702 GMC V-12 powered '62 GMC 1-ton

[Storm Chaser]

Originally Posted by neev_nav

Get a toy of the Transformer Ironhide. It's a Topkick crewcab.

But it's the wrong bodystyle. The Transformer truck is the latest Topkick bodystyle, I'm messing with the 88-98+ style.

[cayoterun]

Your dead on what I had in mind. That is getting printed off. The straight flatbed is what I have. The toolboxes or skirts on this pic gets the profile I was hoping for. The overall look, (kinda work worn) is also what I was hoping for. I'd like my sheetmetal to all be straight, the bed in good shape, but not with a real fancy paint job. Just something presentable.
I was wanting to camo the engine with a stock body of some sort. I don't think anyone would notice the 7 foot long hood, do Ya'll?? (grin)

Back deal still about the same. With today being a holiday, we may have trouble finding a Dr's office open. We just want some potent pain pills. Our youngest son may bring my wife's Expedition so she can haul me in the back and he could take the truck and trailer back.
My wife's sis has come to replace us here with our bro-in-law.
Thanks to all of you, This is a great place to hang out.
Cayoterun

[cayoterun]

I really like the looks of that goofy looking thing. We set out to do something different, and that sure makes a good canidate for consideration. If the frame was a little longer with a longer bed so the cab would set about half way between the axles, it might look a little more balanced. The bed I have is 9' long.

I just now noticed you had stretched the front of the old pickup I have. I'm thinking I like to paint it back to the color it was when new.
I feel pretty confident I can do all the work at home except the sheetmetal to stretch the hood and fenders. I've never done much body work. I do have another pickup just like this one, so have two of everything.

The idea of burying the motor in the bed keeps nagging at me too.

Found a Dr., got some pills, so right now, I don't give a flip whether it hurts or not. No driving tho, so son is leaving Okla. tonight with the wifes Expedition for us to go home in and he'll take the truck and trailer. I'll think about trying to find the cause of this after we get back to our familiar turf.
Cayoterun

[memphismatt]

Been following your thread and loving it. Played with a pic i found on the 'net, What do you think? I'm not too good with 'paint'.

[Storm Chaser]

All I can say is...

If you see that comin' down the road you better
Because you're gonna get ran over for a looong time!

I like it. Good job with the pic.

[watahyahknow]

think it would look better sitting in the bed , just put it in reverse with the gearbox autobox facing forwarth (autobox would be best i think ) the run it throuch a 4x4 splitbox and from there a driveline back to the rearaxle , you need to have an offset axle or a chaindrive from the driveline too the axle but the rest you should be able to find in bits and pieces on the junkyard you could place the engine a little higher so it would sit over the rearaxle so it doesnt need to get intoo the cab itself but just sits against it , you allso would have the enginebay wideopen to put the radiators the propanetanks and all the other stuff in to keep the engine healthy

[cayoterun]

Just what I needed to see. Could you put a western hauler flat bed on it with running boards? White paint/w a chrome stripe down the belt line? It is the over-all profile I was trying to picture. You hit the nail right on the head.

Looks like I could have ruptured a disc in my back while here in Az, but should know more tomorrow. Explains the need for running boards.

For some reason, that reminds me of the "Flintstone" truck from the comic strip. That's fine with me. It would sure be something ---?different?

No idea or suggestion has been thrown out. This is just a direction I could go with existing parts and trucks available locally at home.

Been playing with frame lengths while here and it looks like a 155.5" x-cab frame might be the length we would need for this. I'm now leaning toward using the 168.5" frame, mount engine, driveline, cab & front clip, then cutting the frame to length that works best.

This back thing has sure thrown us a curve, but a problem I've dealt with for years, just a big pain in the rear as well as back.

Thanks for your trouble.
Cayoterun

[memphismatt]

Hope you are feelin' better today those back injuries are no good. Godspeed on your recovery.
here's a coupla pic I played with this mornin'.
first one yours
the second is a flat bed i found. couldn't find a western hauler and i haven't figured out how to change colors.
Hope they help. and fell better

[watahyahknow]

those trucks look like they been pulled to hard when they where stuck in the mud
on the other hand i think you could get the nose about 5 inch or so shorter cause the front part is only for the radiator you might be able to move these a bit to make room forwarth the second part of the v12 sits against the front part witout a cranksnout or pump or pullies so it should be able to fit in a bit less room then 2 v6's would occupy

[Kevin45]

When I look at the elongated GMC, my brain goes into overload. I'm trying to think of a term to describe it, but right now the only thing that comes to mind is a Duckbilled Platypus

I was trying to think what it looked like too. The Platypus pretty well nailed it. LOL!!!

I think I would make an extended cab, cut the firewall out and slide the motor back into the cab, then make a custom console to hide it.

Kevin

[cayoterun]

Got some questions:

#1: What's the highest ratio rear end gears available for Chevy 1 tons? I'd like to get up as high as 3 if possible.

#2: Would the '78? cab/chassis complete rear end be a direct swap out to the '91 dually FRAME? or is the frame widths different?

With a 2400rpm max on the v-12, I hope to use a 5spd overdrive tranny and increase the rearend ratio enough to get 80mph @2400.
I have a 3spd over auxillary tranny available, but would like to stay away from the extra driveshafts, length in the drive line, and keep the whole drive line as simple as possible.

It's for sure I have no worries about torque or power to pull high ratios, but need gears stout enough to stand a 20,000#max cgvw occasionally, so trying to stay with all 1 ton components.

