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Jan. 19, 2010 7:46 p.m. JThw8 SuperDork

So, I've been casually looking at dually trucks to extend my towing capability. My tow vehicle spends most of its time sitting so I dont mind big and thirsty.

I stumbled across this add tonite and I just have to say WTF?

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/cto/1554338010.html

1984 CHEVY 1 TON DUALLY PICK-UP !!!! NEW CRATE 6 CYLINDER GAS MOTOR WITH 24K!! 292CID, MANY NEW PARTS. RUNS GREAT, AUTO, $2000 OR BEST OFFER, CALL ASK FOR PAUL

A 1 ton dually with a 6 cyl? I know the truck straight 6s have all kinds of happy torque and stuff but seriously.
Jan. 19, 2010 7:50 p.m. ignorant SuperDork

The F350 was available with the 300ci six. Supposedly they were also used in dumptrucks in the 70's. Imagine 20klbs being dragged around by a 6 gasser..... Ugh.
Jan. 19, 2010 8:08 p.m. JThw8 SuperDork

ignorant wrote:

The F350 was available with the 300ci six. Supposedly they were also used in dumptrucks in the 70's. Imagine 20klbs being dragged around by a 6 gasser..... Ugh.

Actually I drove 1.5 ton flatbeds in the military powered by the straight 6, slow as all hell but they would move anything we needed to move.

Thanks for the flashback ;)
Jan. 19, 2010 8:12 p.m. Ian F Dork

My guess: loooooooow gearing...
Jan. 19, 2010 8:14 p.m. Toyman01 Dork

The company I worked for in high school had a bunch of medium duty Chevy bucket trucks with that engine. They wouldn't get to 60 in a hurry, but they would get there. Not that I would buy one.

I've been looking for a International with the DT466.
Jan. 19, 2010 8:25 p.m. Gearheadotaku HalfDork

yep, those 292's were great engines. A 1984 model may be a bit choked, and an auto trans won't help. Had a '70 Suburban with one mated to a Muncie 465 trans (4-speed w/ granny low). Manual steering and brakes too. Anyhow, the 292 was a medium duty engine (think dump truck, bus, etc) UPS loved these things. Low speed torque, run forever. Sort of like driving a diesel engine.
Jan. 19, 2010 8:35 p.m. JThw8 SuperDork

not really considering that one. I have a line on a 93 quad cab dually with the 454 in trade for my z56 Tahoe that is a front runner right now.
Jan. 19, 2010 9:05 p.m. wlkelley3 HalfDork

Yeah, those sixes would pull almost anything from a stop. Real torque monsters. Just wouldn't sustain any speed with a load. You could do the quarter with a calender.
Jan. 19, 2010 9:29 p.m. Drewsifer Reader

I think the 5 tons the Army still has floating around is a really big six. Got one up to I think 60 once, i thought the whole thing was going to explode.
Jan. 19, 2010 9:33 p.m. Junkyard_Dog HalfDork

6=8
Jan. 19, 2010 9:39 p.m. Nashco SuperDork

Another "WTF Truck?" one that I've seen is Chevy trucks with a 4.3 V6 and TH400 trans. Seriously...who was ordering a truck with the 4.3 V6 and thought the TH350 just wasn't a robust enough transmission for the 4.3???

Bryce
Jan. 19, 2010 9:43 p.m. Toyman01 Dork

If my memory serves me right the 292 came with a forged bottom end. Can anyone say Turbo.
Jan. 19, 2010 9:50 p.m. patgizz Dork

i had a 292 for a project, it got stolen from the garage it was at.

pissed me right off, i had a big T04E for it.

i drive a 1990 C3500 chevy extended cab with a 454 and sm465 manual - awesome tow rig. the big block will pull a house off its foundation in low and it will pull at 80mph all day long.
Jan. 19, 2010 9:56 p.m. neon4891 SuperDork

ignorant wrote:

The F350 was available with the 300ci six. Supposedly they were also used in dumptrucks in the 70's. Imagine 20klbs being dragged around by a 6 gasser..... Ugh.

The 300/6 was the Best thing about my old F-150. If I can find a Bronco with that engine,
Jan. 19, 2010 10:09 p.m. Streetwiseguy New Reader

Our 63 GMC grain truck had 292 in it. 60 mph was absolutly the fastest your ears could stand it, but I once hauled 499 bushels of barley in it. Barley is 48 pounds per bushel=23,952 pounds. Plus the weight of the truck.

Might have been a bit over the recommended load limit on the tires.....
Jan. 20, 2010 2:31 a.m. MitchellC Dork

When I think "work truck," I think beater I6 F150 with a manual and long bed. They can be had all day for about a grand.
Jan. 20, 2010 5:56 a.m. volvoclearinghouse New Reader

Its not how many cylinders you have its the displacement that matters. A 292 cu inch engine is damn close to 5 liters. But you wouldn't think twice about towing with a Ford with a 302 v-8. Plus, inline 6's are inherently smooth and torquey. Why do you think the Cummins engine is so popular? Granted, they are 360 cu inch...and turbo...

If you're not going a lot of miles, I'd probably rule out a diesel. I love mine, but I average about 10K miles/year. If I were only doing 5K or less, I'd go with a big old gas-sucking pig with a big block. I've seen big block Suburbans going for less than a grand, in running condition. If you need 'em, and are willing to pay for the gas, there's some bargains out there, thanks to the idiots who bought one and don't really need it as bad as they thought they did.
Jan. 20, 2010 7:14 a.m. tuna55 HalfDork

I6s are not inherently torquey. For the record. But you are right, a 292 is a pretty big engine, who cares how many cylinders?
Jan. 20, 2010 7:20 a.m. JThw8 SuperDork

volvoclearinghouse wrote:

If you're not going a lot of miles, I'd probably rule out a diesel. I love mine, but I average about 10K miles/year. If I were only doing 5K or less, I'd go with a big old gas-sucking pig with a big block. I've seen big block Suburbans going for less than a grand, in running condition. If you need 'em, and are willing to pay for the gas, there's some bargains out there, thanks to the idiots who bought one and don't really need it as bad as they thought they did.

This plus the cost factor is what will probably keep me in a gasser if I switch up. Honestly there's nothing wrong with the Tahoe and I dont think we'll ever exceed its capabilities for towing. But every once in awhile I get to dreaming/looking at 28' car haulers with built ins and think that I'd love to have one at the right price but I wouldn't pull it behind the Tahoe.

There's something to be said for the open bed too.
Jan. 20, 2010 6:05 p.m. ignorant SuperDork

tuna55 wrote:

I6s are not inherently torquey. For the record.

correct. It's about Stroke.....
Jan. 20, 2010 6:25 p.m. kreb Dork

I've got a fleet of 300 CI sixes. Great freaking engine. Built like a rock. Weighs more than a big block
Jan. 20, 2010 6:29 p.m. ignorant SuperDork

my buddy had an old e150 with a 4spd and 300 6. It was an awesome engine.

Maybe the new 3.7 ecoboost in the F150 will be reminiscent of the old inline... Welll.. I can dream I guess.
Jan. 20, 2010 7:02 p.m. Spinout007 HalfDork

ignorant wrote:

correct. It's about Stroke.....

We are talking about motors right
Jan. 20, 2010 7:05 p.m. EvanB HalfDork

Nashco wrote:

Another "WTF Truck?" one that I've seen is Chevy trucks with a 4.3 V6 and TH400 trans. Seriously...who was ordering a truck with the 4.3 V6 and thought the TH350 just wasn't a robust enough transmission for the 4.3???

Bryce

I had one of those, an ex-county truck. It was no fun on the highway without overdrive.
Jan. 21, 2010 10:06 a.m. Vigo Reader

Ive seen early Cummins trucks for under 2k down here..

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