Re: Found a BBGMC v6 401 in TN
 

I just got off the phone with my distributor and the 351 pistons are unavailable. The guy on the phone was very knowledgeable on the subject and said it would take 401 pistons. Those they have new and cost a whooping $450 for 6 and $250 for rings. So the V6 Big Block idea for my bus is out and gone. No reason to go to bigger pistons if they next person will be stuck with an engine that internals are hard or impossible to get.

Re: Found a BBGMC v6 401 in TN
 

Greetings, I own a 1949 Flxible bus that was re-powered in 1966 with a GMC 401 BB It moves my bus very well and while i wish i did not have to double clutch the trans- it is much more responsive and easier to drive than my other Flxible bus that is powered by a Detroit 6V71. The draw back to the 401 in my opinion is the lack of parts. Trust me on this- be CERTAIN you flush you fuel tanks or you will end up with all sorts of problems - such as stuck valves. Try finding a head set for a 401 while you are broke down 300+ miles for home! Thankfully members on this site where able to help us!

Re: Found a BBGMC v6 401 in TN
 

Greetings, I own a 1949 Flxible bus that was re-powered in 1966 with a GMC 401 BB It moves my bus very well and while i wish i did not have to double clutch the trans- it is much more responsive and easier to drive than my other Flxible bus that is powered by a Detroit 6V71. The draw back to the 401 in my opinion is the lack of parts. Trust me on this- be CERTAIN you flush you fuel tanks or you will end up with all sorts of problems - such as stuck valves. Try finding a head set for a 401 while you are broke down 300+ miles for home! Thankfully members on this site where able to help us!

Re: Found a BBGMC v6 401 in TN
 

Howdy, that is good to know on how the 401s perform. I answered you back via IM and let me know if the link does not work.

Also I have a lot of parts of my 351 that will be for sale soon (heads, carb, intake, 1 or 2 pistons and the front pulley system. I was going to bore my 305 and make it a 351 so I can use my 351 heads (better flow) but 4 of my pistons are no good. I don't know what will go back in my bus but may be a 5.9TD or a Detroit Series 50. Do you know if the 351 heads are the same as the 401? According to Wiki, they just put bigger pistons and heads in the 305 to make a 351, and a stroker crank in the 351 to make a 401.

Re: Found a BBGMC v6 401 in TN
 

According to Wiki, they just put bigger pistons and heads in the 305 to make a 351, and a stroker crank in the 351 to make a 401.[/QUOTE]

Wiki is totally wrong!!:lolsmack2::lolsmack2:The 351 was cast with a larger bore, heads were the same as the 305 though some versions had bigger valves and in 66 the Magnum version with bigger ports and valves was introduced. The 401 wasn't stroked it shared the same stroke with the 305 and 351, it was just cast with a larger bore. In 1973 when GMC introduced the 432 they basically took the 401 and stroked it with the 478 crank to come up with 432ci. I would have to say more members on this site can provide far more accurate info on the V6 than the nonsense from Wiki:ahhhh:

Re: Found a BBGMC v6 401 in TN
 

EEEWWWwww. The 5.9 and it's later Big Sister 6.7 are really good engines, Hard to find one with many miles left for reasonable money. Company I used to work for leased a FreightLiner FL70 with a series 50 engine and Allison trans. Thing leaked oil something terrible, vibrated so bad the driver had to crank the door window down and steady the mirror year round to back into the dock. He could Not get out of that clunker fast enough.
After 4 years my new boss asked my opinion on which truck to lease, another FL70 or a Navistor 4400 with DT466E, Allison, Alcoa wheels, air ride suspension, air ride seat, air conditioning, AM/FM/CD player, it rode better, handled loads better, my suggestion of lower numerical rear gears to increase economical cruising speed helped save time, improved mpg, and driver liked the truck so much he took all his breaks in the truck listening to his CD's enjoying the heater or AC. The Navistor ran over 190,000 miles in 4 years and looked almost like new, chrome and aluminum needed a little polishing. The FreightShaker only got 170,000 in 4 years, and looked about 10-12 years old. The leaking oil blowing all over the chassis did NOT preserve it. Was funny, the Only time the FL70 was loaded even close to it's rated gcwr the leaves in the left rear spring broke, dropped the box on top of the drive tires and ground it to a quick stop, driver was just barely able to get the truck off the road enough to let traffic by, had to tow it backwards to the repair shop, transfer the hot freight to a different truck and deliver it. The Navistor only ever needed normal scheduled maintenance.
I doubt a DT466 will fit where your 351, 401, or 6V-71 could fit, but a 7.3L V-8 might, either Ford PowerStroke or Navistar T444E, very reliable 210 hp.