The Big Blue Guck - Driving to Work

This is dad's 1963 GMC Crackerbox, running a Detroit Diesel 6-71 2 cycle engine, Roadranger 10-speed transmission and 2-speed rear axle. Dad got this truck, we say, as a mid-life crisis. For this video, I drove it to work to show a friend, and made some recordings, as a few others might enjoy it. This was recorded in about 2016. I am not a professional truck driver, and this drive was by far the longest I had ever driven it. This type of truck was status quo in 1963 for moving whatever needed moved (and, as such does show black when pulling hard - ahem, this is taking you back to 1963 afterall...). It is today just a toy and used occasionally to go on a ride here and there. We removed the 5th wheel and put on a flatbed (to make it useful...). The name Guck comes from my young nephew's inability to say 'tr' sounds (and came out 'g'). I have called it James (as formal for 'Jimmy') or Tetonka as it seems to fit. But the name, the Big Blue Guck, stuck. For those who might wonder, this is an edited version of a previous posting. Apologetically, gone are the wonderful stories and comments previously posted - feel free to retell.

[@althejazzman]

I miss the old comments about having changed gear 200 times before even completing the turn out of the junction.

[@curtisdinius5913]

Hahaha

[@GarryPitts-x4h]

Been 42 years since riding in and driving a crackerbox. Moving furniture with national van lines . It was a dude called Penthouse Bill. Wish i had the truck . But rest in peace Penthouse.

[@CharlesBanks-tj8jk]

Drove an old crackerbox over the road in 1969-1970.Great old truck but nearly froze to death in it!

[@daveluttinen2547]

I was taught to drive these as close to the governor as possible. Generally they are set at 2150 RPM but some have cranked up to 2340. There is no sound in the world like the old two cycle Detroit. I would sleep like a baby with one of these playing on my computer at night. Nice buggy, "the guck." Love it!

[@bertgrau9246]

The one I drove would no load rev to 2400 RPM in high gear on flat road about 2225 RPM , of course down hill would go past 2400 if I let

[@Okanagan48]

I love the sound of the Detroits

[@kyleismylove23]

Drove trucks 48 years.Now retired.Never got to drive a Detroit.Im jealous.This is one of the first you tube videos I watched.Now that’s a cool 2nd car‼️

[@robertmorrison2973]

Yes there is not another sound like it. I drove a cracker box in the late 60s and early 70s. That's maybe why I have to wear two hearing aids now.

[@rickdickerson1204]

Wow, this is great! Brings back memories! 😊

[@Jhihmoac]

This is how it was, well over 50 years ago... Getting down from up there after a long stint was Heaven-Sent! I remember my father's old '64 Crackerbox Sleeper... _"Loud, Proud, and Bumpy!"_ With the aluminum interior, you could choose any color paintjob you wanted, just as long as it was that industrial seafoam green!

[@Frank-sf1wh]

Thanks for the ride, and the memories. I haven’t had a cab over in 24 years, sure miss it sometimes.

[@jitterball]

Imagine when people did this for a living for hours and hours! You'd sleep at night time with the sound stuck in your head!

[@ladaautovaz2977]

the frenetic blue pickachy... i love it...once when I was serving in the Hellenic Navy I did a general repair on GM 6 71 and GRAY MARINE engines. the ultimate DIESEL sound...💥

[@scottstrang1583]

Amazing sounding Detroit. Addictive.

[@justin________7477]

It's on my bucket list to have something like this with a straight piped Screaming Jimmy. That 10-speed looks like a blast

[@bertgrau9246]

I drove a 1964 model simular to that, it had a 5 speed overdrive, with a 2 speed rear axle. I don't know what the gear ratio was but in high gear at 2100 RPM it only ran 58 MPH. Slow, but pulling a gross load of 75,000 pounds it could take off on a hill side without any problems.

[@ValerieprimcessAmanda]

What a fantastic truck. I love it.

[@christopherkrigbaum175]

what a great old school truck

[@mericavids]

I like the different video angles for a different perspective and sound

[@ginamiller6015]

Love the big blue guck! Thanks for sharing your beautiful truck, wonderful video!

[@tommyjones2443]

GMC Got More Cash. day cab Cracker Jack Box. I grew up during the 70s . there were a lot of them . 318 Detroit 10sd road ranger 3:90 rears Reyco springs.

[@grantbassett2048]

Brilliant Video, looks like you have to work for the fun! I would love something like that to just drive. Could you imagine driving that fully loaded, in hot weather! Amazing 👍

[@bertgrau9246]

I drove one simular to that and it was not fun in hot or cold weather, hot in the summer, and cold in the winter. It did have a heater, wasn't quite big enough for the truck it would keep you from freezing, but today's trucks can get too hot even in -15 F degree weather

[@billsmith1770]

after several side by side take offs at traffic lights , a taxi rolled his window down , and yelled "does that have an automatic?" (extremely rare in trucks at the time) . the 238 (6-71) 13 speed dump truck i was driving just had a young showoff who liked to hit every gear as fast as possible , whether necessary or not . and yes , it did sound like an auto . 45 years later , i'm an old guy who skips 2nd and 4th in my 5 speed car whenever possible .

