The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Big motor for Big Bolt?

Got my eye on a sweet early 50's 6400 AD truck that has about as perfect sheetmetal as you could want.. no bed, no glass, and the engine looks like toast.. has a two speed rear.

I'm thinkin' i'd like to make it a real highway hauler.. i'm leaning more twards diesel, but think a 454 parked under the hood would be nice, too.

Thoughts?

There are a lot of threads on here about putting V8's in AD trucks, and the problems you can encounter--one of which is clearance for the steering box on the left side. But it can be done. My '47 has got a 307 in it, but the guys who put it in didn't get the steering problem totally resolved. It doesn't turn quite as sharp to the left as it does to the right. But I can live with it, as I only use it for parades and the like.

Fumblin46 I've always thought a diesel would be the way to go in my "virtual big bolt". Another thought would be a 383 which would give you a lot of torque. IF you keep finding these big bolts so cheap I'm going to get the urge to comeup your way and visit

I'm thinkin' i'd like to make it a real highway hauler.. i'm leaning more twards diesel, but think a 454 parked under the hood would be nice, too

Aren't you the guy talkin' trash about rodding/modding the old trucks a while back? I'm just funnin' with you because sooner or later everybody wants more power regardless of the truck,
Scott

48..

I just get sick of the almost mindless "chop/slam/shave" mentality some folks have when it comes to old iron. When it comes to powerplants, i'm happy with the 235 in my '46 and the 216 in the '50, but lets face it, neither motor is really well suited for car/truck hauling over any kind of distance.

I wouldn't dream of hacking up a nice original truck with solid potential for a restore, but this power plant is a solid block of rust, god only knows what shape the tranny is in, or if the rear is any good.. but the frame is solid and the sheetmetal is fantastic.

I want a car/truck haulin' flatbed, and for $100 I figured this was as good as any place to start.. altho i'm sure i'd need to update the brakes, suspension.. stuff like that.. so it might not make for a cost effective plan unless I sit around and wait for the deals.

Maybe i'd be better off finding a later model big truck and just swapping cabs! I know where a wrecked late 80's International is sitting

'49.. the big bolts are all over the place here man.. if you were to come up, the hardest part of the visit would be to pick just one to drag back home!

Some time back I saw a 53 6400 that had a 454 with a 5 speed with a 2 speed rear end. The frame and the body were 53 but everything else was late model. It looked really slick with a slide back bed for hauling vehicles. He said it was cheaper than buying new, a lot more fun, cheaper registration and insurance and he didn't have to fool with the annual Az emission testing. Redcoat

Desiel is the way to truck.

May not be the way to spell though. :rolleyes:

ah who cares about spelin aneway?

started working on the 51 finally the other night. i figure it's better to make me happy since i'm the guy paying the freight. first thing is the in progress change to 12 volts. lot's of changes coming if the wallet holds out, but the original 248 and 5 speed stays.

i've seen guys with restored trucks that are fantastic. really would be home in the g.m. museum. i've also seen chopped top (or removed top) a.d. haulers and slammed pickup with any number of power plants. just as impressive to me.

ain't seen a decent diesel swap----yet.

i figure it's in the eye of the beholder

I keep thinkin' of a '50 or so GMC 2 ton,with a Dodge V-10 and its full sync 5 speed,2 speed rear,and straight pipes with a set of 3" stacks goin'up the back of the cab about 6 feet,and custom alloys with 24.5 radials.
More accurately,I keep thinkin' of the SOUND of that '50 or so GMC 2 ton,with a Dodge V-10...

There is somethin' bad, bad wrong about using Mopar Power to push a Chevy or GMC down the road.

But it would sound cool, i'll bet..

... maybe if you put bow-tie valve covers on it..

Which reminds me of something that happened yesterday!

Got the tires and rims on the father in laws Dodge yesterday.. we stood back, had a look, and he said, "Now that looks pretty nice! What do you think?"

I thought a moment.. walked over to the bed of the '50 3100 and took out a bow-tie hubcap from the collection i've got going of chevy hubcaps that I keep in the bed, popped it on the front tire and said, "Much better"

I don't know when they started putting the deisels in but in the 50's you could get either a 371 or 471 detroit in ad styles. I thought they were funning me about the 371 until one of my cousins said he had actually seen one over in Chincoteage Va a few years ago

Yep, I know where there is a, '53 GMC 450 series, that has the orig. 3-71 diesel in it, & it's For Sale. Problem is, they think it's worth more, than it actually is.

how much spanky? i wanted a 450 instead of the 350 all along.

Kool, The lady is asking $6500. It runs excellent, but needs paint, & body work. It's a conventional. Have ya ever seen one of those 3-71's, in a, '47-'55 350, 450, or 470 Series COE. I've never been able to find any documentation, to support GMC, ever put a Diesel, in any COE, smaller than a 520 series "Cannonball".

Well, speaking of big engines, I was at the Steam Engine/Antique Tractor/Truck show at Berryville, VA today and there was a beautiful 63 LCF with the V-12. 702 cid big enough for ya? Of course, the thing tops out at something like 2400 rpm.

Joe Padavano

V-12 Detroit?

No, it's not a Detroit...it's a GMC. They called it the "Twin Six" if I remember right. GMC put two of their 351 cu in V6 motors together. This monster has 1 long block, 4 heads, 4 exhaust manifolds and 2 intakes.

Mike

Thanks Mike B I'd seen V12 Detriots but not that early. Learn something every day. How well did they work?

