I cut my teeth on that truck! It was brand new when I got hired at Aptos Fire Department. Later I when became the Chief Mechanic for the dept. I worked on that truck for years. There were 2 of them built same time by Howe Fire Apparatus in Martinez. I ran into one of them about 20 years ago on Santa Cruz Island. Yep, Napco front axel.
Was Chinn the chief when you were hired? If so I'm guessing you're bound for Hell too for messing with the nuns. After this time period I went to work for SCFD where our only interesting piece of apparatus 1949 LaFrance 75' ladder truck repowered with a V6-53 and an Allison. Top speed was just over 35mph. We also ordered the last gas engine/manual transmission engine that Van Pelt built. I always liked looking at the twins.
I searched satellite images of the island and found a truck that could be the other one: www.google.com/maps/@33.9964497,-119.7172918,59m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu
The two minute teaser video was awesome. This was amazing. Still a awesome truck rare with the Toro flow diesel. Only seen a 305 V6 in my dad's cousins 63 GMC c1000. 😊
As soon as I saw it, I immediately thought "Westport Fire". I saw it many years ago for sale down there. I could even have some pictures I took at the time. I was thrown for a while when seeing your reference to its being in eastern WA. I tried to interest a King County area fire entity to purchase it for wildland fire use, but it would have been too much of a "project" for them. I'm really glad to see it with a continued life. **Yup, I have about a dozen photos when it was for sale in Westport, in the Fire Dept lot. Not sure how to connect if you are interested.
For a grocery getter that’s gonna be one big grocery bill! Man I’m dreaming of the amount of tasty things I could buy from Costco and haul home in that truck! Thanks for sharing and for sparking some day dreamin.
@@matthewmoilanen787 Ya just could'nt let 'em have their minute could ya ? - Haa I'm a Ford guy, have owned 6 highboys, {390's and 460) and 7.3 power smokes. I've had one ''69 4x chevy and one 70 short step side 327. They were good trucks. Won't own a new-er GM or chevy, but this is a bad ass rig that I would proudly own and drive all day long.
Totaly agree and any ol schooler knows was not much tougher trk moter than a screaming detroit I'm a harvestor guy got a few 1.25 Ton 1300 a and d model n9w 7.3 is great but , no 6.0 or 6.7 power croak come close to a detroit ,detroit s take more hard abuse in the logging industry over n over line machines loadders skidder s screaming 3 to 500 rpm over max for 30 yrs cold hot one tough moter , weather ur a ford guy claimed ihc or dodge guys so inbarsed they don't call it a dodge but my cummins yet there was Chevy o detroit 5.7 6.2 6.5 ran 350 k easy but It was not a implant by others calling a truck by the moter because truck sucks so bad !
I LOVE anything old GM diesel. Anything 6.5 and older. This has got to be the sickest video I’ve seen in a very long time. This truck is literally priceless as there is nothing to compare it to. The sound of an N/A v6/v8 diesel cannot be beat. Time to find another 6.2 😊
Great job on finding this , great story with it ! I'm glad you got it and didn't destroy it! Keeping old gems original as possible is the best part of finding one. That's a one of a kind beauty! Keep her up ! If you ever paint it to protect it, you got so many options ! If you do paint it, do it right you got this far , she's badass! Nice job saving a rare & beautiful truck !!
What an awesome piece of old iron. When I was just a small kid, my Dad looked at buying a Toro-Flow diesel GMC flatbed truck for his contracting business. A neighbor owned a GMC dealership at the time, and wanted to make a good deal for Dad to buy the truck. My Dad finally decided that the truck was just a bit too big for what he needed and bought a 1-ton gas GMC flatbed instead. The Toro-Flows received some modifications in 1969, renamed the Toro-Flow II. The engine was renamed the "Turbium" for the 1972 model year, but few referred to the engine under the new name. The Toro-Flows main problems were head gasket leaks and fuel injection issues. I suspect that the fire department specified the Toro-Flow diesel because of the ability of the diesel to withstand very long idle times when in use--an ability which post-2007 diesels no longer have without causing emission system problems and repair expenses. The Toro-Flows were never big sellers during their era, in part due to the fact that gasoline was cheap and readily available. Up until the late 1970's, diesel fuel was largely only available at truck stops and bulk oil jobbers. As you noted, the Toro-Flow is pretty fuel efficient. The comparable GMC gas V6s of that era wouldn't get half of that fuel economy. My Dad's 1-ton GMC with the 305 V6 gas would only get around 9 mpg, at best--but that engine was a "puller." As you likely know, those gas GMC V6s had a sound all of their own. Decades after my Dad sold that old GMC, I can instantly recognize one of those GMC V6s just from the sound. The gas engines would run forever, too. The NAPCO 4WD conversions were bulletproof units that saw extensive use. That is a great truck--I would have likely gone back to standard wheels and dual wheels in the rear, though. If the Toro-Flow ever completely conks out, I suspect that a Detroit 6-71 or 6V-71 would be a bolt-in replacement--both bulletproof engines.