Maybe, just maybe, this week we can fire the old motor, and then start the search for clutch/driveline. I want to have all that matched up and assembled in the shop floor before attempting to sit the package in a frame. I'm guessing all combined is going to weigh 2,000# or more.

Couldn't resist: My son noticed yesterday my dog (Scooter) would match my truck.
I guaroontee the pic hasn't been messed with, he's half Beagle and half mini-weenie. He had an encounter with a rattlesnake awhile back, (Rattlesnake won) but is ok now.

Enough trivia for today
Thanks,
Cayoterun

[jeffspower]

3.21's are as low numerically you can get for the 14 bolt. I put 3.21's in my 88. The spring pads are alot further apart on my '88 than on a 73-87 one ton. 73-87 3/4 tons have spring pads further apart than the same years of one tons, but still nowhere near the 88-up. Shock mounts are different on 88-up also.

[cayoterun]

Good News: I checked the gear calculator and a 5spd over/w 3.21 gears gives 81mph @ 2400 & 64mph@1900rpm. That gives inter-state speeds, so that's plenty for me.

I think I want the narrow frame for this as it would give more options of bed type we use. Bed would go on frame last.
We may be stretching the '78? flatbed frame instead of the '91.

I suppose you saw all the scenic wonders of western Ks. by now?
Thanks,
Cayoterun

[jeffspower]

It's like a big desert compared to around here. I don't think I seen any groundwater until at least 100 miles east of Garden City. Dry river beds, no ponds... yet a local says they have large deer around there. I don't see how, when there is no water, or trees for cover. I never thought there were many trees here, but I think there are more trees within a 5 mile radius of my house than a 100 mile radius of that town. The things that really stuck out were LPG powered big blocks for well pumps instead of diesel, and a liquor store on every block

I found it odd when I moved here, only 140 miles from my hometown. A spring in my yard that runs 365 days a year, and crawdads that come up thru holes in my yard. I find it fascinating how much things change with such little distance.

[Storm Chaser]

Have you thought about maybe using a crew cab frame, and just sitting the cab back towards the bed? Just an idea that struck me...

[cayoterun]

Are you thinking of doing that with the crewcab cab? If so, what would it look like.
The main things that's pulled me toward the '62 GMC are sentiment, (first owner good friend), current title and tags, and year model is close to when motor was new ('64).
I measured the frame and wheel widths on the '79 yellow/black flatbed and the wheels and frame are about 9" narrower than a dually. I'm thinking now, I'd like the narrow set-up better.
I'm bouncing around like a ping-pong ball on what to mount the motor/tranny in, so all suggestions are appreciated.
I'm just now ready to start trying to find clutch/tranny/gear ratios that will match inter-state speeds and fit on the motor, which looks like it's not going to be easy. I'm learning these motors are pretty well a breed all their own.
If someone out there has some 3.21 (or close) gears they'd sell for a 14bolt chevy rear end, I'd sure be interested.
Thanks,
Cayoterun

[cayoterun]

702 V-12 for sale on the 6066GMCguy site from a truck. Site message# 33586. Lots of pics
Cayoterun

[Storm Chaser]

No, I'm not thinking of doing it with the crew, I just thought if you could score a crewcab frame somewhere, it might save you some framework due to the extra length.

If you were to find, say, a 73-87 crew frame, you could mount your bed where it goes on the frame, then add your cab where it goes in relation to the bed, and then you'd have a whole lotta frame left forward of the firewall to get your engine mounted. The hard part would be stretching the fenders and hood. The frame would be uncut, really, so there wouldn't be the headaches of making sure everything is OK for it to go down the road straight. Just thought it might save you some time, money and headache.

[cayoterun]

I gotcha'-- Measure and work from back to front. Then since the hood and clip has to be stretched, fill in the remaining space. Right?
I assume from your last post, they made crewcabs back as far as '73. I don't remember. That's where you guys help get my head outside-the-box. We don't have hardly any salvage yards here, so I'm limited to farmers pastures mostly.

The whole neighborhood is getting caught up in this old motor, but since they hav'nt been used for 20+ yrs, we've all forgotten how to work on them, mainly the timing, even with service manuals, it's still tricky.
Back then, they could jerk a distributor, fix it, have it back running in an hr, holding a flashlight in their mouths at 3:00 in the morning. We are getting good laughs at how old we're getting.
Thanks for a new look at this,
also thanks to all of you guys for having patience with this old guy that's had a stroke, left with limited vision, forgetful, crippled up, but thankful for the can dos, not the can't dos. Life is good.
Cayoterun

[spudz]

Hot Damn!

[Mickey_D]

Congrats!! I have a suggestion for a name for it. Balaur. It's a multi-headed dragon of mythical lore. Thought it was fitting.

[Storm Chaser]

Way to go!

As I read your post, I pictured that mad scientist running around his lab yelling "IT'S ALIVE! IT'S ALIVE!"

We definately wanna see a video clip!

[cayoterun]

Mickey D, I hope Balaur ain't some dirty word in some strange language, cause it might show up in some pics!

I admit it was a good feeling, brought back lots of memories from the past almost 43 yrs since I heard her fire the first time. Lots of changes and water under the bridge since then. I lived and worked for the first owner as a kid, treated me like a son, taught me much, even offered to help me thru college--they're gone now. Lots of great people pass thru our lives. 'nuff of that.
Cayoterun

[cayoterun]

No hair problem---Ain't got none
Cayoterun

[Mickey_D]

Originally Posted by cayoterun

Mickey D, I hope Balaur ain't some dirty word in some strange language, cause it might show up in some pics!

Nope, not a dirty word as far as I know. Just the name of an old Romanian legend.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balaur

I so wanted to hear that start in the video!!