OK I made post about the difference between GMC and chev fenders. now I have new adventure. the truck I got with good fenders has a GMC v6 I'm thinking its the 401. which starts a little list of question first is there anywhere can get a rebuild kit. next what is the bellhousing pattern. is it like normal Chevy pattern. and my final question what kind of transmission is it. there was a sticker showing shift patten. its 5spd
No, the bellhousing is not anything like a normal Chevy pattern. You've probably got a Clark 5 speed with the round SAE style bellhousing. The 401 is one of about 4 or 5 sizes of GMC V6 ranging from 305 to 472 or so. They are very heavy, very hard to find parts for, and horrible gas guzzlers. I've got a 401 in an American LaFrance fire truck on a 61 GMC chassis. It's got a Clark 5 speeed with direct drive 5th gear- - - -wish it was the overdrive version! PM me if you decide not to use the engine/trans combo- - - -I'm looking for spares for both. Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
I had a 305E in a '65 3/4 ton,and with the combination of a 4:11 rear end,and a 2-speed hydra-Matic,I got top speed of 50 M.P.H.,and about 6 miles to the gallon. that was with tall 16.5's ! They are powerhouses,though,but if you're looking for a rebuild kit,GOOD LUCK!! I just looked in my "Kanter" catalog,and they only carry parts /complete kits,for the 1960-'72 351,and 401's,and the 1960-'74 305E's Here's a break-down of the 401.(4-7/8 Bore): Piston:$82.50,Ring Set:$580.00,Piston Pin bushing:$11.00,Main Bearing Set,(LIMITED STOCK):$175.00,Rod Bearing(std,.010-.030:$10.50,Cam Bearing Set:$65.00,Cam Gear:$40.00,Crank Gear:$35.00,Camshaft:$225.00,Push rod:$5.00,Rocker arm:$15.75,Rocker Shaft,(2 Required),$50.00,Rocker Shaft Assembly (Each,2 required),:$85.00,Valve Lifter:$11.85,Valve Spring:$4.12. You'll need to contact the company for a price on their gasket set.www.kanter.com Quite expensive ,but these engines are dependable,and will last a long time,if rebuilt correctly. Here's a '65 400 in action,during harvest. Round-trip of 200-miles,for a week or so. WELL-MAINTAINED!! Check-out the A.D. 2-ton,pulling an empty trailer), Passing while shifting into overdrive! I LOVE this video!!
it is a two speed rear end. its tandem axle also. I'm gonna pull motor trans today when I get off work. if it rolls free I'm gonna see if it will start. the hood wasntnin best shape so dontnonow if any water got inside it. everything was closed up on engine other than valve cover breather was open.
If it turns over, it will probably start. I'm not a fan of the V6, but they are one of the toughest gas engines ever built. If it has a shift pattern on the dash, you can figure out what gear box you have. If 1st and reverse is over to the right, its a Clark. If 1st and 2nd are next too each other to the left, its a New Process. If 5th is toward the seat, its direct. 5th toward the dash means OD.
I'm still throwing the idea keeping it.and I found tag inside glove box its a 401 with a new process the shift pattern is. 1. 2. 3 r l__l__l__l l. l 4 5 best I can do since posting pics is hard to do. the only trouble think I would have is putting some kind of e brake setup. cause I'm planning on putting it in a c50. and it has all hydraulic brakes and e brake is on driveshaft
I drove a GMC 550 with a NP for 4 years. The 1 to 2 shift is awkward, but If you don't untrack big loads you don't need 1st gear. I had straight air, but no spring brakes. All I had was an E-brake on the transmission which was worthless because the lining got oily. I parked her in 1st gear and carried 4x4 blocks to chock the wheels.
Same with my 6500. Air with no Spring Brakes. I had the E-Brake that had the Lever right under the dash near the passenger side. You could adjust the brake by turning the Knob at the end of the handle. I never did trace it back to see how it worked. My truck had the Clark Trans. You almost had to pack a lunch for your hand to go from 1st to 2nd, lol (for those not familiar with it, it was a 5-Speed, with 1st all the way to the right and down, 2nd was all the way to the left and up).
Bill
'60-'72 Chev/GMC Fan GMC 9500 Fan Detroit Diesel Fan
The Clark's claim to fame was that if you got stuck, you had a chance of rocking yourself out of the mud by going back and forth from 1 and R in time with the rocking motion.
Ya might be better off with a 6-53,or 71,(if you're talkin' tandem truck. If you're thinking about the swap in your Chevy,then it makes good sense. There are a bunch of video's on "Youtube,where several pick-ups have swapped these engines! This member of the "Bolt",(Grigg Mullen),installed one in his A.D. 2-ton! No Allison,though. Roadranger 10-speed! Love the sound! You can get through those gears quick,with a "D-Troit"! (Called General Motors Diesel,back in the day).http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGzUb2Rpges
The Clark's claim to fame was that if you got stuck, you had a chance of rocking yourself out of the mud by going back and forth from 1 and R in time with the rocking motion.
Boy does that bring back memories. My truck was a 16 Ft Flatbed Dump and when empty it sure was a little light back there.
Bill
'60-'72 Chev/GMC Fan GMC 9500 Fan Detroit Diesel Fan
NP-540's came w/ parking brakes, keep your eyes open in yards, most yards won't know what you are talking about, just get in there and look around for yourself. remember, 540's are only trans' w/ Al top cover, 4shift rails, came in everything.
'37 GMC T-18 w/ DD 4-53T, RTO-610, 6231 aux., '95 GMC running gear, full disc brakes, power steering, 22.5 wheels and tires. '47 GMC 1 ton w/ 302, NP-540, 4wd, full width Blazer front axle. '54 GMC 630 w/ 503 gasser, 5 speed, ex fire truck, shortened WB 4', install 8' bed. '55 GMC 370 w/270, 420 4 speed, grain, dump bed truck from ND. Works OK.