Thanks for the story on your dad and his truck. Cool to here stuff like that. A guy would think that they would be an easy fit , a Detroit 6 Cylinder, however there is not a lot of room in these engine bays length wise. They came with 4 cylinder in-line Detroit factory.. that is the only Detroit that will easily fit. If I am to ever Re power it would like be to a gas Chevrolet motor, or a 5.9 cummins for simplicity and reliability. I don’t expect to see that day though.. this truck only has 37k miles, and there’s stories of the toroflows going for easily almost a half million miles before an overhaul.
@@Glibzeryes, this toroflow has more power and torque than a 4 cylinder Detroit. I don’t want to go backwards in performance. Again.. not too worried about it, this engine runs great. I see it lasting a long time.
I absolutely love it. My Dad had his own construction business and had mostly 67-72 work trucks. Even a 72 1 ton dump. I learned to drive a 72 3 on the tree. I had my own business and had an 84 International DT466 dump truck so this to me is the perfect truck. Wow, I truly would love to have one such as this. Great video, thank you for sharing.
I bought a 72 Ford C900 Fabco 4x4 boom truck. This is bringing back memories of 1992 when I flew to San Diego and drove it back to the Bay Area. I still have it, and it has done a ton of jobs for me.
I live in monterey ca. I have seen this truck in the early 1980 s in Aptos ( Aptos is 10 miles from Santa Cruz Ca) will never forget it, all the kids loved this truck!!!!
The lp5 just goes to show they still do. Smallest displacement outve the big three arguably the best motor you can buy now. Thanks to the c4 injection pump Ford used
@@davidlasanen7690 DEF doesn't hurt nothing besides peoples egos. especially with forced air injection. - Automotive mechanic. Now we can talk about power steering pumps, stamped aluminum radiators with PLASTIC sides and tops.... A/C systems... but DEF- DEF is the LEAST of our problems in modern equipment.
Thank you for sharing your truck with us. There was a red cabover grain truck for sale here in Nebraska 10 years ago at a farm auction with a Toro Flow. I've read some posts online over the years, some guys who had Toro Flow diesels back in the day were running a blend of used motor oil with their diesel and said they had no problems, I don't recall the percentage of the blend.😂 Ahh, the good ol' days
I've heard and read about the Toroflows but have never seen one in the wild. Warms my heart to see what you've done to resurrect and preserve the old girl and 14 MPG is amazing. My 72 Sierra Grande 402 BB that I've owned for 50 years can only do 10-11 MPG if I drive nice ;-)
What can anyone say,,,,, this rig is the best thing since sliced bread. I never heard of that truck before. What a machine. Wow. It knocks me over my friend. Love to have one like it. I think I put it in my living room & just play in it. ( Wife will just have to big D. Me.).
Great service truck. Looks great, sounds great. I'll bet it is fun to drive. I''ve driven a lot of trucks with all sorts of transmissions, but I've never driven one with an Allison. Good job on the wheels, too. One of the trucks I drove that was the most fun was a 60s Ford dump bed truck with an 8-71 Detroit and a Road Ranger 10 spd and straight dual stacks. Man that thing cackled and had power to spare. Lots of volcanic rock here in Idaho, and we were blasting out lava and hauling it several miles to dump in a large cavity for fill. That was a fun job. Blasting, excavating, and hauling away in that truck. I'll bet yours is so much fun. Good luck!!
I had a 68 ?brush truck with the big gas V6 for speed 4x4, split hood, it was awesome it was given to my son if he could get it started he brought the damn thing home we loved it until the city made us get rid of it but we did get to give all the kids in the neighborhood rides in the big red fire truck.. truck
That would make an awesome tow truck. It doesn't matter where you are stuck that thing can come and get you. I'd even go to some insane place to get stuck and would grin from ear to ear seeing that thing coming to the rescue.
They do make an awesome tow truck. I know someone who had something similar with the big gas V6. He had ag style tires. It would go just about everywhere.
9:27 😊 what a great sound ! I hope the Toro Flow lasts a long time and you can leave it in there. These are getting rare indeed. I'm so jealous when I hear that sound on that drive you took.
