Toro Flow Diesel - what do you think?

[GMCMG]

Hello, all!
I have not been on in a while - been busy. However - busy or not - something caught my eye today and I had to take a few minutes.
This is it: 1966 GMC 4000 rollback (implement bed), V6 Toro Flow Diesel, 132k miles, really quite good shape. Some rust low on fenders and doors, a lot less than on a pickup, maybe a little more than normally on a larger chassis - but it's in MO.
I will be heading back to it tomorrow to hear it run, play with it. It is supposedly in excellent driving condition. The bed is much newer and in very good condition.
I have wanted a rollback for some years. I tend to buy a lot of cars/trucks I don't need (lawn ornaments), and wanted a rollback for hauling. I LOVE 60-66 GMCs (I have 4 Chevy/GMCs of that era now), so that's another plus. Further, I am a diesel lover (my 64 GMC build will be a 6.2 diesel - purists don't kill me!), and my work trucks are 01 Duramax and 84 6.2. Given, the toro flow wasn't a spectacular diesel, but it is somewhat rare.
I really want this truck, but my wife will probably kill me. The owner wants $4k for it. Should I be considering it at all? What is it really worth? My friends here at work have voted against it (too much money - they are not old truck lovers). Any opinions either way, comments, information (I know little of the toro-flows except that they weren't great engines), etc. is appreciated. I have looked all over 6066gmcguys site. I don't have any pictures, but will try to get some tomorrow to post. Thanks!!

[61_FL_Apache]

Sounds like a fun project. I didnt know about those engines at all. Would it be worth restoring the engine that is in there now?

[GMCMG]

Originally Posted by 61_FL_Apache

...Would it be worth restoring the engine that is in there now?

That was what I was wondering. Unlike my 64 project pickup (no engine when I got it), I would keep this as original as possible - and it is complete with factory everything as far as I know - even a custom cab! But I don't know how rare/valuable/difficult to find parts/etc. the toro flow engines are.

[61_FL_Apache]

I would do some more research to see if it would be worth keeping. Im gonna look around too to learn more about them.

[61_FL_Apache]

Here is a little info I found so far. There are some other forums listed here too. Hope it helps.

http://pardo.net/bus-0099/Engines/Diesel.html

http://www.thedieselgarage.com/forum...ad.php?t=17056

http://www.factoryautomanuals.com/p-...ce-manual.aspx

http://www.smokstak.com/forum/showthread.php?t=74397

[vin63]

Originally Posted by GMCMG

That was what I was wondering. Unlike my 64 project pickup (no engine when I got it), I would keep this as original as possible - and it is complete with factory everything as far as I know - even a custom cab! But I don't know how rare/valuable/difficult to find parts/etc. the toro flow engines are.

The Toro-Flow engines were not very desirable. As a kid, I remember my uncle spending a lot of time on side jobs replacing the Toro-Flow engines with gas engines (he was a GM mechanic). If you can restore it and get it running, it would be quite the novelty/conversation piece.

[61_FL_Apache]

Originally Posted by vin63

If you can restore it and get it running, it would be quite the novelty/conversation piece.

Thats what I was thinking too.

[aerotruk63]

I see shop manuals for Toro Flow diesel's on ebay all the time. Nice to have if you keep the original motor around.

[jonzcustomshop]

http://www.6066gmcguy.org/ has this info:

http://www.6066gmcguy.org/toroflow.htm

[jonzcustomshop]

curious about the emblems.. if you can take a pic.
in 66 gmc went to square letters in the grille, I am wondering if the 66 gmc 4000 side emblems have the square letters, (one pictured has the round letters), also take a pic of the toro flow emblems if it still has them.!

[andyh1956]

so the "toro flow" diesel is a 53 series? nothing at all wrong with a 53 Detroit. "53" means 53 cu in per cyl. they are two stroke, no intake valves with unit style injectors. they are wet liners, and the military even had some with aluminum blocks. i don't know about the inline engines but the v6s were available turbo charged. i would love to hear you drive by in that truck hauling a '64 back to the house! keep us posted!
andy

[duallyjams]

With today diesel tech you can make it run better today then when it was new.Look at the few changes you can make to the GMC v6 that makes a big difference in how it runs.

[GMCMG]

Sorry it took so long, but here are some pics. Unfortunately, it is only an implement bed - tilt, but no rollback. So that knocks it down the desire a little bit for me, but I'm still giving it serious thought. It is a custom cab! Anyway, on to the photos:

[KQQL IT]

OHHHH what a beautiful music a 4/53 makes.... a friend has 12V71 at 2500 rpms sounds awesome

[jonzcustomshop]

that thing is cool. thanks for the emblem pics!
amazed by haw many big truck custom cabs there are...

