Diesel C60?

[jaybatta]

Did they ever make a 67 -72 diesel C60?

[Jim Timber]

I don't know about that year group, but I know where there's a 4-53 Detroit in a c70 at a bone yard.

[jaybatta]

Dear Lord, dare I ask the price?

[Jim Timber]

They paid 600 for it. I asked if they'd take a grand and he said he'd have to check.

The body is gross, and it's a short wheelbase 5th wheel. The outfit who had it was using it for a yard truck for their trailer sandblasting business and the guys got tired of a soggy seat or something. The driver's door window is gone. The dash plastic is so pitted you can't read the odometer. The fuel cap was missing, and the tilt hood was cracked.

Otherwise, it's still complete and driveable. I just couldn't see taking the risk on the engine being abused since who knows when they did maintenance on it and lord knows what all made it into the fuel system.

I did think about it for a solid 3 minutes though.

[jaybatta]

Well, if you wouldn't buy it, I definitely won't, I dont have nearly the experience with diesel engines you do.

I did find this page though

http://www.trucksplanet.com/catalog/model.php?id=1242

Pretty interesting.

[jaybatta]

http://6066gmcclub.com/gmcguy/toroflow.html

[Jim Timber]

The body could be swapped out with minimal fuss, but the (lack of) care given to that engine was the deal breaker. I think I could get it for the grand. They traded it in on a Mack they had on the lot and are going to part it out. So 400 bucks profit right now is better than 600 over the next 10 years.

If the hood wasn't busted up (front tilt), I'd maybe look at doing an oil test on the engine and pursuing it. With the damage, and what it's really worth to me (I don't want a semi), there's just not enough there to make me take the risk.

[Jim Timber]

Sandblasting is also hell on everything. That's the biggest problem with the fuel cap missing. Old torn filter and the injection pump could be on it's last leg.

[C10 - C90 Bill]

In the earlier years, the GMC Mediums got the Toroflows and the Chevys got the smaller Detroits, but it seems like the later years got both, as also mentioned in the links above.

I can remember an original '65 C-50 with a 3 or 4-53 running around when I was running my '62 6500. I actually had a chance to buy it in the later years, but didn't.

[jaybatta]

Would they have been four cylinder? Six cylinder?

[C10 - C90 Bill]

All the Toroflows in the Mediums were 6-Cylinders.

The Detroits in the Mediums were either 3 or 4-Cylinders.

The C-50 I could have bought was 30 years ago and I can't remember exactly, lol. I would have to check some of my books to be sure.

[jaybatta]

Have you ever come across any original Detroit's in the truck still? Have you seen any lately?

[C10 - C90 Bill]

Heavy trucks, yes.

Mediums, no, nothing lately.

[jaybatta]

Do you think the mediums are surviving in someones truck or they just broke and someone tossed them? Long story short, im wanting to build a diesel K20 or K30. Trying to do a little research first on what motor I want. I'd like to use a 12 valve, but I'd also like to keep it a little original as well with a Detroit, but ultimately and most importantly, I want it to last and perform. What can you recommend?

[Jim Timber]

12v is going to give you better fuel economy, but there's something sexy about the exhaust that you can't do without a 2stroke.

How much of the mediums brackets and hoses are shared with the light trucks?

I discovered the carrier bearing for my C65 is the same used on all the 1T's, and that was a little surprising. I would've expected them to be larger diameter given the torque.

[C10 - C90 Bill]

I would recommend a K-30 over a K-20 and go with a 3-53 Detroit.

The thing with Detroits is that they are heavy.

They also made an Aluminum 3-53, but are a little hard to find.

The best way to find a Detroit though is just to buy one already out. There is still a lot of them out there, all around the country.

You need to do your homework first though. Getting a Detroit that turns the right way is one of them.

[C10 - C90 Bill]

I just checked on some Weights:

-3-53...965 Lbs

-353T...1000 Lbs

-4-53...1110 Lbs

-4-53T...1300 Lbs.

In comparison, a 427 Big Block is about 650 Lbs.

Also if you go with a Truck 5-Speed Trans, add more weight.

A 10-Speed Road Ranger, even more weight yet still.

Bill

[jaybatta]

What do you mean by turns the right way? I know a lot of factors go into price, but what would be a good price to anticipate in a Detroit? What are things to look for; avoid?

From what I understand a 3-53 is a 3 cylinder? How do those motors do with towing power and how do they do as a daily driver in my proposed scenario? I'd like to put a 4 speed behind it...OR ...I have a 5 speed from a C60. Would that work ok behind the 3-53?

I'm really starting to get excited. I'm seeing ways that I can use parts I already have to make my dream truck a reality...all it takes is more money! Haha

[jaybatta]

Oh wow how much does a 350sbc weigh?

[jaybatta]

Originally Posted by Jim Timber

12v is going to give you better fuel economy, but there's something sexy about the exhaust that you can't do without a 2stroke.

How much of the mediums brackets and hoses are shared with the light trucks?

I discovered the carrier bearing for my C65 is the same used on all the 1T's, and that was a little surprising. I would've expected them to be larger diameter given the torque.

Which brackets and hoses?
That IS surprising, I would have thought the same.

[C10 - C90 Bill]

Originally Posted by jaybatta

Oh wow how much does a 350sbc weigh?

I may be off a little, but without looking it up about 500.

[jaybatta]

Crap, so we're talking about nearly doubling the engine weight.

[Jim Timber]

Radiator hoses, various accessory brackets for the engine, etc. The engines themselves are pretty universal, but water pumps can vary a lot in how they route the heater hoses and the radiator hoses. Then you have things like alternator mounts for odd positions because of the air pump, etc.

I'm curious what all is universal to a big/small block or what's specific to the medium duty chassis. The radiator's look much bigger than any light truck I've seen. Higher cooling capacity isn't a surprise at all, but that also means the water pump might flow at a different rate too.

[C10 - C90 Bill]

You could also go with a 4-53, but again more weight, but I've seen quite a few that have them.

[Jim Timber]

Originally Posted by jaybatta

Crap, so we're talking about nearly doubling the engine weight.

500# sounds like a lot, but stiffer springs and more ply tires make it work out in the end. For a vehicle that can handle an extra two tons out back, another 500 up front isn't a deal breaker.

You will notice it though. Diesels are heavy!

If you stick to a truck engine, the rotational direction will be standard. The problem mentioned comes into play when you start looking at marine application engines and generators - both of which can have the crank on the wrong end of the block depending on who bought the engine for what application.