In 1970 I had a 56 Chev 1- 1/2 ton...261 cubic inch in-line 6. It had the NAPCO kit so it was a 6x6 with 22.5 wheels. I hauled a lot of Cedar bolts and firewood with that beauty. It was originally a pole-line truck for PGE. When I bought it, it was minus the big box and boom and winch. I put on a flatbed and racks and a 10 ton winch. I had salvage contracts in the Siuslaw National Forest from Mt. Hebo to Florence. Ran that baby for years and sold it to a friend when I was getting old and tired...
It's been a long time since an old truck made my blood pressure rise, even longer since I even took a second look at a new truck, but that thing is f###ing awesome.
Great find, cool rig. Hell I tought it had 18/22.5s on it from the start then you said 19.5s then I remembered a Fire Dept. I worked for had a 1970 Ford F350 4x4 that had 19.5 floats on it. Firestone used to make the 18/22.5 super all tractions the looked like a big ground hawg tire, Bigfoot had them when Bob first built it.
Really kool truck man. Slotted wheels are insane. I grew up in my grandpas junkyard in south bend, kelm’s auto wrecking, not to far from you. He had a half track he used to pull cars around. I really dig those early 70’s late 60’s 2door trucks ya have as well. I will b back to check out more episodes. Thanks.
Man, so many memories of the GMC v6's, both the gas and ToroFlow. Remember the sounds well, as a car / truck crazy kid in the 1970's!! Thanks for sharing this gem, and not butchering it. All these new bloated, overpowered but poorly built modern pickups have mostly replaced real medium duty trucks due to cost in many applications, but some of us remember what real trucks are. All these "Hot Shot" wannabe truckers with over rated / over loaded 3/4-1 tons really need to step up to a real medium duty truck, lots safer and cheaper in the long run.
That truck is cool ! I've always loved that era of GM trucks. I have a 1994 International 4x4 Ex-Fire Truck that I made into a dump truck. It has super singles front and rear like this one, just a little newer is all.
Dude, what a badass truck, it's so crazy to hear about rare, almost one off GM products. Watching that part where you and your buddy designed and built replacement wheels blew my mind. I've never seen something like that. Cool truck!
so funny Steve M from Barrett Jackson did a backyard junkyard crawl today on these trucks and motor! That’s awesome! Still got my wife’s grandfathers 1987 Topkick 7000 10 wheeler dump I restored. kudos to you loving these old trucks me to ! gained a Sub!
Definitely a sweet ride, truly is one of a kind. There’s no doubt about that and I like the way you did the wheels. Hope that truck lasts you a lifetime.
Man, talk abour "presence". What a farkin' clydesdale! An aside: I've been to Oroville. Went to Osoyoos on vacation, popped south across the line to see Molson. Neat to note how Osoyoos is seen as a kind of "hillbilly Riviera", but fifteen minutes south is the American Frontier...
Years ago there was a guy in our area who put a Toro-Flow in a F250 crew cab 4 wheel drive, Called it Diesel Dorf. I believe he got his Toro-Flow out of an old milk truck. Nice find on the 550 and I appreciate you keeping it in original condition. The only thing I would do to it is try to find or remake the battery box cover. you'll have to try to match the diamond plate. New subscriber.
That's so cool,and those wheels are perfect for it!! I've heard of that engine several decades ago but have never seen one in person,only in a drawing in a very old magazine way back in the day.. Apparently, it's got plenty of get up and go even for a na diesel,and the gearing seems pretty good on it from this video... Thanks for making this video and sharing with us ..
The Toro Flow diesel shares some basic architecture with the 60 degree GMC big block V6s, and therefore some tooling could be shared, but the gas and diesel was developed simultaneously starting in the late '50s, it wasn't a converted gas like the 350 oldsmobile. In Toro Flow form they built a 351 ci , most were 478 ci , and a 637 ci V8 was also built. The 351 was dropped after a few years, when I started reading this big GMC book I have I started looking online for any discussions about the 60 degree big block engine family from 1960-1974, which includes the V8, V12, and Toro Flow diesels. I found a couple of pics 10 years ago online and a few sentences describing the 351 Toro Flow in a 3/4 ton GMC pickup truck, supposedly GMC built a few like this for testing and was considering offering that to the public, but it never materialized
Amazing truck, great find. I'm just concerned with repairs should the need arise. I'm guessing if you ever have fuel system issues, that will make the starter saga seem downright easy. Good luck with it, hope it goes many more trouble free years and miles.
Thats one of the coolest trucks I've seen!! What a find,definitely a one of a kind! I'd definitely would be interested in seeing a follow up video if ya update it! Great job on it so far! A battery box cover would be nice!
