"BIG" truck forum C/40, C/50, C/60 and the like...

[C10 - C90 Bill]

Going a little off subject, I used to drive a '62 GMC 6500 (Similar to a C-80) back in the early and mid '70's. It had a 478 V-6, 5-Speed Trans, 2-Speed Rear, Air Brakes, 10-20 Tires on Spoke Wheels and a GVW of 32,000. They are pretty rare and to this day, I've never seen another one anywhere on the road. The only pictures I have seen are some factory brochure photos.

I've seen plenty of 5000's and saw at least one GMC B-Model 7500 in a junk yard, but never another 6500. Wondering if anyone out there has ever seen or driven one. I've heard there were some out in CA back in the day.

Bill

[Old Truck Man]

Originally Posted by C10 - C90 Bill

Going a little off subject, I used to drive a '62 GMC 6500 (Similar to a C-80) back in the early and mid '70's. It had a 478 V-6, 5-Speed Trans, 2-Speed Rear, Air Brakes, 10-20 Tires on Spoke Wheels and a GVW of 32,000. They are pretty rare and to this day, I've never seen another one anywhere on the road. The only pictures I have seen are some factory brochure photos.

I've seen plenty of 5000's and saw at least one GMC B-Model 7500 in a junk yard, but never another 6500. Wondering if anyone out there has ever seen or driven one. I've heard there were some out in CA back in the day.

Bill

Back in the late sixties the carnival that that came to the county fair had several of those. I worked at a local gas station. truck stop We always stayed open late on Saturday. the nite the fair closed. the carnival trucks would pull in fill the saddle tanks and buy a gallon of RPM engine oil. I seen those V6 pulling all the carnival rides. the trucks & drivers where pretty rough back then. many didn't have mufflers. for some reason when they shut them off they would backfire and split the mufflers. Unblievable great noise seeing the loaded beast,s take off into the nite and flames coming out the exhaust.

[special-K]

Not me.

Hey,about this thread and seeing if there's a demand for a medium & heavy GM truck forum. I guess it's going nowhere,huh? Like I've said before,if we took all the years and combined them,then threw in all the other GM built commercial vehicles that are not acknowledged on this site,I think we'd have a worthwhile forum. There's StepVans,El Caminos,Sedan Deliveries,Greenbriars
/Corvair90s,buses,special bodies,RVs,military,foreign GM companies,and probably others I'm over looking. This thread and it's original purpose has been lost in the back pages. What will it take to get something going? The same was true with pre-47s and we finally gave them a forum. It may not be the busiest forum but it sure earns it's keep. I'd have -plenty to post if there was such a forum. I post this stuff in the pickup forum and it disappears,but also the mind set there is largely narrowed to specific interest even in light trucks. I can see the forum I'm talking about being for all truck of working nature,even LTs.

[C10 - C90 Bill]

I too would be a frequent participant. It would be nice if we could have a trial run. The posts we have on Medium and Heavy Trucks in the regular forums does a lot of responses.

I'm a member of Heavy Trucks on another forum. As great as it is, it is All trucks and only gets Chev and GMC activity now and then. I'm also a member of another site, and as great as that one is, it doesn't have the activity on it like we do here. Especially pictures. The pictures posted on this site are outstanding.

Bill

[A.T. RockDriller]

Originally Posted by C10 - C90 Bill

I too would be a frequent participant. It would be nice if we could have a trial run. The posts we have on Medium and Heavy Trucks in the regular forums does a lot of responses.

I'm a member of Heavy Trucks on another forum. As great as it is, it is All trucks and only gets Chev and GMC activity now and then. I'm also a member of another site, and as great as that one is, it doesn't have the activity on it like we do here. Especially pictures. The pictures posted on this site are outstanding.

Bill

I sure think it would be a good thing.....the 10 thru 30 series guys will also benefit from some of the info ....a lot of folks may not know how much info and components cross over between the light and Med/Hd trucks.
Here's my 4000 GMC....recent addition.
Nicer than most lt duty trucks...including my own.

[A.T. RockDriller]

And a great LCF '55 chev that I spotted on CL.
The guy wants $4500....says it'll be at the PDX swap meet later this month if he doesn't sell it first.
It looks to me like it might be a sweet old ride. Wish it was closer...(Salem), I'd go check it out. Oh well....the swap meet's only a week or so.

[C10 - C90 Bill]

Tim,

Here is a picture of a GMC 6500 that someone posted on a truck site for me the other day. Although in rough shape, it is the only non-factory picture of one that I know of online:

All sizes | GMC 6500 fuel truck | Flickr - Photo...

This one is either a '64 or '65 Model.

(Click onto the Topic at the top of it to open if necessary).

Bill

[Bigasstrux]

My latest projects.

[84rzv500r]

Originally Posted by Bigasstrux

My latest projects.

yep... wrap a chain around all wanna be trucks...

"I like the way you think" (Sam Kinison in back to School)

[Mack 63]

Here's my '62 C50 wrecker. It has the original 283/4sp-2sp rear. Actually looking for a master cylinder for it if anyone knows where to find one and other parts for these cool old trucks! I'm also looking for good tire prices on 8R 22.5 both recaps for the rear and either good used or affordable new for the front.
It has an in dash tachometer.. Is that pretty common in these?

[colgad]

Originally Posted by Mack 63

Here's my '62 C50 wrecker. It has the original 283/4sp-2sp rear. Actually looking for a master cylinder for it if anyone knows where to find one and other parts for these cool old trucks! I'm also looking for good tire prices on 8R 22.5 both recaps for the rear and either good used or affordable new for the front.
It has an in dash tachometer.. Is that pretty common in these?

