New mill for the wrecker...

[towcat]

I voted some time ago but didn't really have much to say then. Gotta question, what kind of backend does the wrecker have? Mech or Hyd? I used to babysit a fleet of Chevs for my uncle when SB's were plentiful and before the time of the original "superduty". Everthing that cleared Lein with a SB got run, comp'd, tagged and yanked. Problem is today there aren't that many SB's anymore and the interchangability has went down the drain. If your vortecs don't have cracked heads, put one back together and run it. But keep your eyes open for another. Oh yea, if you running a stick behind the vortec, start hunting for a 350 flywheel. Bolt pattern is different from earlier gen and the 350 flywheel(unbalanced) is pretty tough to come by. There's alot of 305's around but they're balanced and you don't want to find out the hard way when you fire the whole thing up.

 

[PackRat]

Thanks Towcat. I appreciate your thoughts, coming from another draft horse driver.

My rig is an 82 GMC C-30, with Century 442xl, and a Formula I. The rig was originally a 6.2, and I think when it blew up, they dropped in a junkyard 350, to peddle it. It ran pretty good, when I got it, but just hasn't showed the staying power of my previous SBC's.

Actually, I already have the flywheel. Did some research, and found that a 1-piece rear main 350 flywheel will work, and I think mine came from an 86 or 87. The one I'm building, is a 350 Vortec, so the problems associated with a SB2 won't bother me. Except having to plumb in an electric fuel pump.

I've never heard anything about the Vortec heads being prone to cracks. In fact, a friend of mine is running a basically stock set, on his IMCA modifed, and is very happy with them. Claims they run noticeably better than center-bolt heads, that have been worked.

I know what you mean about getting scarce. The bigggest share of the racers around here, are running SBC's, so most of the good ones have been gotten. I've got a couple old 4-bolt 350 blocks, and a complete TBI 350, just for backup.

Actually, I've been looing for a rollback, to replace my 79 C-30 ramp truck. Since I got it, I haven't used the twinline nearly as much. I think a rollback would be even handier.

 

[towcat]

Actually, I've been looing for a rollback, to replace my 79 C-30 ramp truck. Since I got it, I haven't used the twinline nearly as much. I think a rollback would be even handier.

Buy my rollback Its listed in the FS section
If it wasn't for the insurance, I'd keep it around for being an oversized pickup. For the utility value around a property, I love my wheellift truck tho. the "mobile crane" feature has gotten the heck used out of it. Engine pulls and stabs are made easier and the diesel exhaust helps everybody work faster. But for moneymaking in hauling just about anything I can get on the deck, you can't beat a rollback. Gonna miss the rollback tho. But the refitted F350 CC is starting to grow on me too.

 

[PackRat]

Thanks for the offer, but I'm going to stick with GM, unless I can find a Cummins in my price range.
, like that's gonna happen.

That twinline, with the independent wheellift is great. Wish I had pics of me and the City Supr resetting the wall that blew down, when the restaraunt was being rebuilt. He had the C65 digger truck on one end, and me, with my lil ole tonner, on the other. My end was easier to set, because I could hold it up, with the winches, and swing it out, with the crossbar.

This old ramp truck I have is a Herrin Welding Service bed, which doesn't work bad, for an antique. The pullout ramps are a real back saver. At some point, the upper winch was removed, so I have to snatch block the front of the headrack, to load long vehicles.

I'm adding a few pics of the wreckers to my Garage, shortly, just for a few laughs.

 

[towcat]

I too was a hardcore GM guy. never liked what the front ends of Fords were doing when loaded or unloaded. My first wrecker was a '76 chev 1ton with a Holmes 440 on the back. It was setup as a mountain truck tho. 454, 4speed w/granny low, and a 4.56 rear. that beast could climb up the side of a building but topped out at 50mph and had a unending romance with a gas pump. Unfortunately after driving my first F450, I knew its days were numbered. Stopping was consistent, romancing the pumps were a thing of the past and unlike the HD3500, the strength of the frame was unreal. Guess I had to change with the times. I do still have a chev 1ton that I am still babysitting tho. Its been treated to a major lowering job and got a Eagle EB1 mounted on its butt. Its mainly used to grab cars out of parking gararges that most trucks can't even think about approaching.

 

[rubberfish]

I'm adding a few pics of the wreckers to my Garage, shortly

Let me know when man, I'd like to see them.
I had the same truck Towcat had, the '76

Ah, never mind, I just saw them.

 

[towcat]

Hey, you guys signed onto www.tow411.net ? If not, you should be. I don't post much there but I do hang out in the vintage section. kewl old trucks I'd post my a pic of my '54 there but I know some smartass will find the wife pics again.

 

[dazedandconfused]

If you put a Gen1 or 2 in there and keep the 4:56's
I think you'd be lucky to hit 70mph.
What's in your crossbreed for gears?

If you put the Gen1 in with those gears you will kill that engine quickly! You would be lucky to see more like 55 or 60! My crossbreed I had was equiped with 4.10's at first and would not run over 63MPH. Installed 3.07's and whe would run 100MPH+! Had it up to a little over 120 and was getting scared! :Sly

Andy

 

[towcat]

weedeater post......

Here's a recover picset from Fitzgerald's towing in TX. This should bring back warm memories for us Chev 1ton drivers Oh yea, the reason why he used the little chev rather than the kodiak was the 1ton had a 20k winch on it. He also triple lined it too. Scotch blocks were the only items anchoring the little truck down.

 

[PackRat]

Not to be picky, but I'd say, that is a 3/4t, with duals. Notice the front wheels.

Still very impressive, for no more than he was working with.

 

[Pacific]

That little Chev did pretty good yanking out that Cat 14 grader those are pretty heavy machines. I don't think any of the tow guys here would tempt something like that we would probably use a tandem axle gravel truck with a load in it or a 4x4 rubber tired backhoe.

Most auto wreckers in this area don't keep 350 Chevys very long they are in such a demand people buy them up by the dozen. The rebuild shops are having a heck of a time finding rebuildable engines.

 

[adrianspeeder]

Not to be picky, but I'd say, that is a 3/4t, with duals. Notice the front wheels.

Could be a different front axle than the origional???

I love pics of old tow trucks, GIMME MORE!!!

Adrianspeeder

 

[towcat]

Could be a different front axle than the origional???

I love pics of old tow trucks, GIMME MORE!!!

Adrianspeeder

drop by www.tow411.net and look up the vintage forum. But before going, take a look at these relics,the flame job truck is Packrat's and the red one is mime.

 

[PackRat]

Relic?!?! What u callin a relic, fella? :draw


For a truck that cost me less than a grand to build, including the truck, I'd say it has served me pretty well.

Been thinking about putting some newer running gear under it, though.

TC, is yours a 54, or a 55 1st series?

 

[PackRat]

Could be a different front axle than the origional???

I love pics of old tow trucks, GIMME MORE!!!

Adrianspeeder

I could be wrong, but it doesn't look heavy enough to be a Dana 60, which would make it a Dana 44. Therefore, it would be a 3/4t, unless someone took 3 steps back, be swapping one under it.