That is one badass truck! Love it, it's just a beastly thing that makes the kid in me smile! And it was rotting in a field, one of 2, glad you got it up and on the road, and not only on the road, you put it back to work which is awesome. I'm gonna keep my eyes on this one.
Man I haven't seen or heard one of those old toroflows in years. There were a few around in my area but they never really caught on. They just didn't have the guts for anything over 30 - 40,000 gvw. When I was in the Army and stationed at West Point I was in the motor pool while waiting to go on my years vaca in S. E. Asia. I was a bus driver while there. We had those old toroflow diesels with Allison transmissions in our post buses. So if you need parts for it you might possibly find some old military surplus bus parts. I'm giving my age away. Good luck on your truck! Nice ride.
Awesome. I’m jealous as an avid old truck guy and a firefighter and antique fire apparatus enthusiast. I know all about those rare hard to find things… I had a 38 ford 1.5ton pickup that I was gonna build but a move forced my hand to sell… now I have acquired a 1946 Chevy DS 1 ton pickup. The thing has one off parts that I can’t find well but when you do they are big $$$ like running boards. I will probably have to build my own when that time comes.
That’s sweet, yeah if I’d seen that sitting in some field I guess I’d be chasing it too, your perseverance has won the day 👏👏👏 Oh yeah I don’t think I’ve ever heard of Toroflow so that’s cool
The whole video I was thinking those tires are gonna be a problem great job 👏
That’s the single most bad ass 4x4 diesel I’ve ever seen.
I have to agree, but I may be a bit biased haha
Well said Sir!
I cut my teeth on that truck! It was brand new when I got hired at Aptos Fire Department. Later I when became the Chief Mechanic for the dept. I worked on that truck for years. There were 2 of them built same time by Howe Fire Apparatus in Martinez. I ran into one of them about 20 years ago on Santa Cruz Island. Yep, Napco front axel.
Call me , 15095603970
That is sooo cool. I'd love to have the other one! Although I'd use it for logging and fire suppression
Yep the other one was out at Santa Cruz Island
Was Chinn the chief when you were hired? If so I'm guessing you're bound for Hell too for messing with the nuns. After this time period I went to work for SCFD where our only interesting piece of apparatus 1949 LaFrance 75' ladder truck repowered with a V6-53 and an Allison. Top speed was just over 35mph. We also ordered the last gas engine/manual transmission engine that Van Pelt built. I always liked looking at the twins.
I searched satellite images of the island and found a truck that could be the other one: www.google.com/maps/@33.9964497,-119.7172918,59m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu
The two minute teaser video was awesome. This was amazing. Still a awesome truck rare with the Toro flow diesel. Only seen a 305 V6 in my dad's cousins 63 GMC c1000. 😊
I'm impressed that this thing had a 6 speed automatic transmission in 1972.
As soon as I saw it, I immediately thought "Westport Fire". I saw it many years ago for sale down there. I could even have some pictures I took at the time. I was thrown for a while when seeing your reference to its being in eastern WA.
I tried to interest a King County area fire entity to purchase it for wildland fire use, but it would have been too much of a "project" for them. I'm really glad to see it with a continued life.
**Yup, I have about a dozen photos when it was for sale in Westport, in the Fire Dept lot. Not sure how to connect if you are interested.
Hey! Please call or text me at +15095603970
For a grocery getter that’s gonna be one big grocery bill!
Man I’m dreaming of the amount of tasty things I could buy from Costco and haul home in that truck! Thanks for sharing and for sparking some day dreamin.
what a super cool truck
That truck is badass. By 1975 GM was building their own 4wd medium duties right on their own assembly line. I worked at the plant that built them.
I bet you've got some inside knowledge other guys would love to hear about 😊
That's a badass truck like no other....I can hear the f550's quivering in fear of the monster brute!
Probably not as they sold thousands more F-550s than this thing for good reason. Goodness sakes GM guy.
😅 Wow relax. @matthewmoilanen787
@@matthewmoilanen787 Ya just could'nt let 'em have their minute could ya ? - Haa
I'm a Ford guy, have owned 6 highboys, {390's and 460) and 7.3 power smokes. I've had one ''69 4x chevy and one 70 short step side 327. They were good trucks. Won't own a new-er GM or chevy, but this is a bad ass rig that I would proudly own and drive all day long.
