I know that this is an old thread, but I was wondering what vehicles and years did the GMC 637 V8 come in? I have located a block, but it is lacking everything else. Even better would be finding one that is for sale. At the least the heads, crank and block are needed, everything else can be made or modified from something else.
Well here is my two bits worth. Fifteen years ago I built a 53 Studebaker to race at Bonneville with a 435 (394 based on a 303) cu. in. stroker Early Olds motor in it. Why, because I knew I didn't have the money to compete with the monied guy's and their Big Block Chevy (etal) motors, so why not have fun.? I had to modify many parts (from rocker arms, to timing gears, to roller lifters, to main bearings) to make it work but eventualy ran 219 on methanol. I ran that motor (designed in 1946 and released in 1949) for nine years on the salt and it took me eight years to figure out a problem with the bearing oiling, but once I figured that out, I plan on running it again as soon as I hit my goal with a newer BBC. I also own a 1947 Flxable 27 p***enger bus (that came with a backwards mounted Buick straight eight) that now has a GMC Toroflow eight cylinder 4 stroke naturally aspirated direct port injected Diesel engine coupled to the original Clark 5 speed non syncro trany and two speed rear end. The previous owner who had converted the bus to a motor home and had replaced a existing 460 BBF with the toroflow told me that when towing a Jeep Wagoneer behind it he was never p***ed by another motor home while pulling a steep grade. While it is awaiting restoration in my back yard, I occasionly start it up and the sound of a four stroke diesel is ******IC !!!! I hope to someday score a contract with the County to erradicate Mosquitoes as this ****er billows smoke like you might remember from that old Dennis Weaver movie when he was being chased by a early Sixties Semi. Bottom line: only true hands on racers or mechanics have the balls to build and run something that takes a little inginuity to make happen. I salute you and am happy to say, "screw every one else AND THEIR OPPINIONS". Bob Drury Old Stud Racing 1953 Studebaker Land Speed Racer 219 mph Early Olds powered Currently the World's Fastest UnBlown 1953 Studebaker (239 mph, Injected BBC) running on straight methanol and this year 25% Nitromethane (kaboom!!!) P.S. If you want to run with the Big Dogs, you better have Big Balls............
As a side note, several years ago a machinist freind of mine rebult a V8 toroflow out of a large industrial forklift. He and the Millright who brought it in looked at the balance shaft (similar to the late 90's and up S10 Vortec V6 engines, but in a different location) and decided their was no reason for it to be there. After the fresh engine was reinstalled and running in the forklift, the millright brought the engine back a couple of days later and said that the forklift driver had to climb off after a couple of hours because his *** was numb from the vibration!
I have one too, but I wouldn't use it for more than test running a motor in the shop, if I'm going to drive it on the road I'll put a new fuel pump on the damn vehicle and do it right - I don't want to drive around in something so dumb even the rat rod crowd thinks it's a bad idea. Or worse yet, the new trend. Boy, this thread's still getting wildly off subject posts when somebody revives it a zillion years later. What's a 303 Olds powered salt flat car have to do with a huge gas V8 semi truck and school bus engine? Which, incidentally, is where the GMC 637 is going to be found - big, big trucks and busses, from '66 to probably around '78 anyways. (last year for the 305 is about '78).
Nasty, the point I was trying to make was not meant to be about blowing my own horn, but rather to salute those folks who want to build a "boat anchor" just to hear it run and smile even if the thing is a "cash toilet". In my case, I built the Old's motor with a lot of trial and error and cash outlay, knowing from the getgo that I had to run against brand new motors of the same size and didn't have a chance in hell of setting a record. I think this side of Hot Rodding is becoming a "Lost Art" and if I hijacked the thread, I apologize, but a friend of my recently purchased a Seagraves Fire Truck engine, and I can hardley wait to here it run! Bob
i'd love to have that mill. i'd build a tractor puller it'd be good for a yard truck too .. course... i would like to build a roadster around it.. with some TALL *** highway gears .
Mr. Conover, That Tilt Forward Fire Truck with the 637 is a Beautiful Sight. Is this a current project of yours or Something that is wanting a respectful new owner? Either way, I love that Truck!
Lots of people build early Olds motors; speed equipment exists for them; information is readily available. Hardly anybody even knows what a 637 is. You're comparing apples and oranges, is my point.
id never heard of a 637 ,v8 but the pics of that cab over fire truck it look s like one big beast of a mill ,
retrofit with an old Detroit diesel. I'm sure a 6v71 or similar would fit, push it around with no problem. And be a hell of a lot easier to come by replacement parts. I know nothing about these big gas motors but if you got the whole rig at a descent price that would be my route. That. Or even a 6bt or the big brother 8.3 version found in semi trucks
great hotrod engine.. it's got all the low end to turn highway gears like dragcars turn dumptruck gears.. meaning smoky burnouts at 50mph with 2:10 gears.. the secret to getting speed from big slow turning engines is gearing. and getting parts is NOT that hard.. getting gaskets is harder.. but pistons and rods and such .. same as the V12 and V6's
6066gmcguy.com you can get some info here.. don't s**** it.. that's the way of ****ers who use belly****on 350's evean a poor man can be creative.. it takes a lazy ****er to make excuses.
Use 6.7" rods from the bbc and custom pistons and bearings from another application. You can grind and put material on the bearing surfaces as needed. But gaskets. And valvetrain stuff like the rockers lifters and pushrods if you want to make power. But with custom pistons and .030 over would be 644 and 10:1 compression is a giant gain over 7.5:1. I imagine it has to be a forged crank so its bulletproof. Balance it and it might rev. Cool motor it needs to be in a little bus thaf fries tire at 20 mph. And gas here in oregon is $1.65 a gallon.
I have owned this 1967 GMC ladder truck for about 8 years. It has the 637 gas V-8 and runs good. Will be taking it to a benefit carnival this weekend. With me in it, 1/2 tank of gas and no water in the 500 gallon tank. It weighs 25,800 pounds.
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