Quote:
Originally Posted by NWVintageAgParts
Hey everyone. I am curious whether there was any factory diesel GMC or Chevrolet pickups. I have heard rumors that there were some fitted with either 3-71's or 4-53 Detroit engines. I know GMC had the V-6 Toro Flow diesels. If anyone knows about these I would love to hear about them and see pix if possible.
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An old retired guy lived across the road from the one farm we rented, he sold cars/trucks to nearly everyone in the valley as he was the head saleman for the (Then) largest GM dealer in the area. My grandfather bought all his Demo's as my grandfather knew him a long time and he also worked at this dealer part-time running the wrecker..............Anyhow, us boys also got along well with him and he'd come over any time we were at that farm. He always laughed that he sold my grandfather a new maroon C-10 SWB with a 350/auto that had just about every option you could get..........And here years later, the grandsons were still running the same trucks(Although that C-10 left years ago). He told me a few times once he found out I was putting a Cummins in mine that GM had a few diesel running around in valley that he sold in '72...........Being my stupid self I didn't ask any questions always putting it off to tomorrow, because old Howard will be over............Sadly, he past away and I never did find out exactly what they were.............
May have been Detroits, because they(Especially the 283 6-71's) have a huge following..........But I imagine it was 350 Diesels in the early stages. Way he talked they were factory(Well they came from there anyhow), and if they put it in at the dealer I am sure my grandfather would have remembered it.
I miss Howard, I was looking forward to getting him into my C-20 with the Cummins..........I know he'd have said this is how GM should have got into the light truck/diesel scene. He passed away and I didn't have it running yet
Biggest problem I ran(still running into
) is getting the GM driveline to hold up.......I had a adapter on my engine so I could run everything GM from the flywheel back to save some $$$...........Well, I did save when I put it together, but after tearing everything up it seems from there back two or four times, I didn't spend any more money, but I get tired of swaping parts
Haven't blown the Eaton yet, but I am waiting.................I am going to put a ZF-6HD in it, biggest driveshaft/u-joints I can make fit, and I may put a heavier axle in while I am at it. Wish I could run a SAE type bell housing and HD clutch......