Inliners International Forums General Discussion Truck Talk Old truck thinking

Have a small vineyard and need a heavy duty truck from time to time. I have a 1952 chevy p/u that I have owned for 20 years. I am thinking of getting a 1940-1954 GMC 1 to 2 ton, 270 or 302. Need a little more horse power, so I am thinking of turbo charging. The only other mod, would be a power booster on the brakes. I'm I nuts for wanting to do this?

- Dave
Chico, Tx

Define Nuts!! It would be a fun project and be a great farm truck, although a good normally aspirated 302 would probably do 98% of what you would want. Another option would be put a blower on it. Ron Cox has or had a really cool blown 40's big truck.

These trucks show up regularly for sale, at all kinds of prices. A 302 that runs well, especially with a two-speed axle, should haul or pull almost anything . . . but not quickly.

Gearing will help the speed more than almost anything else. Head work, headers, a reground camshaft, and increased carburetion would help the engine breathe and bring maximum reliable rpm up to about 4,500. Forced induction would likely require strengthening the main caps on the bottom end, and would decrease the reliability of all those 40-50-year-old moving parts. Again, the best way to increase speed in one of these larger trucks is a two-speed axle with as high a gear as you can find in the "high side." With a good 302 you should be able to pull any stump in the "low side."

God's Peace to you.

d