The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts GMC 6000 cab

You folks will probably think I'm crazy, and my wife would be happy to provide documentation to back you up too. But here is the story.

My family and I own a small carriage biz. We travel all over New England with a 2000 lb belgian draft horse and a fancy carriage in the back of a 30' steel trailer. Until recently I've always pulled it with an 04' Chevy Silverado extended cab 2500HD with the 6.0 gas engine. With the horse, harness and carriage, the combined weight of the trailer runs around 11,000 lbs and that truck works to move it on some of the hills around here.

Anyway, earlier this summer we headed out with 5 people crammed into the truck and pulling the trailer along rt-119. I was climbing a small hill about 40mph when a deer suddenly appeared like a giant hood ornament. Despite being stuffed completely into the engine compartment and twisting the bumper into a large horseshoe, the bloody animal got up and ran into the woods, leaving a big pile of deer poop in the middle of my windshield.

Well after 2 months and $4000 of bodywork I finally got the truck back, but decided #1) I needed a backup truck so we're not out of business if the truck breaks down or something, and #2) I need a BIGGER truck for both pulling those hills and running over Bambi.

So I stumbled upon a 73 GMC 6000 in fair condition for $500. It only has 54K on the odometer and the 379 V6 gas engine runs pretty good. The problem is I need a cab big enough to carry 5 people. So here is where my wife starts rolling her eyes at me. Those cabs aren't too much different from a pickup if I'm not mistaken, so IF I can find a crewcab, it shouldn't be too much work to put it on right? Makes sense to me anyway, now if I can just FIND one!

BTW, 2 months after I got the truck back from the body shop I hit another deer on the NY thruway at 70 mph, but fortunately it got the side of the trailer instead. Grilled venison anyone?

www.rustfreecars.com listed one
1985 GMC 6000 4dr Crew Cab with enclosed utility box. Belonged to the US Forest Service. Just turned 100,000 miles. 366 Industrial motor with 4 speed and A/C. 16,000 GVW: 5,000lb front, 11,000lb rear. 10 foot long box on inside with 5'4" width and 5'4" height with a roof that slides open. No dents in body. Paint good (needs a buff). Looks, runs, drives great. Radials have a lot of meat on them yet the sidewalls are starting to dry rot.

WAS $2,995 NOW $1,995.

Click here to email us or phone 1-702-289-0502 Click here to see what else we have for sale.


I like this one
Your horses will thank you for using a larger truck.

Well I already own a good running truck, I just need to find a crewcab to switch. You'd think those cabs would be lying around everywhere considering they used the same cab from 73 until 92!

I doubt the horses will appreciate it as much as I will. Being crammed into an extended cab with 4 other people kinda infringes on personal space if you know what I mean.

Actually that cab was only used from 73 to 86. During that time all the 4 door cabs were done by aftermarket conversion companies and were not real popular like thay are today. You may also find that the hood area is shorter than a pickup cab which might throw the wheel opening off. Sounds like a lot of work and trouble to aquire a back up truck but it's your money.

Another thought might be to find a late model wrecked crew cab and have a really good body man graft it onto your GMC truck. Likey even more money but at least more of them out there. I'd recommend also that you get the hp/torque spec's on the fair running 379-V6 and do a solid comparison against your strong 6.0 liter V8. It's powerful but not a fast highway engine and expensive to repair.

Just to add a little extra, the old GMC V-6's, as much as I really like them, are known for poor gas mileage.

Also, not sure about the newer models, but the cab mounts on older pick-up type cabs and the larger trucks are different.

As Dave has mentioned, they're not the best Hi-way engines, especially for long periods of time at top speed and the engines are getting harder and harder to find parts for, especially new parts.

Another thing to consider is those cabs did not hold up too good in rough weather. They did not like salt. To find a good one, you would most likely have to find one outside your area.

Don't want to sound too negative, but just want to state a few facts for you.

All in all, a truck like that would be a great truck to use as is, around town. It does sound like an interesting truck.

Bill

The engine of the truck actually runs quite good, it's only the body that is in fair condition with poorly done bodywork done to the floorboards.

Years ago I worked in autobody and can do all my own work, but first I have to have something to work with, which is why I'm searching for a crewcab. I could use a suburban and chop the back, then graft the end of the old cab on, but it would be less work to just use a crew.

I'm aware these engines are noted for being thirsty, but I figure it'll probably do better than the 3 mpg I get pulling with the 2500. The majority of my jobs are within a 100 mile radius. This area is very mountainous and even with the tow package the 2500 isn't geared well for pulling hills. The GMC also has considerably heavier duty brakes which make going downhill a little more comforting.

As a side note, a friend of mine has a junked streetsweeper with a Cat diesel in it. We're having "talks" about it and it may end up being the future engine in that GMC.

In a 100 mile radius in a mountainous area, the V-6 would actually be a good choice in that respect.

Bill