3-53 GMC diesel in your truck?

[Erl]

Has anyone ever installed one of these 3-53 inline (Detroit Diesel)in a 67-72? My 68 Gmc service manual shows this motor in the frames that were delivered for box trucks (i.e., bread, delivery,..), plus lots of pictures and info on service. My Chevy manual also shows a diesel engine in the electrical diagrams, but no other mention. I wonder if the bell housing and trans will just bolt up?

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68 GMC 305V6 3/4 4x4 Stepside
54 Kaiser Darrin
Ducati Monster
Dallas TX

[68 Suburban]

Ohh, would that be cool!

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[tom hand]

103 horsepower at 2800 rpm, Wow I got to have one of those. I have never seen the truck setup but I have worked on a lot of those motors. On the back of the block there is an adapter to make it fit whatever you are bolting it to. It is very possible that GM made an adapter to make that motor bolt to a GM transmission, but you would have to find a truck that came with one to find out unless it is in that book you have. Also those motors are very tall,so just cause it fits a bread truck,does not mean you will be able to shut your hood. HAVE FUN!

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72 GMC Sierra SWB almost finished---- 84 Softail
Olive Branch MS

[MJN]

That just means you can have an excuse to get one of those cool cowl induction hoods to clear the motor!

[jku72]

These engines are loud. Very loud.
I still think, if your going to be a bear, be a grizzly, and go with a 6-71. In case you are slow in math, that is 426 cid.
And even louder.

[tom hand]

Wow a wopping 210 horsepower, no way you could ever fit a 6-71 in a truck unless you put it in the bed. LOL

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72 GMC Sierra SWB almost finished---- 84 Softail
Olive Branch MS

[Erl]

The reason I asked about the 3-53 specifically is it has the potential to drop right in. The 6-71 is huge and was never placed in a small truck.

[tom hand]

Hey Erl,I have been kidding around,but seriously unless somebody gives you one of these things,don't even think about putting one in your truck. [I wouldn't put one in if they gave it to me.] They are very old technoligy and don't match up to modern diesels. First the are exspensive,and parts are exspensive. Second they are huge and heavy,they fit in box type trucks,in a pickup you would probably need a 12" hood scoop. Third the have no power,the horsepower ratings I stated are true. People get blowers off this type of diesel to make horsepower on a gas motor,that is not why they are on detroits. The motor is 2 cycle,and the blower is just to scavage the exhaust. Being 2 cycle is also why they are so loud. They redline at about 3000 rpm,but since it fires every time the piston comes up it sounds like it is doing 6000 rpm. And they only like to run at full trottle so you will never hear your radio again. The main advantage to them is they will run about a million miles without touching them.


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72 GMC Sierra SWB almost finished---- 84 Softail
Olive Branch MS

[Baradium]

It'd be a good motor, you'd just want to use a good exhaust and have some really good sound proofing. Cummins 4bt or 6bt would probobly be a better idea.

[Erl]

Tom,
We are wanting to use the truck on the ranch. We have diesel in a large tank, no need to go to town. This engine had enough power to pull a bread truck, why not a farm truck. But, many of your observations are quite true. Just checking an idea out.

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68 GMC 305V6 3/4 4x4 Stepside
54 Kaiser Darrin
Ducati Monster
Dallas TX

[tom hand]

If you are just wanting to do the farm truck thing,go for it. Put a steep gear behind it and it will pull like crazy.The size of gear you can put behind it is only limited to the top speed you want to go. If you make it were it will realy pull hard it won't go very fast. It is governer controled so you canot over rev it This thing will run full trottle all day if your radiator is large enough. But I promise you if you have never been around one,it is probably the loudist motor on the planet.

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72 GMC Sierra SWB almost finished---- 84 Softail
Olive Branch MS



[This message has been edited by tom hand (edited May 15, 2002).]

[jku72]

I have alot of experience working with all series of dtroit diesels. They will last damn near forever, as long as you dont mind
a. going deaf
b. constant oil leaks
Since you are on a farm, have you ever considered burning vegitable oil? Biodiesel? It is a lot cheaper than than regular diesel, it is clean, can be made yourself, and does not involve funding any terrorist organizations.
If you really really wanted to be different, try a 16V-71!

[john]

There was a detroit dealer here that had two trucks with 3-53's in them in the sixties. I think they were 64 models. From what I remember they had a auxillary trans and they kept them on flat ground. You could hear them coming a couple blocks away. They did not have any mods to the hoods.

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67 SWB 350eng th400 3:07 posi tilt&tach PS/P/Disc Brakes old air a/c P/W keyless entry gaylord lid 70swb project truck 350/th400




[This message has been edited by john (edited May 15, 2002).]

[O'l Buck]

I've never seen them in 67-72s, but i know a guy in Colorado that has a 4-53 in a 86 1ton crew cab dually with a 3 speed front and a 5 speed brownie box behind it, way cool, i would like to do something like that with this old P O S 49 F#rd F-3 i have sitting out here. The 86 had to be modified a little to accomodate the hight of the engine and trannys, the floorboard was raised 2" from the frame, and he had to drop the tie rods and engine crossmember 2" if i remember right. Detroit Diesel in Salina Kansas did the install. I love the sound of those old screamin' jimmies!!!!

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