Totaly agree and any ol schooler knows was not much tougher trk moter than a screaming detroit I'm a harvestor guy got a few 1.25 Ton 1300 a and d model n9w 7.3 is great but , no 6.0 or 6.7 power croak come close to a detroit ,detroit s take more hard abuse in the logging industry over n over line machines loadders skidder s screaming 3 to 500 rpm over max for 30 yrs cold hot one tough moter , weather ur a ford guy claimed ihc or dodge guys so inbarsed they don't call it a dodge but my cummins yet there was Chevy o detroit 5.7 6.2 6.5 ran 350 k easy but It was not a implant by others calling a truck by the moter because truck sucks so bad !
Hahaaa!! good one.
You done well. Really well.
That’s awesome thanks for sharing 👍😎
Awesome choice on the wheels and tires. I think it looks even better than before.
I think so too!
@@GoldCityTrucksYou said your truck has an automatic transmission, what transmission is it?
Clark she’s a beaut! Love the late 60’s early 70’s GM Trucks. Thanks for sharing!
That is an awesome truck! Well done, keep it drivin!
I LOVE anything old GM diesel. Anything 6.5 and older. This has got to be the sickest video I’ve seen in a very long time. This truck is literally priceless as there is nothing to compare it to. The sound of an N/A v6/v8 diesel cannot be beat. Time to find another 6.2 😊
67-72's have always been my favorite trucks. The Napco and little rear window are super cool. Looks like a little piece of heaven at your shop!
Congratulations on having the coolest, most bad-ass 4x4 on the internet !
Thank you!
He should be our president!
Great job on finding this , great story with it ! I'm glad you got it and didn't destroy it! Keeping old gems original as possible is the best part of finding one.
That's a one of a kind beauty!
Keep her up ! If you ever paint it to protect it, you got so many options !
If you do paint it, do it right you got this far , she's badass!
Nice job saving a rare & beautiful truck !!
What an awesome piece of old iron. When I was just a small kid, my Dad looked at buying a Toro-Flow diesel GMC flatbed truck for his contracting business. A neighbor owned a GMC dealership at the time, and wanted to make a good deal for Dad to buy the truck. My Dad finally decided that the truck was just a bit too big for what he needed and bought a 1-ton gas GMC flatbed instead. The Toro-Flows received some modifications in 1969, renamed the Toro-Flow II. The engine was renamed the "Turbium" for the 1972 model year, but few referred to the engine under the new name. The Toro-Flows main problems were head gasket leaks and fuel injection issues. I suspect that the fire department specified the Toro-Flow diesel because of the ability of the diesel to withstand very long idle times when in use--an ability which post-2007 diesels no longer have without causing emission system problems and repair expenses. The Toro-Flows were never big sellers during their era, in part due to the fact that gasoline was cheap and readily available. Up until the late 1970's, diesel fuel was largely only available at truck stops and bulk oil jobbers. As you noted, the Toro-Flow is pretty fuel efficient. The comparable GMC gas V6s of that era wouldn't get half of that fuel economy. My Dad's 1-ton GMC with the 305 V6 gas would only get around 9 mpg, at best--but that engine was a "puller." As you likely know, those gas GMC V6s had a sound all of their own. Decades after my Dad sold that old GMC, I can instantly recognize one of those GMC V6s just from the sound. The gas engines would run forever, too. The NAPCO 4WD conversions were bulletproof units that saw extensive use. That is a great truck--I would have likely gone back to standard wheels and dual wheels in the rear, though. If the Toro-Flow ever completely conks out, I suspect that a Detroit 6-71 or 6V-71 would be a bolt-in replacement--both bulletproof engines.
Thanks for the story on your dad and his truck. Cool to here stuff like that. A guy would think that they would be an easy fit , a Detroit 6
Cylinder, however there is not a lot of room in these engine bays length wise. They came with 4 cylinder in-line Detroit factory.. that is the only Detroit that will easily fit. If I am to ever Re power it would like be to a gas Chevrolet motor, or a 5.9 cummins for simplicity and reliability. I don’t expect to see that day though.. this truck only has 37k miles, and there’s stories of the toroflows going for easily almost a half million miles before an overhaul.
@@GoldCityTrucksyou sure? A silver 4/53 would be a cooler swap than the cummins, everyone does a cummins swap😫
When the toroflo gets weak. Sell the truck to a museum
@@Glibzeryes, this toroflow has more power and torque than a 4 cylinder Detroit. I don’t want to go backwards in performance. Again.. not too worried about it, this engine runs great. I see it lasting a long time.
@@rollo782no way! This truck will be driven by me until I can’t drive anymore!! Then my kids will get it.
That truck is bad ass what a sweet find you killed it with those new wheels and tires I'd drive it with a smile if I had it
I wonder who did the bad ass stress analysis on those wheels? That's what I thought.
