1949 INTERNATIONAL KBS-6 TRUCK: Original IHC cornbinder. Runs/drive, nice body!

Price: - Item location: Eureka, Montana, United States
Description:

1949 International Harvester KB-6S

1949 International Harvester KBS-6
This is a pretty clean and solid international truck. I've always liked this bodystyle and probably one of the last rigs built with the old style headlights. It's seventy years old this year. It looks nice and runs nice. The truck looks to be mostly original besides the tires maybe. This is a KBS-6. The "S" in the title, refers to it having a 2-speed rearend. This truck also has the optional 5-speed transmission. This was a beet truck in dry eastern washington. It was retired years ago, and stored indoors a long time. It has the black diamond six cylinder which runs nice. I planned to shorten it and put a barn wood flatbed on it. The box on it now is a hydraulic side tilt. The beets couldn't be stacked too high I guess, so they put a real long box on it to haul more. I can take the bed off if you don't want it. Great parade truck or? It would be sweet on a 5.9 cummins frame, 2wd or 4wd. Lots of potential for anything or just drive it as-is. I have more pics I can send. Thanks and happy bidding. Feel free to ask questions.
BODY
The body is real clean on this truck. It looks to have been painted once, and the same colors as original. The only rust is in the front floorpan. It's fairly easy to fix. The original floorpan is actually bolted in and can be taken out for repair. No filler cracking or bubbling so I think the body was nice before the repaint. Very straight too. A couple small dings but nothing major. The bumper valance? on the passenger side is gone. I can help find one, but they are probably not too hard to find online, or just make one. The windshield still cranks out for fresh air. Both side windows need new glass. It's flat, cheap, and easy to replace them. Doors and hood operate as they should.
MECHANICAL
This truck has the black diamond six-cylinder. It runs very nice. It doesn't smoke, tick or knock. Starts right up. The transmission works as it should. Clutch doesn't slip or jump. Very smooth. 10 gears total if you use the 2-speed rear. Lights work I believe and turn signals. I didn't try anything else electrical. It is running on a 12 volt battery. This truck may have been 6volt original. I don't know and don't know if it's been fully converted to 12v but it's easy. The tires are old and have lots of tread, but have weather cracking. They will probably last forever for local cruising or rural driving. It may need new tires if your going to cruise it long distance. The brakes work. I would change the fluids and do a basic tuneup. brakes may need bled/adjusted. Basic stuff. It needs no major mechanical work.
INTERIOR
The seat is in good condition. It cleans up good, although dusty in the pics. There is no floormat or carpet. There is no headliner but it used to have a factory panelboard style. Seat is comfortable. The dash isn't cutup. Never had a radio.
Sold as-is.