Trying out new camera, finally got around to a driving vid: Normal acceleration then a full throttle acceleration shifting at 3800 rpm and running up to 70mph.
I never knew a big block V6 existed until my father told me about the truck he drove at Foodmaker had those engines. His delivery truck had a 478 ci V6. It made many a trip up to Big Bear Lake and had no problems whatsoever climbing up highway 18 and 30 (now 330)! That V6 he said had the torque big time!!
Holy sh!!, I built a 4.3 V6 with a 3.875 inch stoke .40 over on the bore. The Brodix heads make it breath. It’s basically a 298 CI 4.3 v6. The thing is a torque pig. When I’m in the sand wash, I’m loping around 800 to 1400 RPMS and I give it throttle, it rapps up in a second, making roaster tails. It’s in a 2nd gen 2d 4runner with a 5 speed manual. Can’t wait to add a turbo with a conservative amount of boost. Reliable big fun. That big 478 would be so much fun in my vehicle. Torque is King👍
Love your truck! I am working on a similar project. I have a 1972 GMC 1/2-ton shortbed which I am going to swap in a 478 that I"ve had for a number of years. I put a small diameter steering wheel out of a 3rd-gen Z28 Camaro on it, and it improved the steering feel considerably. I love that you put a GearVendors behind the NP435. I have one on my Dodge Ram diesel with the NV4500, and it really gives the truck some legs for cruising. I am planning on putting a modern 6-speed manual behind the 478 when I put it in my truck, though.
This is a very nice truck you put together. This one you can actually use if it's an 8' bed. All the new stuff is just big open backed Suburbans to haul people at expensive pricing.
That truck could be had from the factory with smaller displacement V6's with the same external geometry, the big difference he points out is the 3" outlet exhaust manifolds. It's effectively a bolt-in.
Yes, it is wild. The 478 was used in class 8 truck tractors, GMC models from 6500 up to 9500, not sure on a low as 6500 series. On Long Island, NY, there was trucking company named Pinter, and Pinter had a fleet of single axle GMC tractors with the 478 V6, pulled tandem trailers. Green truck with red colored five cast spoke wheels. A friend of my family bought one used Pinter GMC 6500 series tractor, single drive axle, I think it was just for kicks. It was a god engine. From what I've read on Wikipedia, the 305, 351, 478 and 702 CID twin six, all shared a 3.58 in stroke CID V6's were from the same block, except the 702 CID V12, just look at the twin six, V12 with the heads removed, that is some cylinder wall thickness! Essentially what you had was an over square design on all where the bore was greater than the stroke. Only maybe 3 times did I see a GMC with the V12 gasoline engine, in the mid 1960's when I was in my early teens. It was used by Paragon Oil, which was bought by Texaco in the late 1950's. Paragon/Texaco ran some GMC 9500 series tandem tractors, red cab and silver colored six cast spoke wheels if I recall properly. They all had a nice smooth V12 sound but must've been just horrible on the mpg end pulling a 9,200 gallons tank trailer of no. 2-D Diesel oil! The tank trailer was colored a dark green. From the 478 CID V6, it had a big brother a, 637 CID V8 gasoline engine, with the same bore and stroke family as the 478 V6, sold back when gasoline was till cheap!
Yes, I can distinctly remember riding to school in a rear engined Blue Bird that had that sound too back in about 1975, I was always sitting right in the back.
That thing is sweet. Have a 305E in my 64 GMC. Plan on 351M heads and a 4 barrel and Maybe even a turbo eventually. lol Nice run! They're torque monsters.
Cool, I have a 1966 GMC 4x4 step side full size short window 305 v6 all original, air cleaner has the oil with steal wool type stuff for air cooling, needs work. Before I tear into it. Do you know what it is worth? And what it could be work rebuild like I want.
...roughly what is the gas mileage on those big V6 engines?...I love my '70 Chevy C20 with 292 inline six with 4 speed...torque is unbelievable...easily out pulls a SBC powered truck with a heavy load...but gets single digits for gas mileage, probably a 454 wouldn't use any more gas....