Such a cool truck! So bad ass!
I absolutely love it. My Dad had his own construction business and had mostly 67-72 work trucks. Even a 72 1 ton dump. I learned to drive a 72 3 on the tree. I had my own business and had an 84 International DT466 dump truck so this to me is the perfect truck. Wow, I truly would love to have one such as this. Great video, thank you for sharing.
I bought a 72 Ford C900 Fabco 4x4 boom truck. This is bringing back memories of 1992 when I flew to San Diego and drove it back to the Bay Area. I still have it, and it has done a ton of jobs for me.
You Definitely have a Slick looking one of a kind "Great Mountain Climber" there!!! 🤠👍
As a teen in the early 2000s who helped restore several 67-72 c10, c20 and k20 trucks in the rust belt, I can appreciate this truck
Cool truck. I'm glad to see someone drive it instead of letting it waste a way.
Pretty sweet. Thanks for sharing!
Nice truck. I think it's cool that your perserverance finally paid off and you ended up with something really special.
Great looking RIG! Nor cali here
This is definitely one of the best gmc truck ever built. Know I'm on the hunt for something like this. BowTie till I Die guy.
Wow, that truck is somethin else! Everything about it is just so unique and youre one lucky man to own that!
'67-72 Chevy & GMC were the best trucks ever built and this one pushes that envelope!
Napco put together some really good stuff.
I live in monterey ca. I have seen this truck in the early 1980 s in Aptos ( Aptos is 10 miles from Santa Cruz Ca) will never forget it, all the kids loved this truck!!!!
Love hearing the stories like that!!! Thanks for sharing. The truck truly is unmistakable
This video is awesome, from the truck, down to the WA state pride and the Vitamin R. Glad to say I cracked one open while watching this video
My favorite part is that besides the big front end and the huge bed and running boards, it's just a 72 cab . Awesome truck
To you young men out there… General Motors actually knew how to build trucks at one time
mmmmm ya, but just like ford and mopap now all they build is over priced junk using DEF fluid which is a real joke,
The lp5 just goes to show they still do. Smallest displacement outve the big three arguably the best motor you can buy now. Thanks to the c4 injection pump Ford used
@@davidlasanen7690 DEF doesn't hurt nothing besides peoples egos. especially with forced air injection. - Automotive mechanic. Now we can talk about power steering pumps, stamped aluminum radiators with PLASTIC sides and tops.... A/C systems... but DEF- DEF is the LEAST of our problems in modern equipment.
Yea the engine great... not the body of the truck though. @Gmoney4twenty
I don't think the younger crowd would know what to do with themselves in a truck that doesn't have a 32" touch screen entertainment center.
Thank you for sharing your truck with us. There was a red cabover grain truck for sale here in Nebraska 10 years ago at a farm auction with a Toro Flow. I've read some posts online over the years, some guys who had Toro Flow diesels back in the day were running a blend of used motor oil with their diesel and said they had no problems, I don't recall the percentage of the blend.😂 Ahh, the good ol' days
I've heard and read about the Toroflows but have never seen one in the wild. Warms my heart to see what you've done to resurrect and preserve the old girl and 14 MPG is amazing. My 72 Sierra Grande 402 BB that I've owned for 50 years can only do 10-11 MPG if I drive nice ;-)
What a machine! Congrats on picking it up and bringing it back to life. It's beautiful!
My Grandad Had 1970 Pea Green C20 Custom Deluxe Factory AC Rear Leaf Springs He Carried His 10’ Alaskan Camper With It Many Fond Memories As A Kid.
What can anyone say,,,,, this rig is the best thing since sliced bread. I never heard of that truck before. What a machine. Wow. It knocks me over my friend. Love to have one like it. I think I put it in my living room & just play in it. ( Wife will just have to big D. Me.).
Great service truck. Looks great, sounds great. I'll bet it is fun to drive. I''ve driven a lot of trucks with all sorts of transmissions, but I've never driven one with an Allison. Good job on the wheels, too. One of the trucks I drove that was the most fun was a 60s Ford dump bed truck with an 8-71 Detroit and a Road Ranger 10 spd and straight dual stacks. Man that thing cackled and had power to spare. Lots of volcanic rock here in Idaho, and we were blasting out lava and hauling it several miles to dump in a large cavity for fill. That was a fun job. Blasting, excavating, and hauling away in that truck. I'll bet yours is so much fun. Good luck!!
