sakurama
11-20-2009, 21:08
Hello,
I thought I might be joining this forum eventually but it seems that circumstances are suddenly a bit more dire. Briefly I'll share my situation as I'm going to need a fast education and advice.
I've been searching for a very particular truck for about 5 years and found it last week - an 87 Grumman Kurbmaster bucket truck. This is a pretty rare and obscure truck and I want it for my photography business as it's both a good sized van that can be converted into a location van with storage and computers and it has a boom for high angle shots - in short my wierd dream van.
So I flew to MO to get it and its mechanical history is dubious but I thought I'd eventually convert it to a diesel for it's power and efficiency. Well, the 350 small block that was in it could barely get it to 65 (the truck wieghs between 10-14,000lbs) and about an hour ago I think I might have blown the head gasket - in Indiana, about 700 miles from home.
So, here's where I need help. There's no way I'm pouring good money after bad to rebuild a questionable engine so it seems like if the head gasket is actually blown (won't know until the wrecker opens in the morning and we check it) I should just look to convert it now. Unfortunately I'm far away from my mechanic so I might need to find someone here in IN. BUT - I have no idea what engine would be a good candidate. The truck is basically a UPS or bread truck and I think a lot of those trucks use Cummins IB6's but I guess I could use anything. The chassis is a GMC P35 with duallies and it's a pretty heavy duty truck.
So...
What engines would be good candidates for a 7 ton truck?
I don't need huge power but I'd like to change the rear diff to run at 75 comfortably. I might want to pull a trailer someday too.
Is there any legality issue in changing the engine of a 1987 heavy commercial truck from gas to diesel? I'll register it in NY.
Does anyone know of someone in IN (I'm stranded 45 miles west of Indianapolis right now) that specializes in this sort of thing? Could any decent mechanic do this? I'll ask at the shop that towed me tomorrow morning but I'm sort of scrambling to figure this out.
So, thanks for your advice in advance. I'll post a photo of the truck when I finally get my own computer connected.
Gregor
I thought I might be joining this forum eventually but it seems that circumstances are suddenly a bit more dire. Briefly I'll share my situation as I'm going to need a fast education and advice.
I've been searching for a very particular truck for about 5 years and found it last week - an 87 Grumman Kurbmaster bucket truck. This is a pretty rare and obscure truck and I want it for my photography business as it's both a good sized van that can be converted into a location van with storage and computers and it has a boom for high angle shots - in short my wierd dream van.
So I flew to MO to get it and its mechanical history is dubious but I thought I'd eventually convert it to a diesel for it's power and efficiency. Well, the 350 small block that was in it could barely get it to 65 (the truck wieghs between 10-14,000lbs) and about an hour ago I think I might have blown the head gasket - in Indiana, about 700 miles from home.
So, here's where I need help. There's no way I'm pouring good money after bad to rebuild a questionable engine so it seems like if the head gasket is actually blown (won't know until the wrecker opens in the morning and we check it) I should just look to convert it now. Unfortunately I'm far away from my mechanic so I might need to find someone here in IN. BUT - I have no idea what engine would be a good candidate. The truck is basically a UPS or bread truck and I think a lot of those trucks use Cummins IB6's but I guess I could use anything. The chassis is a GMC P35 with duallies and it's a pretty heavy duty truck.
So...
What engines would be good candidates for a 7 ton truck?
I don't need huge power but I'd like to change the rear diff to run at 75 comfortably. I might want to pull a trailer someday too.
Is there any legality issue in changing the engine of a 1987 heavy commercial truck from gas to diesel? I'll register it in NY.
Does anyone know of someone in IN (I'm stranded 45 miles west of Indianapolis right now) that specializes in this sort of thing? Could any decent mechanic do this? I'll ask at the shop that towed me tomorrow morning but I'm sort of scrambling to figure this out.
So, thanks for your advice in advance. I'll post a photo of the truck when I finally get my own computer connected.
Gregor