msjdbman
SW Michigan
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Joined: 04/22/2009
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The 366 engine in the 2-2&1/2 ton trucks was a mule. Great torque and power till you hit 50-55 mph. They were pretty good for 6 mpg loaded or unloaded. Reliable....asbsolutely. They were the tall deck smaller bore version of the 427 truck engine. Same crank, rods, same everything except pistons. Would I want to drive one more than locally??? No way. I had my fill driving one for years on the farm.
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KD4UPL
Swoope, VA
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I'd sell, scrap, donate, or something that truck. I'd rather tow with a gas 1/2 ton. That truck will ride like a buckboard, guzzle gas, and maybe get out of it's own way.
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whisperide
Golden Spike area
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The transmission has some value. Possibly as much as the scrap value of the rest of it.
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ksss
Eastern Idaho
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Turtle n Peeps wrote:I drove a truck much like that for many, many years delivering fruit.
There is no way no how I would use it for a tow vehicle. 366 was not known for high HP. I think a pickup truck with it's axels welded to the frame would ride better. You better be thinking ahead because it stopped about as well as a loaded 100 car freight train.
No, mine did not have AC or a radio or airride seats or anything like that. It did have a heater!! But then again I worked in Aug.
Expect to pay for a lot of fuel. Those things sucked the fuel and gave out very little power in return.
Ditto. We had several of these trucks on the farm as grain trucks. Little power, a lot gas, and the 4/2 tranny sucks. Pretty dependable however, they certainly could take a beating and they are caveman simple to work on. There is no way I would hook a trailer to one of these. Your pickup would be much more comfortable.
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rjstractor
Auburn, WA
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whisperide wrote:Does it have air brakes, or hydraulic? If air, that really limits your options for swapping in a better engine. You'd need to find something already fitted with its own pump.
My dad's GM Top Kick has air brakes, and the pump is driven by a pair of belts off the crankshaft pulley. It seems that you could fabricate a bracket to run a belt driven compressor off just about any engine.
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kennethwooster
Perryton Tx USA
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ran a lot of trucks similar to that on the farm. latest truck was a C65 with twin screw, 5 speed and 4 speed transmissions. Tough truck, but would not run any of those old chevies as a rv vehicle. Sold everything about 4 years ago, and so thankful I'm not farming.
kenneth wooster- retired farmer. Biblical History Teacher in public HS, and substitute teacher.
wife Diana-adult probation officer, now retired.
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recycler
michigan
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it is a bit much for a 26ft camper plus the tires will be expensive... as for the milage.. my grandfather's medium duty chevy farm truck got better milage than his chevy dually pick up... the ride will be stiffer than the cars they sell as trucks now, but you should be able to find some one to buy it..
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back to my 93 cummins
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barrymadsen
red bluff ca
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Joined: 10/16/2009
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Thanks everyone for your input. I'll try to answer some questions
It does have A/C, vac over hyd brakes, cab is customized to super cab with back seat,rides real nice not rough at all new tires all around. My trailer is TT not a fiver. We're thinking about a bigger trailer down the road.
Thanks again
Barry
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Gale Hawkins
Murray, KY
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barrymadsen wrote:Thanks everyone for your input. I'll try to answer some questions
It does have A/C, vac over hyd brakes, cab is customized to super cab with back seat,rides real nice not rough at all new tires all around. My trailer is TT not a fiver. We're thinking about a bigger trailer down the road.
Thanks again
Barry
Barry based on this post I think you may have a winner at a great price. 
If I had a truck like that I sure would keep it around the place. OVER sized TV's are better than undersized TV's. Between that transmission and truck brakes you could tow many TT's even if the TT brakes were non working if you had too.
I try to keep the rear end in high range all of the time when possible or shift from low to high while still in first gear but that is just me. Low range in tight places like backing up a hill really can save the clutch.
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Engineer9860
Eagle Scout dad
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I'd say based on the new info why not give it a try. It doesn't sound like you have much of an investment in it. You can always sell it if it doesn't suit you.
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