Thread: GMC truck engine

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Thought I would ask, i am sure somebody knows what GMC engine I was wondering about. It is in around a 60 model truck, it looks like a small block at a distance but up close it has the spark plug screwed in on the intake side of the head.
What is it, is it worth anything and can you even get parts for them. This was the first time a saw this different GMC engine.

Can't say I've ever seen a GMC V-8 that way. I did buy and use a 66 GMC 331 V-6 2 ton with 4 spd and 2 spd rear end to move back from Washington st to Iowa in 1999 and it did have the spark plugs at the intake manifold. Would only run 62 MPH on the level. but also ran about that (with a full load and an 83 T-Bird in tow) up the mountains and down the mountains. 18 wheelers were laughing at me on the level and then we got into the mountains and I was passing them and giggling.

A 301. They built these engines from the 50s till late 60s or early 70s. There was a gas and diesel versions of it. Then there was a block that was 2 V6s cast together giving you a V12 with 4 heads. The V12 was 702 cube and it gulpped the fuel.

Bob





Diesel engine http://www.6066gmcguy.org/Diesel.htm

Twin 6 (V-12) http://www.6066gmcguy.org/TwinSix.htm

actually BobW made a typo, it's a 351. They were used in pickups, cabovers, etc. The rumor at the time was that the spark plugs would come loose and shoot up thru the drivers rear end on the cabover models. Of course, that wasnt true but it made a good story.

The engines are worth a bunch at the scrap iron dealer since they weight a ton! They have zero hop up value, zero performance, zero "neatness" factor unless you are using a V-12 in a fire truck.

As I remember, the GMC philosophy was to sell pickups at the same dealership that you bought your bigger trucks from...and tie into the GMC reliability image.

We have a guy who works here who is trying to restore one. He will put $15K into it so that he has a $4K truck. The same truck with a small block Chevy will out perform a GMC and will be more valuable (and more useful)
my story and I'm sticking to it
mike in tucson

i think theyre neat, and it seems a few on those webpages have taken to hopping them up a bit. then you had the ones that looked like a 409 with 2 cylinders lopped off if you need parts for it, try egge machine, http://www.egge.com/

Well, Bob W was right that there was a 305, but I typoed and it was supposed to say 351. This was a TRUCK not a pickup. Had an Army Deuce and a half bed on it. Got 8 whole miles to the gallon. I can tell you stories about running out of gas in Wyoming about 3 miles out of town and what it cost for an interstate service call.
But you couldn't kill that motor with a bazooka. In fact a farmer bought it off of me after I got to Iowa and didn't need it anymore. He's still using it. That thing was a tough old Bastar&.