I get 15 mpg on the highway which is remarkable for such a big engine with so much torque, it's hardly working, big block V8's can't compare. I love it.
i know this video is a little older but i will comment anyways. i have a CDL and drive milk truck with an 18 speed. that transmission setup kind of reminds me of that. you have the ability to "split" gears. interesting
The 478 is slightly heavier, but the block, heads, crank, manifolds are essentially the same as the 305. No oil cooler needed, one of the best features of these engines is their high cooling capacity, I've never had any issues with overheating.
It's an aftermarket unit built by Gear vendors, it's like a two speed automatic, hydraulically actuated by it's own little oil pump. Very smooth shifting and no gear whine, splits the shifts up perfectly. They make adapters for all types of transmissions stick or auto.
That steering wheel and colum is from a C-6000 series, never installed in a pick up chassis. Makes me wonder if this truck is a conversion from a larger series, would also explain the big V 6 in the chassis.
@@frankwurth5375 Love those old V6s. You don’t see them much! Very cool. I did finally finish my ‘68 K20… stop by my channel and check it out! Love to hear from you! 🔧🇺🇸
@@martinbeckmann9376 duh I know _what_ was made. That doesn't explain why a 478 V-6 made more sense than a 478 V-8. What do you mean by "style of engine" anyway?
@@nthgth Not sure why six big pistons would make more sense than four smaller ones. I figure what he meant by "style" of engine was the same v angle, block thickness, height, valve train configuration, aspiration method and bolt pattern on the bell housing. Different engines with interchangeable parts to simplify inventory and improve manufacturing efficiency.
Oh God 😅 the 478 weighs enough. 637. That's like vids I've seen, guy's going to put a DT466 in his 3/4 or 1 ton, and another guy says things are gonna break, no way will it last as heavy as that thing is. Btw, I've read plenty of ppl post the same thing that in my head. What if the "twin six" V12 had been 2 478s instead of 2 351s. Oh we can dream 😁 accidentally found a video today, 3 engines, a GMC v12 but also a seagrave v12 906 cid, I had never seen that before, 1932 design, not a lot of HP
What transmission did you pair up to it? I was thinking about an engine swap into an old 64 pickup but wasn't sure if the sm420 would bolt up. What will work?
I never knew a big block V6 existed until my father told me about the truck he drove at Foodmaker had those engines. His delivery truck had a 478 ci V6. It made many a trip up to Big Bear Lake and had no problems whatsoever climbing up highway 18 and 30 (now 330)! That V6 he said had the torque big time!!
They sure do. I have the baby of the series....305E and it has great torque for it's size. Out pulled my 292 I6 any day.
I have never seen a V6 Big Block and I'm impressed. That looks sick!
Holy sh!!, I built a 4.3 V6 with a 3.875 inch stoke .40 over on the bore. The Brodix heads make it breath. It’s basically a 298 CI 4.3 v6. The thing is a torque pig. When I’m in the sand wash, I’m loping around 800 to 1400 RPMS and I give it throttle, it rapps up in a second, making roaster tails. It’s in a 2nd gen 2d 4runner with a 5 speed manual. Can’t wait to add a turbo with a conservative amount of boost. Reliable big fun. That big 478 would be so much fun in my vehicle. Torque is King👍
Definitely one of the coolest trucks on UA-cam.
I always liked the exhaust note on those big V6 GMC trucks. Remind me of my childhood hearing that school bus grinding up the hill to pick us up.
You can just barely see the speedo, she's getting after it.
Sound, color, and stock steering wheel, job very well done.
Very nice indeed! That overdrive is worth it's weight in gold!
Love your truck! I am working on a similar project. I have a 1972 GMC 1/2-ton shortbed which I am going to swap in a 478 that I"ve had for a number of years. I put a small diameter steering wheel out of a 3rd-gen Z28 Camaro on it, and it improved the steering feel considerably. I love that you put a GearVendors behind the NP435. I have one on my Dodge Ram diesel with the NV4500, and it really gives the truck some legs for cruising. I am planning on putting a modern 6-speed manual behind the 478 when I put it in my truck, though.
I remember as a kid i worked on a farm, anyway an old GMC dump truck had a V6 emblem on the hood, i was always baffled by that...
Nice video bud and truck. Seems like it gets up to speed pertty damn quick for a 3/4 ton.
