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Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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| | | | Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 4,962 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 4,962 | I bought a 520 GMC in Cawker City, KS. I've been looking for one of these for quite a while. https://plus.google.com/u/0/1126369...0762756002&oid=112636930370126476644This one has straight air with the old style bolt together brake chambers. Most of this model were born as fire trucks with hydraulic brakes. I picked it up myself because I used to run that part of Kansas a lot and I don't know if I'll ever have the opportunity to go up there again. These guys comb western Kansas and Nebraska for 50's and older stuff. I was amazed at all the rust free stuff they have. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 6,214 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 6,214 | Nice truck! Does it run? What engine and trans does it have? Mike B 
Last edited by Mike B; 11/16/2015 5:15 PM.
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 4,962 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 4,962 | It is one of the bigger block 6 cylinders with the distributor on the driver side. The book calls for a 318 cu in. The motor turns over 360 with no unusual noises. Its a 5 speed with a 2 speed. I haven't even unloaded it yet to really examine it. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,811 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,811 | A "318" would be a 6V-53 Detroit Diesel, wouldn't it? The 1954 GMC 630 I drove to Kansas City had a 503 cubic inch gas engine with the dizzy on the driver's side, and an earlier version of that one was a 426. I don't know if there might have been a displacement in between those sizes or not. The 503 had a big Holley 2-barrel with a governor on it.
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!
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 5,096 Crusing in the Passing Lane | | Crusing in the Passing Lane Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 5,096 | The engine displacement is the first 3 numbers of the SN, here, stamped on the left, rear of the block, hard to see sometimes. Very nice truck, Ken.
'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.
| | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 . | | . Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 | 53 series Detroit didn't come out until 1958, same time the V71 engines were introduced. Neither 318 cubic inch 6V53 diesel or the 318HP 8V71 diesel would be original engine in a 48-50 truck, or anything prior to 1958 or 59.
What year is the truck exactly?
That's a mighty nice looking truck, I'd sure like to see more of it!
Grigg | | | | | Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 4,962 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 4,962 | It is a gas burner. It has spark plugs and a carburetor. I think it is probably a 1950 model. I think 51 or 52 was the last year the the 520 was produced. The book calls for a 318 cu in engine. 3 7/8" bore by 4 1/2" stroke. The truck is still on the trailer and it is a misty rain today so I'm not climbing around on it today. I fell off of trucks with butterfly hoods when I was in my 20's. I certainly don't need to climb around on one thats wet and on an trailer now that I am in my 70's.
If I remember correctly, the big bore family from the 318 up to the 503 are all bolt ins like the 228 to 302 on the small block engines.
That model always fascinated me the way GMC took a pickup cab and made a truck out of it. I think it was only the 520 and 630 series that were done like this. The 700 series and larger is what we called the fat cab and they never really excited me.
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 667 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 667 | Great looking rig and it appears to be in outstanding condition. Please do keep the pix coming as you bring that old beauty back to life. | | | | | Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,159 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,159 | That model looks Pretty Close to the "Old" pic you have of that tractor/tanker unit you started out with! Congrats! | | | | | Joined: Jul 2014 Posts: 22 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2014 Posts: 22 | My dad was a GMC diesel mechanic in the 50's in Kansas. Brings back a lot of memories even though it is a gas unit. Very nice. | | | | | Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 4,962 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 4,962 | I kinda had bad luck bringing her home. A huge buck that probably got out of one of the game ranches a little north of DeLeon ran out in front of me. https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/photo/112636930370126476644/6222373984370712562I was able to drive home, but it got the oil cooler. AC condenser, bowed the radiator, one of the headlight buckets and all the brackets holding this stuff. I found a take off bumper in Houston, but I didn't realize what all got bent until I took the bumper off. | | | | | Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,987 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,987 | Whoops!
Glad no one got hurt. | | |
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