Mike is correct. The Twin Six was set up like two independent V6 engines linked at the crank. Separate valve covers, intakes, etc. Each V6 used a single 2bbl carb. The engine redlined at something like 2400 rpm, but the torque would change the rotation of the earth. Apparently it offered diesel torque, low HP, and abysmal gas mileage.

Joe Padavano

GMC ALSO MADE A V-12 diesel guys. 2 6-71's siamesed together. mostly for generators, but there were some big trucks-----------------!!!!!!

spanky, i saw 1 and only one 3-71 in a cabover smaller than a 520, but i ain't sure it was stock.

it was in a custom carhauler.

i've always wanted a cannonball. gas or diesel.

by the way, remember how they got their nickname?

Dura Max diesel

My uncle used to drive a KW conventional with a V-12 Detroit and a 5 & 4(he said those air-shift trannies were for cityboys),and it'd run 85+ fully loaded all day,except for stopping for fuel,which usually used up all the time he saved going 85 & 90 all day.It sure sounded wild though;I could hear and recognize his truck from clear across town when he came through.
Speed

I was working for a produce warehouse in the early eightys a fellow came in with a brand new freightliner COE with a V12 Detroit He said he could hit 109 mph out west on the long wide open areas . don't recall if it was 71 series or 92 series enginew

The 12-71 detroits were popular with the truck pullers... until the 1150 cummins took over. I saw a big gmc gas for the first time last weekend at a car show. I couldn't tell what size it was, 426 or 503 cubic inch. The owner only knew that it was ~180HP. Anyone out there have one of the big gmc gas engines?

At the GoodGuys show a couple weeks ago there was a guy with an early 50's 4000 series with a 383 stroker in it. He said he was dissatisfied with the torque when he tried to work the truck. He also had a 3-speed brownie so he could run down the highway as fast as he pleased. I didn't get the feeling he understood he could use the under in the brownie when he needed more torque.

He was running stock brakes, which made me feel nervous.

I've got a '51 4400 that I'm toying with putting a 454 in. I want lots of power and highway speeds from the truck and that seems one sure way to get the power. I may also move the cab to a 1-ton frame, which will reduce load capacity but also lighten things up some.

My K3500 has a 454 and will run down the road 70+ pulling a trailer with a truck on it. Of course it won't do it very long without stopping for fuel. At six mpg a 34 gallon tank doesn't get you very far. Fortunately it gets much better mileage running empty.

Think carefully about how you want to use the truck. If moving heavy loads any distance is an important part of your plans, you may want to look hard at the Diesel options.

Last I checked Diesel fule is more expensive than gasoline and not all stations have it. I like the rumble of my big block much more than the rattle of a Diesel. Even burning much more fuel on the occasional road trip I'm happy with the 454. Unless I could swap to a 502 or 572...

Spanky, my book lists the D450-37 1952-54 with the deisel 3-71
also the DW450-37 52-54 with the 3-71
and the D470-37 with the 3-71

I actually don't list any 500 series GMCs with a deisel

OLY ! ! !, Where you been Dude ?, Haven't heard outa ya, in awhile. How ya been. How's that GMC COE, coming along. Did that "Zero Rust", hold up. I have a book, that list, a 4-71, available, in 500 series, & above.

BBC still have the most power for your $$$$$$
its just a matter of fitting it in the truck
from what I have herd of those 4.71 ands 3.71 deisels
thay were low on power and used plenty of fuel

Spanky, I've not been working on my truck for a spell because O my welder (with 4 cylinder wisconsin) won't start now. I'm nearly finished with the beavertail on the old Jimmy and just need to weld in the cross sills on my homemade 30ft car trailer. The ZR has worked like I had hoped it would- stopped the rust in it's tracks.

My book lists all model GMCs from 46-56 and the engines that "came" in them stock. From the model 100 (1955) (the smallest) to the big boy HDCW-970 (1948-51) But I don't list any COEs as coming with Diesel engines (not to say they couldn't have been a special order)

My other GMC book 1936-42 lists the years and the engines but not the models. Appears GMC started using diesel engines in some of their big trucks in 1938.

a member of this board has a '46 they put a 454 into... I forget his username atm, I haven't seen him post in awhile tho'...

no reason it wouldn't work in a '50 also.

-W

A 454 in a '46... I didn't know they made shoehorns that big!

I went out to look at the truck again.. it's a 6500, not a 6400.. but from what I gather, it's still a 2 ton, just with a little longer wheelbase than the 6400.

Bringing my '46 2 ton home wasn't that big a deal since I had a straight 5 mile shot down a gravel county road, but the '52-'53 6500 has to come down about 4 miles of paved two lane road, and it might be too big to fit on the flatbed.

I've seen a big block in an Advance Design truck. It will work.

I paid less than $100 to have my 6400 towed about 4 miles. Sure was less trouble than any other approach.

Varoom! I 've got a buddy who dropped a 500 caddy in a 41 pickup. It fit I saw it, custom motor mounts, creative stearing knuckles, did the trick. If you go with a 454 ditch the 2 speed rear end, you won't need it. Now you have POWER. Find a more modern rear end without spilt rims and cheaper tires. Good luck.

IMO-the biggest drawback to the Cadillac engines as truck powerplants is that they don't have provisions for a pilot bushing,but since you'd probably want to freshen up the bottom end with new rod & main bearings before you install it,that'd be the perfect time to have the crank drilled for one. BTW-use the bushing,not the needle bearing. The pilot bearings seem to dry out and quit working.Other than that,they make awesome truck engines!Over 500 ft./lbs of torque STOCK,at relatively low rpms.
Speed