HAPPY New year
Awesome! Never drove one however worked alongside of a few in the oil patch mid 1960s.
cool factor of this truck is awesome
all around love it
Them old GMC V6 engines we're tough as nails
It's an amazing engine. It's criminal that GM discontinued it. Imagine that block with all modern stuff on it.
That 478, at wide-open-throttle, sounds faintly like a Detroit 2-cycle diesel. Is this a coincidence or not? Hear all who come here.......
I agree, sometimes the exhaust note on gas v-6's does sound very similar to the Detroits.
hahaha, now i can't unhear that, good ear
noshsreqd looked like going into 3rd gear was with a lever? without accually manipulating the damn shifter? wtf
It has a gear vendors overdrive that is electrically actuated by the red button on the gearshift which lets me split the gears.
bigdaddy2001
That is just completely made up and untrue.
Who told you that ?
Google some pictures of GM engine blocks and you'l see.
This is a very nice truck you put together. This one you can actually use if it's an 8' bed. All the new stuff is just big open backed Suburbans to haul people at expensive pricing.
Beautiful truck and sounds awesome ! 😁👍
i just saw your other video of you doing the walk around that is one SWEET truck
Beautiful sounding truck!
So essentially, this huge V-6 bolted right in? Terrific upgrade. I'll bet the torque is impressive as hell, too. I love it!
They were around 440 torque stock.
That truck could be had from the factory with smaller displacement V6's with the same external geometry, the big difference he points out is the 3" outlet exhaust manifolds. It's effectively a bolt-in.
Very few of my generation know of the GMC v6. And 478 v6 thats wild man.
Yes, it is wild. The 478 was used in class 8 truck tractors, GMC models from 6500 up to 9500, not sure on a low as 6500 series. On Long Island, NY, there was trucking company named Pinter, and Pinter had a fleet of single axle GMC tractors with the 478 V6, pulled tandem trailers. Green truck with red colored five cast spoke wheels. A friend of my family bought one used Pinter GMC 6500 series tractor, single drive axle, I think it was just for kicks. It was a god engine. From what I've read on Wikipedia, the 305, 351, 478 and 702 CID twin six, all shared a 3.58 in stroke CID V6's were from the same block, except the 702 CID V12, just look at the twin six, V12 with the heads removed, that is some cylinder wall thickness! Essentially what you had was an over square design on all where the bore was greater than the stroke. Only maybe 3 times did I see a GMC with the V12 gasoline engine, in the mid 1960's when I was in my early teens. It was used by Paragon Oil, which was bought by Texaco in the late 1950's. Paragon/Texaco ran some GMC 9500 series tandem tractors, red cab and silver colored six cast spoke wheels if I recall properly. They all had a nice smooth V12 sound but must've been just horrible on the mpg end pulling a 9,200 gallons tank trailer of no. 2-D Diesel oil! The tank trailer was colored a dark green. From the 478 CID V6, it had a big brother a, 637 CID V8 gasoline engine, with the same bore and stroke family as the 478 V6, sold back when gasoline was till cheap!
That’s awesome! It’s pretty quick too.
What a sweet truck dude :)
Very Cool. It looks like a lot of fun.
Holy cow that thing SCOOTS 👌
They has a beautiful cab inside
that's an Awesome Build Bro
Nice job it sounds awesome 👍
Awesome truck!
Hay, that baby's got a really cool sounding exhaust note....
love to have it and some modern tweaks good luck
wow what a cool vid most people never heard of this engine.
sweet truck sir be blessed
Dang that's so super cool guy!!!
She's a beast!
Nice truck you got there. Wow.
That is POWER! That sounds almost like some of the GMC school buses I use to ride on as a youngster.
Yes, I can distinctly remember riding to school in a rear engined Blue Bird that had that sound too back in about 1975, I was always sitting right in the back.
Many buses from the 60's had those v-6 engines in them.
As a youngster, many of the transportation company’s older school buses were like that.
Love the 4+3 gears
Had a DH478 in a workboat,good engine.
Thats a nice heppy chebbie. Cool motor.
I am a Ford lover through and through but that’s badass
Sounds great! Sounds more like a inline 6 with a little v8 mixed in.
