Oddball engines...Big Trucks... Nailhead Bellhousings.....

[Kustm52]

Anybody else have a soft spot for big old trucks? I mean BIG ones...c-60's and bigger...? I've got a ragged old '63 c-60 wrecker, 292 six, 5-spd, with a straight stack on it..that I use the hell out of for moving junk cars around. Nothing like a 292 moaning thru a 12 ft straight pipe for sound effects....now if I just had some brakes on the old thing...!

What does that have to do with anything? Nothing, really...anybody here familiar with the 305 GMC v6? or the V-12 that was two of these built together? Talk about an oddball engine...what got me to thinking about this was the eternal search for Nailhead Bellhousings. I know that some late '50s Chevy big trucks had 322 Nailheads...kinda odd. Back to v6's. Anyone have any idea what the bellhousing pattern on them is? If by some chance it was the same as a nailhead...I think the early '60s trucks these engines were usually found in had hydraulic clutch linkage too...talk about killing two birds at one time! Here's a site that has a lot of info on these v6 and v12's...pretty heavy engines.

v6 info (http://www.6066gmctrucks.org/305V6.htm)

Bet the v-6 would have a lot of people scratching their head trying to figure out what it was....ever seen one? The spark plugs are above the valve covers...next to the intake.

Here's some more oddball info on big trucks...I had no idea that the c-60 and up trucks had independent front suspension from '60 - 62. Got to be one of the biggest IFS setups ever built...used torsion bars. Went back to straight axle and leafs in '63....and still using it today. Whatever works, I guess...

Now back to the regularly scheduled programming....

Brian

[choprods]

Hi there C-'52/I have one from a nailhead in a big truck- it has a standard throwout arm as most regular ones did.

[Mike Paul]

Did GMC put these engines in their 1/2 & 3/4 ton trucks too? I saw A V6 in a 60's GMC PU at a show and it had plaid valve covers! Cool. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[McGrath]

The first Engine rebuild I ever did was a 478 Jimmy V6. Big assed pistons! Cylinders looked like they would hold a Gallon of Water or better.

[metalshapes]

If I could find one of those 702 V12's , I'd put it in a T Bucket, go wild with the headers, and put 2 Blowers on it!
At nearly 1500 lbs it would need a strong frame...

[McGrath]

Big Joker...

[metalshapes]

Nope, I wasn't joking. I just like weird machines...

[Machinos]

I love those engines. Amazing engineering at work... I first read about them in Hot Rod or something and supposedly they stopped producing them because they were too reliable and dealers were complaining about the lack of customers in need of service. Every single aspect of their construction is built for longevity! It's too bad they're so heavy because I bet there isn't a more reliable small-vehicle engine in existence.

[Kustm52]

I'm partial to oddball engines myself....what got all this started was the fact I've got one of the V6 engines...running when parked (weren't they all?). I may just have to use it in my stillborn truck project....although 700+ lbs for something that puts out 150 hp seems kinda self defeating as far as performance. Anybody know the weight of a nailhead for comparison?

[SKR8PN]

When I was a kid,I learned to drive in my Dad's 1963 GMC pickup. Took my drivers test in it! Had one of those V-6's with the plaid valve covers. Dad drove that truck till the body literally rusted apart. But the engine still ran great.Sure do miss those days.........
I love to hear one of those V-12's run.........

[Crestliner]

Drove p/u with one in it that had a 3 speed and it wind forever. I was amaized at the way it just kept going in lower gears.

[SlowLearner]

I remember the sound of one of those big old V-6's, bellowing through a burnt out muffler. Kind of a PULSE thing!
Not a lotta HP in them, it seems more torque. Reading from the site....BOY, those are short stroke (big bore) motors. Surprised they don't rev more.
Would love to get my hands on a 12!! (I swear my Packard frame could handle it.)
Just saw my first ad for one (in Canada!) a few weeks back (the whole truck). Think he wanted $12,000. Even Canadian, that's just a little too rich for MY blood, just to pull the motor.
Love those Odd-balls. Note the 637!!!! V8 that "replaced the V12 in 1966". MUCHO C.I.! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
Anybody got any info on BIG inline sixes TOO?

[Judd]

Y'all
If you want info on the GMC V6 check out the yahoo 6066gmc site.

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/6066_GMC_Truck/messages

Judd

[Fat Hack]

Ford also used an oddball variant of their 429/460 Lima series big blocks in some of their big trucks. The 370 cubic inch engines can be found in gasoline powered large truck cabs. Probably not worth anything as a performance engine...WAY too heavy for only giving you 370 cubes, but I always thought that they were kinda interesting!

I remember the GMC 305 V6 engines well...when I worked as a parts counterman some clown came in asked me for a timing chain, gaskets, spark plugs, and filters for "a 305 Chevy". He ended up coming back saying that they were the wrong parts...THEN he tells me "I meant a 305 V6!". Yeah...my mind-reading skills were still a little weak back then!!

