Asplundh bucket trucks, that bad ?

[treeclimber101]

The 366 and 427 are tall deck big block chevy motors, made for big (or "medium duty") trucks. "Tall deck" refers to the longer stroke/lower rpm's. These only came in bigger trucks.

What you are talking about is a smaller truck or car engine (to my knowledge anyway) with the 454. not the same deal, its all about torque..

Put up some pics of your puddlejumper , I love those 6x6 buckets they are tough looking , I always wondered if the 2 wheel drive can be set up if you found a transfer case and front rear ..... Someone told me the outrigger legs are longer if they have 4x4 are the full of sugar or what?

 

[treeclimber101]

The 366 and 427 are tall deck big block chevy motors, made for big (or "medium duty") trucks. "Tall deck" refers to the longer stroke/lower rpm's. These only came in bigger trucks.

What you are talking about is a smaller truck or car engine (to my knowledge anyway) with the 454. not the same deal, its all about torque..

I dunno , to my knowledge which often ain't much there are some 454 out there with the forestry packages more so with the 4x4's and elevators the 366 could not get 6 tires moving enough to break through a wet paper bag...

 

[jdemaris]

The 366 and 427 are tall deck big block chevy motors, made for big (or "medium duty") trucks. "Tall deck" refers to the longer stroke/lower rpm's. These only came in bigger trucks.

What "long stroke" are you referring to? The 366 and 427 truck engines have the same 3.7" stroke as a 396 or 427 in a car like a SS Chevelle or Vette.

The "tall deck" 366 and 427 medium-truck engines are tall because more room was made to add an extra piston ring to each piston. Pistons are 4/10ths of an inch longer, so the block was raised 4/10ths of an inch.

Bore and stroke is exactly the same in the low-deck and tall-deck engines.

 

[newsawtooth]

I'm looking at buying a used bucket truck sometime this year (with a chip box) to retire my other bucket with no box. There seems to be alot of '97-'00 Asplundh trucks coming up for sale, and was looking for some opinions on them. I know there all gassers witch doesn't bother me to much because there cheap and easy to rebuild but other than that i'm looking for the good and bad on these trucks. My one concern is i'd have to travel to go get one and didn't know if they could handle 9 Hrs. of interstate travel or not. Thanks for any help.

TDunk,

I drove my old orange truck from the coast of Oregon to Denver, roughly 40 hours of driving. There was plenty of time for quiet reflection at 50 MPH with no radio. I had the used truck dealer drop it off at the Chevy dealer and they gave me a full report for $250.00 before I decided to make an offer. Saves some headache, especially buying a truck over long distances. Gives you a little bargaining power as well.

For my money and operation, an old orange truck with 50K miles on it is a pretty good investment.

 

[newsawtooth]

What "long stroke" are you referring to? The 366 and 427 truck engines have the same 3.7" stroke as a 396 or 427 in a car like a SS Chevelle or Vette.

The "tall deck" 366 and 427 medium-truck engines are tall because more room was made to add an extra piston ring to each piston. Pistons are 4/10ths of an inch longer, so the block was raised 4/10ths of an inch.

Bore and stroke is exactly the same in the low-deck and tall-deck engines.

Jdemaris,

Is the stroke in the 454 just longer than the 366? They put 454's in GMC Topkicks right? I see them advertised as such, so just wondering.

 

[Bigus Termitius]

you can always put a diesel in one after the gasser goes. That's the only reason I'd buy a nice orange bloosom special.

 

[Bigus Termitius]

Watch out for those outfits that advertise huge inventories, online, and in the trades. I drove all day and night to check out a truck and chipper. The owners of the place assured me that the truck was fully reconditioned and had just had a brake job. Only a half-mile from the place, on a test drive, the brakes locked up and caught on fire! So much for their "quality reconditioning." The dump body, when up, revealed badly leaking cylinders. "Oh, that's nothing out of the ordinary" they told me.

These "nice guys" even tried to keep my deposit, but I assured them I would contest the charge to my credit card and I would prevail. They refunded the complete deposit.

These outfits spend their money on painting facilities, mostly, where they white-wash all trucks and chippers they buy so you're fooled into thinking you are getting a nice rig. No way!

Be careful.

Your visit to Clinton, IL.?

 

[tree MDS]

Your visit to Clinton, IL.?

Anyone wanna buy a nice set of simulators? Lol.

 

[sgreanbeans]

I have had 2 Asplundh trucks, both real good, check them out real good and dont buy the white washed ones, to many hidden issues, I paid under 20000 for mine, painted it my self for about a 1000, I have the 454 in the new one, old one had 366, to me, no huge diff, would rather have the Diesel. Just remember what they are and who operated them, never gonna find the diamond in the ruf, all of them are well used and worked hard. I never go over 55mph or 3500rpm, gonna have the 454 replaces with a real healthy one, then put flow masters on it so you can hear the nice throaty cam!
CHECK THE BOOM, truck parts are cheap, Boom parts are NOT!

Yes, I got them both at schmidys in Clinton, ILL, I am pretty close to them by location, they also know no to jack with me, I know those trucks better than most, so they have always treated me fair, they are after all used car salesmen, REMEMBER THAT!
They dont care about u, just want ur money and for u to leave after they get it!

 

[jdemaris]

Jdemaris,

Is the stroke in the 454 just longer than the 366? They put 454's in GMC Topkicks right? I see them advertised as such, so just wondering.

366, 396, 402, and 427 all have exactly the same stroke and it makes no difference if standard block or tall block. All have 3.7" of stroke.