I had a 68 ?brush truck with the big gas V6 for speed 4x4, split hood, it was awesome it was given to my son if he could get it started he brought the damn thing home we loved it until the city made us get rid of it but we did get to give all the kids in the neighborhood rides in the big red fire truck.. truck
That would make an awesome tow truck. It doesn't matter where you are stuck that thing can come and get you. I'd even go to some insane place to get stuck and would grin from ear to ear seeing that thing coming to the rescue.
They do make an awesome tow truck. I know someone who had something similar with the big gas V6. He had ag style tires. It would go just about everywhere.
9:27 😊 what a great sound ! I hope the Toro Flow lasts a long time and you can leave it in there. These are getting rare indeed. I'm so jealous when I hear that sound on that drive you took.
In 1970 I had a 56 Chev 1- 1/2 ton...261 cubic inch in-line 6. It had the NAPCO kit so it was a 6x6 with 22.5 wheels. I hauled a lot of Cedar bolts and firewood with that beauty. It was originally a pole-line truck for PGE. When I bought it, it was minus the big box and boom and winch. I put on a flatbed and racks and a 10 ton winch. I had salvage contracts in the Siuslaw National Forest from Mt. Hebo to Florence. Ran that baby for years and sold it to a friend when I was getting old and tired...
Nice Washington plates, and the little state sticker on the back. I love it, hopefully Ill see it in person one day, coming from Vancouver!
I just saw a video about the Toro-Flow, it's super rare. Great find!
Great engines they'll run forever if you treat em right. Has a very unique sound as well
It's been a long time since an old truck made my blood pressure rise, even longer since I even took a second look at a new truck, but that thing is f###ing awesome.
The enginesound when you came up the hill in the end, awesome! 👍
Great find, cool rig. Hell I tought it had 18/22.5s on it from the start then you said 19.5s then I remembered a Fire Dept. I worked for had a 1970 Ford F350 4x4 that had 19.5 floats on it. Firestone used to make the 18/22.5 super all tractions the looked like a big ground hawg tire, Bigfoot had them when Bob first built it.
Very cool truck!!, Thanks for keeping it on the road
Really kool truck man. Slotted wheels are insane.
I grew up in my grandpas junkyard in south bend, kelm’s auto wrecking, not to far from you. He had a half track he used to pull cars around.
I really dig those early 70’s late 60’s 2door trucks ya have as well.
I will b back to check out more episodes.
Thanks.
Man, so many memories of the GMC v6's, both the gas and ToroFlow. Remember the sounds well, as a car / truck crazy kid in the 1970's!! Thanks for sharing this gem, and not butchering it.
All these new bloated, overpowered but poorly built modern pickups have mostly replaced real medium duty trucks due to cost in many applications, but some of us remember what real trucks are. All these "Hot Shot" wannabe truckers with over rated / over loaded 3/4-1 tons really need to step up to a real medium duty truck, lots safer and cheaper in the long run.
That is one Kool Truck!! Ir's hard to believe that it runs so good!! That will be one great shop truck!!
That is a awesome truck!!
I found a firetruck similar, mines is a international 1970 4x4, i changed the pump house, and put a chev bed on it
Very cool truck, nice to see the old girl on the road again.
I absolutely love this rare beast. Great score.
That has to be one of the coolest vintage trucks I have seen in a while. Great find and great job!
That truck is cool ! I've always loved that era of GM trucks. I have a 1994 International 4x4 Ex-Fire Truck that I made into a dump truck. It has super singles front and rear like this one, just a little newer is all.
Dude, what a badass truck, it's so crazy to hear about rare, almost one off GM products. Watching that part where you and your buddy designed and built replacement wheels blew my mind. I've never seen something like that. Cool truck!
so funny Steve M from Barrett Jackson did a backyard junkyard crawl today on these trucks and motor! That’s awesome! Still got my wife’s grandfathers 1987 Topkick 7000 10 wheeler dump I restored.
kudos to you loving these old trucks me to ! gained a Sub!
I had a 1965 GMC dump all wheel drive of about the same weight as yours - it had the gas V6 - which I rebuilt - loved that truck
that has literally got to be the perfect truck!
Absolutely love it from the Pilbara Western Australia . A factory custom beast. Needle in a haystack.
Definitely a sweet ride, truly is one of a kind. There’s no doubt about that and I like the way you did the wheels. Hope that truck lasts you a lifetime.
Wow! Dream truck!
Man, talk abour "presence". What a farkin' clydesdale! An aside: I've been to Oroville. Went to Osoyoos on vacation, popped south across the line to see Molson. Neat to note how Osoyoos is seen as a kind of "hillbilly Riviera", but fifteen minutes south is the American Frontier...