[c550]

Hey, that v12 is neet:)

[cornfieldrodder]

I like B model Macks and ugly old Autocars. A freind just offered me an early 60 big ol' Dodge farm truck. I would guess the equivalent of a C60. Big square fenders with a snub nose and no rust. Why would there be rust, the rocker panels are about three feet from the ground!
If the cab were the same as a pick up, I would have snagged it.

[rustynewyorker]

There were a number of oddball GMC engines.

'30's trucks used Olds and Pontiac 6's, then in the mid-50's they used Buick engines through '55 or '56. For a few years after they used Pontiac V8's including an oddball 336 cubic inch GMC variant, until the V6 came out. They sold that through about 1978 or so in all sizes of truck. There were 287, 316, 336, 347, and 370 CI Pontiac engines in GMC trucks I believe.


A few years ago I almost bought a running '62 GMC 4x4 (either a half or 3/4 ton) with the 305, but it was rough and I had no place to take it. One door was way out of whack and the lower hinge had been replaced with something stick-welded in so you could not adjust it. Fascinating engine, could be capable of more RPMs if you built it right, but any performance parts you're on your own to scratchbuild.

[Frank]

I've always thought one of the v-12's would be fun just to be different. Here is one I found. I'd like to hear who's idea at GMC it was to come out with plaid valve covers. Really wierd.

[Fr. Buick]

Isn't it funny how Chevy used a Buick Nailhead when they needed a stronger engine??

And how did Louis Chevrolet get his name in print? He was a race car driver... for Buick, that is, before they ever named a car after him!!

BTW, that V-12 is beautiful!

[squirrel]

anybody here familiar with the 305 GMC v6? or the V-12 that was two of these built together? Talk about an oddball engine...what got me to thinking about this was the eternal search for Nailhead Bellhousings. I know that some late '50s Chevy big trucks had 322 Nailheads...kinda odd. Back to v6's. Anyone have any idea what the bellhousing pattern on them is? If by some chance it was the same as a nailhead...I think the early '60s trucks these engines were usually found in had hydraulic clutch linkage too...talk about killing two birds at one time!

The GMC V6 was not used in Chevys...the Buick 322 was not used in GMCs....and they do not use the same bellhousing.

The 322 was used in one model of big Chevy school buses (10820), probably very few or none around today.

[striper]

. Anybody know the weight of a nailhead for comparison?

About 660 lbs I believe (401, 425)

[Mike Zenor]

Bendtsens makes a transmission adapter for the GMC Big Joker V12...

http://www.transmissionadapters.com/index.htm

[briggs&strattonChev]

those V12s have my attention

are they an actual V12, or is it 2 V6's put together?

[squirrel]

I'm pretty sure it's a single block, single crank, and 4 heads, 2 intakes, 2 distributors

it's built from the parts of two 351 V6 engines for 702 cubes

[briggs&strattonChev]

holy crap, theres actually one of these V12s on ebay!

Right here! (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/GMC-702-CID-V-12-GAS-ENGINE-POWERPLANT-NOT-CHEVROLET_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ50466QQitemZ4 583183154QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW)

[39delux]

I like the Falconer but it's a little pricey.

Engine Specifications
800 HP
780 ft-lb Torque
90 degree V-12
600 cid
1 Motec ECU
Runs on pump gas
Benefits
Low weight, 500 lbs as pictured
Accepts Chevy bell housing and front mounts (8.8" further forward)

[farmer_joe620]

one of the local junkyards here has a 702 v12 sittin in front of the place. pretty neat thing to look at.

[BigJim394]

How bout' the late 1930s Duesenberg 24 cylinder engine. A REALLY rich guy commisioned the Duesenberg brothers to make a hot engine with a lot of horsepower for his unlimited hydroplane. They came up with a couple of these one off engines. 24 Cylinders in a "W" configuraion with 3 banks of 8 cylinders. It made about 450 Horsepower and won some races. Eventually a bigwig at GM got involved and had a GM engineer and a GM racing engine mechanic hop it up, and with a supercharger and a BIG 4 barrel carb from an airplane engine (it had been using either 12 or 24 individual carbs) they eventually made over 900 horsepower from the engine, and won a lot of races with it, some in the pictured boat. Its pretty amazing to think that you could have Duesenberg design and manufacture just a couple of these engines for you. Must have cost a ton of money.
http://www.erols.com/j.decourcey/NQTN4.jpg
http://www.erols.com/j.decourcey/NQTN3.jpg

[squirrel]

big?

[DcLn]

The GMC v6 was definitely used in Chevy's just not chevy half tons. Anyway, I do have a soft spot for old big trucks. I have a chevy c80 with a 478 v6 in it and I need to find a good parts supplier because I intend to put it back to working.

[exwestracer]

The GMC v6 was definitely used in Chevy's just not chevy half tons. Anyway, I do have a soft spot for old big trucks. I have a chevy c80 with a 478 v6 in it and I need to find a good parts supplier because I intend to put it back to working.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=655093

[Kinky6]

Gee, is there a HAMB prize for an FNG dredging up the oldest post possible? :confused:


Later, Kinky6 :rolleyes: