This is a proud moment at BangShift Eastern World HQ because my seven year old literally found this truck for sale on eBay. We were chatting yesterday and he mentioned that he had seen an old truck on eBay with the engine from a crane in it. The mental record playing in my head skipped, time slowed down, and I said, “Ummm…come at me with that again?” So Tom replied, “Yeah, it is an orange 4×4 with a diesel engine from a crane…” I grabbed the lap top and we went trolling together until we found the truck you see below, which is the one that he had found on his own earlier in the day. This is a truck of great contrast. It has elements we love and some that we’d change immediately upon taking ownership. The bottom line is that we may not 100% love what the truck is currently but we can certainly see the bones for something we could love when we were done with it.
Things we love? How about the color, condition of the body, huge ass Tulsa hydraulic winch in the front bumper that has the pulling power to move mountains, general lift, and the capper. Said capper is the engine, which as we mentioned above is a Detroit Diesel removed from a crane and coupled to the SM420 four speed transmission that the truck came home from the factory with. The engine is an odd ball and not just because it is a Detroit Diesel jammed into a pickup. This is a 3-71 Detroit meaning that it is a three cylinder engine with each hole displacing 71ci. The seller says that the engine is supercharged, which is a common misconception that we have long battled here. The blower on the engine is just that. It is not boosting the engine, it is moving fresh air into the cylinders so that this thing will run. This is a non-turbocharged engine so it does not make a whole lot of power, but that wouldn’t really bug us once due to the fact that it has to sound so good. Also, a turbo could be added to this setup and the power increase would be substantial (but still not total powerhouse level).
What would we change? Wheels and tires would get swapped minutes after we got the truck into our hands. We’d swap in the Chevy grill and light bezels, and we’d put a Gear Vendors in it because right now with the engine governed at 2250 RPM, top speed is a blazing 55-mph. A Gear Vendors would crank the top end up to a more highway friendly number and splitting gears would help the spreads in the SM420 as well.
Overall, this strikes us as a super clean truck with a pro-level engine swap and all the right elements to tweak into a really boss rig. Whaddya say? Cool or not?
Scroll down to see photos and the eBay link with more photos and info (and a few comedic misspellings…wench)
eBay Find: 1964 Chevy With Detroit 3-71 engine
Wow, cool truck! I’d keep the Jimmy grille, ’cause you don’t see as many these days. I’d definitely replace those gangster wheels with a set of 16″ white painted, factory-style rims & mounted with old Co-Op Grip Spurs or a similar tire
Got a 3-71 setting my shop. Thought my Toyota PU would cry when I hauled it home in the bed. Really heavy!!
NEAT. Ditch the wheels. needs factory steel and caps. find a turbo.
I knew a fellow who put a 3-71 in a 70 Ford F-350. He ran a Clark 5 speed behind it into a 4 speed auxiliary. It was not fast, but it sure was loud.
I would keep the GMC grill, so I could put landing lights in the high beams.
As your sons get writing assignments in school, you will be called in by teachers who will have NO idea what they are writing about.
It’s gorgeous, except for the god-awful rims. Lose them, keep the GMC grill, and add a turbo. Maybe an overdrive to get it over 55, and I’d drive it anywhere. 🙂
And I’d need a heater too.
What? Ya a wimp or something? Can’t stand driving in -20 weather? 🙂
Since the trans is separate from the t-case, it would probably be easier to swap in a nv4500 rather than a gear vendors. Between the trans and transfer case, not enough room with out changing to a married unit. Also it is likely the trans is a sm435, If memory serves, the 420 was earlier 60-61 or so behind 235. Wheels would have to go as would the GMC hood, like the chevy unit better, indifferent over grill, but prefer 63′ chevy over the rest.Old school slot mags would be my choice for wheels, but I would drive it just like it is, gangster wheels and all.
The SM420 was used through 1967 and then the 465 followed it. There is a New Process 435 but that was used on a limited basis in GM trucks between 1968 and 1972.
My 1965 C50 had a 420 in it and my 1968 C50 has a 465 in it. I do like you idea of the NV4500 better!
The only thing of social redeeming value is it’s diesel powered. Even then it loses point because of the Detroit diesel.
Tragic wheels on a terrific truck!
I love it! Makes me miss my 1960, longbed step side. The Detroit is the icing on the cake!
The whole truck looks good the way it is just add a turbo and the GV unit and its good!!
While I love Detroits (I personally put almost 400k miles on a 318/13 speed) ask any driver/operator that had to drive/operate anything with a 53 series Detroit after 8-10 hours of listening to the whine from the straight cut 2 lobe rotors gets really old.
GMC grill always wins out over the Chevy