[factorystock]

Buy it, that is a rare find, custom cab too! Hard to find one that is running condition complete. Looks great just the way it is. Most are beat up and used up having had a tough working life. We are talking about the GMC V6 gas engines that were converted to diesel, the 351 and 478, not 2 cylce Detroit V6's. The engines were fine when installed in a truck with less that 26,00 GVW, but when installed in heavier trucks, they had durability problems. I personally think it should have been offered in a pickup, but the market was just not there in the mid 60's.

[andyh1956]

ok the engine that is in the truck piks is not a 53 series. as a matter of fact, it is not even a detroit two stroke at all. in the pik you can see fuel lines going to what may be the injectors, and looks like a scalloped rocker cover. two stroke detroits do not have fuel lines or a central fuel injection pump. i am at a loss as to what this engine is. if it is a "toro flow" i will have to do some research on it. having said that, i am a sucker for all kinda odd ball engines & probably would have to take it home. it does have twin straights! really cool truck!
andy

[andyh1956]

ok found some info. it seems it is CONVERTED GAS ENGINE.

GMC V6 engine
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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GMC Truck produced a unique 60° V6 engine from 1960 through 1978. The engine was available in 305, 351, 401 and 478-cubic-inch (5.0, 5.8, 6.6, and 7.8 L) versions. In late production there was also a 432-cubic-inch (7.1 L) version with enlarged crankshaft journals. GMC also made a 637-cubic-inch (10.4 L) 60° V8 with twin balance shafts using the same general layout as the 305. Finally, there was a 702-cubic-inch (11.5 L) "Twin Six" V12, which was basically two 351s placed end-to-end with a common block and crank. A Diesel version was called the ToroFlow.

[andyh1956]

ok here is a link to a photo post of a toro flow outta the truck - you can see it good. the intakes are on the outside of the heads where you would normally see the exhaust manifolds. what kinda drugs do you have to take to dream something like this up?

http://rides.webshots.com/album/549527781CWBNyJ

[vin63]

Originally Posted by andyh1956

...you can see it good. the intakes are on the outside of the heads where you would normally see the exhaust manifolds. what kinda drugs do you have to take to dream something like this up?

Interestingly, that is how the induction of the 4.5L "baby" Duramax was going to be - a transverse configuration with the intake on the outside of the cylinder heads, but with the exhaust on the lifter valley side for a more compact routing of the exhaust for the turbo. And, yes, the Toro-Flow was not the Detroit Diesel platform.

[Captainfab]

Both the intake and exhaust are on the outside of the heads. That is just strange.......

Originally Posted by andyh1956

ok here is a link to a photo post of a toro flow outta the truck - you can see it good. the intakes are on the outside of the heads where you would normally see the exhaust manifolds. what kinda drugs do you have to take to dream something like this up?

http://rides.webshots.com/album/549527781CWBNyJ

[jonzcustomshop]

Originally Posted by jonzcustomshop

http://www.6066gmcguy.org/ has this info:

http://www.6066gmcguy.org/toroflow.htm

Originally Posted by andyh1956

ok found some info. it seems it is CONVERTED GAS ENGINE.

GMC V6 engine
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search

GMC Truck produced a unique 60° V6 engine from 1960 through 1978. The engine was available in 305, 351, 401 and 478-cubic-inch (5.0, 5.8, 6.6, and 7.8 L) versions. In late production there was also a 432-cubic-inch (7.1 L) version with enlarged crankshaft journals. GMC also made a 637-cubic-inch (10.4 L) 60° V8 with twin balance shafts using the same general layout as the 305. Finally, there was a 702-cubic-inch (11.5 L) "Twin Six" V12, which was basically two 351s placed end-to-end with a common block and crank. A Diesel version was called the ToroFlow.

Originally Posted by andyh1956

ok here is a link to a photo post of a toro flow outta the truck - you can see it good. the intakes are on the outside of the heads where you would normally see the exhaust manifolds. what kinda drugs do you have to take to dream something like this up?

http://rides.webshots.com/album/549527781CWBNyJ

my link at the top has some good pics, and description.

[duallyjams]

I just went to a junk yard here in Md and I seen 3 toro flow diesel engines there and v6 engines, with more rooting around I;m sure there is more to be found.Next time I go I will have a camera with me.

[factorystock]

The factory painted these diesels yellow.

[andyh1956]

wonder if edlebrock sell intake manifolds for this engine? left & right, of course!