[Todd68Chevy]

I finally got the truck home today. Here it is sitting beside my 61 Chevy firetruck.

Originally Posted by factorystock

For those who are not familiar with the history of the GMC V6, it was designed in an era when GM did not have any V type gas truck engines. Larger Chevy V8 trucks up to '59 had converted car engines from Buick. GMC previously only had big 6 cylinder gas engines.GMC decided to build a gas V6 with the characteristics and durability of a diesel. 305 was the smallest version, larger trucks used 401's and 478's. V6's were never designed to be hot rod engines, they were designed to be truck engines, high torque at low rpm's that racked up high mileages before rebuilds.If you used your truck as a truck back in the day, you loved this engine. If you are buying one today, there are a different set of challenges. The problem with these engines is it's 2012, not 1962, GMC dealerships are useless in helping you find parts, auto parts stores are hit or miss and most repair shops have never heard of them.

I do not know how I missed this. Thanks for the information.

Originally Posted by C10 - C90 Bill

Intersting picture, great story. I drove a '62 GMC 6500 with a 478 V-6 for 3 years. It was 9 years old when I started driving it and the mechanic, who I became friends with, told me that there was never much trouble with the truck from the day it was bought new. The truck ran great and other than 2 Water Pumps (the original and soon after a replacement) the truck never needed anything more than a Tune-Up. We would haul some loads with that truck too. It would carry about 20,000 lbs (GVW was 32,000).

Bill

Neat story. Thanks