427 and 502 both have a longer 4" stroke.

Tall deck blocks for trucks having more piston rings, longer pistons, and higher blocks to accomodate. No different in stroke. They DO have heavier cylinder walls and gear-drive camshafts.

Years back I put a tall-deck 427 in my SS Chevelle because I got it cheap. It was a real dog. I wanted to put a hot cam in it, but then found out the tall-block motors are gear-drive instead of chain drive.

 

[jdemaris]

427 and 502 both have a longer 4" stroke.

I meant to type "454s and 502s" have the 4" stroke. 427 has the shorter 3.7" stroke.

 

[tree MDS]

What "long stroke" are you referring to? The 366 and 427 truck engines have the same 3.7" stroke as a 396 or 427 in a car like a SS Chevelle or Vette.

The "tall deck" 366 and 427 medium-truck engines are tall because more room was made to add an extra piston ring to each piston. Pistons are 4/10ths of an inch longer, so the block was raised 4/10ths of an inch.

Bore and stroke is exactly the same in the low-deck and tall-deck engines.

Sounds like you know what you're talking about.. I'll have to look into it today..

Any idea how the hp/torque compare between the 366 and the 427?? I have searched the web, as well as asked an engine shop, and a couple dealers. nbody seems to know..

 

[Sunrise Guy]

Your visit to Clinton, IL.?

Let's just say that you are a wise man, and leave it at that-----

 

[jdemaris]

Sounds like you know what you're talking about.. I'll have to look into it today..

Any idea how the hp/torque compare between the 366 and the 427?? I have searched the web, as well as asked an engine shop, and a couple dealers. nbody seems to know..

You have to be careful to compare truck specs to truck specs, and not mix car specs with truck specs. That because cars often use momentary horsepower specs and trucks use steady horsepower specs which will often be 5-20% less.

Here are some 1970s specs, all in "truck talk." I'm pretty sure the 396s were low-block engines that were used in trucks. The rest are tall blocks.

366 - 8 to 1 compression, 235 horse @ 4000 RPM, 345 lb. torque @ 2600

396 - 9 to 1 compression, 310 horse @ 4800 RPM, 400 lb. torque @ 3200

396 - 11 to 1 compression, 375 horse @ 5600 RPM, 415 lb. torque @ 3600

366 - 10.2 to 1 compression, 325 horse @ 4800 RPM, 410 lb. torque @ 3200

427 - 8 to 1 compression, 260 horse @ 4000 RPM, 405 lb. torque @ 2600

The Asplundh truck I drove back in around 1968 had a 401 V-6 in it.
401 V-6 - 7.5 to 1, 237 horse @ 4000 RPM, 372 lbs. torque @ 1600 RPM

Some big-block car specs:

396 - 11 to 1 compression, 425 horse @ 6400 RPM, 415 lb. torque @ 4000

427 - 11 to 1 compression, 425 horse @ 5600 RPM, 460 lb. torque @ 3600

 

[jefflovstrom]

You got right.

 

[tree MDS]

You have to be careful to compare truck specs to truck specs, and not mix car specs with truck specs. That because cars often use momentary horsepower specs and trucks use steady horsepower specs which will often be 5-20% less.

Here are some 1970s specs, all in "truck talk." I'm pretty sure the 396s were low-block engines that were used in trucks. The rest are tall blocks.

366 - 8 to 1 compression, 235 horse @ 4000 RPM, 345 lb. torque @ 2600

396 - 9 to 1 compression, 310 horse @ 4800 RPM, 400 lb. torque @ 3200

396 - 11 to 1 compression, 375 horse @ 5600 RPM, 415 lb. torque @ 3600

366 - 10.2 to 1 compression, 325 horse @ 4800 RPM, 410 lb. torque @ 3200

427 - 8 to 1 compression, 260 horse @ 4000 RPM, 405 lb. torque @ 2600

The Asplundh truck I drove back in around 1968 had a 401 V-6 in it.
401 V-6 - 7.5 to 1, 237 horse @ 4000 RPM, 372 lbs. torque @ 1600 RPM

Some big-block car specs:

396 - 11 to 1 compression, 425 horse @ 6400 RPM, 415 lb. torque @ 4000

427 - 11 to 1 compression, 425 horse @ 5600 RPM, 460 lb. torque @ 3600

So I'm lacking 25 horse and 60 on the torque... seems like a big dif in a 31000 pound truck with only a five speed no?

I wonder if it would make more sense to order a Jasper motor, or have one built. I dont have a 427 core, so I'm thinking about just buying a 427 TD and having it built (just saw one on CL dirt cheap). maybe even bump up the compression a bit.

Any thoughs on this jd?

 

[Bigus Termitius]

Anyone wanna buy a nice set of simulators? Lol.

LOL! Pimpin ain't easy!

 

[Bigus Termitius]

Let's just say that you are a wise man, and leave it at that-----

 

[tree MDS]

LOL! Pimpin ain't easy!

Realistically I still have to spend about 10k on my truck to get it to where I was duped into thinking it was at when I bought it..

Its been a while now, but I wish Clinton Ill. was a bit closer. I wouldn't mind playing some drive by frisbee with their office windows. lol.

 

[mckeetree]

Realistically I still have to spend about 10k on my truck to get it to where I was duped into thinking it was at when I bought it..

Its been a while now, but I wish Clinton Ill. was a bit closer. I wouldn't mind playing some drive by frisbee with their office windows. lol.

If that guy ever goes out of business the chrome simulator and cheap white paint industries will go belly up.