Me n my truck are new here.

[Ozzie on fire]

Hi
I’m near the Denver area. I bought my truck from a fire department. It was an attack Truck with pumper and service bed. It’s a 1980 cab and chassis and has 18k original miles. I’m no mechanic but like trying and tinkering. It’s got a 14 bolt rear, Dana 60 front, sm465, 4:56 gears and an anemic little 350. I need the most help with engine ideas. I would kinda like to learn with what I have. Input is welcome and needed.

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[Honky Kong jr]

Welcome that's a bad ass rig right there. Your gonna want an engine that will turn a good bit of Rpm if your gonna play with it.

 

[shiftpro]

That truck looks like it is pretty much on it's last legs. best you sell it to me before it lets you down.
Welcome to the site... lucky bastad.

 

[shiftpro]

If you want to smoke those dual wheels.... move up to a BB.

 

[WFO]

Welcome from the Texas Panhandle. That sure is a slick truck.

 

[1987 GMC Jimmy]

That's a beefy truck; I second the big block, but if you want a small block, a built 400 would be nice and still appropriate since it's a 1980 model.

 

[74 Shortbed]

Welcome to the site, SWEET truck, a 496 would be awesome in that thing..

 

[donnieray]

Damn. I'd love to find one like that. I would fix what ever isn't perfect and leave it as it sits. Buy another one to modify.

 

[78C10BigTen]

That truck looks like it is pretty much on it's last legs. best you sell it to me before it lets you down.
Welcome to the site... lucky bastad.

Last legs?!! Thats beautiful! Id hate to see what youd say if you saw mine lol

 

[Lil'm]

Great find!! This might help...

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[78C10BigTen]

Nice rig!! Got a good deal gettin it from a fire company, they take care of theyre toys. Oh yea and

 

[B.K. Cunningham]

very nice rig you got yourself.

 

[HotRodPC]

That's slick !!!

 

[HotRodPC]

Being only 18,000 original miles the bottom end should be in great shape as well as the cylinder bores. I'd just do a cam swap, some Vortec heads to raise the compression and have some ports that can breathe, with the aftermarket intake that you'd need and call it good.

 

[Honky Kong jr]

Being only 18,000 original miles the bottom end should be in great shape as well as the cylinder bores. I'd just do a cam swap, some Vortec heads to raise the compression and have some ports that can breathe, with the aftermarket intake that you'd need and call it good.

This is very true, but all the seals are all but 40 years old and once it gets driven frequently the will begin to show their age by leaking. Low mileage is badass no doubt but it also has some pitfalls as well.