GM Semis

[NoStopN]

Originally Posted by special-K

I'd like to check out that Iowa-80 museum some day

Same here.

[streetrodchev]

[C10 - C90 Bill]

Beautiful Chevy truck.

Rare to see a '45 in civilian use.

[Bob B.]

Beautiful trucks.

[special-K]

***

[C10 - C90 Bill]

Interesting videos. Both are pretty cool trucks.

Wonder if they have 409's?

[factorystock]

I would say yes to the 409 in both. One observation, front ends on both dumps look underspringed, sitting low in the water. Not sure if they have the 9k ( 5500lb front springs) or 11k (7700lb front springs) front axles, my guess is the 9K.

[C10 - C90 Bill]

Originally Posted by factorystock

One observation, front ends on both dumps look underspringed, sitting low in the water. Not sure if they have the 9k ( 5500lb front springs) or 11k (7700lb front springs) front axles, my guess is the 9K.

Same with my '62 GMC 6500. It had a GVW of 32,000 and probably had just the 9 Fronts. I started driving it when it was about 9 years old and when empty it looked fine, but when fully loaded the front end sure did squash down.

When the truck got reconditioned, the mechanic added a few extra springs in-between the original leafs. What a difference. Should have been built that way front the beginning. In other words, they all should have had the 11 Fronts.

[factorystock]

Yep, that's the way the factory did it as well. Guess we'll have to wait till a video surfaces with close up shots of the leaf springs. Are they 6, 8, 10, or 12 leaf front ends?

[special-K]

Both trucks were loaded awful heavy

[C10 - C90 Bill]

Good info. If I were to guess, my truck only had 6 Leafs. I remember the mechanic saying that it looked sub-standard and in no way, the truck should have came that way. I wouldn't doubt that he put 4 or 5 more Leafs in-between the 6.

I would go in the garage and check on his progress now and then while his was reconditioning it. When the truck was just about done including new paint, I asked him when is he finally going to take it down off the jack stands. He looked at me and said "The truck is already off the Jack Stands"!! I looked under the truck and sure was impressed. The front end sat nice and high and never sagged again carrying a good 20,000.

[factorystock]

How would I order a new '65 M80? Had a little fun with this. Have the factory options and price list. The basic M 80 175" wb. was $8000 in '65. You got the 7k front axle with 4500 lb springs each. 30K rear tandem with 17,250 lb springs 348 engine, 3152 Spicer 5 spd. hydraulic brakes. 9-22.5 10 ply cast spoke wheels. My order: 409 engine $311, Fuller 8 spd $751, Full air brakes $751 Emergency air equip. $215 11K front axle $456 7000lb front springs $10 34K rear tandem with 19,500 rear springs $389. 10-20 12 ply tires $766 Tinted windows $15. Custom Comfort option $54. Tow hooks $26 Tach. $48 Ten stud disc wheels $214 $4006 in options+ $8,000 base price=$12,006 grand total plus tax and license.

[C10 - C90 Bill]

I like your order. Although I would go with the 10-20 Spokes (It's an East Coast thing, lol). I really like the 8-Speed RR. I realized they were available when I would take a coffee break and read the manual from the glove box in the cab of the truck. Although they say they weren't the best transmissions.

Wonder what the "Emergency air equip. $215" consisted of as well as the "Custom Comfort option for $54"?

[factorystock]

Originally Posted by C10 - C90 Bill

Wonder what the "Emergency air equip. $215" consisted of as well as the "Custom Comfort option for $54"?

Here it is.

[C10 - C90 Bill]

Originally Posted by factorystock

Here it is.

Sounds like Maxi-Brakes or Spring Brakes as some call them. If correct, I'm all for that.

The Comfort Package sounds good. I would have liked that in my '62 6500. By the time I got the truck, the seat was shot. I had to sit on an old winter coat to make up for it. Funny as when the truck got re-conditioned, they didn't fix the seat. I asked for it, but never got it, lol.

[factorystock]

Originally Posted by C10 - C90 Bill

I really like the 8-Speed RR. I

I went with the Fuller R 46 8 speed because I didn't like the weak 3000 series Spicers. If 5000 or 6000 series Spicer 5 speed were available I would probably team it up with a 6041 series 4 speed auxilary box $697 that was available.

[C10 - C90 Bill]

Originally Posted by factorystock

I went with the Fuller R 46 8 speed because I didn't like the weak 3000 series Spicers. If 5000 or 6000 series Spicer 5 speed were available I would probably team it up with a 6041 series 4 speed auxilary box $697 that was available.

I like the R 46 for the Shift Pattern. I like all my gears in the Trans and I have to say a 2-Speed Rear is better than no 2-Speed, but I sure do prefer the RR's.

My '62 had a Clark 5-Speed. Would had been nice to have a 3-Speed Aux with it, but mine had the 2-Speed Rear. Have to say that the Trans was bullet proof.

[special-K]

You should do it! Don't you wish?

Recently gathered brochure pictures:

[C10 - C90 Bill]

Originally Posted by special-K

You should do it! Don't you wish?

Recently gathered brochure pictures:

Great brochure pictures Tim. That Snow Plow truck is exactly like my '62 6500 minus the plow and a 16 Ft Flat Bed Dump instead of the Dump Body. Same color too.

[factorystock]

Don't have the '62 GMC options and price book, but do have some literature ( a mailer sent out to prospects ) on the 6500 series.

[C10 - C90 Bill]

Interesting literature and pictures. Other than the red paint, my truck exactly right down to the Cab Lights and Air Horn.

Thanks for posting it.

[regan wilson]

I love those old brochures (more like books) they are too cool. My friend that built the cage and such in my truck is a Dodge-Chrysler guy. I found some of the old brochures from the late 60's and early 70's from our local Dealership. As much as I liked them I took them to him. I would bet they are still in mint condition.

[factorystock]

Another route would be a V80, which is a M80 with a DH 478 V6 diesel. This would run you an extra $973. This would come standard with a New Process 541GL. The Clark 269V was a no extra cost option. I'm sure many blown V6 diesels were replaced by Cats or 427 ( tall decks) back in the day, but I probably would have given GMC another chance and upgrade to the refined Toro Flo II. Have a hunch the 11K front axle is the one with the flat hub covers. This GMC W6500 looks like in can handle a heavy load!

[C10 - C90 Bill]

Another great picture. This one got the Chrome package, Grille and Mirrors, probably Hood Emblems as well. Interesting Air Horn option.

When the DH 478 failed, they should had just gone with the Gas version. Those engines were tough as nails.

Although a 4-71 would had been nice.

[special-K]

Three more brochures from the early '60s trucks