1969 GMC 2500 V6 305L Question

[Alaska_Ryan]

I have a 1969 GMC 2500 with a V6 305L. Not really restored, it's in nice shape but I use it as a wood cutting truck. My questions:

1) It's a ***** to find parts because of the V6 305L. Every place I go insists (and I mean insists!) that I am mistaken, it must be a L6 because GMC didn't put V6s in 2500 until 19*** etc.,etc. Some conversations have gotten nasty. My engine is a rebuild because the first engine seized, but according the original bill of sale which I have, my vehicle came with a V6 305L. So what is the deal with this engine? Is it an odd-ball, special order, rare or what?

2) Can anyone recommend a place that stocks OEM replacement parts for this old of a vehicle? My local CarQuest/Napa/JCWhitney can't get me the parts. And a few other online stores I tried only sell high performance parts. I don't need a $300 distributor....

thanks in advance for any help....

[northern 85]

Try this out great info here.http://www.6066gmcguy.org/

[northern 85]

Have you tried summit racing?

[68gmsee]

Yep, it is an oddball...

I overhauled one back in the 70's and they definitely were strong engines. Built pretty solid. Only problem I recall was that if you ever got a fuel leak on the carb, the spark plugs were right on top to cause a fire.

Unless you had a reason to keep it stock, I'd start planning on a replacement 350.

Here's a forum that I looked at some time back that was talking about it.
http://talk.classicparts.com/showthread.php?t=404

[Skirkpat]

Originally Posted by 68gmsee

Yep, it is an oddball...

I overhauled one back in the 70's and they definitely were strong engines. Built pretty solid. Only problem I recall was that if you ever got a fuel leak on the carb, the spark plugs were right on top to cause a fire.

Unless you had a reason to keep it stock, I'd start planning on a replacement 350.

Here's a forum that I looked at some time back that was talking about it.
http://talk.classicparts.com/showthread.php?t=404

I had an Acura Vigor my Dad Gave me when he got to old to drive, it was a 5 cylinder , 5 speed .....He used to ask people who knew TOO MUCH about cars how they thought a 5 cyl. performed.... he made alot of so called experts seem pretty stupid when they would go outside and count spark plug wires 3,4,5 well I guess it is a 5 cylinder ...... HMMMM I didn't know they made those ?????
I would keep what is in it running as long as possible, If you use to work it is always cheaper to fix it than start changing engines.

[truckster]

Originally Posted by 68gmsee

Unless you had a reason to keep it stock, I'd start planning on a replacement 350.

I respectfully disagree. The GMC 305 is a great engine. They're as solid as a gasoline engine can get, and they have incredible torque.

The reason you'll find the parts more easily if you look for 66 GMC is because they were very common in the 66s (that's what I had) and by 60 were far less common.

[Longhorn Man]

it's not an odd ball, it was common back then.
The 305 was the base engine in the CM/KM model trucks.
If you tell them its a 66 model, then there computer should spit up the info they need.

[67_C-30]

I've never a had problem most anything for mine at a regular old Advance Auto Parts. It is in the computer, just make sure you get to the look it for a GMC and not a Chevy.


www.partsamerica.com is Advance's online website, and they have it listed as well. I bought a fuel for my dump truck a few months ago there.

[67_C-30]

P.S., there are some things that the parts store can't get anymore, but there is usually plenty of NOS stuff for them on ebay.

[Alaska_Ryan]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

it's not an odd ball, it was common back then.
The 305 was the base engine in the CM/KM model trucks.
If you tell them its a 66 model, then there computer should spit up the info they need.

Longhorn Man.....

as someone else suggested I did look up my 1969 vehicle on partsamerica.com and my engine does appears. However, the only distributors I can find are in the perforamce parts sections. I don't need a 300 distributor.

So, I tried your suggestion on the partsamerica website and used a 1966 instead of a 1969. sure enough it pulls up a distributor that looks very much like the one I need. However, why a '66? Why not a '67 or 68?

[67_C-30]

Originally Posted by Alaska_Ryan

Longhorn Man.....

as someone else suggested I did look up my 1969 vehicle on partsamerica.com and my engine does appears. However, the only distributors I can find are in the perforamce parts sections. I don't need a 300 distributor.

So, I tried your suggestion on the partsamerica website and used a 1966 instead of a 1969. sure enough it pulls up a distributor that looks very much like the one I need. However, why a '66? Why not a '67 or 68?

The computers in those parts stores are screwy sometimes. You can rest assured that the distributor is the same in '66 as '69. In '66, the V6 was the biggest option in a GMC truck. No V8 was even available. After the 67's came out, the V8's started taking over as the more popular engines. You see a lot more 60-66 trucks with V6's than 67 - 69's.