These engines are 60deg with 6 crank throws. That's why they're so smooth and have the I-6 sound.
Whoa. That torque gets you up to speed in a hurry.
That thing is sweet. Have a 305E in my 64 GMC. Plan on 351M heads and a 4 barrel and Maybe even a turbo eventually. lol Nice run! They're torque monsters.
updates to this build?
What a beast
cool truck and GMC v-6's rule, I have a couple of 401 and 351's
That is a beautiful truck!
Very nice!!
Love the bearfoot driving
BAREFOOTERS UNITE
Nice!
Had one in a one ton.Pulled great but had a hard time passing a gas station
Yes sir, hard pulling but very thirsty.
The trick with those is to keep the RPM's down. It gets 442 TQ at 1500 rpm.
Revving them up is like flushing a toilet...
@@DIVeltro hate to buy gas for one now.
I had a 478M v6 in my 7500 GMC. Boom truck. Allison automatic.
Excellent
Burned lots of gas.
Good engineering. Some nascars classes run big cube v6’s
Very nice
that 478 sounds awesome! what rpm is it running at 70mph with the overdrive on?
It's turning about 2500, has a 4.10 rear.
not bad. very cool truck!
tyler geipel Good for my local mountain roads where the limits are all 60 or less, if I spent a lot of time on interstates I'd step it up a bit more.
@@noshsreqd late to the game here🤣 what rpms do you rev to
Cool!
Did you rebuild your 478? What did you do about head gaskets...I am in need of some for a 351?
Cool, I have a 1966 GMC 4x4 step side full size short window 305 v6 all original, air cleaner has the oil with steal wool type stuff for air cooling, needs work. Before I tear into it. Do you know what it is worth? And what it could be work rebuild like I want.
A lot
That more than double the new Tundra engine.
Bet it lasts three times as long under the same load.
2:08 ....................... pure music!
...roughly what is the gas mileage on those big V6 engines?...I love my '70 Chevy C20 with 292 inline six with 4 speed...torque is unbelievable...easily out pulls a SBC powered truck with a heavy load...but gets single digits for gas mileage, probably a 454 wouldn't use any more gas....
I get 15 mpg on the highway which is remarkable for such a big engine with so much torque, it's hardly working, big block V8's can't compare. I love it.
sweet
those full throttle shifts sound like mortar fire lol
I reckon I know how to shift a 4speed! Wts the truck look like?????
Sa-weeeet !
👍👍
🤠👍
I just found out this thing even ezisted today. And if gotta say that a 7.8L v6 is a stramge concept
Yes those engines were built for power bet that will pull a trailer!
Awesome, where did you find this rare engine?
does the overdrive unit automatically shift back to direct on your upshifts?
no
I have 2. A 305 and a 351E magnum
i know this video is a little older but i will comment anyways. i have a CDL and drive milk truck with an 18 speed. that transmission setup kind of reminds me of that. you have the ability to "split" gears. interesting
How heavy is it compared to the v6 305? Did you need to put in the oil cooler?
The 478 is slightly heavier, but the block, heads, crank, manifolds are essentially the same as the 305. No oil cooler needed, one of the best features of these engines is their high cooling capacity, I've never had any issues with overheating.
Cool! Thot blocks might be similar. I drove a 478 for a while and it needed the oil cooler, but that was in an H80! Good luck with your awesome ride.
@@noshsreqd Damn that's cool. No oil cooler. No balance shaft. It's making me rethink my goal of having a GMC S15 with a 5.7L in it.
Did I hear gear vender over drive?
Wow! What a great truck ! What mufflers are you running?
They are a Walker industrial muffler 3" straight through.
Tell me what the 2 speed is out of? Never saw a 2 speed in a pickup, but i like it !!!
It's an aftermarket unit built by Gear vendors, it's like a two speed automatic, hydraulically actuated by it's own little oil pump. Very smooth shifting and no gear whine, splits the shifts up perfectly. They make adapters for all types of transmissions stick or auto.
HP & torque on the stock 478 are nearly identical to the 460 Ford & 440 Mopar engines that were used in big motor homes from the 70's.
What kind of heat/air controls are you using?
