Another FNG, I've been posting a bunch of pics I took at the Roundup, I guess this is my first 'real' post A couple years ago I brought home from the farm my great uncles '63 GMC, he bought it new. It's prettymuch all original, looks a little tired but runs well. After going to the Roundup this weekend my mind is reeling... It has the 305 V6 with the SM-420 granny-lo 4 speed, it's the smallest of the V6's GMC built back then. You could get a 351, 379,401, and 478...they even built a V-12 @ 702 cu.in. Here's more on it ... http://www.6066gmcguy.org/305V6.htm I like it because 1) it runs 2) it's unique Here's a pic right off the farm, I washed the green algae off it since... I'm thinking lowering it with spindles and springs, maybe copper paint with white 'scallops', maybe chrome wheels with baby-moons or some fancy full dics hubcaps and some tall bias-ply tires, maybe even cheater slicks in the back... But I also like the rust and aged look, fewer people want to steal it and fewer people cut in front of me This truck really looks cool, is that old paint or is it talent? I was two feet from it and the paint looked 40 years old... I think some sort of old looking logo on my old truck would look good, and I wouldn't have to do any bodywork! I'm also wondering about welding onto the OE intake manifold, I've got this crazy idea of adding one or two more of its Stromberg carbs. The thermostat crossover is seperate from the manifold, and I've seen some creative stuff with regard to intakes... opinions? Thanks~!
Those are cool motors. I think you could build your own intake from scratch, cut flanges using the intake gaskets as a pattern, weld runners onto them going to a big log on each side, and put two carbs on each log. There used to be some manifolds called Crower U-Fab (I think?) that you basically built yourself using this method. I'd bet $1 that the paint on that panel truck is recent and was just made to look old. There are several processes to make faux patina like that. You could letter up the doors on your truck, give it a good hard slam, and add some chrome steel wheels to it, would be pretty cool and wouldn't require any bodywork or paint. Plus, the 70's Chevy truck axles and front suspensions bolt in if you want 5 lug and disk brakes. My '66 Suburban is set up like that.
Thanks for the info, these 305's usually sell for s**** $$, 351's & up with the big valves and ports go for a few hundred, but weight 800 pounds plus, so shipping can be a chore. I'll start hunting for spare parts and see what happens. Yeah, I'd likely do the 73-87 brake/hub/spindle/axle/etc swap, it's hard enough to find six-lug wheels that fit right. 302- What's a pipe racer? And did you see the NOS 270-302 valve cover on flea-bay? hayduke ps- GMC put these valve covers on a few '63's I'm looking for a set...
years ago I had a '63? GMC with the V6 it had gobs of torque but nothing at the top and drank gas like there was no tomorrow probably less than ten miles to the gallon love those plaid covers!
You know you can back off the front torsion bars and put the nose real low without modifying anything. It takes about 5 minutes so you can do it for a street cruise then put it back up a bit for weekly chores.
Yeah, no top end... as it is ~60 she starts complaining. I'm thinking taller rear tires to begin, give it a little more legs. Heck with the granny low and torque I could put 48" tall tires and still drive "normally" I think they did the torsion bars in 60-62 only... I like the way you think though!
I had to redo the exhaust on one of those V-12 fire trucks. The crankcase was one piece (I think) but it used 4 of the V6 heads and exhaust manifolds bolted on it. Two exhaust down pipes on each side. Quite unique.
Here is some info about the GMC V12 aka Twin Six aka Big Joker that yall wont shut up about Here's some more.
I had a V6 GMC about 20 years ago. It was a four wheel drive nasty old thing. Somebody had painted it with a brush - many times and it was UGLY! It would climb a tree if you could keep gas in it! One evening the pinion gear broke in the rear end snapped off very neatly. I drove it home with the rear drive shaft flopping around using the front wheels. I'd love to have a 2wd early 60's GMC or Apache to build. Someday gr***hopper, someday.
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