Years ago there was a guy in our area who put a Toro-Flow in a F250 crew cab 4 wheel drive, Called it Diesel Dorf. I believe he got his Toro-Flow out of an old milk truck.
Nice find on the 550 and I appreciate you keeping it in original condition. The only thing I would do to it is try to find or remake the battery box cover. you'll have to try to match the diamond plate.
New subscriber.
I haven't seen one of those engines in 20 years. Great find 🤘
This is a great story and an awesome truck. Thank you for sharing.
That's so cool,and those wheels are perfect for it!! I've heard of that engine several decades ago but have never seen one in person,only in a drawing in a very old magazine way back in the day.. Apparently, it's got plenty of get up and go even for a na diesel,and the gearing seems pretty good on it from this video... Thanks for making this video and sharing with us ..
what a toy its magnificent on its own
Badass Beast with a unique sound. I always know when that one is coming down the road.
Great video. Never heard of a Toro-Flow engine. Truck looks great!
The Toro Flow diesel shares some basic architecture with the 60 degree GMC big block V6s, and therefore some tooling could be shared, but the gas and diesel was developed simultaneously starting in the late '50s, it wasn't a converted gas like the 350 oldsmobile. In Toro Flow form they built a 351 ci , most were 478 ci , and a 637 ci V8 was also built. The 351 was dropped after a few years, when I started reading this big GMC book I have I started looking online for any discussions about the 60 degree big block engine family from 1960-1974, which includes the V8, V12, and Toro Flow diesels. I found a couple of pics 10 years ago online and a few sentences describing the 351 Toro Flow in a 3/4 ton GMC pickup truck, supposedly GMC built a few like this for testing and was considering offering that to the public, but it never materialized
Now that is a kickass rig. My favorite type truck with absolutely the best tire setup ever.
Looking at this truck, it just screams badass.
Amazing truck, great find. I'm just concerned with repairs should the need arise. I'm guessing if you ever have fuel system issues, that will make the starter saga seem downright easy. Good luck with it, hope it goes many more trouble free years and miles.
Hey thanks for the shoutout on the pinstriping, by the way I love that truck and can say im a little jealous. 😊
I recognize that engine sound from Mexico. They are still plenty of those engines alive there.
Thats one of the coolest trucks I've seen!! What a find,definitely a one of a kind! I'd definitely would be interested in seeing a follow up video if ya update it! Great job on it so far!
A battery box cover would be nice!
That is one badass truck! Love it, it's just a beastly thing that makes the kid in me smile! And it was rotting in a field, one of 2, glad you got it up and on the road, and not only on the road, you put it back to work which is awesome. I'm gonna keep my eyes on this one.
Man I haven't seen or heard one of those old toroflows in years. There were a few around in my area but they never really caught on. They just didn't have the guts for anything over 30 - 40,000 gvw. When I was in the Army and stationed at West Point I was in the motor pool while waiting to go on my years vaca in S. E. Asia. I was a bus driver while there. We had those old toroflow
diesels with Allison transmissions in our post buses. So if you need parts for it you might possibly find some old military surplus bus parts. I'm giving my age away. Good luck on your truck! Nice ride.
Nice job getting the truck back operational again… 👍🏾
Awesome. I’m jealous as an avid old truck guy and a firefighter and antique fire apparatus enthusiast.
I know all about those rare hard to find things… I had a 38 ford 1.5ton pickup that I was gonna build but a move forced my hand to sell… now I have acquired a 1946 Chevy DS 1 ton pickup. The thing has one off parts that I can’t find well but when you do they are big $$$ like running boards. I will probably have to build my own when that time comes.
AWESOME truck!! Would LOVE something like that and my dad would've too. Look forward to more content. Especially with that truck.
Good to see you on TH-cam. Cool truck for sure. 1st time I saw the wheels in person I was sold on them, good choice!
Wow, what a great truck! So glad you got to save it...
That’s just a cool truck, nice job keeping it on the road
That’s sweet, yeah if I’d seen that sitting in some field I guess I’d be chasing it too, your perseverance has won the day 👏👏👏
Oh yeah I don’t think I’ve ever heard of Toroflow so that’s cool
That truck is so damn cool
Really bringing out the kid in all of us
Those wheels & tires are the icing on the cake
GR8 FIND, GR8 WHEEL/TIRE JOB!!!
I really think that you have a gem of a vehicle!!!
This is absolutely one of the coolest trucks I've seen. Congratulations on such a rare truck ✌️🇺🇲
I would not have thought about the tire \ wheel issues involved. Truck has found an awesome home and use.
Wow, super nice old ride, would love to have it in my shop! Great job on the wheel and tire combo, fits it perfectly.