No A/C so just the basic style with the fan switch on the air control slide.
Nice truck! Is that steering wheel an original or a reproduction? I would like to have one for my '68!
That steering wheel and colum is from a C-6000 series, never installed in a pick up chassis. Makes me wonder if this truck is a conversion from a larger series, would also explain the big V 6 in the chassis.
@@frankwurth5375 Love those old V6s. You don’t see them much! Very cool.
I did finally finish my ‘68 K20… stop by my channel and check it out! Love to hear from you! 🔧🇺🇸
You still got that GMC? If so, more videos please! I’d like to know more about those V6s! 🔧
I never knew such a large displacement V-6 existed! Awesome truck and gear setup.
I wonder why these were developed as sixes instead of V-8s?
That style of engine came as V8 and V12 too. Just added cylinders. Google.
@@martinbeckmann9376 duh I know _what_ was made. That doesn't explain why a 478 V-6 made more sense than a 478 V-8. What do you mean by "style of engine" anyway?
@@nthgth style , as in easy to replicate by using same , but less parts for different engine sizes. GM pinches pennies.
These v6 engines are cool like the way they sound
@@nthgth Not sure why six big pistons would make more sense than four smaller ones. I figure what he meant by "style" of engine was the same v angle, block thickness, height, valve train configuration, aspiration method and bolt pattern on the bell housing. Different engines with interchangeable parts to simplify inventory and improve manufacturing efficiency.
Something done to the shifter? Never seen such a precise short throw NP
No, just the stock setup. Nice and tight yet, not much wear.
Hello what does the exterior look like.!!
Check my other videos.
That thing has got to have a stupid amount of torque
Lot's of low end grunt, it'll lug right down to 800 rpm and keep pulling! 440ftlb@1400rpm.
You need a NV4500.
Killer!Usually those truck's came with a 366 v8.I'd say a 478 v6 is a powerful engine.
Electric overdrive?
They put 478 in 2 ton trucks. I seen one in a grain truck
I am so envious. Where on earth did you find a 478 though, I have been searching high and low for a 401 or 478
+John Kelly The 6066 GMC site has them pop up. I'd join and search there.
same here. you can find the 305s easy
They're around, keep a watch on craigslist, that's where I usually see them. A lot of the late sixties tandem gmc trucks had them.
John Kelly I have several big V6 engines out of grain trucks, 351, 401 all gm
Dave salmon, where are they located?
Nice truck you got there. What's the max rpm on the gauge?
The factory GM tach goes up to 5000, I don't think the 478 would be very happy up there!
Hahaha! It's still a good truck, though.
@@noshsreqd I could imagine the sound with 8 little idepent carbs with little velocity stacks reving out to 5 or 6 grand😬
Needs a 637 swap then be perfect
Oh God 😅 the 478 weighs enough. 637. That's like vids I've seen, guy's going to put a DT466 in his 3/4 or 1 ton, and another guy says things are gonna break, no way will it last as heavy as that thing is. Btw, I've read plenty of ppl post the same thing that in my head. What if the "twin six" V12 had been 2 478s instead of 2 351s. Oh we can dream 😁 accidentally found a video today, 3 engines, a GMC v12 but also a seagrave v12 906 cid, I had never seen that before, 1932 design, not a lot of HP
What transmission did you pair up to it? I was thinking about an engine swap into an old 64 pickup but wasn't sure if the sm420 would bolt up. What will work?
Mine has a NP435 which was stock for the 1968 model, the '67 and prior trucks used the SM420, there is a slight difference in bell housing bores.
I could be wrong, but I thought the SM465 was the replacement for the SM420 in light duty trucks. NP435 was a medium duty truck transmission.
It was but for some reason they used the NP435 with the V-6's. Mine is a 3/4 ton too if that has anything to with it.
Super sweet truck by the way. Would much prefer your truck to anything made since 1979 to today.
TORQUE!!!
So i gather this isn't the toro-flow version which would sound louder.
Saul Uribe no this is a gas motor
I wear socks... but w/e works.
take it as fast as it can go
No shoes eh? 👌
I dont get it ..I was waiting for something to happen in this video.
Even 4 stroke diesels sounded better back then.
Sounds like an old cummins somehow