[@davidsadler7047]

Gotta love the sound of that engine.

[@Terry9624]

Been many years since I drove one, loved that truck

[@Userqwerty349]

I've driven 10 speeds, and I've driven a 5 and 2, but never a 10 speed with a 2 speed axle. I can't imagine doing a sequential shift on that.

[@ryanbyrd3835]

That's it. It's my midlife crisis. That's why I want an old truck.

[@ern48]

Nice truck........you have about another 1000 rpm of range and Detroits prefer to be screaming at the upper end vs lugging.

[@markbowles9452]

Thanks for the ridealong.👍🤠🇺🇸.

[@DMTruckSpotting]

Awesome sound! I believe your Truck’s model is DFI7009

[@theeeMitchi]

Incredible video!

[@wowiecaps]

and she still burns clean

[@bertgrau9246]

watch it at around the 18 minute mark it can blow a good amount of smoke

[@MobileYamTechNC]

For not being a truck driver you sure are good at shifting! Nice job! Very cool truck!

[@mixrmandd]

Need to rev her up bud.....2 strokes love 2000+ rpm

[@nolancoates4856]

Clean Machine 💯🎖️

[@fexploder3281]

That's a great sounding engine and a pretty cool truck you have mate, I love it!

[@winstonsuny]

With no box, is it necessary to be using all the gears?

[@isaacsims6203]

My favorite motor the 6v71😊

[@piter_sk]

10:35 was that full throtle? Love that sound, there weren´t and aren´t any 2 cycle diesels in Slovakia, Central Europe as I know.... We have got Tatra 813 with 17,6L V12 4 stroke air cooled engines, but not having a sound like these... Jeeesus, wish I can hear this sound in my life at least for once :)

[@fd797]

Peter - yes, I think it may have been full throttle there. My son-in-law is from Slovakia - if you come to the states, let's go for a ride. I have a feeling I would love to hear that 813...

[@piter_sk]

@@fd797 Really? From which part of Slovakia is he? I wish I could go to the states, but Im 18 years old wanting a Jawa 350 and category A2 driving licence for that, so..... Money will go out, as well 300€ got out just on repairing my Babetta 210 (1984 moped made in ZVL in Považská Bystrica here in Slovakia), so.... I will get a work after school, work some money up, and I will go there :) One of my dreams, to see whats life up in the states and I´d give it try somewhere in Siberia.... We made a deal, I will let you know when I will have money :P There is that Tatra 813: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZnStZn5-dtygj68 It has 5+R gearbox, those 5 are splitted in half - low and high (called turtle and rabbit haha)... Maybe I will arrive on that Jawa 350 :D Im going for 600km and 300km trip on that moped, one is Balaton and second is my friend in Czech republic, so those kilometers on Jawa 350 won´t be a problem :) Keep her in condition until I arrive ;)

[@fd797]

@@piter_sk Zilina. We got to visit there a number of years ago. We visited the High Tatras mountains. I got to drive a Skoda. It was a fun experience. I have a KTM EXC 300. I love the mechanical simplicity of a 2-stroke. It sounds like you do too. Good luck on all the future plans (it is good to have goals).

[@codykennedy19]

Dude absolutely amazing video will you please do more like this one because I would love to see more and this truck is amazing I want to know if it has a Jake break and if it does can you please use it in the next one

[@fd797]

haha - thanks Cody. It doesn't have a Jake Brake. I think cool if it did, but not sure we could stand the noise, on the other hand (or ear...). We didn't even run it in 2020 - maybe this year!

[@carlstclair9920]

They sound awesome with the Jake brake rode in my dad's Freightliner and loved it when he hit that Jake brake.

[@bruceschweigert6457]

Glow plugs, doesnt matter two or four stroke,just easier starting

[@johnholt7060]

10:38 Wanna race?

[@chrisjenkins3452]

7th and 8th gear sounded like heaven with rpms.

[@Njderig]

Why are you lugging it? You’re supposed to rev a Detroit or the pistons don’t oil properly

[@brettdearing2898]

Not revving them doesn’t really hurt them they just make no power

[@bertgrau9246]

If he was pulling a trailer I would agree, but just bob tailing, it's not going to hurt it. Besides, he does rev it a few times 😁

[@ozzymd1]

Can you imagine going O. T. R. with this ? 🤯

[@ianmangham4570]

I can imagine going OTT 💪

[@Bafalken85]

I like it❤

[@nyx7255]

Was the first upload removed? I couldn't find this video a while back

[@fd797]

Yes, my apologies. I didn't intend to have it removed.

[@carlstclair9920]

Love that screaming Detroit6-71 my dad drove a Freightliner with a 6-71

[@ronernst3991]

I have an M35A2 with a in line 6 cyl two stroke.

[@NotEpoch]

I also prefer the talking frog.

[@rosch1964]

i think its a 2-stroke... not a cycle...

[@althejazzman]

Means the same thing. 2 stroke combustion cycle is another way of saying it.

[@lyndapisano6373]

Unlock your seat! You'll flow a lot better 😂

[@zrtknl]

Does not look good with the bed. There should still be a fifth wheel.