I used a 2001 Silverado 2500HD Booster and Master. I had to drill a smaller 4 bolt pattern on the firewall but with a little shaft adapter it works great. Now I have a split system on my C50. If you just want a replacement I under stand NAPA has them.

[watahyahknow]

maibe an idea for the next project to use a single wheel bed and use a couple of front fenders mounted the same way as in the front it would lower them to about equal , might look even better

[jonzcustomshop]

I picked up a nice 66 60 series, (pics when I get it home).

As far as I could tell the master cylinder is bad.. the floor mat is all stained from the fluid, and the m/c was empty.. -the truck sat for 4 years, and judging by the empty brake fluid bottles on the seat, the brakes probably wern't too hot 4 years ago either!

the master cylinder is similar to a 60-62 c 10, the truck has a hydraulic clutch.

I have a new m/c on order, and will bench bleed it before go out to the ranch to install it.

which do I bleed first? clutch or brakes?

the system has a hydrovac unit under the cab, I think it is a vacuum booster and a slave cylinder, it also looks to be connected to the power steering pump.

the rear wheels have 2 wheel cylinders each, but it looks like only one bleeder on each side.



any tips /instructions/ pionters would be a great help!

[powerdriver 1958]

Originally Posted by jonzcustomshop

I have a new m/c on order, and will bench bleed it before go out to the ranch to install it.

which do I bleed first? clutch or brakes?

It does make much difference which side you start with as long as you dont let run dry

the system has a hydrovac unit under the cab, I think it is a vacuum booster and a slave cylinder, it also looks to be connected to the power steering pump.

Haven't seen one hooked to the steering pump but haven't everything . I will start at the master and work my way back .

the rear wheels have 2 wheel cylinders each, but it looks like only one bleeder on each side.

That is normal . If you have access to a power bleeder it will make the job a whole lot easier .Shoe adjustment is the key to keeping good pedal height . The hydro vac has a limited stroke .

[jonzcustomshop]

thanks, that will help, unfortunately it is out on a farm 70 miles from town, so I am going to bleed the old fashioned way..

[powerdriver 1958]

Hydro vac should have bleeder screws on it too

[jonzcustomshop]

hmmm so in order from distance from m/c bleed, RR,LR,RF, LF, Then hydrovac?

[hugger6933]

If I remember right, Jon the slave at the bottom has a bleeder type screw on it .crack it open and get a old squirt can with brake fliud in it and pump up then the air will push back the line and come out the top of thew m/c [slave cyl] I have tried to bleed them in the conventional manner and just get no results and nothing but frustrated. I had an old [real old]chevy tec teach me that trick way long time ago. I would still bench bleed it and you may want to try the regular method to bleed . just keep that tip in mind if you run into trouble. At some point I will have to put a wheel cylinder on the right rear of my 64 c60.

[A.T. RockDriller]

Originally Posted by jonzcustomshop

hmmm so in order from distance from m/c bleed, RR,LR,RF, LF, Then hydrovac?

Jon..
I just have to pipe up on this one...
If you haven't already dealt with it, there is a pretty easy process that I use.
I've revived quite a few of the old ones, and since they, more often than not, have very old fluid in the system that has lost it's technical properties, I just "flush and bleed" at the same time.
It doesn't take two people either.
First, get a quart or two of your DOT 3 or 4 and a handfull of new bleeders if you have or can get some.....and fill the reservoir.
Get down there and start crackin bleeders....and leave them all cracked open.
Start at the close corner and pull the old bleeder out. Throw it if ya have a replacement or clean it if not.
Just let the fluid dribble for a few and replace the bleeder almost seated...look fer bubbles...if there aren't any, tighten it and move to the next one down the line...repeat and so on..When the fluid runs out with no bubbles...tighten it an move on.
Remember to keep the reservoir full....you will go through quite a bit of fluid fairly quickly.
The idea behind starting at the close corner instead of the far one is that between the proportioning valve (if ya have one) and any Tees or such you have the chance of harboring a few air bubbles that do not get out the rear if you cork it first.
Any way....I've done it this way since my old Truck Shop Foreman (Frank Barringer R.I.P.) taught me how in 1980, and without a power bleeder or an extra body....it just works great.
There are a few systems that don't like to be "gravity bled".....but these old rigs respond well to it......plus you end up with a system full of fresh fluid.

[powerdriver 1958]

Master , Hydro vac ,then the 4 corners

[padresag]

furthest point from the m/c, then work the next furthest until you hit the closest bleeder. sometimes with those old hydrovacs the diaphram cracks in them and leaks, so you may not get any assist from it
ron

[jonzcustomshop]

will the system still work if the diaphram is leaky? main thing i need to do for now is get it home, which is about 30 miles of 2 lane , and then 40 miles of interstate...

[padresag]

should be just a power brake system with a bad diaphram in it. not saying that it is faulty but there is a good possibility. you may get lucky. it has been 40 years since I sold a diaphram for one of those. can't remember whether or not that they had a hole in them or not. I have a leaning that they didn't but took the same style as a maxi-pot on a truck air brake system, but were smaller than the std maxi-pot size which were 7 or 8"(which any truck shop would have
ron

[tincan1966]

This is what I just purchased, will be bringing home in a cpl weeks

[A.T. RockDriller]

Originally Posted by tincan1966

This is what I just purchased, will be bringing home in a cpl weeks

Ya baby....