a seat frame that can be redone and after a few more "easy" to get parts the interior can be torn apart and put back together. Has anyone here restored or replaced the data plates in the cab? mine are not pretty and one is nearly unreadable

[Wolfen]

Try LT Horn on e-bay for Reproduction Data Plates.