[68gmsee]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

it's not an odd ball, it was common back then.
The 305 was the base engine in the CM/KM model trucks.
If you tell them its a 66 model, then there computer should spit up the info they need.

It's an oddball "now" is what I meant... Sure there were a lot of them in some GMC trucks, buses and other work vehicles back in then but they're pretty scarce these days. A friend of mine and I went as far as Waco and Austin trying to find one some years back and couldn't find a single one.

[72armyswbtruck]

Another suggestion is a local John Deer or Farm Implement store. The V-6 305 was a pretty beafy, torqued engine that many used for irigation pumps on the farm.
Keep yours original in my opinion.
Odd ball equals cool.

[factorystock]

The deal on this engine is that it was designed in the late 50's when GMC's were known for building heavier duty engines than Chevrolet. GMC felt the mid50's GM V8's were not strong enough for heavy duty truck use and went with a heavy duty V6. Putting this engine(305) in a light duty pickup sounded good in 1960, but by the late 60's the market changed drastically,and was no longer practical. The larger versions 351, 401, and 478, were better suited in medium and heavy duty trucks.The V6 (351 and 478) were the first gas engines to be converted to diesel and had much better reputation than the 350 Olds. It is a unique piece of history,a time when a pickup truck had a truck engine.

[mr48chev]

There used to be a lot of them around here in the 60's as the farmers loved them because they have a lot of touque for towing and they will lug down and idle across a field in compound low without a fuss.
Around here when they die they are replaced with V8's 95 percent of the time if the truck isn't scrapped.

I don't know who you buy your parts from up there but usually NAPA or an independent is a better place to look for parts for something like this than NAPA takes care of a lot of the farm trade nation wide and is more apt to be able to source what you need.
If the engine needs serious internal work I think I would take a serious look at swapping to a V8 of your choice and make things a lot easier in the long run.
To be very honest the only reason I would keep the 305 V6 is if I was hellbent on keeping the truck 100% original and nothing else would do.

[Bob B.]

The reason I bought my '67 was for the 351 V-6. They are great engines, lots of low end torque, they have a unique sound to them, and you will not find a tougher gas engine. Parts are out there, you just have to look for them. The 6066 GMC website is great, they know the sources and have the know-how to help you rebuild a GMC V-6 or keep one going. The original Stromberg carburetors are tough to find and even get kits for now, but most V-6 owners change to a Holley 2 bbl.. They do like gasoline (I am lucky to get 10 m.p.g.) but they have low compression and high quality exhaust valves, so 87 octane is fine and no additives are needed. The GMC V-6 was a lot more common than a lot of people think, it is just that the V-6 was primarily a commercial truck and school bus engine (that right there sould tell you something about them!). Find a parts store that has an old-timer. You think convincing some punk at Auto-Zone you have a 305 V-6 is tough, try asking for 351 parts. No, it's not a Cleveland or a Windsor......

[Erl]

Go on the 60-66 GMC page and check out the Buick V6 distributor conversion that I designed. Do not waste your money on a stock points distributor. The HEI is a great improvement. I would also second Bob's recommendation to use the Holley carb.

[67_C-30]

You can modify a Buick unit like Erl's, but you can buy them now also.


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HEI-C...mZ370088476646

[BobS]

I've had good luck getting parts at NAPA, especially if the counter guy isn't afraid to open a parts book instead of relying on the computer.

Bob

[67_C-30]

Originally Posted by BobS

I've had good luck getting parts at NAPA, especially if the counter guy isn't afraid to open a parts book instead of relying on the computer.

Bob

If your Toroflow runs, I would LOVE to see a video of it. I've never heard one and really want to!

[BobS]

I didn't get a chance to try it out when I got it last fall. The place I got it from said that "It ran when we parked it." so I'll have to wait and see but I'm not holding my breath. At least there aren't any windows in the block. They do sound pretty cool when they're running!

Bob

[glimmertwin01]

Thanks for the tip guys... I am in the process of trying to revive a 68 K1500 305 V6 4 speed truck that turns but doesnt get any fire.
I went to Napa on line and found most all the parts for the ignition system there I just looked up a 1966 model year.
I will be replacing all the ignition system short of the Distributor itself as I am interested in the Buick evenfire swap after i get her home and operable...
Call me strange but I like "oddball" things.I look at it as a challenge since it is all original (and rusty) the only really bad thing is the Cab, and I have located a nice solid 68 Chev. 2WD cab... the other thing is the farmer replaced the seat with some seats from what looks to be an 80's fullsize Olds.... when she is running im gonna start a new thread.